A Little Bit of Hell and Heaven

Part 15

Simon closes the gap between himself and Casey and wraps a strong hand around her throat. "What," he growls, "did you do to him?"

"He's fine," Casey chokes. "He's just asleep. He'll wake up any second."

Steven's eyes flutter open and Simon releases Casey. "Steven, are you ok?" He asks frantically, wrapping his arms around Steven.

Steven stares at Simon in confusion, disgust, and panic. "What - who are you? Where am I? What's happening?" The questions tumble out of his mouth as he scrambles to get away from Simon and Casey.

Simon's face is a mask of shock. "It - it's me, Simon. I'm - you're my -" he chokes on the work "boyfriend."

Steven backs further away, his expression like that of a cornered animal. "No, I - I don't know you! I need -" suddenly his wings flutter and he jumps. "Why do I have wings?!?" He yelps. His eyes are wider and more frightened than ever.

Simon takes a tentative step toward him. "It's ok, Steven. I can help you. Please - let me help you remember."

"Remember?" Steven mutters. "Remember what? What did I forget?" He gasps. "Do I have amnesia?" His eyes widen and then he laughs. "I've always wondered what amnesia feels like. Actually, no, wait. I have no idea." He grabs Simon by the wrist and takes off out the door and down the sidewalk. "Let's go remember things!"

Simon looks back toward the house, looking for Casey, but she has vanished. He turns back toward Steven, and allows himself to be pulled like a ragdoll behind the bouncing child in front of him.

"Do we live there?" Steven asks enthusiastically, looking back at the mansion behind them.

"No," Simon answers. "We live in an apartment a few blocks down the street."

"Oh," Steven sighs. "We live together? Are we brothers?"

"No," Simon answers.

"So," Steven muses. "Then we're roommates?"

"Sort of," Simon answers. "We started out as roommates, but then we became a little... more."

"Oh." Steven looks confused for a moment, but then shakes it off. "Why do I have wings?"

"Well, you died about a week ago," Simon replies. "Now, you're my guardian angel."

"Oh, that's what you meant by more than roommates!" Steven takes notice of Simon's leg brace for the first time. "Well, I haven't done a very good job, have I?"

"No, you -" Simon starts. "No, this wasn't your fault."

"But it's my  job as your guardian to make sure that no harm comes to you, isn't it?" Steven protests.

"And you did your best," Simon replies. "If not for you, I would be dead right now, not just injured."

"Oh, ok." Steven is strangely silent for a moment. "I think - I think I just remembered something."

Simon's eyes light up. "Yeah? What?"

Steven looks up at the sky and waves. "Hey, readers! Hey, narrator!"

Simon facepalms. "Of all things, that's what you remember?"

I mean, I get it. Breaking the fourth wall is fun. Steven turns toward Simon and smiles. "Did you hear that? The narrator agrees with me."

"Why do you have to encourage him?" Simon asks me, glancing toward the sky. Why? Because I like making you angry and uncomfortable, Simon.

Steven smiles. "I like our narrator, don't you?"

"Oh, yeah," Simon grumbles. "She's just the best." His voice is absolutely dripping with sarcasm that I definitely heard. Simon glares at the sky. Maybe toward me, I don't know. "Why don't you go be anonymous again?" He shouts. Fine. I'll fade back into an omniscient 3rd person narrator.

"Aww," Steven pouts. "I liked her."

They walk in awkward silence until they get to the apartment. Simon walks in first, Steven following and looking around in amazement, like a kid in a candy store. Simon turns to face Steven and realizes that his lips are still covered in Casey's lipstick.

"You still have lipstick on your face," he tells Steven. "Follow me to the bathroom and we'll get it off."

"Why do I have lipstick on my face?" Steven asks, trailing behind Simon.

"Do you remember Casey, the girl back in the mansion?" Simon asks. Steven nods. "She kissed you."

Steven's eyes widen. "Is she my girlfriend?"

"No." Simon grabs a washcloth and wets it in the sink.

"Then why'd she kiss me?"

"To get back at me for something." Simon starts wiping the deep red pigment from Steven's lips.

"That doesn't make sense. If she was trying to get back at you, why'd she kiss me?"

Simon shrugs and continues to silently clean Steven's face. He focuses on the rag, trying desperately not to get distracted by how soft and utterly kissable Steven's lips look.

Once there is no more lipstick on his face, Steven's vision goes blurry for a moment. Then, suddenly, his sight snaps back into focus and he remembers. Everything. And he slaps Simon across the face.