I jiggled the key in the knob, grumbling, I strained to unlock the door, so I could slip inside and crawl under my covers for the rest of the night. I grunted, shouldering the door and at last, the wood gave way and let me inside.
I dropped my keys on the counter, they rattled and silenced as they settled.
I flicked on the kitchen light half expecting to be greeted by Crawford. His slug like stroll whenever he came to greet me ran through my thoughts. I sighed, a lone tear slipping from my eye. I wiped it away, and a steady stream of them came after.
I missed my dog.
He wasn't judging of me. I didn't have to hide anything from Crawford. I didn't have to worry whether Crawford liked me or not. And I sure didn't have to worry about him finding a new owner. He loved me unconditionally. He would never choose anyone else over me.
That was the difference between humans and animals. Animals got it. Humans pretended they did until something else suited them better. Humans were selfish.
I headed down the hallway, stopping first at Elliot and Easton's door. I threw it open hoping to see someone familiar. The room, scattered with bags of chips, pop cans and dirty clothes, was deserted. I turned my nose up at the stale smell—they really needed to learn how to air out their bedroom.
Next was Dads, I knocked before entering. But he was nowhere to be found, my feet clicked across his floor. I took a seat on his bed. I grimaced at the picture of Lynette in a dark oak frame beside his bed. This ended my tour of Dad's room. I peered into the wastebasket—his usual spot for hiding his whiskey bottles, there was nothing but discarded mail.
I pulled his door shut behind me and opened my own door. I shook my hair free of the barrette and set it down. I opened my closet and pulled out some sweat pants, slipping out of my shorts.
I hit the button on my iPod and sung along to the music as I ran my brush through my hair. Gotye-somebody I used to know, oh how it soothed my hurt pride to sing something so true to the heart.
I replaced the brush and wiggled into my sweat pants. Now it was time to sleep, to forget all the events of the day and just tune the world out. I set my phone to silent and tossed it on my nightstand, sinking into my bed and my fluffy comforter. Just as my head settled into my pillow a rattle coming from my window set me upright. I cursed to myself at the sight of Slade working his way through my window.
I turned on my lamp. Pulling the covers to shield myself from my unwanted visitor and whatever the reason was he came to see me.
"It's been almost three days since we spoke. Do you think you'll cave anytime soon?" He pulled up my computer chair and took a seat in front of me. "Or are you that stubborn?"
I was stubborn. "I would have talked to you when I was ready." I pursed my lips, avoiding his stare, which was more like an annoyed scowl. Who was he to scowl at me? I was doing what was best for my heart.
"Why are you not ready to talk to me," Slade demanded. His eyes darkened.
"Why do I have to explain myself?"
"Because it's polite, and I would think you would want to explain yourself to me." He shrugged, hunkering down on his legs like he was some cowboy about to shake the truth out of me. He sanded his hands together waiting for me to say something.
"Yeah, well, I am considerate to those that deserve my consideration." There showed him.
He laughed. "Since when don't I deserve it?"
I laughed, an amused chuckle. "Since when, hmmm... since you decided to use your magic to torment innocent people."
"Oh, please." Slade retorted, rolling his eyes at me. "I beat the shit out of Tucker you didn't."
My mouth dropped open.
"You only care because of Audrey, because she came to the bonfire. Because you think, I was flirting with her. I heard it all from Karsen and Kidd, so you can sit there and deny it all you want, or you can tell me the truth." He leaned back in the chair, resting his hands on his stomach, pleased with himself.
I glared at him. His jaw flexed. I glared some more. "I don't need to explain myself to someone who doesn't care."
Slade stayed still, his eyes locking on mine. "I do care. Why would I come over here if I didn't care?"
I shrugged.
"Maybe you're the one who doesn't care." Slade told me. "Did you ever think of that?"
"No, I haven't thought about it. I was too busy feeling sorry for myself or whatever it is you think I have been doing. I don't like Audrey, just like I didn't like your dead girlfriend, Ezra."
"What do you want me to do about Audrey?" He sighed, shaking his head. "You're so complex and emotional. It's either all or nothing with you."
I was the one shaking my head now. How dare he tell me I was emotional? You didn't string girls along. Tell them how much you wanted them, take their virginity and then morph into an uncaring asshole and think it didn't matter.
Slade stood. "You aren't competing with her."
"Did you hear anything I just said?" I snapped. I crossed my arms. "It's not just about her. And don't pretend you don't see that she wants you."
Slade sighed. "So that automatically means I want her too, right?"
"I didn't say that. But can't you see why I would be insecure. You don't tell me how you feel about me. I don't even know what this thing between us is. Am I just a fling? Do you want to be with me? Do you even care?"
Slade came closer, his hand heading for my hair; I pulled away. "You're not going to touch me and think everything is going to be forgotten. You can either explain yourself or leave."
He sat back down. "Before I explain myself. Why don't you tell me what you have been doing while ignoring me?"
I huffed. My face grew warm at his accusations or insight. I wasn't sure which. For all I knew Karsen informed him of my attraction to Hutch. I was an honest person, I never felt like I needed to lie about anything. Why was it so hard to tell him the truth?
My knees started shake. My body was tingling and I couldn't breathe. "I ate lunch with someone." There. It wasn't a lie; I didn't have to explain the second encounter that ended with me being almost outed. I was a big girl. I could deal with that on my own.
He didn't react like I expected. He didn't react at all. "The guy on the beach I assume."
I stayed quiet. He already rolled a fiery log in Hutch's direction and beat up Tucker. I didn't want to give him reason to do anything on top of that. Would he?
He rolled over to me in my chair. He grabbed my face, refusing to let me look away. Pinning my legs pinned between his. I squeezed my hands together, waiting for whatever it was he was about to say to me. The close proximity made me feel intimidated.
His thumb stroked my cheek, calming my mind. Slade leaned in and planted a kiss on my lips, and the corner of my mouth. His fingers clamped tight to my chin. He pulled back, ending our kiss. "Do I care about you? Absolutely. Yeah, I don't say it as skillfully as other guys out there. But I do. I wouldn't come around if I didn't."
I sighed, my heart melting.
"I didn't visit you when you were away at school because you never asked me to. I thought you wanted to keep this world and your new one apart." He stroked my bottom lip with his fingertips searching my eyes for understanding.
"And Audrey means nothing to me. I don't like her; I can't stand her. I like you." He accepted my kiss, letting me climb into his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder relieved to hear him explain everything to me. "It's never been easy for me to say how I felt on the inside to anybody. That's why I like singing."
"But why?"
"That's just how my family was. My parents were wrapped up in their career, in music, if there was something you needed to say you wrote about it and sung it to a crowd. You didn't sit at home and talk about it or dwell on it." He explained.
"I understand. And I'm sorry for being such a bitch." We kissed, a slow melting kiss that deepened in intensity as seconds ticked by. I pulled away. Something was on my mind, and Slade was the perfect person to discuss it with.
"I don't think I can be a part of this lifestyle. All those rules and Audrey, it's too much." I just wanted to be the Hope I knew before this change, before I became what I was—a witch. I didn't know how to be a witch or why I would even want to.
"I told you I didn't want you concerning yourself with it. You are who you are now, there is no changing that. As long as you play by their rules they will leave you alone. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Nevertheless, it's not something you can quit, Hope."
"I don't like their rules. And what if one day they want something from me, something I am not willing to give?" This was the part that scared me. Sure, I could keep a low profile and not kick up dust, but what if one day I was asked to do something or be a part of something I didn't agree with. I was just supposed to say yes?
"All of us have made it work for a long time. Don't think about that, just don't worry about it." Slade said dismissive. He trailed a hand through my hair.
"How do I do that? Audrey is always around anymore. She even stole Karsen away." I sighed, poor Karsen, although she didn't seem too miserable on the phone.
"I will deal with Audrey." He kissed my cheek and I got up from his lap, so he could stand. "Get some sleep. And try not to worry about the coven."
It was the first time I heard him call it the coven. And this made everything feel real. "Did any of you ever think about breaking away?"
Slade's face darkened. "I am indebted to the coven because they gave me my life back, you don't be disloyal to the person who gave you life no matter who they are. Go to bed, Hope." He slipped out of my window leaving me confused.
Maybe the coven gave him life, but they didn't give me life. I didn't owe them anything.
I beat my pillow angrily and slipped into bed.
After some time, my body relaxed enough to allow the anger to slip away, and I fell asleep. I was awakened to a high pitch screech that flooded my ears and knocked me back into reality.
I opened my eyes, searching the room for the source of the racket. Elliot and Easton screamed for me to get out of the house.
I jumped out of my bed and ran into the hallway in a panic. The air was thick with smoke. It filled my lungs and made me cough. I dropped to my knees, going for Dad's bedroom.
"Come on, Hope," Elliot yelled from the hallway floor. His face was damp, and his shaggy hair was pinned to one side of his head. "Dad's not here."
"Are you sure?" I asked, fear of leaving him in the house while it was burning making me unable to move. "What about Easton?"
"He's already outside," Elliot said, reaching for me. I took his hand and we both jumped to our feet and ran for the door. I covered my face with my shirt, letting Elliot tug me through the smoke. Finally, we hit the outdoors. Fresh air invaded my senses.
The flash of the lights from the fire truck pulling up shocked my vision, Nona and Claude were already barreling down the beach toward us. Easton worked fast to call for help. If only I knew what set the fire in the first place.
Neighbors from everywhere offered blankets and bottled water, everything felt like it was a blur as I was bounced from the sands to an ambulance.
"I am so glad you're okay, sweet pea," Nona said from outside the ambulance doors. I stared at the beach house hoping it wasn't ruined. Hoping whatever caught fire didn't take our home away from us.
"Do they know what it was?" I asked Nona.
She smoothed her red hair, tugging her robe tighter. "I'm not sure yet. You didn't take up smoking while away at college did you, Hope?" Her face was flooded with alarm. This was the first time I seen her since I got back, and it was under horrible circumstances.
I shook my head, letting the paramedic look me over and do all the necessary things to prove I was alright. She offered me oxygen. I turned it away.
Out of the corner of my eye stood a gaunt man dressed in black from head to toe. His expression grim, I watched him, did anyone else notice him? His gaze matched mine. His eyes were dark more or less black, his skin ashen.
I looked away, an eerie feeling evading my body making my heart race in fear. Was he the cause of the fire?
When I looked again he was nowhere to be found. All that was left was the neighbors in various huddles watching firefighters work on the blaze.
Dad pulled up in a hurry to get to us kids, the look of absolute fright on his face.