Doing makeup took longer than usual due to not having a reflection, but I eventually got it done through my phone’s camera and slipped into boots, a skirt, and an off-the-shoulder bustier. It laced in front but the back needed zipping, which was a job for Ari. I wandered to the living room, hoping she’d be nearby.
“Does anyone know where Ari is?” I asked, keeping a hand across my chest to hold the bustier in place until it could be zipped.
“Yeah,” Mateostarted, thenglanced at me and stopped talking.
I kept the hand on my bustier andsetmy bag down, waiting for him to continue.“Are you gonna finish that?”
“She’s doing girl stuff or something in the bathroom,”Dennissaid, not bothering to look up from the game he and Sean were playing.“She said to tell you to stay away from her.”
“Ugh, really?”
“Yeah.”Sean laughed and glanced over.“Whoa. You look, uh,” he faltered, causing Dennis to follow his gaze.
“Can somebody zip this?”I gestured to my top.
“That thing is nice. Whatever it is.”Dennis paused the game and motioned for me to turn around.
“It’s part of my super villain costume. Probably. I haven’t figured out the rest yet.”I dropped my hands and turned around. The second he touched me, I felt a pang of emotion that wasn’t mine. I tilted my head while he zipped.“Is this too low cut?”I adjusted my cleavage, then turned and stepped back to look at him.
“Too low?”heechoed.
I smirked when the feeling got stronger. It was time to test my theory.“Yeah. I can’t tell.”I cupped my chest and eyed it in fake contemplation.
“No.”His eyes ran across me.
“Or maybe my stomach’s out too much,”I ran a hand across it,“or too much leg. Is my skirt too short?”I lifted the bottom the tiniest bit.“Can you check?” I turned around, peering over my shoulder at him.“Should I bend over to test it? I think—”
“You’re fine.”
On the outside he looked like his usual indifferent self, but on the inside was a whole different thing. For once, I could feel his excitement the way he always did mine.
“Thanks.” I smiled as he sat back down.“Do you guys have a minute to talk?” I asked, perching on the couchbeside Sean.
“About yesterday?”Sean asked.
“Yeah. I feel better now andum… I dunno how to say this.”I shifted,trying to think of the best way to say it without getting emotional.“You guys were all really sweet yesterday. Especially you,”I gestured toward Dennis without looking at him,“it really means a lot. Ari is used to this stuff so it’s not a big deal for her. But you guys just met me like a week and a half ago, and I don’t even know why you were so nice to me. Especially you, Mateo,‘cause we’ve barely hung out and youstill letus use your bed. And Sean, you drugged everyone for me and went out of your way to find evil people like I asked. And when I had an anxiety attack and started dying of a breakdown, you guys didn’t even make fun of me, or—”
“Why would we make fun of you?”Sean seemed surprised by the very idea.
“I dunno.”I shrugged, still avoiding everyone’s eyes.“Some people do. Or did, before I broke her nose. And another one stopped after I tried to castrate him. Don’t worry, it didn’t work.”I stopped when a thought hit that I would’ve been fun to go to high school with. I stared at Dennis. His eyes were on me, but his mind was on my temper and violence. Apparently, he liked them a lot. I had no idea.
“You tried to castrate someone?”Mateo asked.
“Yeah. Some guy started a rumor that I slept with him when I didn’t. Ihate rumors. They’re one of my pet peeves.”
“So you tried tocastratehim?”
“Yes. It was the only solution. I was gonna offer to suck him off and thenwham!” Isliced with my hand, laughing when Mateo cringed.“I mean I did offer, but my plan didn’t work. He freaked when he saw the knife and ran away. Blah blah, it became a whole thing, restraining order and all.” I waved a dismissive hand. “Super annoying. I hated that guy. This isn’t a reflection of all bipolar people, by the way. My old therapist says I’m an unusually violent person, nothing to do with the mental illness. I blame my parents.”
“And you honestly think I’m more sadistic than you?”
“Yes,”I answeredDennis.“I mean, it’s not like I did it. He escaped. And he had the nerve to callmethe overdramatic one.”I rolled my eyes.“Anyway, back to my thank you.”
“Wow,”Sean muttered, scooting a tiny bit further from me.
“Don’t worry, your dick is safe. I’m not concerned with yours.” I patted his knee. “Thank you guys for dealing with me and not running away or calling me crazy. That’s it.”I smiled at everyone before announcing,“Hug time!”and diving on Sean. He hugged me back until Ihopped up to do the same with Mateo.
“As long as you don’t have any knives on you.”He chuckled.
