clutter | rogers

FOURTEEN

One Week Later.

Vee fumbled out of bed and into the bathroom. She knelt on the floor and puked into the toilet. It burned her nostrils so much that it beckoned tears from her eyes.

Eventually, she was able to stand and rinse her mouth with water and toothpaste. She pulled off her sweaty clothes and lay them in a corner of the bathroom before jumping into the shower, turning the water warm.

Vee scrubbed her body and face and hair until her blue veins were easy to see. Then she stood under the water, letting the steam and shower soak into her skin until it wrinkled like prunes.

She turned the facet off and wrapped a towel around her body.

Vee moved over to her ruffled bed and sheets and sat on them. After rummaging the mess of a comforter for the remote, she finally found it and turned the television on.

Some reality show ran and she changed the channel to the news.

It displayed the outside of Aris's home.

"... Neighbors claim to have heard nothing out of the ordinary the fateful night of the man's tragic death. Officials say it was a brutal homicide with up to a dozen stab wounds and countless bullets embedded in his chest and shoulder area. There is a minimal amount of struggle shown, but it appears he had hostages. We are unsure of who this pair might have been, where they are, and their ties to him. The victim was a wood worker from Maine..."

She turned the television off.

There was a knock on the door.

She tucked the bottles on her night stand away and adjusted her towel. "Come in."

The door opened and Steve emerged from the hall. He smiled softly, and she returned the gentle expression.

He sat on the edge of her bed.

"How're you holding up?"

"I'm getting there."

"Would you like to go out to breakfast? Maybe French Toast and good coffee will lift your spirits."

She smiled deeper.

"That'd be nice."

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"How're you dealing with work, since you've been gone?" he asked after they ordered.

"Jameson's letting me write from home and email him the final products. I'm very lucky. I'm planning on going back to work in two days."

"Good, good," he said. He waited a moment. "Are you ready to talk about it?"

She shifted the coffee mug so the handle was on her dominant side. Vee took a sip as she gathered her thoughts.

"I don't have much to say," she dropped her voice to a low murmur. "Loki and I went in, waited until Loki could escape the restraints, set me free, and Aris appeared again. I was knocked out after being thrown against the wall, and Loki weakened him a good lot. When I came to, Sam's drone was there and shot Aris."

His voice was tender, "I meant: how're you feeling about it all?"

"Honestly? I feel like shit. I have terrible headaches from the vodka and throwing it up hurts my nose. My lungs feel tight in my ribcage and I need a haircut," she laughed weakly.

But his brows drew together.

She huffed. "I'm wallowing. I don't want to wallow, but I'm wallowing. I'm not even sad," she admitted, "I'm angry and frustrated that it was my responsibility and I didn't do anything."

The food came and she took a bite while the waitress left.

They ate quietly, for a few minutes.

"You sought help. We lessened the burden. You shouldn't have had to carry that much baggage. You're strong, Vee, for allowing us to help."

"I know, but I did love him, Steve. Whether it was forced or willing, I loved him. And I hated him too. I still hate him. Letting go is the hard part. He was a jackass and he didn't deserve me, and I know that, but I need to let go of this hate and despair. I can't let him continue to ruin me while he's six feet under."

He nodded. "I agree. What can we do? What can I do?"

"I want to go back to regular...ish life." Vee sat back in the booth. "I'm going to work, again, like I said. I'm going to rent an apartment of my own and move in. I'm going to shape up, now that I can. Plus, the villains are set loose from his trap, so maybe I'm not the only target." She shrugged and took another bite and sip.

He stopped eating and sat up. "Will I still see you?"

She furrowed her brow. "Hon, I know you're blond. I didn't think you were that blond. Of course, you'll still see me."

His face softened and she watched him.

"Sea foam eyes," she stated fondly .

"One day, you'll bring me to Maine and I'll see those woods in person. Your eyes matched Loki's rendition quite nicely, and I have to see the original to be sure."

"Deal."

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The End.