The Devil in the Details

Paaarty

Chapter 5

 "You lied to me, how could you! I thought our love meant something to you!" I stare disinterestedly at the TV wondering how the writers came up with this show, like seriously you had sex with a jerk and now you expect him to love you? Gosh, television drives me crazy half the time; I don't know how Lia actually can enjoy the show. I glance at the controller and then at the TV, in one second I grab the remote in my hand and I am changing the channel. I'm not looking for a particular show anything would be better than what was just on. I land on Pitch Perfect, and figure we both would be able to enjoy this movie. "Popcorns almost ready!" I shake my head slightly and laugh because I know that the popcorn was done fifteen minutes ago, but Lia is too busy texting James to bring it to the living room.  Almost every time we have hung out in the past week she has texted him practically nonstop. Heaving a sigh I get up from the couch because I know that if I don't go get the popcorn she will never bring it. I can't help but give her a hard time when I enter the kitchen, "so, that popcorn must be pretty hard to make." Lia glares in my direction before returning her gaze the cell. She quickly types something and then to my surprise puts down the phone. "If you had a boyfriend you would understand" she scoffs, most people would have been offended, but after hanging out a couple times I realized Lia always says what's on her mind to her friends. "Who says I want one? They take up so much time." I replied with a shrug grabbing the popcorn and opening it. I reach in and put a few in my mouth "Aw, Lia, these aren't hot anymore because you let them sit too long" I stare longingly at the bag wishing the kernels were hot. "Boo hoo, let's go back to the TV room." Without waiting for an answer she exits the kitchen, and I follow popcorn in hand. I frown when I see Lia sprawled out on the couch and then shove her feet off, "hey! You can't kick me off my own couch!!" I can tell she isn't really angry so I sit down where her feet were previously sending her a smug smile, "I'm your guest, you shouldn't be so mean." I think I hear her mumble something like 'guest my ass' under her breath which makes my smirk grow wider. We watch in silence for a while until Lia starts talking, "So we need to go shopping for dresses for the party tomorrow, we need to look nice. I figured we could go to Mary's and try some on. Wait, you are coming to the party right, you haven't decided to abandon me?" it's a little sad how desperate she sounds and I feel bad for wanting to bail on her, "of course I'm coming, I would never leave you alone with all the weird people in this town." I watch as she breathes a sigh of relief before she starts talking again, "Right, so I will pick you up tomorrow morning and we can go shopping. And I forgot to tell you, but a couple friends from school are coming too and I am sure you will like them, they're really cool." "Delilah Rose! Come upstairs this instant!" The shrill voice of Lia's mother makes both of us jump, and then Lia sends me an annoyed look, "Well the witch has awoken. You probably want to leave since she doesn't know you're here." I nod my head in agreement and push myself off the couch, "You don't have to leave right now Felicity" Cassandra says, in a sugar sweet voice, from the living room entrance, nearly giving me a heart attack. "I didn't know you were here" I caught the glare she sent to Lia even though she tried to hide it, "You could stay for dinner, we would love to have you." I feel extremely uncomfortable under her gaze and search for an excuse to leave, "Um...actually I promised Rose I would make dinner tonight so I really should go." The lie slips easily off my tongue and thankfully I can see that she believes it. I politely say goodbye and hurry out the door sending Lia an apologetic smile. On the bike ride home, I realize I am going to have to make the mean woman dinner to keep up my excuse incase Cassandra asks her at the party tomorrow. I frown as I turn into the driveway because I don't know what to make that Rose would like. I head right to the kitchen when I enter the house, and start to search the fridge. Rose must have heard me come in because a few minutes later she is standing in the kitchen. "Did you have a good time at Lia's?" She asks with a certain glint in her eyes that makes me wary, "yes?" I meant to sound sure but it comes out like a question. "Well Cassandra just called to ask about her party, and she told me to enjoy the dinner your cooking. Now, I am certain I don't know what that woman is talking about, care to enlighten me?" I decide it would be stupid to lie so I tell Rose the truth. To say she looked mad would be understand "You lied to Cassandra and made me look like an idiot over the phone, I really don't understand why you act so stupid. Your parents never acted like you do." Personally I think she is overreacting, but there's no way I am going to tell her that. I refuse to apologize though, "Well, what would you like for dinner?" I ask in a somewhat polite voice. "I want cabbage and fish." I restrain myself from commenting and nod my head, but as soon as she is out of the kitchen I slam my hands on the counter and take several deep breaths. Of course Rose would pick a meal with two foods that I completely detest. I contemplate whether I should make what she wants or make something else to spite her. I end my internal debate and start to cut cabbage because I fear that Rose will kick me out if I don't. I work on the meal for almost two hours before I finish it, and set it at the table. "Rose, dinners ready" I yell out knowing it will annoy her. The dinner looks perfect and I can tell Rose is surprised when she looks at it, but she doesn't say anything or even look at me. She sits down at the table and begins to eat. I just stand there staring at her in shock; she didn't thank me for spending two hours on a dinner for her. I stalk out of the dining room and then out of the house completely furious at the woman. That ungrateful, mean, selfish, and cantankerous witch didn't thank me hell she didn't look at me. I want to scream or cry, either one will do, I start walking behind her house into the woods like an idiot. I don't really care though maybe if I die she will finally feel something for me in her stone cold heart and regret being so cruel. In some small part of my brain I know I am overreacting, but I hate living with her and what she did tonight just made it worse. I silently mutter curse words as I walk, kicking at sticks on the ground. I look at the sky and realize that it's getting darker and I don't know how long I have been walking or in what direction. I stop and look around. I have no clue where I am so I just turn around and start retracing my steps, I don't freak out because my dad and I would go hiking and walking in forest parks together so I was used to woods. If I am going in the right direction I should make it back pretty quickly. Surprisingly the forest is quiet; I can hear an owl in the distance though. Then I hear a twig snap, I pause and look all around me but I don't see anything. I quicken my pace, feeling a little nervous. Out of the corner of my eye I see movement which causes me to stop again. I let out of small shriek when I see who it is; it's that green-eyed boy from the restaurant. He is standing frozen staring at me then he nods his head as if he wants me to come forward towards him. I know how stupid it would be to go closer, but tonight I seem to be doing rather stupid things. Ignoring common sense I begin to walk towards him, but as I get closer he moves farther away. I pick up my pace, and he does the same until I am running trying to keep up with him. I stop, out of breath, and when I look up, he's gone. I walk forward more and take in my surroundings; I am in Roses back yard. I let out a sigh as the fear that had felt ebbed. Taking steady steps I reached the back door and opened it, Rose must have left it open. Before I step inside I look back at the woods trying to catch a glimpse of the strange boy who had helped me out of the woods. As I enter the house and walk down the hallway I can hear the piano. Now that I was back inside and safe I felt my stomach twist with hunger. I make myself a small sandwich and then head upstairs to bed. Not even bothering to change into pajamas I slip underneath my bed sheet. I can feel myself getting sleepy, but I check my phone before I completely pass out. A familiar feeling of disappoint courses through me when I see that I have no missed calls or messages from my mother. Letting the disappointment that I have been feeling every night for the past two weeks wash over me, I close my eyes.