Hey, Cruel World - (Marilyn Manson)

If They Let You Into Heaven, Then I'd Rather Go To Hell

  "Hey, Babe!" Laney shouted, throwing her arms around me clumsily, as always. I stood outside her front door on the little porch, Christmas lights streaming all around her little house. I was here alone, with my small bag packed for the night, and my two pink, Hawaiian flowered pillows that didn't fit my style whatsoever. She'd come to the door like the speed of light, like she'd been waiting right there for my arrival, and I was very thankful for this, because it was freezing outside. Still, no one understood that crazy weather, but people were accepting it. Never before had it been so cold outside around Christmas, and everyone was loving it thus far. It was the night of Christmas Eve Eve, as I called it, and the streetlamps and Christmas lights everywhere filled the street in the darkness. I smiled at the scene.

  Laney and I were always calling each other "babe." I'd always said how I hated the pet name, so naturally, she started calling me that, and it ended up becoming regular for us. We'd been hanging out as much as possible when I wasn't speeding through my school work or practicing guitar and preparing myself for the upcoming tour starting in January. I came over to Laney's regularly and we spent time together. She liked to mess around with her jewelery making and we made certain things together as she taught me about how she made her stuff. We'd become extremely close in only a short matter of time, and were just about as best of friends as anyone else.

  "Hey, Babe," I resonded as usual, grinning and putting my arm around her for a brief moment. She grabbed my pillows and took my hand, then pulled me into the dark hallway. She shut the door behind us and sped to her room where she threw the pillows on the bed. I set my bag on the floor and she ran into the next room. She was always so bouncy and energetic, and I couldn't help but grin after her. I got into the living room in time to see her fly over to the couch. There were tons of snacks and other foods and drinks sitting on the coffee table in front. Her Christmas tree was up and lit beautifully and her Christmas lights glowed, strung all around the room. I joined her on the couch and kicked my shoes off. We were both wearing simple sweatpants, t-shirts, and socks, and I found a blanket to cover up with quickly. She took half and snuggled up next to me and I smiled.

  "Movie time begins now," she said, and looked up to grin in my face.

  "Bring it on, Baby," I said. She started one of her favorites, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, and we sat on the couch, eating pretty much everything in sight. At one point, she went into the kitchen to get some more drinks, and managed to somehow sneak back in and behind the couch without me seeing her. Her hands found my neck from the back and I screamed at the top of my lungs, only to hear her burst into laughter behind me.

  "You are dead meat!" I screamed and as she sat back down beside me. I tackled her, my hands around her throat, and ended up laying on top of her, both of us in fits of laughter.

  "Well, you're toast," Laney said, barely able to choke the words out, and that started another wave of laughter for both of us. We finished the movie, finally, and started to clean up the living room from all of our junk food and whatnot. We were both pretty big clean freaks and I told her I wasn't going to leave the room until we'd done the dishes.

  "I need to take a shower," I told her when we finished. "But because of you, I'm scared to death!" I said, trying to hold an angry expression, but I ended up laughing again.

  "Come onnnn," she said, sounding exasperated. She took my hand and led me into the bathroom. We both stripped off our clothes and got into the shower, the steaming water so soothing as always.

  "God, Laney," I said, looking at her beautiful, flawless body as we stood under the water. "I'm going to have to end up dumping Zim and turning lesbo for you." She grinned.

  "I've always known our love was true!" she exclaimed and she threw her body against mine and her arms around my shoulders. I brushed her off.

  "Gross, get off me," I said, looking disgusted. She just laughed and we took our shower as quickly as possible. We got out, got dressed, and blow-dryed each other's hair. When we were finished, we went into her bedroom and laid out on the bed. I took my phone, plugged it into her docking station, and scrolled through the music.