Shattered Asylum

Chapter 48

I'm heading over to Nora's house to help her finish her costume. I went home to take a shower and grab a change of clothes for tomorrow.

When I arrive, I know a few times before letting myself in, knowing no one will answer the door.

I hear muffled arguing coming from the kitchen as I take off my shoes. Deciding not to eavesdrop, I head upstairs to Nora's room.

I knock once before opening the door. She's got her headphones on, absorbed in a book. I wave to get her attention, not wanting to startle her. She glances up, a smile forming as she sees me.

I close the door behind me and sit on her bed, lying down beside her. "What're you reading?" I ask, taking the book from her hands.

"No clue," she mutters, "I keep rereading the same sentence over and over again. I'm not great at multitasking." She slips her headphones into their case.

"I could've told you that," I tease, sitting up and crossing my legs. I know she's trying to tune out her parents, but I won't push her to talk about it until she's ready.

"So, how close are you to finishing your costume?" I ask, flicking a crumb off my leg.

She's not the cleanest person in the world.

She pulls the blanket over her head. "Funny you should ask... I haven't started."

My eyes widen in disbelief. "NORA! Why haven't you started?! Mine took days to finish! How are we going to finish this in one day?" I jump off her bed and start pacing.

"I don't know!" She says, picking feathers out of her pillow. "I just got distracted with... everything. My costume was the last thing on my mind."

I sigh, watching her. She looks so defeated. "I think we're gonna need more than just our hands to get this done."

"I could invite the group over," she suggests, grabbing her phone from the nightstand.

I nod, grabbing the grocery sack with the costume supplies. "I'll get started while you call them." I sit on the floor, already dreading how long this night's going to be.

Twenty minutes later, I've burned myself three times with the hot glue gun. Nora's been keeping me supplied with materials and watching me struggle. It's not ideal, but at least she's helping.

"Okay, pass me the feathers," I say, holding out my hand.

"Uh... Where? I thought I just saw them..." she says, glancing around the room.

I roll my eyes. "Right there, by your hip."

She continues to fumble, unable to see them. "Nora, they're-" I cut myself off, sighing, and get on my knees to grab them.

"Oh! Found them," she says, reaching for them too.

I look up just as our faces are inches apart.

The door swings open, and Vinnie and Grayson stand in the doorway. "Uh, what are you guys doing?" Vinnie asks, eyeing how close we are.

I clear my throat and grab the feathers, sitting back down. "Just needed these," I say, trying to get back to work.

"Thanks for knocking," Nora says, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Welcome. Now, what do you guys need help with?" Vinnie asks, plopping down next to her.

"We need to finish Nora's costume by tomorrow, and we won't get it done with just the two of us," I explain, cutting some fabric.

Grayson grabs Nora's beanbag chair and sits down next to me. "What do you want me to do?" He asks, watching as I glue the feathers onto a mask.

"You can glue stuff together," I reply, passing him the glue gun. I'm tired of getting burned every five seconds.