Better Left Unsaid

Chapter 8

Cat opens the door to our apartment and I drag my feet through the doorway. Finally the school day has ended and I can relax on the couch. I can practically see my name on it. I collapse face down on it and give a loud groan of relief. Cat giggles.

"What's funny?" I say.

"You." She answers.

I groan again in reply and sit up. There has to be something good on television. I grab the remote and flip through the channels. Cat skips into the kitchen and opens the fridge, leaning over to look inside. I can't keep my eyes from wandering and the lock on her ass poking up in the air. I shut them quickly and turn back around.

"Anything you're hungry for?" she asks, her voice echoing in the fridge. "Hey, my voice echoed! Echooo!"

"Is there any of the leftover pizza?" I ask with my eyes still closed. I didn't want to open them again for at least twenty years.

"Umm…yeah." she replies. "Six pieces."

"Heat me up three." I say.

"Kay-kay." she says.

I hear the stuff in the fridge being moved and then the sound of the door being shut. She has to be standing now. Taking a risk, I open my eyes a slit and look behind me. Yep. She's standing at the counter dividing up the pizza. I let go of my breath and tune my attention back into the TV. Celebrities Underwater. Looks like Alexa Vega. Huh.

Cat carries our plates over to the couch and hands me mine. She then sits down next to me and leans back, crossing her legs. An odd question comes to mind and it's out of my mouth before I can process it.

"So what's the full story between you and that Jade West girl?" I ask.

"Oh, Jade's a best friend of mine." Cat answers with a smile though she doesn't look at me. "We've known each other since forever. I thought I told you this."

I nod. "You did, but refresh my memory. How long?" I say.

Cat shrugs. "I don't know, as long as I can remember."

"Ah, okay." I say kinda quietly.

"Can I tell you something?" Cat says.

I'd prefer you not. "Sure, go ahead." I say.

"That improv we were doing, you were really good."

"Thanks."

"You just seemed really into character."

I bite down on my pizza hard, just barely missing my lower lip. Duh, I was in character. Because I wasn't acting. These words don't leave my mouth though; I stuff it with food before they can.

...

Who's stupid idea was it to watch a movie again? Oh, right. Mine. Cat and I got bored and decided it was time to shake things up a bit. So I went onto FlixNet and put up a movie that Cat thought would be good because it had a doll on the cover. God forbid she not see the fucking scars or pay attention to the demonic smile. So now, here we are. She's pressed against me, whimpering quietly and biting her lip. We haven't left the couch.

"Sam?" Cat whispers.

"Yeah?" I respond.

"Do you think that doll is coming after us?"

I roll my eyes. "No, Cat. The doll isn't coming after us."

"But-" she starts to protest.

"Evil dolls aren't real." I say. "There's nothing to worry about."

There's a distant creek and Cat jumps, squeaking in surprise. Her fingers tighten on my arm and she leans in closer. "Sam, I'm scared."

I look at her. In the darkness, I can see her lip poking out and her eyes wide with terror. My heart skips. Not surprisingly, I notice how close our lips are. A knot ties in my stomach. God, this kid.

"I'll tell ya what." I say. "Why don't we go into the bedroom and you can turn on your nightlight to help you sleep."

"But you hate my nightlight." Cat whines.

It's true, I did. That damn bright light lit up the whole goddamn room. Even worse, it was pink and heart shaped. I shake my head. "Well, not tonight. You can use it tonight." Her eyes brighten up a bit and I stand from the couch, making my way to the bedroom. Cat doesn't follow. "Now what?"

"I don't wanna walk alone."

"The room is right there!" I say, pointing at the doorway. Her eyes look in that direction, but she doesn't move. I sigh and take her hand. "Better?"

She nods and lets me take her to the room. I open the door slowly and Cat sucks in a breath, holding it. I take a soft step onto the carpeted floor, Cat right behind. Jeez, why was I taking precautions? For Cat's sake? Yeah, probably. I wasn't afraid.

I stay with Cat until she climbs into her bed and turns on the nightlight. I squint, already regretting what I told her. Oh, well. So long as she leaves me alone. She snuggles down into her bed and pulls the covers up to her chin. I, on the other hand, simply fall on top of my covers and close my eyes.

Unfortunately for me, sleep doesn't come easy. I try curling up into a ball, switching sides, even laying on my back. Maybe it's because of that light. I can see it through my eyelids. Speaking of light, I wonder if Cat's asleep.

"Sam, you still awake?"

Son of a bitch. Thought to soon. "Sorta." I yawn.

"I can't fall asleep." she says.

"You have your light, what else do you want?" I say.

"Can...can I sleep with you?" she asks so low I can barely hear her.

She's shitting me, right? Cat in my bed. Cat in my bed... Now, of course I've shared my bed with people. I've shared with Melanie, I've even gotten into bed with Carly a few times. This, though, was totally different.

"Fine, whatever." I give in. "Just hurry up."

I hear her tiptoe across the floor and my bed creaks as she lowers herself onto it. She curls up against me, putting her arm around me and sighing contentedly. "Thanks, Sam."

"No problem, kid." I say before sleep finally takes me.

...