Casters

CHAPTER NINE

The Suicide

We didn’t do anything that night. I slept in Robert’s bed and he insisted on sleeping on the sofa downstairs no matter how much I protested. I wanted his next to me but he said he didn’t want to take advantage of me. In my mind I didn’t even think he had to take advantage and I wasn’t sure sleeping in the same bed beside someone would be. We’d already slept on the sofa together downstairs. I didn’t really understand the difference.

So the following morning I awoken with the familiar scent of him all around me, the sun beamed through his windows and into the room, making small particles of dust glow in the light as they danced through the air. There was no denying it, I was happy. I probably shouldn’t have been because of all of the dreadful things that were happening around me but I was. That was thing about Robert. He made all my problems look small and inferior to us as a couple.

I left soon after though, I didn’t want to be a nuisance so I explained that I had friends coming over later that night to Viola and that I had to go and clean up the glass. I still hadn’t figured out what I was going to do about the whole broken window thing. I just concluded that some duc-tape and plastic would have to do for now.

The daylight soon became night and James, Erin and Robert were coming over to watch a movie. I didn’t really like being left in the house on my own after everything that had happened but I wasn’t going to make Robert be my bodyguard for every moment of the day. There would come a time when I needed him and he wouldn’t be there so I had to get used to the idea of working through the bad.

They were going to be at my house in less than an hour so I went to get the popcorn and cans of soda out of the kitchen cabinets. Robert and James had become good friends since Robert started playing for the school’s football team so I thought it would be nice for Robert to come and hang out with him instead of James being stuck with two girls all night. I wanted them to all be close, that way I could spend more time with Erin and James too and not just Robert. I felt like I’d been neglecting them lately because I was too busy enjoying myself with Robert.

 As I was putting the snacks out on the coffee table and clearing up my magazines that I had left there the door bell rang. It was Erin.

“Hey!” She was really excited about tonight, I had no idea why but she was. Usually she’d let herself in and head straight into the lounge, waiting for me to turn on the film.

“Hey, they’re going to be here soon.” I was so nervous. I just kept fidgeting with my shirt and Erin quickly picked up on my mood.

“Tonight’s going to be fine, stop worrying. You’re making me nervous.”

“Easier said than done.” I didn’t know why I was so anxious. I just knew something was going to happen.

As soon as I had finished making sure everything looked perfect the door bell rang for the second time. I walked into the hallway, took a deep breath and opened the door. It was James. He was in a blue and white checked shirt with light jeans and a pair converse that he wiped against the mat before stepping inside.  His blonde hair was messy and his brown eyes had dark circles underneath them, it was clear to me he was doing well I just hoped that a night with friends might give him a break from whatever was going on with him.

“Hi,” He hugged me and then went over to Erin.

“Hey James, are you okay?” There was something different about Erin. She was blushing as she greeted James. Did she like James? Surely not, she was with Ben. I didn’t have to time to ponder over such thoughts. I was still trying to relax myself.