Limoncello

Chapter 3

"Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul." 

~ Oscar Wilde

—

Quick, bright flashes of color emitted from the television screen and spread throughout the dimly lit living area. Intense focus settled among the guys as the sound effects blared from the speakers, drowning out the constant sound of frantic button mashing. Folio's character was sent flying for the final time. He flung his controller next to him, "Are you fucking kidding me?!"

"Get fucked," laughed Jolly, still with an intense focus on the screen, fingers flying a mile a minute on his own controller. This earned a couple of snickers from Nicholas and Noah, also completely focused on the game at play.

"Fuck!" Noah yelled, slamming his controller into his lap as his character was finally sent flying, leaving just Nicholas and Jolly. He looked at Folio, "Guess we fuckin suck."

Folio shrugged as he stood up from the couch, clumsily rolling over the back of it. He hit the floor with a grunt, "Ow," he mumbled. He slowly stood back up and made his way into the kitchen to grab another beer. He approached the fridge, rubbing his eyes, dry and strained from staring at the screen for so long. Super Smash Bros nights were no joke. He blinked a few times before finally opening the fridge and grabbing a beer bottle.

He approached the counter to grab the bottle opener. As he opened his beer his gaze drifted out the window. It was dark, only street and porch lights illuminating the night. However, as he looked out the window, he saw Maeve in front of her house. But she wasn't alone. A man towered over her, his finger repeatedly pointed in her face. Folio furrowed his eyebrows before setting his beer back on the counter. He was fairly certain that Maeve lived alone; he hadn't seen anyone around in the two weeks he'd lived across the street. He couldn't help his curiosity as he walked to the front door and out onto the front porch.

The man's angry, booming voice easily traveled across the street. He was gesturing wildly; it almost looked like he was going to hit her. If Maeve was verbally responding to the man, Folio couldn't hear her. She cowered into herself as she stood before him, flinching with every sudden movement he made. Folio was paralyzed in shock at the sight. He had only just walked outside; it felt like time had slowed down. "You stupid fucking whore! How fucking dare you?!" The man screamed, words slurring together. That's when Folio snapped out of it and walked across the street.

Maeve noticed as he approached and subtly looked at him, shaking her head, as if she wanted him to just turn around and go the other way. When Folio got close enough, he noticed the terror in her eyes and the silent tears running down her face. She was clearly distressed. He couldn't just ignore this. He looked over at the angry, feral looking man. "I don't know what's going on, but there's no reason for you to be screaming at her. It's one in the morning, you're clearly upsetting her, and people are trying to sleep."

The man ignored him. "Maeve, who the fuck is this douchebag?" He shouted, "Let me guess! You're fucking him like the slut you are."

"No, Tanner," she sighed, voice breaking as she tried not to sob. "That's one of my neighbors. Please just stop. Go home." She was trying to sound composed and stay quiet, but it was clear by the way her voice shook that she was on the verge of breaking.

"I'm not going fucking anywhere!" he roared, starting to surge towards her.

Folio stepped between the two of them, facing Tanner. "Stop yelling and get the fuck out of here."

"Why should I?!" Tanner got in Folio's face, alcohol was prominent on his breath.

"Because I heard you screaming from inside my house across the street," he lied. "The police are already on their way."

"Shit," he spat. He looked over Folio's shoulder at Maeve and pointed at her. "This isn't fucking over, bitch."

Folio pushed Tanner away from him. "Leave," he said firmly as Tanner stumbled back. His eyes stayed on Tanner until he finally got into his car and drove down the street, disappearing into the night.

"Thank you," whispered Maeve from behind him, her voice trembling and sad.

Folio turned to look at her. "Of course," he said, voice soft. "Are you okay?"

Maeve sniffled and took a deep, shaky breath as she wiped her eyes under her glasses and nodded. "Yeah...yeah I'm good."

Folio knew she wasn't, but he didn't want to pry. "Well, I didn't really call the cops. Just said that to make him leave."

Maeve cracked a smile at that. "Quick thinking," she hummed. "I'm really sorry about all this. I dumped him, like, 6 months ago and sometimes he just gets really drunk and comes to pick a fight..."

"Hey, don't apologize. He left and no one got hurt." He rested a hand on her shoulder.

She nodded and sniffled again, moving her glasses off of her face to wipe under her eyes. "Well, my adrenaline's up. I don't think I'll be getting any sleep tonight."

Folio glanced across the street before looking at her again. "We're all playing Super Smash Bros if you wanna come over and join?" he offered. "Or if you don't want to play, you could just hang out."

She thought about it for a moment before nodding slightly, "Okay...Yeah. That sounds nice. Let me just lock the door."

He nodded as she went back inside to grab her keys. After her door was locked, they walked across the street and Folio opened the door for her to walk in. He led her into the living room where the rest of the guys were. "Maeve's here!" he said to the guys, a slight smile on his face.

"Hey! You wanna play?" Noah asked, holding up a controller to Maeve.

"Sure, but first where's your bathroom?" She asked quietly with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Down the hall, first door on your right," directed Nicholas, pointing to the hallway.

Maeve nodded and disappeared down the hall. Folio retreated to the kitchen to retrieve his beer and a bottle of water for Maeve before coming back into the living room.

"Is she okay?" Noah asked him quietly.

Folio sighed and shook his head, "No. I don't think so." He gave them all a quick rundown of what had taken place outside and why she was even in their home at this hour. They quieted down once they heard the bathroom door open again.

Maeve plopped down on the couch next to Folio, who handed her the bottle of water. "Thanks," she said softly. She downed the entire thing and set it back down before looking at Folio. "Hand me a controller. You're all going down."

He chuckled as he handed her his controller, "I'm sitting this one out. Knock 'em dead." He put his arm across the back of the couch behind Maeve as he sipped his beer and watched as she beat them to a pulp.