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i stood from tate's bed and began to look at the items he had laying around. he didn't have much to pick through other than some books he stole from the library and posters of his favorite bands. "does carrying that around ever get exhausting?" the blond gestured to my oxygen tank and sat erect on his bed.
"sometimes." i laughed to myself when i found a picture book about birds. this boy had things locked away in his heart that was so young and loving.
"what did you bring?" he asked as he opened the bag i brought. "snacks," he chuckled as he pulled out the cut apple in a bag and a water bottle. i felt embarrassed but i knew in my heart he wouldn't make too much fun of me for it. "chapstick... ooo what's this?" he pulled out a cd from my bag. "the cure?" my face lit red and i snatched it out of his hands.
"don't tell my parents." he chuckled and shook his head once he saw my reddened face.
"i wouldn't dream of it." tate stood from his bed and put his hands in his pockets. "so what's your favorite color?"
"you're such a girl," i laughed and leaned against the table beside his bed. "uh my favorite color is like a neon green or a pastel pink." inside of his desk was a bag of m&m's. he pulled them out after reaching across me. he pushed one into his mouth and showed me the red m&m.
"red. also black." he offered me some but i kindly declined. "you know... you're kinda cool. i didn't like you at first." a smile tugged at my lips but i pursed them so he wouldn't see. "are you smart?"
"i would like to think i am."
"i think you are. what's something about you i can hate? something i can tease you for?" he questioned as he popped another m&m into his mouth. i shrugged and sat back onto his bed. "i'll find something. here, what are you afraid of?"
"well i guess dying. and ghosts. ghosts scare me." tate laughed and placed an m&m in my hand. "what?"
"well you're in the wrong house if you're afraid of ghosts." he widened his eyes and raised his eyebrows as he tried to sell me on the whole haunted house thing. i smiled as i put the chocolate candy into my mouth. "and what's so scary about dying? i think staying here is worse. it's a filthy world we live in."
"yeah you've mentioned that but... you have people who love you, tate. people who would die for you." his face went straight. he sat across from me on the bed with his legs crossed and his elbows resting on his knees.
"who? my own mother? she doesn't love me. adelaide i think loves me but she wouldn't risk her own life for me... and my father sure doesn't. hasn't cared much since i was six." i reached across the bed and put my hand on his.
"i care for you. i don't want you to die, tate." he pulled away from me and chuckled deeply. "what's so funny?"
"living here is hell, adeline. dying helps you move on into peace. here it's just... hell."
"well sure. it can be but... you just have to find something you love." we sat in silence for a moment just trying to figure out something else to talk about or do.
"so your dad's a priest but... he's married and has a kid?" tate narrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head in puzzlement. i will agree, it's everything against being a priest but he broke past some barriers.
"well my parents sleep in separate rooms and i'm adopted." he began to chuckle to himself but tried to hide it. "what?"
"your dad's a virgin." he kept laughing but i just sat with a smirk on my face. "wait but they aren't allowed to have kids at all though..."
"yeah. 'they should always be thinking and doing for the church and nothing but god and the church.' that's why my mom took care of me most of my life. however, father likes to move around a lot so when we'd move and he had a couple days of leave, we would spend time together." i grabbed the apple out from my bag and the water bottle. "i actually brought these over for him. excuse me for a moment." tate followed me out of his room and to the office space.
"hello, adeline." father greets me as he stands from the leather couch inside of the office. "hello, tate." i handed my father the two items i brought with me. "thank you." he kissed my forehead and unwrapped the apple.
"how's unpacking going?" i question as i run my fingers over the couch. "where'd we get this?" father shrugged his shoulders and bit into the sliced apple.
"mrs. langdon so graciously gave it to us." father sat upon the couch and looked to tate as he scoffed. "why so negative, tate?"
"oh nothing." he answered and leaned against the wall behind him. "i just think it's a bit ironic. a priest inside of the murder house?"
"i don't think it's ironic at all, no. see tate, a house is just a house my child."
"don't be naive, father. they'll come after you first because of your practice." tate pointed at my father which could show disrespect. "and maybe even your wife."
father handed me back the water bottle and gestured for me to leave as he stood. "unless you want to help, i suggest you leave, adeline. i've got to finish this for your mother."
"but she's home now, shouldn't she be doing this?" i pushed as i walked to the door.
"i am her husband, darling. i have these next few days off. i thought i would do something for her." i nodded and pulled tate out of the room with me. he was being a complete ass to my father for no reason.
"i get that your dad was a prick but not all of them are." his eyes began to water as he looked away. he tried to hide them but i saw them. "i'm sorry..." i went to place my hand on his shoulder but he pushed me away. "tate," i sighed as he shut his bedroom door on me. i leaned against the wall beside his door and rested my hand on my oxygen tank handle. "goodbye, tate." i went to leave but before i could mrs. langdon stopped me from walking down her stairs.
"be careful with my son, miss valkit. he's a sensitive boy and doesn't need your cruel words." she moved aside and let me down the stairs and out the door. a tear slipped down my cheek once i closed the iron gates behind me. i didn't mean to hurt him.
