The Redemption of Stingy Jack

Chapter Five

"Oh, no. Yeah, sure I'll be fine. You guys have fun." She struggled to piece her words together, like she wasn’t expecting that. Actually, at that moment, her thoughts were long scattered. She seldom attended parties, so give her a minute.

"She'll be fine. Come on." Cole whispered into Lyn's ears as if to take a bite of it. His breath grazing her neck softly.

A shudder seized on her, and Maud noticed. Diverting her eyes for a moment, she pondered. It’s funny how earlier that day she was blowing him off, and now there they were, acting like love birds. Maud assured her that she'd be fine, and so she allowed Cole wisp her away into a crowd of party freaks.

Maud knew she wasn't too social, and so she crawled onto the tall stool by the breakfast bar, while she tried to predict how the party would turn out. Or, better yet, how she’d go about it. The air, strongly diluted with a steady babble of talk and laughter.

From where she sat, she could see Lyn and Cole with a couple of his friends on a long couch. His friends were playing some sort of card game, which he was partly involved in. But instead of fully concentrating, he'd momentarily lean in to kiss Lyn. At first, it'd be brief, but later on it lasted for about a minute or two. Or even more to the extent that Maud got sick of watching people make out, and so she turned to face the table. It was at that area that drinks were gotten from. It was a serve yourself kind. Four bowls of mixed drinks laid on the kitchen counter before her, all looking colorful. A girl dressed as a traditional nun swung by for a drink, head bopping to the music that still played. She picked up the big ladle and took a scoop of what seemed to be jungle juice, and poured some in her plastic cup. She lifted it to her lips to take a sip and out of nowhere, a boy dressed as an exorcist priest pulled closer to her. The traditional nun took a look, and with a smile on her lips, allowed the exorcist priest to kiss her. Maud could feel her stomach churn at the sight of that. It was like everywhere she turned, there were lovers ready to make out in front of her. He reached for his own drink too, not using the ladle, but dipping the whole cup into the bowl.

"Hey. That's unhygienic!" A curious vexation fretted her, and Maud yelled immediately.

The nun and the priest looked back, scanning Maud as the lonely creep that she appeared to be. They laughed evilly, with the priest, taking a mouthful of drink, and spitting it on the floor. It irked her nerves, and the look of 'what was she going to do?', that the priest gave her, made her want to throw him a punch. They then walked away like nothing ever happened, and when Maud glanced around, it seemed like no one cared. She sighed, eyes batting heavenwards, and could now almost predict how long the night would be. She should have just stayed at home, and watched her horror movies in peace.

****

The party had been going on for hours, and it didn't look like it'd stop anytime soon. A lot of dancing had been done, a lot of drinking and even laying motionless on the sofas. Sober Maud had had enough and, having realized this, used the very little strength she had to pull Lyn out of Cole's arms and dragged her outside.

Lyn was swaying with the gentle wind, eyeing Maud up and down like she couldn't recognize her. She glanced back at the party Maud made her leave behind, and then something dawned on her. She figured they were about to head home, but she was wondering why it wasn't happening yet. She figured it out, and let out a burp.

"Where's... where's Cole?"

Maud gave her a look of assessment, and then continued looking into the streets.

"He's… he’s supposed to take us home." Lyn added, staggering a few steps.

"No way. He's drunk as shit. And so are you." Maud's stern voice sunk a realization into Lyn's ears. "I'm getting us a taxi."

"You think so?" Lyn's eyes couldn't even focus on Maud. It was like she was seeing two of them. She was shocked. "Is there... is there two of you?"

Maud rolled her eyes, frustrated, and trying to catch a cab. Cars had only been zooming past, and not one of them stopped as a taxi.

"Wait. If there's two of you... that means... there are two Ms." Lyn giggled. "I'm gonna call you... M and M." She giggled even louder, dropping her witch hat in her hand.

Maud ignored the joke and picked up the hat. She glanced up and that was when she saw a car with a taxi stand on it. She quickly called out to it, and when it alighted, she hopped into the backseat, after having helped Lyn. She told the driver where they were headed, and in no time, he zoomed off.

*****

The cab dropped them right in front of their apartment, and as difficult as it was getting Lyn in the car, it even got worse when Maud was trying to pull her out. It turned out that she fell asleep on their way home. Maud eventually dragged her out, paid the driver, and let him be on his way.

Their front door was just a few feet away, and Maud sized Lyn up, wondering if she could stand on her feet.

"Can you walk?" Maud reached in to hold her shoulders, but pulled back right after.

"Of course, I can walk." Lyn jerked Maud's arm away, leading the way like a dog with wobbly limbs.

Maud made sure she could take a few steps on her own before she followed right behind her. The night was drowned in stars, and a little bit quiet, which Maud loved very much. Peace and quiet was what she'd always cherished.

She watched Lyn go up the step tread, and as her hand reached for the newel post, something caught her eyes. Lyn just walked past it, and she didn't notice. She was at the door now, rubbing on the knob, expecting it to budge. Maud stood still, eyes washed over what laid in their small yard. From where she stood, it appeared to be a man in a suit, face down into one of their pumpkins, and if she could guess, was unconscious.