House of Goths

Chapter 31

In the following weeks, the tension between Keegan and the guys eventually dissipated. The Goths joked back and forth and talked about old times. Laughing and swapping stories, they would reminisce about things that Becky had a hard time relating to. It's not like they went out of their way to exclude her, but not having been around firsthand to participate in those events, she couldn't help but feel out of the loop.

They started the band up again and spent more and more time out in the garage practising. With Keegan back to play lead guitar, Crispin was free to pour all his efforts into singing. While Becky was happy for them, she couldn't help but feel a little left out.

Sure, Kelley had said that she was always welcome to join them. Perhaps she was only imagining things. If she were anyone else, she might have simply insinuated herself in their midst. Sadly, though, in situations like these, Becky realized she was her own worst enemy.

Then again, they didn't exactly go out of their way to include her either. Becky, being the way she was, didn't feel confident enough to join them without being invited. Besides, often before she could even muster up the courage to ask if she could watch them, they'd already left her behind in the house.

It was like suddenly they were in this exclusive boy's club where she wasn't welcome. She couldn't help but wonder if they even wanted her around at all.

They hardly watched movies together anymore since the guys were so wrapped up in their band practice. Often, Becky spent her time painting and catching up on her assignments. It wasn't such a bad thing really. At least her professors were pleased with her efforts. With so much time on her own, she couldn't help but get good grades.

Sadly, though, Kelley decided once again to keep his distance from her whenever possible. So much for their conversation the other week. She might've turned to Crispin with her concerns but when he wasn't out in the garage with the guys, he was spending more and more time with Gracie.

While Dorian was usually around, Becky didn't feel comfortable talking to him about her feelings. Not that there was anything wrong with him, but he had a way of making her feel like she was imagining her misgivings. She wouldn't exactly call his attitude dismissive, but he could be rather clueless, often laughing her off and making light of her doubts. It was only his way of reassuring her, but it wasn't what she needed to hear.

The only real time they spent together was Saturday mornings. Scrambling out of bed early at the first sign of stirrings from the kitchen, Becky eagerly made her way downstairs.

"I love Saturday mornings," she declared, sidling up to the counter next to Kell, placing her mug next to his, grinning endearingly up at him. The surly Goth gave her an indulgent smile before pouring them both a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

"Took you long enough, dormouse," Crispin teased from his chair. Unable to resist, he reached out and playfully snapped the elastic band of her pyjama bottoms.

"Hey..." she gasped, blushing bashfully while secretly loving the attention. She'd missed it over the last little while.

"What?" he teased, apparently equally pleased to see her. Unable to stand it, he grabbed her around the waist and placed her on his lap. "You walk around here, in these flimsy little pants, all a wiggly and a jiggly...."

"Watch yourself, Crisp," Dorian said with a conspiring smile. "Kell's getting jealous again."

"Fuck off, you," Kelley frowned at him, pretending very hard not to notice how comfortably familiar Crispin was with Becky. His grubby mitts all over her.

Whatever, just because he had the incredible urge to rip his housemate's throat out, didn't mean he would. Honestly, Kelley had given up trying to figure out this quirky relationship between Becky and Crispin. The fact was, the unlikely pair seemed to get on surprisingly well together in a weird but mostly platonic kind of way. Anyway, it was a lot better than having them duke it out all the time like they did in the beginning.

Completely unaware of Kelley's glowering gaze, Becky couldn't contain the throaty giggles that erupted in her belly at Crispin's affectionate play. He was tickling her in all the right places. His nose, burrowing tenaciously into the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulders. Unable to help it, Crispin laughed himself silly along with her. He'd never laughed so much in his entire life before she came along. He loved the little sprite in his own way. Not exactly in a sexual manner or even like that of a brother-sister nature. More like that of a man and his favourite pet. A pet that could very well get away with anything, just as long as she kept him smiling.

Having just come up from the basement, Keegan did a double take with his sleepy eyes at the unexpected sight of Becky, writhing deliriously between Crispin's knees.

"Nice... can I have her next?" he asked with a lascivious smile.

That's when all hell broke loose... One moment, Becky was laughing, the next she was cowering under the kitchen table. Mugs went flying, crashing to pieces, coffee spattered everywhere. Shouting and swearing ensued, followed by the sounds of punches connecting with flesh.

It all happened so fast that Becky couldn't understand how he'd done it, but somehow Crispin had swiftly tucked her under the table and was now on the floor, pulling Kelley off of Keegan. At the very same time, Dorian was right there, dragging a stupefied Keegan out from under him.

"What the fuck was that for?" Keegan lamented, holding a hand over his busted lip.

Staring wide-eyed from under the table, Becky gasped at the icy glare Kelley shot her way. For a cold few seconds, he stared at her with what she could only describe as accusation and disdain. What was his problem?

Then very slowly and sullenly he averted his eyes. Shrugging Crispin off, he then stormed out of the house, grabbing his car keys off the counter.

Helping Keegan up, Dorian shuffled him over to the kitchen sink and then grabbed some ice from the fridge. "Will you never learn?" he asked with a voice one would use on a child. "You know better than to cross Kell. He did warn you." Taking pity on Keegan, he placed the ice cubes in a ziplock bag and pressed it to the shaken Goth's chin.

"Come on out, Becky," Crispin said, looking under the table at her.

"What was that all about?" she asked, shakily taking his hand.

"That was Sir Kell Keele at his finest," Crispin said sarcastically.

"But... why?" she asked, looking around confused. She obviously hadn't heard Keegan's indecent comment, Crispin quickly surmised, and he wasn't exactly inclined to repeat it for her.

Instead, he helped her up, led her out of the kitchen before suddenly remembering the time. "Shit, I'm late already."

"Late for what?" Becky asked, seeing the torn expression on his face.

"Gracie's waiting." He shrugged, grabbing his trench coat from the front closet. "Sorry to take off on you, Becky. See you later."

And with that, he was out the door, leaving Becky at a loss. Too self-conscious to return to the kitchen, she went upstairs to her room. So much for Saturday mornings! Curling up into a ball, Becky pulled her blanket over herself and closed her eyes.

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To be continued...

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House of Goths Copyright © 2014 by Maria Bernard ISBN: 978-0-9938067-3-5

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