Aberrant

Chapter Thirteen

“Just…can you come over?” He says nervously. I bite my lip and narrow my eyes at him.

“Move.”

He moves from my view so I can jump. I crawl out my window and stand on my windowsill. I jump and then duck to go into his room. As soon as my feet touch the carpet floor Xander attacks me with his embrace, knocking me down onto his bed.

His heavy, teenage boy body crushes my airways as his hugs me. “Xander…” I manage to get out. Maybe I won’t have to commit suicide. After another minute of choking me to death, he realizes what he’s doing. He rolls off of me and onto the side of the bed. I lift myself up in a sitting position while he continues to stay lying down.

“I just missed you.” He says. “I’m sorry I’ve been a complete douchebag for the past few months. I’ve just been…stressed.”

“That is some stress.” I mutter.

“I know that’s not the best excuse, but Cassidy, you’re my best friend. I need you and I didn’t realize how much I did until I pushed you away. I was just a confused idiot.” He explains. He grabs my hand and interlaces our fingers.

No matter how much of dick he’s been, he is my best friend and I’ve missed him.

“So can we go back to the way we were before?”

I look him in the eye and see that he’s truly sorry. I sigh and lay back down. I nod my head, “Sure.” Xander lifts his torso up by putting his weight on his elbows.

“Really?” He asks with a bright smile on his face.

“Yes, you asshole.”

He attacks me with another bone-crushing hug again. “Uh I love youuu, Cassie!” I hug him back, laughing at his stupidness.

“I moderately like you too.” I reply.

After a few hours of catching up and joking around Xander gets up. The sun already went down and it’s dark out. “I’ll be back. I’m going to get popcorn.” He says and then leaves the room.

Wow, I didn’t know that talking to Xander again would feel so good. It feels like a bunch of weight has been lifted off my chest.

But then I saw something that caught my eye. A neon green color. Something, most likely clothing, is sticking out of Xander’s dresser. I bend down and open the drawer.

I gasp and feel my heart drop.

I stare at the folded costume of Toxic’s. I go to pull out, touch it, or something to see if I’m actually seeing this and it’s real, but then I hear footsteps pounding on the stairs. I close the drawer quickly and compose myself.

Xander comes into the room smiling with a bowl of popcorn.

The smell made me sick.

I stand up. “Um I think I’m going to go now. It’s getting pretty late.” I say, my voice wavering a bit. He looks confused and a little hurt.

“Oh…okay.” He hugs me but I don’t move to hug back. I rush to the window and jump to mine. “Bye.” I say, not looking back.

I quickly shut my window and fling myself on my bed, like I did hours before.

I can’t think straight. I can’t grasp my newfound knowledge.

I don’t know if I should be angry or sad or hurt. I feel sick, like I might vomit. I take deep breaths to keep my stomach from heaving all over my bed sheets. Once I feel calm I sit back up to thinking about what just happen.