House of Goths

Chapter 30

Thankfully, Kell had been right about no one bothering her regarding the unfortunate circumstances of that fateful night. Especially Keegan. In fact, he avoided her like the plague. Which was fine with her.

He was a strange character anyway and his avoidance of her wasn't a total loss in her eyes. He proved quite withdrawn and self-absorbed. When he wasn't sulking about, he spent most of his time downstairs in the basement, wallowing in self-pity as Crispin so eloquently phrased. When Becky asked him why he was that way, Crispin went on to explain that he was going through a painful breakup with the girl that he'd left the band for.

"The twit had it coming," Crispin said, rather flippantly. "Who does that, anyway? That'll teach him to leave his friends behind for a girl he only just met."

One evening as they sat watching another in a series of horror flicks, Keegan finally emerged from his basement dwelling and stood sulking in the living room doorway. Looking up from her comfy position between Dorian and Crispin, her toes tucked under Dorian's knees for warmth, her head on Crispin's lap, she couldn't help but flinch at the scowl on Keegan's face. Why was he looking at her with such contempt? Was he still upset at her for occupying his room?

"What the fuck's your problem?" Kell said, sitting up in his chair.

"Not that you would care," Keegan bit back, looking downwards like a sulky child.

"Oh, come on, out with it," Crispin scoffed, placing a reassuring hand on Becky's shoulder.

"You want to join us? Is that it?" Dorian asked when the moody Goth refused to speak up for himself. "Or are you just going to stand there?"

Keegan looked up and scanned the room, eyeing the spot that was presently occupied by none other than Becky. "Where? There's obviously no room for me anymore."

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Crispin snarked.

"Am I in your spot?" Becky asked, recognizing the situation for what it was. She started to sit up, but Crispin refused to let her. He almost too forcibly held her in place. "Crispin..."

"No," he insisted, holding her down. "He can damn well sit on the floor."

The last thing she wanted was to give Keegan another reason to resent her. This was obviously his spot. If he wanted it back, then it was the least she could do since he already hated her for taking his bedroom.

"I'll take the floor. Please, let me up," Becky protested, trying without success to push Crispin's vice-like grasp away from her shoulder, which by the way, was starting to hurt.

"You stay put!" he commanded her, rather uncharacteristically.

"Take it easy, man," Dorian warned him.

Determined to make his point, Crispin refused to release her.

"If she wants to get up, let her," Keegan said with an indifferent shrug of his shoulders.

"I said, no!" Crispin hissed, squeezing his fingers just a wee bit too tight around the tender flesh he held.

All it took was one tiny wince on Becky's face for Kell to launch himself from his chair. "Give her here!" he demanded, having had enough of watching Becky used as a pawn in this pissing match between Keegan and Crispin.

Immediately, Crispin realized what he'd been doing and released her. "Sorry, dormouse. Did I hurt you?" Before he could even help her up, Kell slapped his hand away and plucked her off the couch. He then carried her back to his chair and sat down, holding her in the protective fortress of his arms. Without hesitation, Becky curled into his chest.

"She's not a toy, Crispin," Kell scoffed. "What were you thinking?"

"Obviously, I wasn't thinking," Crispin said with regret and shame in his voice. He got up then and left the room, shoulders slumped. "You win, take your rightful place, Keegan."

Sure he wanted a spot of his own, but not in this way. Keegan frowned miserably. Apparently, he couldn't do anything right anymore. Not knowing what else to do, Keegan sheepishly came into the living room and meekly sat down in Crispin's vacated corner of the couch.

Dorian couldn't help but snicker and shake his head. "Nice going, man. Way to worm your way back into the fold."

Keegan didn't answer. Instead, he stared blankly at the television, feeling even more sorry for himself.

"I'm all right, Kelley. He didn't really hurt me," Becky whispered when he gently soothed the sore spot on her shoulder with his warm hand.

"Hush, watch the movie," he murmured, shifting her into a more comfortable position. The chair was wide enough for her to sit in one corner with her legs over his knees. With his left arm around her shoulders and his right hand neatly tucked between her thighs, he sighed content.

For a while now, he'd wanted an excuse to have her sit with him instead of with Crispin. But he hadn't come up with a way to suggest it without being too obvious. Keegan had actually done him a favour. As for Crispin, he'd get over it.

Sure enough, moments later, Crispin reappeared in the doorway. He looked around the room, his troubled grey eyes landing on Becky. He hadn't meant to hurt her. It was the last thing he wanted.

Feeling a tad sorry for Crispin, she smiled and wiggled her fingers at him. The prickly Goth gave her a small apologetic nod in return.

Sufficiently reassured, Crispin stalked into the room, playfully shoved Keegan out of his corner and reclaimed his spot. More than happy to acquiesce, Keegan happily settled into the middle of the couch.

Suffice it to say, Becky didn't give a hoot what this latest movie was about. Settling further into Kelley's chest, she sighed deeply and smiled to herself. All was right in her world at that moment. Like it always was when she was in the protective circle of Kelley's arms.

****

To be continued...

****

Did you enjoy this chapter? If you did, be kind enough to give it a star. Every little bit helps

****

House of Goths Copyright © 2014 by Maria Bernard ISBN: 978-0-9938067-3-5

****