Big Tree Village

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Apparently Rocki and Demona had come here too, when I got out of the shower Demona was walking down the hall, with a cigarette poking out of her mouth. She was wearing Rocki’s black T-shirt from last night and long white socks. “Zoey,” she said smiling. “Damn girl so you and Bryan really fucked?” My damp hair was dripping on the ground and I sighed.

“No, I don’t do that stuff. Especially with guys I just meet.” I say shaking my head. She laughed and started back down the hall.

“ARTIE!” She shrieked. “Could you make Rocki and me some coffee?” I heard the door shut behind her as she went outside and I watched the red-head kid hurry to the kitchen mumbling to himself. I walked down, my towel tightly around my chest. He looked over at me and smiled.

“Would you like some too?” He asked holding up a yellow mug. I nodded slowly. He laughed and flicked on the coffee machine and it grumbled to life.

“Who are you? And why are you Demona’s servant?” I mutter. He smiles at me and walks towards me.

“Lost a bet, no big deal. I live here, Bryan just comes in every once in a while with a girl. Rocki and Demona, come too. I love company.” He said rubbing my wet hair and going back in to the kitchen. “I’m Artie. It’s very nice to meet you.” He said slumping on the couch.

“Yeah, do you by any chance have a long T-shirt and sweats?” I wondered scratching my arm. Chance. Damn, do I miss him. He got up and walked down the hall, and opened a locked door. There was a mattress on the floor, plaid sheets, and a penguin pillowpet. There was a small dresser standing steadily on three legs in the corner. He pulled open the top drawer. There were sweats and T-shirts.  “Take whatever,” He murmured

“Thanks.” I whisper pulling up a pair of navy sweats.

“You’re welcome, Zoey.” He grumbles walking back to the living room. I couldn’t help but smile.

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Life was good at the little white house. I had clean clothes and hair, plus hot coffee with vanilla made by Artie. Bryan was still asleep as Rocki, Demona, Artie, and I watched Artie’s favorite game show. Family Feud. Some blonde girl on the show was biting her lip, not knowing what you could tell from a man’s hands. “Dumbass,” Artie mumbles under his breath, “try marital status, age.” I smile and watch as the blonde girl’s time runs out and she stayed silent. There was a loud buzzer and the answers were shone. Number one: Marital status. Two: age. Artie pointed at the screen. “What did I say? Yeah! Get it!” He laughed and so did Rocki. I leaned back and closed my eyes. Thinking how much easier it would be if I could just stay here, and never go back to Big Tree Village.

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“I need a slurpee.” Artie grumbled during a commercial. Demona raised her hand and gulped down the last of her beer.

“You cannot leave, man. Bryan is still in bed.” Demona groaned.

“Dude I’m not dealing with him, when he wakes up and you’re not here, Demona and I are out.” Rocki murmurs putting his arm around Demona. His spiky black hair was dented, and he was wearing the necklace Demona made for him. I looked at Demona, confused.

“When Bryan wakes up,” Demona explains to me, “he’s a bitch.” She finishes. Everyone nods. Artie starts to get up, Demona’s nostrils flare. “Artie is the only person who can handle him, and Artie is the only person in the world who needs to have slurpees every fucking hour.” She rolled her eyes and I looked over at Artie who smiled.

“Hayley loved slurpees.” Artie admitted. The room became silent except for the TV on some commercial for an air-freshener. “Hayley was my girlfriend, she died last year. I got in to the habit of buying them for her, and after she died it stuck.” He shrugged and pulled his keys out of his pocket. “Any requests?” He asked holding up his hands. Demona shook her head.

“Coca-cola.” Rocki muttered his eyes on an acne commercial. Artie looked over at me.  

“Uhm,” I sighed, “I’m so sorry about your girlfriend.” He nodded. “Could I get pina colada?”

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They were right. Bryan was a bitch. Even worse, actually. He walked out of his room, his boxers inside out and backwards, and was pissed because I was still here. Then he couldn’t find a mug for his coffee so he took Artie’s and “accidentally” shattered it. While I sat on the cold tile, cleaning up the broken mug Artie came back. With no slurpee for Bryan.

“You were asleep.” Artie sighed. Bryan laughed loudly.

“I’m always asleep! Damnit’ Artie! I wanted one!” I could hear them going back n forth, and then suddenly I heard Artie say it.

“Yeah why not. I’ll go back and get you one.” I heard the clatter of keys, the door slam, and then Bryan’s heavy sigh. That was my last straw. First he is stupid and cannot control himself at JUMP. Then he tries to have sex with me. Then he gets pissed off in the morning when I’m here, he is the one who brought me here. He breaks a mug and leaves me to clean up the mess. And now making Artie go back just for him.

“I have had it!” I screamed hopping over the scattered pieces and in to the living room. They all stared back at me, blankly. “You,” I say pointing at Bryan. “Are so lucky you have a place like this, and friends like them and Artie. But you take it all for granted!” I shrieked. I felt my face flush as they continued to stare. The room shifted as Bryan cleared his throat.

“You have no right to be here and say those things. Everything was better before you were here, just leave already. God.” Bryan spit out the words and they stabbed my heart. Arizona was fine. Paige and I, taking on the world. Now I’ve lost her, to a stupid boy named Flint. My mother’s a bitch, grounding me and shipping me to my father’s. I meet Demona, and Chance. Fall in love only to be told I’m not good enough. Now here, being told it was all better before I came, I can’t help but believe him.