Playing with Fire

Playing with Fire (ch. 2)

Chapter 2

Torn Between Two

I wake up on a couch. The coach must have been old because I could feel the springs. They were pushing my lower abdomen up, making me lie in an uncomfortable, awkward position. I open my eyes, and then shut them tightly. Stupid blinding light. This time I slowly open my eyes. At that moment I was looking at a gray colored ceiling. I sit up and find myself staring at a beautiful, modern looking room. Hanging from the ceiling was a small tray of fluorescent lights. The walls were crème, on one of the walls there was a white platform. In the middle of the platform was a cluster of small, square picture frames made into a collage of different patterns. A quarter the way up the platform was a charcoal banister. Sitting at one end of the banister were two tall onyx bottles, and a small onyx bowl. The floor was a steel color, almost identical to the charcoal banister. In the center of the room was a small gray table with one black bowl and one white bowl on top. Underneath the table was a bamboo rug. On each side of the table were identical snow white couches. They both had a pale lime colored pillow, it made the different shades of gray stand out. Beside both couches were cycads in white boxed planters. The only thing that didn’t match was the couch I was lying on. I look down. There was dried dirt on the cushions and one of the springs had actually popped out. It looked like the couch was dragged in here from the dump. I get up from the couch and stagger towards a beige door. I put my hand on the brass handle and turn the knob. I walk into a small kitchen. The tiled floor was black and white checkered. There was a small backdoor leading to the backyard.  In the center of the room was a dark chocolate brown counter. A fresh piece of stationary was folded in half with my name scrawled on the front. I’m at first a little hesitant to open the note, but curiosity takes over my hands and the next thing I know I’m reading the note.

Dear Phoebe,

I know by know you’re worried about what happened last night, and how you ended up in my house. Darling, I will explain everything to you when I get back. I just ran out to get some coffee; I remember that you like a two cream, one sugar. Don’t worry about your friend Kayla. She doesn’t remember anything from last night. She thinks you’re at home.

Damien

I scratch my head, and try to get past my hangover. Damien. God, that name sounds so familiar. I ran back into the living room. I see a closet, and open it. I easily find my coat and boots. Then I run out the backdoor. The dark sky had a twinge of royal blue, and the stars seemed brighter than usual. How long had I slept?

 The backyard was open, you could see across the street. A small corner store sat at the end. I start to jog over to it. When I reach the sidewalk, I start to hyperventilate. Oh god, where was I? I stumble down the icy sidewalk and I see a street sign at the end of the street. I squint my eyes and I make it out. Edward St. Wait. Beatrice lives just down the street on King Avenue. I hear something from behind me, I bet it was Beatrice. I turn around, and the person I saw was definitely not Beatrice.

*

I open my eyes to see him still staring at me. This time his face was expressionless. I gulped at the air. I shut my eyes one more time, and try to breathe.

“Who are you?” My voice shakes and I try to steady it.

“You know who I am. Phoebe, you used to love me. Come on. Say my name,” I feel him draw nearer to me and he puts his lips on my ear.

“Say it.” this time it comes out harsher, but I still can’t help the tremors run up and down my body. I gulp one last time.

“Leo.” He chuckled lightly and moves away from me.

“I always did know how to make you moan.” I could hear the smile in his voice. I felt my face go hot; it was probably bright red by now. I finally open my eyes. I gasp and almost let a moan slip out. Leo was unconditionally beautiful. He seemed more radiant then the first time I saw him tonight. He has curly brown, tousled hair. I remember when we were in grade nine having our huge make out sessions; I would always run my hands through his soft gorgeous hair. His eyes were what got me attracted to him. Around his bottomless black pupils was a dark blue. An ice blue ring was around the dark blue. He had naturally skin kissed skin and he seemed very muscular as I looked at him closer. He still was grinning at me, showing his white luminous teeth and flexed his sculpted biceps.

“How did you…” I let my voice trail off. If I asked how he made it out alive from the accident I might start crying again. His expression turned pained. He reaches out to caress my face, but instead he grabs at his forehead in agony; like I did earlier. He starts to yell, then falls to the ground staring blankly in front of him. I cry out and walk towards him. I feel something touch my back and whirl around. This time I accidently let a moan slip out. Damien! Leo’s best friend Damien! How could I not remember him before? He used to always flirt with me and I always flirted back.

He had big brown eyes and the kind of long eyelashes some girls would kill for. He had the same style of hair as Leo, but his was a honey blond. He smiled at me and I practically melted. When I had been dating Leo I also secretly had a thing for Damien and he knew it. Leo and Damien were always competing for me, but Leo always won.

“There you are, love. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“What did you do to Leo?” I asked confused. His expression darkens a little, but he regains his smile.

“Oh I’m just playing around. I know you’re confused about what’s happened, but let’s go back to my house.” I nod my head. I was too tired to fight about Leo.

Damien picks me up in his strong muscled arms. Before I could even breathe we were already at his house.

*

Leo and I had just been driving back from a huge New Year’s Eve party. There were bright, dazzling fireworks, delicious cocktails, fluorescent sweet shooters, and an awesome count down. We were definitely drunk. Leo drove a clutch so he had to be very careful. At an intersection near my place it was really icy. When we stopped the car to wait for other cars to go by our car kept sliding. His car collided with someone else’s. The car hit Leo’s side. I remember everything in slow motion. We were flopping around in the car- with no seat belts on, as the car rolled on its side. The front glass broke and I got launched out of the car. I fell hard onto the pavement. Blood was oozing out of my neck and I thought I was going to die. I felt paralyzed and couldn’t move. The clutch kept sliding then fell into a ditch. Something must have set of the engine because gas started leaking out. Then the road caught on fire. It looked like a ring of fire, keeping me away from Leo. Finally Leo was launched out of the car. I had to hold my hand over my mouth. I thought I was going to puke. A slumped bloody, dead figure was my boyfriend. And that’s all he was after that.

I open my eyes and find myself staring at Damien. That’s what happened. After the ambulance, the fire truck, and two police cars showed up I wouldn’t talk to anyone. I thought I was going to die without Leo and I felt terrible that after all that I still felt something for Damien. I look up at Damien and sigh. I always knew I wasn’t necessarily normal, I mean with the girls- to the guys I was the type of girl that would lose their virginity in a second; a slut. I swallow.

“Damien, how is,” I had a difficult time getting the name out “- Leo still alive?” I ask hesitantly. I don’t even know if I want to know.

“Look, Phoebe. It’s not as simple as you might think. Believe me, I want to tell you, but I can’t. It’s against…never mind, but I just can’t.” He had a grimace on his face. I feel my face go red, and the tears start to form in my eyes. I rub at them, and stand up.

“Well if there is nothing else for me to do here, I would like it if you could show me to the door.” When I don’t get my way from other people I have to get it myself. Damien raises his eyebrows and tries to protest.

“Wait-”

“I’m very grateful for your hospitality, but it’s getting late and my mom will be worried.” I try to keep my voice from not shaking. Damien nods his head, and walks me to the door. Before I leave I look up into his eyes and give him the look I’m famous for. I widen my eyes, to show the beautiful blue irises, and the black bottomless pupils. People are always drowning in them while I talk. Then I stand on my tippy toes, and brush my lips against his. An electric current passes by the little touch, but it’s enough to make him stumble backwards. I then let a twisted smile crawl onto my face and walk out the door.