Chloe was humming to herself
and turning over the story Jessica had told her about the beer and bedroom. The afternoon had passed without
incident. No growling, no being-watched
feeling, no messes, aside from the obvious one.
But now this. What did it
mean? She had thought that perhaps she
was going a little crazy, seeing and hearing things that no one else
could. Taking a deep breath and folding
the last of her jeans she slowly walked back to her apartment. She was startled to see Jessica biting her
nails. She hadn’t done that since grade
school.
“Um, so yeah, I have no
idea what to say.” Jessica began as she
wrapped her arms around herself.
“What happened?” Chloe asked, but she didn’t wait for the
answer as she walked past her. I’m pretty sure that I don’t want to know
the answer. Damnit if I have to clean
again…wait, wasn’t there music playing?
“Hey when you’re done
with laundry let’s go grab some food.” Jessica suggested, she hoped that her
voice wasn’t shaking.
“We could do that. We’d have to go somewhere cheap.”
“I got it.” Jessica
offered as she followed Chloe through the small apartment. Once they reached the living room, Chloe
shivered. Jessica caught her
breath.
“What the hell?! I- I can’t breathe!” Jessica gasped. Every nerve in Chloe’s body was
screaming. Must leave, must leave now. The
apartment was quiet, but the air was filled with static. Chloe’s skin began to itch and burn. She looked at Jessica and saw her friend wrap
her arms around herself. She felt her eyes watering, and a fear she
had never known before. There was
something in her apartment, something new and far worse than other invited
guest. An icy sensation raced through
her body as she caught some movement out of the corner of her eye. Naturally, when she tried to focus on the
aberration there was nothing to be seen.
But it was there. Waiting for her. Reaching for her purse and Jessica’s, she
grabbed her hand and pulled her out the door.
“Dude, seriously, we need to call a priest or
something. We need to get you some holy
water, some garlic and possibly a crucifix.”
Jessica advised driving as though Satan himself were chasing them.
“Now you believe me? And I don’t have a vampire problem.”
“Well, you have some
kind of problem.”
“Thanks Sherlock, and
it’s funny that you only want to talk about this when it happens to you.” Chloe
said, not hiding her bitterness or frustration.
Chloe studied her friend’s profile in the window’s reflection. She debated with herself if she should really
open up to Jessica or continue to keep her at bay. Should she tell her about the continual
growling? The strange sounds and
vibrations? The overall creepy feeling
of being watched by something that she couldn’t even see? Nah,
better not. She’ll just think I’m crazy
or over reacting. This is my problem
after all.
“Okay okay- I’m sorry
for not believing you. It’s just…it’s
just so X-Files.”
“No Jess, it’s not just
about being sorry. It’s about you
sucking at believing me.”
“Chloe, I said I was
sorry. But come on- you were talking
like a crazy person! Heavy breathing,
moving shadows…” Jessica’s voice trailed.
The tone of her friend’s voice worried her. Chloe wasn’t a person who got worked up
easily; however this was the same girl who believed that you really could get ulcers
from Coke and pop rocks, and therefore avoided the peril until she was 18. This was the same girl that was in love with
the world. She really cried when there
was a beautiful sunset and she really believed in karma; she recalled that when
they were 8 she wrote an apology to family of mosquitoes because she had killed
it. On the other hand, there was an
iciness in Chloe’s words and body language that also concerned her. Jessica slowed her speed and tried a
different topic. This was the moment to
be the friend that you saw in the movies, the friend that pulled the car over,
turned to face the passenger and say something meaningful and sincere. Jessica chewed her lower lip and realized
that the moment was about to pass. She
didn’t know what to say. She had never
really listened to her when she started talking about being lonely and hearing
growling. She glanced at Chloe as she
checked her blind spot, yet she didn’t stop.
The moment had passed. Jessica
realized with heavy heart that Chloe wouldn’t tell her what was really
happening, she wouldn’t confide in her.
Too many sarcastic remarks and self-centeredness had created a gulf
between them. Yet now, perhaps there was
a bridge that being built thanks to a super natural creature. Jessica rolled down the window and the icy
wind help push these thought from her mind.
“So…how about this
economy. Sucks right?”
“Whatever Jessica. Where are we going anyway?” Chloe asked, her
eyes not leaving the side window.
“Are you going to be
sour kid until we get to where we’re going?”
“Yes. And damnit I want another beer and- and, I
want a hug.” Chloe pouted, trying to keep herself from smiling. She crossed her arms in defiance. She could never stay upset at Jessica for
long, but the simple fact that Jessica had refused to even listen her made her
angry for a variety of reasons. Why be upset, it’s going to change
anything. As usual, I’m left on my own.
“I thought we talked
about this, no hugging allowed.” Jessica
joked, “and you know that you have a serious X-Files problem.”
“Really, I was thinking
Supernatural or Paranormal Activity. And let
me tell you, if its Paranormal Activity there
is no way in hell I’m getting dragged down a hall.” Chloe laughed trying to
shake off the eyes that she felt watching her.
The two fell into a somber silence, each with their own thoughts. Chloe replaying the past thirty minutes; the
sudden flight from her apartment, the temperature drop the uneasiness that just
wouldn’t go away. Okay, so now I finally have an ally, but now what? Her mind wandered back to the strange man she
had seen the other day. For some reason
she couldn’t get him out of her mind.
“Oh,
we’re going to get wings. Then we’re
going to a church.” Jessica announced as she turned into the familiar parking
lot.
“Um, do
you think God would take me serious if we went to church hungover?” Chloe
pondered out loud.
“Seriously
or seriously?” Jessica asked. The one
thing that cemented their friendship was a strange love of grammar.
“Shouldn’t
it be serious because it’s not followed by another verb” Chloe offered, then
searched her grammar memory for an exact rule.
“Perhaps,
but it just sounds strange.” Countered Jessica.
“This is
really not the time to worry about grammar,” Chloe said as she smiled and began
to rummage through her bag.
“Hey,
just because you’re dealing with a ghost doesn’t mean you can let your
linguistic ability go.”
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