Paint Over my Scars

Chapter 9

The bath water was pitch black once Blackie's bath was finished. All of the dark soot and other kinds of dirt was scrubbed off of him by Monika as Gilbert held him down in the bath, making sure not to hurt or drowned him. Fleas covered his body and filled the bottom of the tub. His skin was red and sore from the flea bites. He howled and barked in terror through the whole bath until Gilbert wrapped him tightly in a towel so he couldn't squirm out of his grasp. 

Now, Gilbert rocked the dog like a baby and patted his face dry and Monika washed her dirty hands in the sink, watching the black water rush down the drain. She looked back at Gilbert, smiling at the dog, not Gilbert. 

"I don't have work tomorrow," Monika stated, drying her hands on a towel. "Maybe I could come over with some dog supplies..." She stared down at the now-dirty towel in her hands as Gilbert hummed in response. 

"I also don't have work," She felt his eyes roam her body, not sexually, just looking at the dark water on her white shirt and jeans. "You can come over and we can schedule a vet appointment for him," 

Monika looked back at him, watching the dog's eyes dart around the room cautiously. "I have to go home soon," She mumbled, not wanting to leave them. 

"Do you need some clothes?" His voice was rough and tired. After all the shouting over the dog's loud bark, a long day of talking to people, and using the last of his energy on bathing a dog- he was exhausted and frankly wasn't ready for a long night with a scared dog. 

"No, it's good. I can just cover it up with my jacket and change once I get home," She walked out of the bathroom, followed by Gilbert, and grabbed the jacket that hung on a chair. She wrapped it around her and glanced back at Gilbert who settled the dog on the ground by the food, waiting until it ate another bite. 

"Monika," Gilbert's voice sounded louder in the cold silent night, "You can just stay in the guest room if you'll like, It's late and I don't think neither one of us wants to drive," He offered, wrapping a fuzzy blanket around his cold wet arms and shuffling to the kitchen, opening the fridge and gazing at each row of food. All while Monika stared at him, thinking of what to say.   

"My dad-" 

"Monika," Gilbert slammed the fridge shut while balancing two beer cans on his arm, "I didn't ask your dad, I asked you," He wasn't angry, but he wasn't happy; he seemed too sleepy to show any emotion. "So what would you like to do?" He opened one beer can, sipped it, and handed the other one to Monika who took it up quickly, grabbing it from his hands immediately.   

She drank a big gulp of it. She was really grateful for it honestly, it made her much more relax. "I guess, only for watching the dog." 

Gilbert laughed at her comment, "Don't lie, Monika," He snickered, "Who wouldn't want to have a slumber party with me?"  

Monika glared at him, watching him walk to his couch and flopping down dramatically onto it, causing Blackie to race down the hallway terrified.  

"Would you like some clothes now?' Gilbert asked once she joined him on the couch across from the one he sat on. She scooted to the very edge on the couch and stood up straight as though she was being interviewed while Gilbert lounged in the couch with one leg on top of it and the other dangling on the ground, pillows surrounded him like he was swimming in a sea of pillows. 

"Um," Monika started, "Yes, please," She watched him tumbled out of the pillow sea and dash up the stairs, tripping halfway through and running up like a cat during the rest. 

Once out of sight, Monika collected her thoughts, trying to think deeply but she was much to tired to do that. She was tired, in her bones, in her head, in her heart. All she wanted was to lay down on a comfortable bed, in fresh new clothes, with her heart not beating so fast, with her world not spinning.