Let's Play Pretend

Arachnid Queen From Outer Space

(Author's note. This chapter is dedicated to PJ Fox. Without whom this book might never have been written.)

Jenna found herself sitting in the remains of her once cozy bedroom. One could easily assume a pack of rabid wolves had caused the complete destruction surrounding her, had it not been for the distinct lack of howling. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep to the sound of Aidens heartbeats, but from the look of things that... had been a while ago.

She knew she had the worst taste in men, but she had thought Aiden was different. She should just consider a life of abstinence. Providing there was even much more of a life for her, she thought. There was a very real chance Aiden had completely snapped, and would tear her throat out or something. Sane people don't go thrashing bedrooms, do they? Not unprovoked, with the resident of said room sleeping right there!

And how the hell had she managed to stay asleep in this carnage, anyway? She had thought herself to be a light sleeper, but evidently she'd be able to sleep in a mosh pit. And... Oh, shit. there he was, his silhouette clear in the door frame. The light coming from behind him kept his face in complete darkness, making him look like something out of a horror movie. She tried looking everywhere else, but everything was just...horrible.

This is it. Her eulogy would not be long, she had never done much. For eternity she would only be known as the kind of girl that let a complete psycho stay at her home, without so much as asking his last name. Or telling a friend. Oh fuck, he could just kill her now and go on living his life in the house across the road. Eddie wouldn't see him brought to justice, she was sure.

And now he was asking her to calm down? What? Was her hyperventilating interfering with his attack plan? Was she too loud for the voices in his head? She dared look at him, and somehow... He did still sound calm and kind. Maybe she should listen. Fainting didn't sound too wise anyway.

-What... What happened to my room?

And boy, had she accidentally swallowed barbed wire? Sure, it had felt raw from crying before... But she hardly recognized her own whisper now. What had happened? How had everything managed to turn around... While she was sleeping?

Shit. He was coming closer, now. He sat down on her bed, and she moved as far as she could away from him without landing face down, ass up on the side of it. Then he cleared his throat, a hard, sharp sound.

-Um... I can explain everything. I promise.

He didn't move further towards her, at least. And bad guys only gave the long, explaining speech in movies... right? Besides, if he was planning to do something bad, stalling him was pretty much the only option she had.

-Yeah? Explain. Please, I want to understand.

At least she wasn't lying. Not understanding was making her tremble with fear right now, whatever he had to say it would give her some sort of certainty. If that certainty was that she would have to make a run for it even with him between her and the door, so be it. This probably was worse.

-Well, first I need you to know that I will help you tidy everything up... Well, if you will let me, of course. Anything broken I will replace. Upgrade, if you want. I'm so sorry. As to what happened to your room? It was me.

Wait... His voice was trembling? He was nervous? Big, strong Aiden was clearly as terrified as her, now that she really looked at his profile and hunched posture from where he was sitting. Okay, so maybe she would live to see another day.

-Well, I figured it was you. But...Why?

He looked down on his hands, there was shame in his voice when he spoke.