Where Snapdragons Lie

Suddenly Slept Over

For once in my life, darkness was not my friend. I think I over did it on the drinks with Delilah. We shoved our faces with Chinese takeout at her house. Then drowned our feelings in whatever we could swallow. One shot of vodka to many. Shit that was a bad idea. Alcohol only makes the misery worse. I'm dizzy, feel like punching a wall, and kind of sleepy. My head heavy and my eyes red. Liz wasn't home. She wont answer her fucking phone dammit! Being alone...like this. It feels weird. My palms are all sweaty and my stomach is in knots, but I look at the clock. 23:15. 

I can't close my eyes. Every time I do I go back to Swosh's building. I go back to seeing King on the floor screaming in pain. To Manning clutching his hand and leg. The adrenaline is gone now. The gross reality of these images begin set in. Were they really this dramatic? The people one the floor, tattered and looking far more bloody than I remember. Greene in his uniform, limp and lifeless. The mess of web and silk on my shoes. And the look of rage of the fucker that tried to pull me to my doom. 

Today fucking sucked. 

Delilah's probably asleep. When she gets the chance to sleep she does. And not even a bomb wold wake that bitch up. She's definitely not going to pick up. Shamar took snoop cat back. No furry fatty for my comfort. No company at all. I'm not interested in having the bugs outside to talk to either.

Ugh....

Pierce? Maybe, I can call him. Is he even awake? Well, we are dating. Dare I call him boyfriend? Yeah, boyfriend. Kissing after pinball would constitute boyfriend in my mind. 

I pick up my cell phone and hit his number. Shit, not face time. Crap, I hit face time. Dammit. It rings three times. Three is a courtesy, he's not going to...

"Hey Magda," He answered. Thank you. I take in his little smile and burn it to memory. He sounded relaxed but not like I woke him up. His hair all tossed to the side and he had a black tank top on.  "I'd thought you would be asleep by now."

"I could say the same thing of you," I mumbled tried to hide my disheveled face. 

He chuckled, "Good point. But I've got to fill my weekly Mario kart quota somehow," He said showing of his game controller. "By the way I heard about all the shooters on the news today. Did you see that?"

I clutched my chest and heaved, "I was in there."

"Shit, you okay?" The pace of his voice picked up his body jerking up. He hit the pause button on his game. 

"I'm a little...shaken," I replied monotone dropping my hand down. 

"Can't sleep?" He asked concerned.

"Not a wink. People got hurt, people I know. I'm just..." I heard a tap from the window. I jumped, dropped my phone off my hammock and shot web at the threat. Just a stupid fucking bug. I blushed as I picked the phone back up. He smiled understandingly. "I'm just really on edge, and need a some good human company." 

"Well...I'm really glad you called me."

"Me too." 

"You know my roommates are at an engineering conference in Skiipoint city this week. Wanna stay here for a night?"

"Okay, but separate rooms," I told him. 

"I hear you loud and clear," He said giving me a thumbs up. He's a keeper. There no doubt I want to be intimate, but not have sex yet. After a few more dates, and some discussion of boundaries etc, etc. Hopefully he will understand that too. 

"Is it just the phone camera, or are you looking a little pale?" he asked.

"Its not the camera. Not the camera.... Any chance you can come get me?"