The Death At Number 24

Chapter 10: The Vampire and The Clown

31 OCTOBER 2020

5:00pm

Aaron

A lot has happened in the last few months. Things which I couldn't have ever imagined happening. If you had told me this time last year that one of my mates would turn out to be a snake, and he would have been killed, and that I ended up falling for another one of my mates, but he wasn't female, and that I would have a girlfriend, but she would break up with me because I cheated on her....

I miss Lexi. Of course, she's still only in the next room, but I don't really speak to her anymore. It's a bit awkward, what with me being closer to Brett now, and us all still living together, and tonight is the first time we'll all be doing something as a four since the party.

I try not to think about that awful night. I remember the next morning only slightly, but even worse. His cold, pale body, landing on Summer, before ending up lying face-up, dead for all to see.

We've all got to move on. I've seen the light go out of his eyes in my nightmares for months. I need to move beyond it. That includes Lexi too. It wouldn't feel right having a night out without the past being resolved and left behind us. I think she feels the same too.

I've been scrolling through Facebook for the last two hours, avoiding the situation completely. I glance at the top corner of my screen and it's already 5pm. I'm surprised Brett isn't already knocking at my door, asking me for clothing advice. He probably has Summer for that now, though - now they're close enough to do that again.

I force myself out of bed, and I pull on yesterday's t-shirt. I stare at my body in the mirror; I don't hate it as much as I did. I've stopped drinking on my own, and stopped spirits all together. But I don't feel lonely anymore. Even though I was in more of a relationship then. Maybe it's a sign that me and Lexi were broken, long before I cut the string holding us together. I look at the faded cuts on my arms. I regret it deeply, but I know I wouldn't have been able to pull myself out of it if Brett hadn't been there.

Brett. I like how things are finally moving with him. I want to make something official of it, maybe even tonight. But it wouldn't feel right. I need to have this chat with Lexi before I can do it. Taken out of context, it feels weird - who else would ask their ex for their blessing for a new relationship? - but I have to do it. That's not the important thing, though. That can wait.

I leave my room and knock on Lexi's bedroom door. Number four; its door is right next to my own. I listen for a second; almost hoping that she's not in, but the door opens soon enough.

"Hi." We've not spoken one-on-one for over a month. It feels weird.

"Hey," she replies.

"Can we talk?" I ask. Lexi nods, and holds her door open for me to enter. The curtains are open, which are a good sign. Far better than a few weeks ago, if what Summer says is true. I ask, "Are you coming tonight?", even though I know the answer.

"Yeah." She shifts awkwardly on the spot and looks at the ground. "Aaron,"

"I'm sorry," I blurt out. She doesn't reply. "What I did was wrong. I know we won't ever be that close again but..."

"I don't like this awkwardness between us," she says. "We still live together."

"I want us to get to a point where we can chat together, even if it's just in a group."

"That would be good."

"But I think we need to clear the air between us first."

She nods, and takes a bottle of water from her desk. She takes a large gulp. "I'm not angry with you any more. Maybe I never was. I think I just knew."