The rest of the day passed in a blur. Sitting in my classes, listening as Sloan complained about all the work we had to do. Then ultimately shutting up and doing it. She could tell my mind was elsewhere, but she just continued like she always did.
It was funny really. She would always know when something was up with me, but she knew I didn't like to dig into personal issues while at school, so she leaves it for when we're alone. God knows she'll remember it.
The only slightly interesting thing that happened today, was when we were sitting together at lunch. When Lillia, and all the other cheer girls started in on some guy. Apparently, he was talking a whole bunch of smack about how he hooked up with her at a party. So, it was quite exciting and amusing to see Sloan practically castrate him.
But, as amused as I was by that, I now found myself, once again, sitting awkwardly with Skye. Sloan just so happened to forget to mention she had a cheer meeting that was going to run late, and was planning on getting a ride with Lillia.
Apparently, Skye needed to go drop something off on the other side of town. Leaving me alone with her for about an hour.
Which isn't weird. Just extremely awkward. I wanted to ask her about what happened today. Why she said what she did. What she meant by it.
"If you have something you want to say, say it. Its quite uncomfortable watching you open and close your mouth like a blubbering fish."
Now I felt insulted. I was usually quite lenient. I am typically a nice person. But really, I do have my limits. I don't know why she was the way she was, but I intend to find out.
"I don't know what the hell your problem is, but I don't deserve to be treated like shit." I started ranting. Seemingly not being able to stop my mouth. "Now, I know I don't know you, and we don't really talk very much, but I have been nothing but nice to you. All I've wanted to do, was try and get to know you. Make nice with you or whatever. Considering the fact that I'm best friends with your sister. But, god, I just don't understand you. Are you really so damaged, so fucked up, you can't at least have one decent conversation with someone? Do you always have to be such an ass? Why, I just don't understand, why do you always push people away? Why do you feel the need to shut everyone out? You know what, I'm a damn good person. I'd make a fucking amazing friend. And if you don't believe me, fucking ask your sister. But, don't you dare treat me like that. You know nothing about me. Or my life. Or who I care about. Or, hell, what I care about. So don't you dare sit there and treat me the way you do everyone else. Because I'm not like everyone else. And you'd know that, if you'd just stop being such an ass, and let someone in."
I was panting a bit by the time I was done with my rant. I could tell Skye was a bit taken by surprise by my rant, because she was sitting there with her mouth a bit ajar. I was surprised myself. I hadn't expected to say all that. I could tell it had upset her at first, 'cause she had a death grip on the steering wheel.
She relaxed a bit, and sighed. Shaking her head. "I'm sorry." She muttered.
"Me too." I said. I couldn't bring myself to look at her after that, so I just focused on looking very intently out of the window. Watching the few cars pass by. And admiring the large farmlands we passed. Looking at all the animals.
About twenty minutes later, we pulled up to a worn down looking building. There was a group of guys standing out front of the building, laughing and pushing each other around. Skye put her car in park, and turned off the engine, hopping out in one swift movement. Following suit, I walked closely behind her. Kind of scared to stray too far away from her.
"Skye! Always a pleasure to see you! And who is this precious jem?" The oldest one asked. His greyed hair, and stubbly beard reminded me somewhat of my grandpa. He was always a wild character.
"Jim. This is Megan. She's a friend of my sisters."
I suddenly grew self conscious as I watched the group of guys eye sex me. "Your sister sure do know how to pick 'em, don't she?" The man, Jim I believe, spoke.
Involuntarily, I grabbed onto Skye's arm. Gripping tightly. Once again feeling those tingles I felt when I first touched her. "Shut up Jim. I'm here for my pay."
Her voice sent a certain shiver down my spine. It was cold. Malicious even. I've heard her in many different moods. Never this angry.
The man, Jim, went into what I believed was his truck, and emerged back with a giant stack of bills. And when I say giant, I mean, giant. And seeing how it was most likely all hundreds, I'm guessing it had to be at least ten grand. I just kinda stood there, staring at it, before Skye grabbed my hand and dragged me back to her car.
Hopping in, I kinda just sat there looking at her. Watching as she put the car into reverse and pulled out of the driveway. Leaving that strange building, and men behind.
"Stop staring at me." Skye muttered. Glancing at me. Thrumming her fingers over the steering wheel. Before leaning over, and put the stack of cash into the glove department.
"I wasn't staring." I defended. Which k wasn't. I was simply......I don't know. Admiring? No. Absolutely not. Admiring would involve some sort of infatuation. I was not infatuated with Skye. Sure, I felt this weird way, that wanted to make me want to know her. But, that didn't mean I was infatuated with her. Right?
"You're still doing it. Stop that." She said, sounding annoyed, but amused as well.
"I'm not staring."
"Yeah, sure. Just like I'm not driving." It was cool actually. Seeing this side of Skye. She was, playful almost?
"I'm definitely not staring. I'm not a starer."
"Mhm. Just like I'm not Sloans sister." She joked again.
"Well, I mean, you two may look alike, but you're nothing alike aside from that."
"You're telling me." Laughing a bit, she looked over her shoulder as she changed lanes.
"So you noticed it too?"
"What? How Sloan and I are oh so drastically different?" Once again staring at her, I couldn't think of what to say.
"Stop it. Seriously, its weirding me out."
"I'm NOT staring." Laughing I looked back out the window. A few seconds later, my eyes were drawn back to her. Taking in her features. It was weird. Feeling this way. Feeling like I wanted nothing more than to get to know her.
"Seriously, I don't understand why Sloan keeps you around. If all it is that you do, is stare at people."
Rolling my eyes, I punched her arm lightly. "God, you're an ass."
"Yes, as you've made so very clear before." She said laughing.
We fell quiet again. To my surprise, it wasn't awkward. It was almost.....comfortable? Surprised is another big understatement. And looking at her now, I couldn't figure out why I hadn't tried to make friends with Skye before.
"Seriously. Megan. Its distracting. Stop staring at me."
"I am not staring." I kept defending myself. This little game, it was fun.
"You're not very good at lying. You know that, right?" She challenged.
"I wasn't lying. I was defending myself."
"Well, you're not very good at doing that either.
"Why'd that man give you so much money?" I asked after another moment of silence.
"That building, the old ragged one?"
"Yeah?"
"I helped build it. It was a while ago, but with all the heavy rain and everything, made it break down faster than it should have. So, I went in and fixed the pipes up. Repainted the inside. Next weekend, I'm doing the rest of the outside." She explained. I was actually happy she was talking to me. And for once she wasn't an ass about it.
"And he paid you ten grand for that?"
"You know how hard it is to do something like that by yourself?"
And back to the sarcasm. Skye is quite the interesting person. Once again, I felt myself drawn to get to know her.
"You're doing it again." She stated.
"I'm sorry. I just find you interesting." I said truthfully. She really is interesting to me.
"You...find me interesting?" She joked. Laughing as she pulled into my neighborhood.
I was about to answer, until I noticed the cop cars outside of my house. My heart instantly dropping as I looked around. Finally hearing the ambulance sirens coming in the distance. Was someone hurt? My mom? My dad? What happened?
Jumping out of the car, I bolted up the steps, barging into the doors. Not taking notice to the sounds of the police officers as well as Skye's muffled voice calling after me.
"Mom?! Dad?!" I frantically called. Racing up the stairs, I barged into my parents room. Seeing my mother in cuffs on the bed, and my father laying on the floor. A police officer kneeled at his side. It took me a minute to notice the object sticking out of his chest. And it was as if a switch went off inside of me. Charging forward I raised my arm, and brought my hand hard across my mother's face. "What did you do?!" I yelled in her face. This time pushing her off the bed.
No one else besides the officer that was trying to help my father was in the room at the time. So, I just lost it. Yelling and slamming my hands into her chest. I'm never, and I mean, never, violent. In any way. Not even with what happened with Evan. Lord knows I wanted to rip his head off. His, and everybody else's. I guess it just pent up anger. But as soon as it started, it was over. I was being pulled off, and out of the room.
Looking up, I was met with an all too familiar pair of grey eyes.
Skye wrapped her arms around my body, pulling me close into her. As much as I tried to pull away, as much as I yelled for her to let me go, she just held tighter and tighter. Not letting go. I found myself getting enveloped into her smell. She smelt like some sort of tropical mix. It was comforting. Wrapping my arms around her slim back, I just cried into her chest.
I'm never usually the one to get emotional in front of anyone. Especially people I barely knew, but I couldn't stop it. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop the tears from falling. "Do you want to ride with your dad?"
"No." I said in between sobs. Eventually calming myself down enough to form a sentence. "Just....take me back to your house."
"Do you want me to call Sloan?"
"Yes."
Trying to walk, I stumbled, feeling Skye's arms once again wrap around me. Picking me up bridal style, she walked me out to her car. I felt another wave of tears come, I just buried my head in her chest. I guessed Skye noticed, because she stood there at her at car, holding me.
This just felt so surreal. Being here with Skye like this. Her holding me. Seeing me like this. Like a vulnerable little girl. Crying. As she held me. This was something I've only ever done with Sloan. And even then.....it didn't feel this...intimate? Is that the word?
Eventually, after I had calmed down, again, Skye set me in the passenger seat. Realizing I'm going to be staying at Sloans for a while, I figured I should get some clothes. Getting up, Skye pushed me gently back into the seat. "What are you doing?" She questioned.
"I need clothes." I mumbled.
"No. Stay here. I'll get them." She said, closing the car door gently as she walked away.
Not knowing what to do, I just sat there. Watching as the paramedics wheeled my father out on a gurney. I hadn't even noticed them when they arrived. They hadn't removed the thing from my fathers chest, but they did wrap something around it. Presumably to stop the bleeding. Or control it. I wasn't sure. And they had some sort of bag attached to his mouth. I knew that was to help him breathe. I watch enough greys anatomy to know that at least.
A few minutes later, Skye came out of my house, with my duffel bag. Stiffed quite full I might add. I couldn't help but smile. It was like she jammed an entire dresser in that one bag.
Opening the backseat door, she threw the bag in. Before hopping into the front. "Sorry it took so long. I didn't know what to grab, so I just grabbed a lil bit of everything."
"Thanks." I said softly.
"I called Sloan as well. She said she won't be home for another hour. You're welcome to wait with me, if that's what you want."
I just nodded. Honestly, I didn't know what I wanted at the moment. I just wanted to get away. From everything. From everyone. But, get again, I couldn't help but want to smile. Because, Skye was different. She was actually....genuine. It was the first time I had ever seen her this way. So kind. Despite whatever fucked up situation my family was in, I was happy I got the chance to see this side of her.
"So, um....." She started. "How...how are you?" She sounded nervous.
"I don't know."
"Um, well, uh, Sloan'll be home soon. So, you'll have a chance to talk, or whatever it is,uh, that you do." I looked over at her. And watched as she glanced over at me. I must've made a face, because she instantly went on. "Not that I wouldn't want to talk about it. If you wanted to. I'm just....not very great at talking I guess."
"No, its ok. I don't expect you to want to talk or deal with my drama."
""Megan."
She stopped at a red light, and just stared at me. Seemingly thinking about what she wanted to say. I started to feel a bit uncomfortable under her hard gaze. "Now who's the one staring." I joked.
"Megan." She said again, as she started again on the road.
Something about the way she said my name. It almost sounded, well, as if, she were pleading. For understanding. Common ground or something. Once again, I grew uncomfortable. So I just looked out the window.
"Megan." She started again. She seemed to be realm struggling with whatever it is she wanted to say. "I know.....that uh, whatever is going on with your family...it sucks. Like, majorly sucks. Its.....horrible." Once again, she started struggling with her words. "But, you can't let it......you can't let it change you. You can't let it make....turn you into..." She paused, as she thrummed her fingers against the steering wheel.
"Turn me into what?"
"Into someone like me. Don't let this...situation, strip you of who you are. Who you're meant to be. Don't be like me. Ok? That...that's something that can't be undone."
I don't know what it was, but there was just something in her eyes. In the way she had said that. I didn't dare say anything more. I just wrapped my hand around hers, and just squeezed it gently. It was the only thing I could think of doing. And soon enough, we found ourselves back at her house.
"Do you wanna wait with me? Or just wait in Sloans room?"
"I could use the company." I said, as she grabbed my bag out from her backseat. "I can carry that, you know."
"Its cool, I got it." She. She shrugged it off. Walking up to her front door, unlocking it. Stepping in, she ran up the stairs, tossing my bag into Sloans room.
"You want anything to drink?" She asked, bounding down the stairs.
"Yeah, I can get it."
"No, sit here, I got it."
Skye walked into the kitchen, emerging quickly with two glasses of water. Handing me one, as she walked past me again, and started up the stairs. "You coming?" She called from the top of the stairs.
"To your room?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"Oh. Ok."
Walking up the stairs, it was almost an instinct to turn towards Sloans room. But instead, I headed towards the opposite end of the hall. Is it weird to feel nervous walking into her room? 'Cause I do. Is that normal?
I find myself smiling as I looked around Skye's room. Her walls were covered with drawings. A lot of different pictures. Some of people I recognized from school. I guess they were people she didn't necessarily like, because they were mostly depictions of them being embarrassed. Or slapped. Something along those lines.
Others, well, they were quite beautiful. Like one, was a forest. A really dark forest. With a figure in the middle of it. Another, a beautiful goddess looking woman, offering her hand to help another blurry figure up.
"Wow." Was all I could muster up. Looking over to he bed, I instantly felt my body yearn for sleep. Her bed was big. And had a big black soft looking black comforter. Yet again another huge difference between Sloan and Skye. Sloans room was bright and vibrant. Almost daring you to be upset.
Then there was Skye's. Which was dark. And somewhat soothing. I felt sort of at ease in here. Not only that, I just felt at ease in her presence. It was so strange.
"I've never really invited anyone in here before." Her words brought a slight smile to my face. I was really liking this side of Skye. I was just hoping it actually lasted.
"Why not?"
"Because, this is kind of like my personal palace. You know?'
"Palace?" I joked.
"Hey, don't hate on the palace. I could have you shunned you know."
"Shunned? Are you serious?" I said, laughing a bit.
"Yeah, totally."
"Well, its a very lovely palace then."
Laughing, she plopped down, pulling out a sketchbook. It was nice really. She hasn't cracked any sarcastic jokes. Hell, she hasn't even insulted me in any way. Which, I don't know, was kind of flattering in a way.
"So, uh, um...." She started. Looking down as she sketched lightly in her book.
"So, uh,um, what?" I asked.
"Uh, never mind."
"Tell me."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because. Its not important."
"Why do you always do that?" I questioned, I was perplexed.
"Do what?"
"Act as if what you have to say isn't important."
"Because it isn't."
"To me it is."
"Haven't we already had this conversation?" She quizzed back.
"Yes. But, you want to know what I think?"
"I'm sure if I said no, you'd say it anyway, so go ahead." Sensing she was getting annoyed, and already heading back to being an ass. I decided to tread carefully.
"I think you're scared."
"Scared?" I nodded in response. "Of what?"
"Of letting someone in. On the some odd chance they may actually like what they see, and stay."
Sighing, she stood up, and stood at the door. "You want to know what I think?"
"Yes."
"I think you don't know a damn thing about me." And she's back. "And I think, maybe it is a good idea for you to wait in Sloans room." Nodding to the door, she opened it.
"Skye."
"Get out." She mumbled.
"No matter how hard you push, I'm not going anywhere."
"Get out!" She said a bit louder. Sending another chill down my spine.
Sighing, I walked to door. Stopping, and leaning my forehead against hers. Her breath hitched in her throat. As I whispered in her ear, "I'm not giving up on you. I know that somewhere deep down, you're different. This is just a façade. A mask. Its not you. I won't give up. You need to know that."
"Leave." She said, barely over a whisper. I searched her stormy eyes for a second longer, before leaving. Jumping a bit as she slammed her door. And definitely jumping as I almost ran head on into a smirking Sloan.
"What the hell was that?"
"Your room. Now." I said pulling her to her room.
We had a lot to talk about.