Upside Down

(10) Maybe Throw In An Evil Monkey Or Two

Chapter 10

Clean : Good :: Baths : Bad

Dr. Todden took her stuff and gave us one last goodbye before she left me and my father in his study.

"You will take care of the girl, correct?" My father demanded. I felt offended. Of course I was going to take care of Kriss. Why wouldn't I? Sure, I'll just toss her back to her abusive family then laugh. Maybe throw in an evil monkey or two just to fling crap everywhere then give her a bunch of sugar-filled candy and watch her explode and laugh some more maybe catch it all on video and post it on Youtube.

"Yes." I answered instead.

"Good," My father grumbled darkly. "We will get the Rufus family."

And for once I entirely agreed with my dad.

He stayed in his office for pack business while I walked out the door. I was so glad that the meeting thing was over and I got to be back with Kriss. While I trusted Drew I still wanted to be the one to look after her because you never knew what could happen.

"Kriss?" I called out as I entered the living room. She sat on the couch and I knew imediately that something was wrong. She had her knees tucked up with her arms wrapped around them and her head down as she groaned, rocking back and forth. Even though the light was off, I made it to her side in seconds and wrapped my arms around her. "Kriss, what happened? Are okay?" Furiously she shook her head and moaned again. "Kriss, please, look at me." I begged. "Please, tell me what happened."

Her grey eyes looked at me and she said, "I ate too much. It's so addicting."

I frowned taking in her appearance. Her pupils were pin pricks, and something blue and sparkly was all over her face and tounge. I spread her arms out to see her sticky with stuff and the same blue sparkle stuff over the palm of one hand. Wrappers and soda cans were everywhere, on her clothes, on the floor, in her hair. She looked sick too.

"Where's Drew?" I growled out.

She whimpered but pointed behind the couch she was sitting on. I looked over the back of the couch to see Drew passed out with a jar of blue sprinkles in one hand and a pile of sparkly blue sprinkles in the palm of the other. Wrappers and bags made a blanket of trash for him. That moron gave her candy, tons of it! They had been eating sprinkles out of the palm of their hands like some kind of drug! Did he know that sprinkles are pretty much colored sugar?

I was about to lung at him and ... I don't know (You can't knock someone out if they're already passed out) give him a lot of pain but when I took in Kriss's shivering state I knew it could wait for later. She needed to be taken care of first.

I took her in the kitchen, grabbing a wash cloth and getting it a bit wet to wipe off the blue on her mouth. I set her on the counter and started wiping, but it wasn't coming off easily. The dye had colored her skin temporaily a dark blue as well as her teeth. "No more candy for you." I grumbled as I got a bit more blue off her soft ... plump, pink lips that naturally shaped a perfect cupid's bow. I leaned forward to her soulful grey eyes and from this close up I could see specks of blue and silver, the most amazing color I've ever seen. Dense black eye lashes framed her large round... beautiful, beautiful eyes.

"Emerson Landon James," I jumped as my mom walked into the kitchen. "why is Drew passed out behind my couch?"

"Sugar overload." I answered honestly, but turned towards Kriss with my head down so no one would see me blushing. Why was I blushing? We weren't doing anything wrong were we?

Not yet.

I ignored my inner thoughts as I washed the stickiness off of Kriss's hands. "Hey mom, can you give Kriss a bath? She's very sticky."

"Mmhm," My mom hummed with a smirk as a yes. I don't know what she was smirking about, but at least she agreed. Maybe Dad had said something funny. "Yeah, i just need to finish these dishes. You two go on up to the guest bathroom ahead of me."

I scooped up Kriss in my arms again and took her upstairs. It would only take a few minutes before she finished. I set her on the counter of the guest bathroom's sink then started the bath.

"Bath?" Kriss questioned as I turned the knobs to adjust the tempature.

"Yeah," I agreed. "My mom will help you. I hope that's okay."

She frowned from the counter top. "Why can't you?"

I chuckled nervously not meeting her eyes. She didn't know what she's talking about. She didn't know about ... guys and girls I guess. I mean, why would she? So being ... nude in front of a guy wouldn't be a big deal. Being naked period wouldn't be a big deal. "No, I-I can't." How come I'm blushing again? This is weird, I should see a doctor or something, for abnormally blushing too frequenly.

"The water ready?" I turned to see my mom at the opening. I nodded, standing up.

"I'll see you when you get out." I told Kriss. "Then you go to sleep." She nodded and stepped off the counter. I didn't want to go but my mom practically shoved me out the door and I went to walk down to the living room. I was just passing the laundry room when I found Kriss running and screaming ... naked.

She ran right into me, hugging me closely and sobbing. What had my mother done? I took her into the laundry room and grabbed a spare blanket from one of the shelves trying not to look at Kriss's ... exposure.

"Kriss, tell me what happened." I demanded once she was covered.

She was still crying and holding me. "It was so loud and I thought I was going to drown and she was grabbing my hair." When she said it it sounded like 'ItwassoloudandIthoughtIwasgoingtodrown-andshewasgrabbingmyhair' but I understood the jist of it. My mom hadn't done anything. Kriss had never seen a bath tub before and freaked out. She had said something about it being loud and drowning and Mom pulling her hair.

"It's okay, shh Kriss. It's okay." I soothed as she sobbed into my flannel shirt. "It was just a bath, Kriss. It won't hurt you." She stopped sobbing and went stiff. I pulled her away from my chest to look into her silver eyes. "I've taken baths too, Kriss. Multiple times and yes they are scary at first but they won't hurt you unless you're freaking out. They get you clean, they don't kill you."

"Really?" She looked skeptical.

"Do you trust me?" I held my breath, not really sure of her answer but I didn't have to wait long.

"Yes."

"And did I promise I'd never hurt you?"

"Yes." She repeated a little meekly.

"Then I wouldn't tell you to do something I wouldn't do or something that would hurt you." I said to her in a whisper. "You just need to relax and the whole process will go by fast."

"Okay." She whispered back.

I didn't know why we were whispering or who started it but it seemed right. This wasn't a loud or energetic moment.

I made sure the blanket was still on her good, I didn't want anyone starring at her even if only my family lived here. I took her back upstairs to the bathroom where my mom stood at the door, covered in bubbles.

I burst out laughing seeing her blonde hair covered but then quit when I saw her scowl. I didn't let out one more laugh ... okay maybe a giggle or two but I knew more would just be pushing it.

With a last longing look Kriss cast my way, she walked in the bathroom to my mother who imediately shut it in my face with a loud echoing slam.