A Drop of Purple

Chapter 6 - Broken Eyes

 Broken Eyes

It's truly amazing that all old book shops have the same musty scent to them. I was still yet to find Aglaea Philomela but I wasn't giving up. It seemed the more out of reach it became the more I wanted to reach it. It was a kind of dare-devil game of stretching as it felt as if I would fall into danger of an abyss of some sort if I did not reach my goal. I know it sounds insane and I don't even know why I'm so determined to own this book. It's unexplainable. Unfortunately a lot of these old book shops don't have websites, most likely because the owners of these shops believe Google is a disease and a leech is required to suck the Google from your blood. So I have to visit these shops myself.

I had come home from another unsuccessful mission. My sister pretty much jumped on me and dragged me off to her room.

"Our parents are going out tonight, I'm having a little gathering, is there anyone you want to invite?" she asked.

"What about Peony?" I asked.

"Peony is going to some babysitter place," She told me.

"Ugh...."

"Suck it up. Our parents haven't been out for ages this is like the only time I have."

"It's never any fun for me."

"That's why I'm asking if you want to invite anyone. I've already invited that guy you hang around with, Archer."

I looked at her with wide eyes "You what!"

Her phone started to ring and she picked it up. Then shooed me out of her room. She really invited him. Archer. He's coming to my house. He could walk into my room and..... ruin my books? No he wouldn't do that. There really isn't anything in my room that would be very interesting to him. I just really don't want to be entertaining him the entire night, I'd prefer to sleep and I don't enjoy his company, it's just very annoying for me. Also he could judge my sister, both positive or negative are equally as bad. One meant more rumours and the other meant seeing him around my sister. I don't mind the rumours, it just seems like it could start getting violent, seeing the way they seem to approach me and I highly doubt my sister would help me or even cear it up.....

***

So I watch my parents leave in their car with Raven breathing heavily over my shoulder.

"They're gone," she smiled deviously.

I have her a suspicious look and slunk back to my room while she ran around rearranging the house to be more 'party friendly'. I started to clean my room a little, not because it was that dirty I just didn't want to give Archer something to talk about in here in his pathetic attempts to make conversation with me. Or worse bring it up at a later date. However there is no doubt in my mind that he is going to comment on my massive book shelf that covers an entire wall of my room.

I prowled out to find my instruments as I don't want some morons screwing around with them and breaking them. They are delicate. The house was very clean though, if only Raven would do this when the house actually needed to be cleaned. Raven was putting out alcohol in a esky.

I gave her a confused look "How did you get that?"

"Have have my ways."

As soon as I put my instruments away safely in my room. The door was opened and Raven's.... friends came pouring in. I walked into the dining room and sat on the table next to the chips and start to munch on them. All of the people looked like losers and bottom feeders. I really hope none of them attempt to make conversation with me.

"Hey Ashley."

I turned to see Archer standing behind me wearing a stupid leather jacket and jeans.

I looked up at his face "You look stupid."

"Great greeting Natasha," He looked around "you've got a nice house."

"Thanks, I just wish it wasn't full of these pricks," I sighed.

"Why don't we go into your room?" He leaned in closer to me.

I raised an eyebrow "is this another endeavor of flirting with me again?

"No!" He paused "well maybe."

"Ugh, you're an idiot," I got up and walked across the room. He followed not knowing what is good for him. I walked and he stalked after me into a more quiet part of the house which was overlooking the street. It was kind of dark but I couldn't be bothered turning a light on. I wandered up to the window. The streetlights cast their rays into the room via the window and outside was silent compared to the thundering music that boomed within the house. It was bliss out there and still, so very still.

Archer walked up behind me.

"I hate parties," I muttered.

"How about we ditch then?" he suggested.

"I can't leave Raven in charge of the house, she'll burn it down."

"But could you even stop her if you were there?"

I sighed "Damn it you're right, let's go then. I'll just get a jacket."

I walked off to my room and apparently that was an invitation to follow me into my room. Archer looked around my room "cool room, got a lot of books."

I smiled to myself and picked up my jacket "Oh do I?"

"Have you read all of these?" He asked.

"Pretty much," I walked out of the room turning off the light leaving him in the darkness. He walked after me and we left the house. Outside it was still and quiet exactly as it had appeared from the window.

"It's nice out here," Archer said and I looked up at him and into his eyes. Something seemed broken though. It was like all happiness had been shattered in his eyes.