The Devil is the Good Guy (Revised)

Chapter 6

               

The alarm buzzed just a foot from my head yet I couldn't bring myself to silence it. I barley slept as each time I closed my eyes memories of my uncle flashed through my mind. Uncle Mike was only six when I was adopted so he and I were very close. In a way he was more like a big brother then my uncle.

My earliest clear memory of him was when I went to visit my grandparents for Christmas. I remember how all he wanted to do was play his video games. He was left watching five-year-old me while the adults were in the other room. I faintly remember him giving up the controller so he could show me how to play a game I've forgotten the name of. Since then I always wanted to play with him when I was over.

When my Mom's parents died in the accident I was nine and wasn't really sure what was wrong. He and my mom went into this stage where they didn't talk to anyone for the longest time. I was so confused as to why my Uncle had moved in with us and wouldn't play with me. I understand now and I'm sure my mother is going to go into the same trance.

With a sigh I reluctantly stood and moved to the door. As I moved I passed the mirror and paused. My eyes were puffy from crying and my face was blotchy. I sighed again looked at the clock that had finally stopped beeping. It was too late to get ready for school and I really wasn't in the mood.

Defeated by exhaustion I fell on my bed and cuddled one of my many pillows. I quickly checked my phone and answered the text from Kate about club being canceled with how I wasn't going to school anyway. She instantly replied with how she was stopping by with the others later to check on me and how I couldn't stop her.

My mouth formed a sad smile as I closed messages. I sighed again and clicked a music app and selected my 'In this Moment/Halestorm' playlist. The music helped me force myself to sleep even if I was only going to get a little.

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I was awoken around noon when my dad came into my room baring food. He placed a tray of cake and tea. The beverage smelled heavenly and the small cake was decorated with blueberries.

"Hey there pumpkin. I brought you something to eat." He spoke quietly as he sat on the bed and rubbed my back. "Can I get you anything else?"

Slowly I sat up and leaned into his side. He placed his arm around me. "Will you stay with me for a little bit?" I snuggled closer into his warm side and wrapped my arms around him.

"Of course." I didn't see him smile but I could tell by his voice that his mouth had formed one. He ruffled my hair with one of his hands and kissed my forehead. "You probably don't remember this cause you were still a baby but when Mike met you for the first time he was so nervous. So nervous that he hid behind a chair. Looking back on it now I think he also called you a 'creepy cubby baby' out of nervousness."

I giggled at the comment and sat up. "Thank you." I said and received another hair ruffle. I looked to the cake and tea. "It looks yummy. Did you make it just for me?"

"Yep. I also made one for your mother." He frowned and looked to the door. "She hasn't moved since we got her to bed. I did get her to drink the tea but she hasn't touched the cake."

I frowned and stood. Grabbing my tray I headed to the bedroom down the hall. The door was open so I went in without knocking. After placing the tray down I jumped onto the bed and rolled over to place my arms around my mother the best I could. "Do you remember that time I got angry and tossed Uncle Mike's toy tank into the pond at the old house. He got so upset he locked me out of the house and he was the one who got in trouble. There was also that one time where I made him fish my imaginary friend out of the toilet and he only did it because I wouldn't stop crying. Oh or that time he tricked me into eating a caramel onion."

There was a short laugh from under the blanket my mother had hidden herself in. "Or that time I ate his cake and blamed it on you and he just stole your teddy. You were so confused and upset." Her voice was scratchy, probably from crying. She sat up to hug me.

I smiled, hugging her back. "Wanna eat that cake Dad made with me. It always tastes better when I eat with someone."

A sad smile formed on her face and she reached for her cake as I reached for mine. We sat on the bed eating cake and giggling about memories of Uncle Mike. When the cake was gone giggling soon turned to crying and we sobbed into each other's arms.

When we pulled apart and wiped our eyes, mom hugged me again and whispered a thanks. I ruffled her hair just as dad does and slipped out of the bed. As I left the room I passed my dad who was entering. I turned for a moment to see him sit on the bed next to Mom. I smiled and made my way back to my room. The music was still playing in its quiet tone and I inched back into bed, ignoring my messy reflection. The bed was warm and welcoming.

Just as I was about to close my eyes the doorbell rang. I turned to the clock to find that it had been an about hour since school ended. As I moved to get up I heard the door open as my dad greeted the girls.

Moments after they entered the house they were in my room. Kate toted a plastic shopping bag, Pam a two liter, and Taylor wore a socked face. "I imagined you as more of a classical music type girl," Taylor said.

I turned to my phone and hit pause. "Is it so hard to believe?" I paused, looked at the bag and pointed. "What you got there, Kate?"

A large smile formed on my friends face and she rushed to my bed. The contents of the bag were dumped onto the bed. I examined the treats that had been revealed and giggled. "We brought you a complementary bag of fun. Oh Lucas wanted me to give you his number. I gave him yours. Here." She reached into her back pocket and handed me a slip of paper. "This candy isn't going to eat its self."

For the rest of the day we ate candy and gossiped. For a moment I was able to forget my grief. Dad let them stay for dinner and the three of them were so loud they drove my mother crazy. Eventually they got rides and went home and I returned to my room where I finally got some dreamless sleep.