How to Kill a Man in Thirty Seconds

Chapter 25: Welcome

MARCH 16TH, 6 YEARS AGO, AGED EIGHT

The sky outside is a stormy grey, sheets of rain falling hard and pattering on the roof overhead, filling my ears with a rhythmic thud. Cold air blows in through the open window as I huddle in bed, staring at the torrential downpour outside, mesmerized. I love the rain, and the fresh, earthy smell accompanying it that fills my senses right now.

The sound of the doorbell downstairs sounds and I leap out of bed, dashing to the front door. My father stands there, clutching two hefty bags in his large hands, brown hair matted to his head and his clothes damp as streams of water drip off of him onto the mat.

"Daddy!" I nearly scream as I rush to him and he nearly drops the bags in surprise as he bends down to lift me up into his arms, returning my tight embrace with a chuckle.

When he finally puts me down, I dig into the bags to discover- in elation- ice cream and chocolates, my favourite.

"Mum's out for tonight," he tells me matter- of- factly and we march to the living room, needing no words to be exchanged. Soon after, our eyes are glued to the TV screen as we watch two wrestlers battling each other at the centre of a ring. The fight is brutal, fists are thrown and bones broken.

I love it.

"Just so you know," dad says, as if suddenly remembering he ought to be more responsible. His words are muffled as he munches on a few stolen biscuits, "you don't ever defy your mother or me... for any reason other than this, alright?"

I laugh, nodding excitedly.

The sound of a door suddenly shutting causes our heads to whirl around in shock. My mother stands in the doorway, hands on her hips as she glares disapprovingly at us.

Oops.

I hear dad choke on his mouthful of biscuits beside me in his panic, and have to stand on the couch to reach out and clap him on the back. When he finally regains his breath, he glances back at mum, his brown eyes wide as if he's a child caught stealing cookies from the jar. I have to stifle my laugh.

Oh the things he does to make me happy.

PRESENT

The sudden suspicions I had on Valeria lingered in my mind for the rest of the day. Why had she lied, and caused that entire pity party about how she'd missed the one opportunity to speak to him? It had to be because she had something to hide.

But what exactly was her secret?

Adrian and I had initially planned on meeting up at the library to discuss our project but as luck would have it, Brian bailed last minute on babysitting my sister. I needed to be home with her. Adrian and I, on the other hand, had our schedules jam packed with detention and part time jobs.

"We have no choice. Let's work on it over at my place," I told him matter-of-factly, arms crossed over my chest, Or we'll never get this done in time."

It was time we put emotions (and in my case, dignity) aside and got down to business.

He cast me a sideways glance, seeming displeased with the idea, "Do we have to? I mean, haven't we gotten everything figured out already?"

I nearly laughed, "Oh really? What's our topic?"

Adrian shrugged, "I mean, it's Psychology, the study of the human brain. Isn't it self-explanatory?"

I rolled my eyes, "I am aware of that, genius but the name of the subject, cannot be our topic. If you have any intention of acing this subject, we've got to narrow it down."