The Ace of Spades

Chapter 21

She's serious.

Doug Sullivan #2 is dead. He croaked, the girl on the other end of the phone said, about a year ago. Probably a combination of things, but the doctors say it was overdose primarily.

Mea lays naked, on her back, staring at the cieling. She's experimenting. How bad about her naked body does she feel? Be honest, Mea. What is it you don't like?

Mea feels exposed. She's alone. It's six a.m. The world outside her window is barely lit, a tiny glow from a sunshine that is climbing every second. Yet, she feels exposed. The hidden parts of her are out in the open.

"Dad is dead," Mea whispers to herself.

She tries those three words on for sound. They sound terrible, quite frankly. Dead. Dead dead dead. Overdose. That means he never got better. He left them because it was what was best for everyone. Including himself.

The thought that he is soon to be a grandfather but of course will now never know this swirls around in Mea's brain. She lets the thought go. Jojo's baby is still months from coming alive, fresh eyes peering at a fucked up world.

Mea climbs out of bed, feeling limber. She pushes the thoughts of her father (or lack thereof) from her mind, now in full Experiment Mode.

Just how limber is Mea really?

Naked as the day she was born, she attempts some of Jojo's yoga. Downward dog, anyone?

Mea pins her legs together, bends forward, reaching to place her palms on the floor. She's not entirely sure if this is the proper way to form this pose, but the muscles in the backs of her legs feel like they are ripping and tearing.

Her breasts fall and situate themselves in her neck, the blood rushes to her head, thoughts like what am I doing? This is a terrible idea! flood her mind. Mea's spine cracks, a ginger snap at such an early hour.

Down, down, down and -

Oh god, Mea launches herself back up, sits herself flat on the bed and covers her mouth.

She can smell her fart. How embarrassing. What a stupid fucking idea!

Mea swears no one will ever know of this, and dresses herself in a haste.

***

"I miss Mimi," Toto says at breakfast.

"We all do, Totes," Jojo smiles at him across the table.

Mea laughs inwardly at herself, she doesn't miss their mother as much as she had expected to.

"I haven't talked to her all summer," he says.

Mea glances at Jojo's belly. Mimi doesn't know.

"Me neither, but we'll see her soon. Two weeks left of summer vacation today."

"How many days is two weeks?"

"Fourteen."

"Fourteen more days until you can see Libby again," Mea smirks.

Toto blushes and drops his fork on his plate, a loud clang.

"Stop, Mea!"

Mea laughs and catches Jojo's eye as she does too.

Jojo looks slightly more haunted by the news of their father than Mea. She was, after all, the one speaking on the phone. Doug's stepdaughter called herself Casey and said she was 15, she was nice enough, but still alien.

Aliens, Mea thinks.

***

Mea meets Victor on the beach instead of the cave. She wishes she were alone in the cave with him, away from anyone's eyes were they to drive past or decide to go to the beach. Mea's never seen anyone on this beach or driving past it but today would be the day, she's sure. Besides, it's likely a good thing. Who knows what Mea would do.