The sweet taste of evil

28

"What movie do you wanna see?", I asked Brenda as we entered the cinema.

She let her waves out of her ponytail and took off her grey cardigan, "I've heard Paradise is pretty good."

"Okay.", I said and we walked up to the shop.
If I were alone I definitely would have sneaked in my own snacks because the prices here are insane.

"One large popcorn, two sodas and two tickets to Paradise.", Brenda told the employee. She pulled out her wallet, "We can split it.", I said but she just smiled and payed for me.

"Thanks."

I held the warm snacks in my hands and smelled the butter as Brenda and I sat down in the red cushion seats. There wasn't many people at movies theaters, like I expected. Why would anyone try to enjoy themselves when a boy was dead?

"Are you sure you're fine?", she asked me and the big screen lit up. Her eyes turned to a emerald-green and flashed with worry.

"Yes. Can we please not talk about it?", I replied. What I needed was distraction.

"Of course." She smiled and the movie begun.

In the opening scene a newly wed couple walked on a beautiful beach together. They laughed and everything was paradise like. I sipped on my soda and watched as they jumped into the water.

Halfway through, Brenda scooted closer to me and placed her hand on mine. It wasn't the same as when Michael touched me but I felt safe. Like it didn't matter what would happen outside these walls. I admired her when she finished the last of our popcorn.

Everything seemed to go great for the couple in the movie until the groom received a letter from the hospital, saying that his brother was the father of their newborn child.

Betrayal
the action of betraying one's country, a group, or a person; treachery.

I felt bad for the guy, he had no idea that the person he trusted were to hurt him.
In my life I have had a hard time trusting people. It's hard when you never have any true friends or a family to rely on. I only had myself.

The movie ended with them getting back together and Brenda smiled at me but I failed to return it. She squeezed my hand and I felt calm again. We walked outside, back to the reality were I could go to jail at any moment.

I thought about what things would have been like if Michael hadn't moved in with me. Would I be happier? No.
My life was miserable before he came, it was just worse now. The constant fear had gotten the best of me. I really wanted to get away from all of this and start over. Have a life of my own were I would be surrounded by people who cared about me. Who loved me.

"We can go to my place if you want. I can cook dinner.", I offered to Brenda. She really felt like one of the few people I could trust but there wasn't any chemistry between us. It was like I ruined relationships for myself by falling for bad people.

"Lovely.", she said and we started walking.

It was a small town and I lived close to the cinema, close to everything really. "Where do you and your father stay?", I asked Brenda and looked around at the small things our town had to offer.

"Just behind the station actually.", she answered.
I knew that it was the fanciest neighborhood here and I assumed that she didn't want to brag. Her father must have gotten well paid since he was the sheriff. I wonder if she tries to impress him like I do with my mother..?

"That's nice.", I picked at my nail and was slightly uncomfortable because of the silence.
Brenda readjusted her cardigan and picked up her phone from the pocket, it looked like she got a text as her eyes scanned along the screen.
She frowned but quickly went back to her normal smile. That's strange.

"Well, this is where I spend most of my time.", I showed her the old house with my hands.
We went inside and took of our shoes, Brenda placed them in a perfect way while I just tossed them aside.

"How does pasta sound?", I entered the kitchen, sat my long hair up in a bun, and put on a apron. Brenda followed me and sat down at the dining table with her focus on my as I filled the pot with water.

"Delicious.", she said and licked her lips.

I heated up the tomato sauce as well and we discussed our favorite foods. Mine was pizza and hers lasagna, I guessed we both had a taste for the Italian kitchen. The water started boiling so I stood up and put the spaghetti in. Afterwards I grabbed two glasses and started filling them up with water. As I walked to the table I stumbled on the rug and spilled the water on myself, "Fuck.", I said and started to laugh. Brenda joined me, but she also asked if I was okay which I was.

"I'll be back in a minute.", I said as I went to my room to change shirt.

When I came back she had already done the table and served our plates, "I was just about to do all of this.", I told her and sat down.

"I know. I was just so hungry.", Brenda said and my stomach growled.
"Apparently you're hungry too.", she joked and I laughed again.

"This is so good!", she said and took another bite of the food.

"It is just pasta.", I said but she was quick to remind me to not talk myself down like that.

"There is something you should know Luci.", she suddenly went serious and I choked a bit on my water.

"What?"

"I got a text and the DNA tests have come back." Shit!
"It's is Luke's leg and they think he died on Saturday or Sunday.", she said.

I didn't answer so she continued, "They are going to bring Michael down to the station for questioning. I think you should stay away from him."

Of course they're suspecting him. Do they have any proof at all except that he was at the lake? He did have a motive though..but I still don't see why he needs to talk to the police more than anyone else.

"Thank you for telling me Brenda."

"Telling you what?", a voice said.
Michael walked into the kitchen and I saw Brenda clenching her fist under the table.

"Nothing." , I looked at him, pleading him to leave with my eyes but instead Brenda took away her plate and scouted in her chair.

"I should leave.", she said and grabbed her things in the hall. I followed her there and watched as she got dressed.
Before she left I gave her a warm, safe, hug and thanked her for the day and she reminded me to stay away from him.