Cages

chapter two (edited)

As night drew in, a very bad thunderstorm followed.

The sound of the heavy rain and loud thunder made my heartbeat pick up. I hated when it rained like that. I laid down in my bed, trying to calm my nerves and fall asleep but I was failing epically.

I got out of bed, knowing I wouldn't be able to be at peace because of the storm. Knowing that there was a chance the power would go out, I went downstairs and grabbed a flashlight.

Just as I put the batteries inside, there was a flash of lightning and a big boom of thunder. The lights went out.

“Great.” I muttered.

I clicked on the flashlight and began to make my way back up the stairs when there was a knock on my door. At first I thought it was just the wind but then I heard it again & decided to check it out. I know, this is always how the white kids die in the scary movies, but no one would be stupid enough to try to murder someone during a storm. Going outside was suicide itself.

Or maybe killing someone during a storm was the perfect plan. No power, night time, everyone's inside, the heavy rain is pretty loud...

I peeked out the window first (see? I have common sense) and saw someone standing on my doorstep. They had a jacket with the hood pulled over so I couldn't see their face but I can see the curly hair blowing from the sides and if that wasn't enough, I recognized the tall, slender figure that used to prance down the Preston halls.

I unlocked my door and pulled it open dramatically. I deemed it a bad idea since the wind was literally blowing rain in every direction.

I glared at Lola. “Who the hell walks in a severe thunderstorm storm?”

“My power went out.”

“So did everyone freaking else's in the neighborhood.” I snapped.

“I can't find any flashlights and I don't even have any batteries.” she replied.

“So?”

“I have no source of light whatsoever and I'm home alone.”

A rumble of thunder rolled.

“Where are your parents?” I hissed.

“They're still at work.” she said. “They're always at work.”

I expected to see a frown on her face but instead she was smiling. Of course.

That just made her presence annoy me even more. I contemplated over whether I should send Lola back home or not. I mean, she was eighteen, she can take care of herself. I didn't even like the girl. It's just a thunderstorm, not a hurricane, she'll be fine.

As I thought it over, a car rode past, skidding a little on the wet pavement before the driver gained control again. The scene made my stomach jerk.

I looked at Lola. “Come in.” I said in the meanest way possible, trying to mask my little act of kidness with my cold demeanor.

I didn't need her getting any ideas. This was a one time thing.

I stepped aside, letting her through. When I locked the door she took off her hood and looked around the living room as if she can see everything with just the single beam from my flashlight.

It's not like there was anything to see anyway. The living room was bare of pictures completely and didn't have any accessories besides the lamps on the small tables on either sides of the couch.

“Looks like someone didn't pay their electric bill.” Lola chuckled.

I stared at her. “Get out.”

“It's a joke.” she smiled. “You know, something funny that isn't meant to be taken serious.”

“I don't find it funny.” I said, my voice monotone. I walked over and took a seat on the couch. She followed and did the same, making sure she was on the other end as far away from me as possible.

Looks like she was learning.

“You need to lighten up.” she informed me.

“You need to lighten down.”

Lola laughed. “You're too serious & intense for an eighteen year old.”

“And you're too happy for a human being.” I snapped.

“It's not normal to be happy?” she smiled.

“Not twenty-four, seven, no.” I told her.

Despite my dislike towards her, we continued to talk. Well she talked, I argued. For  forty minutes I explained to Lola how weird, annoying & creepy smiling too much and being too nice can be.

That didn't stop her from doing either of those things the whole time we talked though.

After the lights came back on, Lola stood up to leave. “My parents should've been home by now. They usually get home around eleven twenty.” she said.

It was eleven forty-three.

“It's past eleven twenty.”  was all I said but in my head I wondered if they were looking for their perfect little daughter.

“Trust me, they'll probbly never know I was even gone.” she smiled as if she read my mind. “They're always too tired to check on me. They probably just went straight to bed.”

“By the way,” she said, taking a look around now that she can see before looking back at me. “I meant to ask, where are your parents? You don't have any pictures– at all, and I haven't seen them, nor have you mentioned them...”

I stiffened but didn't let any emotion show on my face. “Don't worry about that.”

I could tell my short & snappy comment made her feel some type of way but she still smiled politely.

When Lola left I was once again all alone. I'll be a liar if I said it was slightly less unpleasant being in the presence of someone else during the storm, even if it was someone I despised. The lightning and thunder decreased drastically but I could still hear the rain coming down hard.

At times like this, I'd take anyone's company.