The Devil You Know

Chapter 26: Hmmm

I watched Jade walk upstairs with Joe which was odd to me, I wanted to follow them but it was none of my business. I sighed, leaning back into the couch. Joel was off with girls all over him, every party he went to they all loved him, I laughed a little, taking the shots Tommy brought to the table for us. Brendan and Tess went outside together to get away from the noise and be with each other, they were perfect. So there we were, just me and Tommy sitting on Joes couch just people watching.

"What is she wearing..." I laughed, looking over at a girl in a neon cheetah print cat suit. Tommy looked over to her and laughed with me. He grabbed two beers from the cooler next to the couch and opened them, handing one to me. I brought it to my lips, chugging it and then wiping my mouth when I pulled it away. Tommy stared at me, examining my features. I gave him a small smile and he smiled back, looking down at his feet after.

"So, the army huh?" He asked, chewing on a toothpick. I smiled. "Airforce, marines...?"

"Marines" I answered running my hands though my hair.

"So what, you're gonna beat up all those bad guys with your little fists?" He laughed, looking down at my hands and then back up to my face.

"Don't underestimate me, Tommy." I warned. There was suddenly a loud noise, someone had dropped a vase. I shook my head, these people were so stupid, I was here for the alcohol and to get out of the fucking house, I hated mostly everyone.

"How's the wrestling?" I asked and he looked at me, his face lighting up, like he was so excited that I was interested in it. I smiled at him and he looked at my face as he talked this time.

"I'm so close to that title" he beamed "Pops a piece of shit, but he's good at training, I'll give him that" he sipped his beer and looked at me.

"My dad used to train fighters, after he got out of the military, before the accident" Tommy shifted his body a little closer to me so he could hear better and he looked at my face, his face was inches from mine.

"What happened...?" He asked slowly, cautiously as if he was scared of setting me off.

"Wrong place wrong time..." I mumbled "they were shot in the streets" Tommy's eyes softened, and I wondered if Joel already told him or if he was just finding this out, I played with my fingers quietly, the alcohol was setting in and everything was getting wavy. He didn't say anything he just looked at my face, like he's never seen me before. I drank the rest of my beer, setting the empty bottle on the table. I looked over at Joel who was in the corner of the room, his arms around the waist of a girl. I chuckled, shaking my head. Tommy stood and nodded his head towards the front door telling me to follow him. We walked outside together and he gave me a cigarette, flicking the lighter for me and holding it as I lit my cigarette, then he lit his own. It was a cold night, and he pulled off his sweater handing it to me, the cold didn't seem to bother him.

"Sorry for askin'" he mumbled "didn't mean to-" I shook my head leaning against the brick wall.

"S'alright, I trust you" his eyes met mine and we looked at each other again. He scratched the back of his head and I noticed he wouldn't stop moving, his hands, his head, shifting weight between his legs. I wondered if he was nervous or cold. The door opened and out walked Jade, a cigarette hanging out of her mouth and she joined us as she lit it up.

"You guys doin ok?" She spoke quickly, rapidly and I wondered if she was ok, she was odd. She stared at the space above my head, causing Tommy to do the same, his eyebrows furrowed and then he looked at me, as if he was asking me if I saw anything. I shrugged and he looked back at Jade.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked bluntly, pulling smoke from his cigarette and exhaling slowly, I loved watching him do it.

"Nothin nothin" she laughed a little bit before heading inside again. I sighed, I'd go find her when I was done my cigarette and figure out what it was all about, she looked like she was seeing things. I hoped that she just drank too much and didn't do anything stupid, but then again, I wasn't one to talk.