“Conner, your turn,” Dylan calls.
“Now watch me destroy them,” he whispers, those hazel eyes alight with energy.
There it is. The competitive side of Conner escapes him. I’ve seen it a fair few times. Playing against our friends is no exception.
After a few more games, in which I came last, we ate some food. We order our food. As I grab the order number and place it on the table, I notice Conner near the arcade area. I excuse myself when I witness Dylan’s tongue down Sammy’s throat and stand beside my boyfriend.
“Maybe we can play a few games after we eat,” Conner suggests.
“I’d like that.”
Conner turns to me and moves his arms around me. Now suddenly aware of my surroundings, I blush and turn away when he goes to lean in for a kiss. Then, he pauses, leans away, and turns his head to the speaker. “I like this song,” he declares.
“What is it?” I ask.
“‘Shiver’ by Ed Sheeran,” he answers.
A wicked grin broadens on his face, and I immediately know what he’s thinking. “Conner,” I warn.
He sings, and his broad arms cage me like a mouse cornered by a cat. Conner leans in, his voice seductive and low as he mouths the words near my jaw, pulling me closer into his embrace. I laugh, pressing my forehead against his. His fingers drag across my eyes, jaw and lips while his mouth inches closer and closer until we kiss.
My arms wrap around his shoulders, and I don’t care who’s watching. I’m madly in love with this boy.
65
MALADAPTIVE
I openmy eyes and gaze at the still fan. The room’s features heighten, showcasing peeling paint, thin sheets, and sweat saturating me. I flick a look at the ground, and my breath hitches at all the clothes littering the floor.
“Get the fuck away from me!” I hear a thump and Mum’s wailing cry. The door then suddenly bursts open, and Dad stumbles in. I sit up, reaching for my blanket and tucking it over my chest while I dart a look around the room, freaked out. Dad reaches into his pocket and throws money at me. “Go to the servo, would ya, and get me some more fucking beer.”
What’s happening?
No…
No, no, no!
I was with Conner. We watched a movie, and after the film, when it got dark, we went into our room and fell asleep. I remember staring at the fan while I eased into sleep.
This isn’t real. I will wake up any moment and be in the apartment with Conner. This is just a bad dream. An evil, terrible dream.
“What the fuck are you looking at?” Dad slurs. I blink, and he is over the top of me. He raises his arm, and I embrace it, knowing once he hits me, I’ll wake. My head moves to the side, and my eyes widen at the pulse of pain across my cheek. I touch where he hit me in disbelief.
I’m…
I’m still here.
“Get the fuck up and get my beer!” Dad roars.
Shuffling out of bed, I pick the money up from the ground and slip my thongs on. Dad watches me grab my phone from under my bed and race out the door.
It’s warm… too warm… too realistically warm. I hear the crickets, and my shadow moves as I move.
Mrs Crawford’s light is on, and she peeks out the window. I raise my hand to her when she quickly closes the blinds, shutting me off from view.
Conner…
I go into my contacts. His name isn’t there. There’s no number and no messages from him at all. The last message was from Andy complaining about how he had to finish his assignment, which he had never started, and I didn’t reply.