I nodded. True, he was here a lot. And that reminded me. "Yes," I snapped and he looked at me, shocked at my change of tone. The sudden bitterness sweeping through.
"I didn't eat it all, there's still more left?" Adrian said hesitantly, handing me the marshmallow packet. I grabbed it and sat back against the bed.
"No, you're allergic to dogs and now I can't have one. Darius said he didn't want you to blow up, go red, burst and die."
A bit exaggerated, but well worth it.
"He said that?"
I nodded. Maybe I can get an allergy-free dog. There are plenty of those around.
Adrian spoke and said, "I knew he loved me. Good thing I still have your ring. We can get married."
I looked sideways at him as I asked, "You still have my ring?" I was shaking my head as I searched the bed for something else to eat. Where are the chocolate buttons?
And I decided to leave out the part that was disgusting. Since they are cousins, I was positive that came under some sort of incest.
Adrian had to go to the doctors to get the ring off and I was expecting him to chuck that disgusted mouldy ring away.
"What are you going to do with a ring?"
"Wear it, duh. I'm trying to watch the movie, Aluminium. Shut up."
My jaw dropped as I stared at him. Ok, he was serious. He grabbed a packet of chicken chips off the bed and munched, loudly.
You know, just sit on my bed and eat, not like I want to sleep or anything. I got up and walked into the walk-in closet and grabbed some clothes. I left Adrian to watch his movie and found myself one of the other rooms.
Changing out of this dress never felt better and when I felt the soft mattress, I was in love. It hadn't even been five minutes before the door burst open and a huffed and puffed Adrian was standing in the doorway.
I opened one eye to try to shield out the light. Did he really have to switch that on?
"What?" I grumbled as I pulled the blanket higher.
"You can't sleep!"
"What?"
Was he crazy? He had to be. The clock said it was quarter to midnight and there was no way I was staying one second past midnight.
"Darius will be coming home," he announced in his attempt to keep me awake.
"So? He can go to sleep as well." I peeked through the blanket, making myself a safe hole to look from. He didn't need my permission to go to bed. "And you go sleep as well, and turn the lights off, will you?"
I ducked back under the blankets, safe and sound in my favourite haven. Silence followed, making me think he had left. But there was always silence before a storm and the next minute, the blanket that was wrapped around me was pulled and I rolled off the bed, landing hard on the floor.
"Jesus!"
The thud that vibrated through the room made me think I had knocked over the cabinet on my way down. I stared up at the bright light before Adrian's face came into view.
"Yes, one must pray before bed. Now get up, and get ready."
"For what?!"
Adrian just shook his head in surrender, throwing his hands in the air and walking out while yelling, "I tried." He even took my blanket with him.
Tried with what?
With a sigh, I got off the floor to chase him down. Can someone just clarify what the hell is happening?
"Adrian?" I went back in the room, but he was gone. But the mess he left on the bed was pretty much still there. I shook my head. He better clean this up. I liked that bed.
When I trudged back downstairs, the lights were off. It was dark that I almost fell down the last stair. Great, now Adrian listens.
"Adrian, this is not funny," I called out at the same time I felt a cold breeze. Did he just open the main door? What if someone came in? Do the guards work through the night as well?
I rushed over, expecting him to jump out of the closet. Nothing.
I peeked out from behind the door. Wait, did he just leave? Just like that, in his pink-striped pajamas, walk out of the house barefoot?
And sure enough I heard the sound of a car on the road. Where was he going? Who was going to babysit me?
"Annoying man-child," I muttered in frustration as I slammed the door shut. Now I have to clean the room myself. I was about to go back inside when I felt like someone, or something, was watching me and I paused. Maybe I shouldn't have thought about horror movies. I felt my blood run cold as I leaned over, plucking the umbrella from the stand.
"Who's there?"
I switched on the light. No one.
Silly, Ivory. There is no one here. I switched the light off, shaking my head as I walked to the kitchen for a glass of water to calm me down. Maybe living in this big house by myself most of the time was a bad idea.
And Marge wasn't even here. When is she coming back? I was starting to miss her presence. I filled a glass with water and leaned against the bench, keeping the umbrella near me just in case something did decide to pop out of the microwave, or the oven.
I looked out the window into the garden and smiled, putting my glass down.