Chapter 5: My Vocabulary Is Now Empty.

Levi

-Monday Afternoon-

I changed the station on the radio and I wanna be yours by the Arctic Monkeys began playing, one hand on the steering wheel while the other holding my phone.

After getting that oh-so mysterious letter on Friday, I spoke about seven paragraphs to everyone apart of my life, ordered a “couple” of boxes of pizza for myself, ate every single slice while I sat in bed, and binge-watched Steven Universe for the seventh time.

The only time I got out of bed was to pee and make myself coffee drinks from time to time.

I ordered a bucket of fried chicken but it never came. I could have sworn I heard loud crunching from downstairs when I went to make coffee though. Maybe I was hearing wrong, who knows.

And I also didn’t sleep. At all. Half of the reason is because of Steven Universe and the other half is because I was crying because of Steven Universe. Especially during the ‘I Am My Monster’ episode. Did I just watch over 130 episodes worth of a cartoon? Yes. Did it take me all weekend? Yes. Do I regret it?... a little bit. But I just got to relive the nostalgia and remake strong emotional connections with fictional characters so if that’s not a good way to spend your weekend, I don’t know what is. The weekend went as planned yet didn’t include any actual plans.

I’m just glad I didn’t have any homework to worry about.

Of course, I thought about the letter and of course, I knew I had to talk to her eventually (we were working on an assignment together, I can’t just ignore her). I guess you could say I was just nervous. All weekend. And tried to ignore it by not sleeping for 57 hours. Internally panicking while stuffing myself with junk food. Like I said, a good way to spend the weekend.

I didn’t even check my phone so I wasn’t surprised to see seventeen missed calls from Ansel when my alarm went off on Monday (we had a student-free day) because I forgot to turn it off. Still laying in bed, i called Ansel and nearly fainted when someone yelled through the phone.

“Broooo! Did you just come back to life or something?! Why weren’t you picking up my calls?!”

“I was busy,” I lied.

“You were watching Steven Universe again.”

I froze. “...Like I said, I was busy.”

I put my phone on speaker, leaving it on the nightstand, and getting out of bed. Going to my bathroom, I took a quick shower, brush my teeth, and wash my face. When I was done, I leaned over the sink and examined my eyes. Surprisingly, they weren’t red or puffy which was weird cause I balled my eyes out way too much for them to not be. I tried to brush my platinum blonde nearly white hair out of my face and to the sides but it was no use since they just came back almost covering my entire forehead and hanging just above my dark green eyes.

I gave myself a once-over and nodded in approval. Going back towards my room to still hear Ansel lecturing me then stopped in my tracks when he said: “And now I’m going on a date with Laron Asfour.”

I was in the middle of putting on my faded blue jeans when I whipped my head and tripped on a wire.

“Uh, you good bro?”

I heard my dad’s footsteps getting closer towards my room. He opened the door, frowned when he saw me sprawled across the floor with my pants halfway up, opened his mouth to ask about it but decided against it, then slowly shut the door and left.

Getting up from the floor, I put my pants on as well as a black sweater and started packing my backpack, putting my laptop, charger, notepad, pencil case, and the Romeo and Juliet novel. “You’re going on date with who?!”

“Laron Asfour-”

“Yeah, I heard you the first time, it’s just not clicking. Are you sure it’s a date?”

“Well, he asked if i wanted to hang out with him so it’s basically a date! I told you I’d sway him with charm eventually and I did!”

“...Right.”

“Wait...oh no," he gasped.

I stopped picking up all the pizza boxes and looked back at the phone. “What?”

“Iranian people like to go on proper dates...where should I take him?!”

“I thought Laron was from Jordan-”

“LEVITICUS ANAKIN SCOTT!” (Leviticus is not my full name)

“o-ok just don’t worry-”

“UUUUGH!”

I finished putting the last pizza box and plastic cup in an already full garbage bag. “I-I-uh-as long as you guys are together, I don’t really think it matters-”

“I don’t even know why I’m asking you. You’ve never even been on a date.”

I frowned. “...that was uncalled for.”

“I don’t even know what to wear- what should I wear?!

I smirked. “Oh, how the tables have turned-”

“Levi I don’t have time for your terrible humor, I have to go home and change into everything i own!”

Tying up the garbage bags, I narrowed my eyes. “Wait...where are you now?”

“Oh, I’m outside my church. Why?”

I hang up the phone and checked myself in the mirror one last time. I was wearing a white vest under a black turtleneck topped up with a long brown coat, blue jeans, and checkered sneakers. Grabbing a scarf and winter gloves, I left the room.

-------

And here we are now.

Me sitting in my car staring outside Rosalie Davis’ house looking like a creep.

I glanced at my phone then at the house. There was nothing right about the building. It wasn't the same era as anything else around here. You’d think it was fake when you first look at it on google maps. The building looked like it had grown there rather than be built. The walls were made of dusty bricks. Or was it grey stones, I wasn’t so sure, I was too far away to find out. Some people said it was haunted, that folks who went in never came out. But of course, that’s not true. No, of course not. No one has ever invited to find that out anyway.

The tall greyish building stood in the middle of the empty, abandoned street. You can sense the evil presence within it as it darkens up the road. You can hear the floors creek as the spirits roam and wander the soulless, haunted house-Ok, ok I’m kidding. I should probably go in right about now. I drove closer towards the metal gates and got out of the car to look for the bell or buzzer or whatever it is that unlocked the gates when they just opened themselves. Weird. Getting back in the car I drove through and parked in front of the house since I was too scared to explore.

Should I have brought a gun?

I looked at the old house once more, I’d passed it every time I went to Crestview’s Prologue Library. I bit my lip. An actual shiver ran through my body and I could have sworn I heard thunder. I forced myself to get out of my car, shutting the door behind me, and strolled up the steps towards the wooden door. Sucking in a breath as I knocked on the door, hoping there would be no answer and this was all a prank so I could go home. I twisted the handle. Wait, no, I should probably knock-

“You’re here.”

“AH!” I jerked back, almost tripping on the steps.

Rosalie was standing against the door support. Scanning over her frame her outfit looked a bit... grand. Is what I thought but who am I to judge She wore a long pink tulle dress with long sleeves and covered in small beads, round glasses which kind of made her look cute, and...black jimmy choo pumps? Her hair was slicked back into a big neat bun which was weird considering her hair was shoulder length.

“You were staring through your car window outside the gates for seven minutes. Then you got in and stared through your car window for exactly seven more minutes,” she told me with a blank expression.

I composed myself. “How did you-”

“I was watching you on the balcony.”

I gave her a look. “...Right. Because that’s not creepy at all.”

A moment of silence passed between us before she turned around and I followed after her, the door closing with a quick slam.

The entrance hall was spacious, airy, and eerie. An uneasy breeze blew down the corridor and I clutched the straps of my bag tighter. The furthest door from me had been left ajar, allowing a glorious amber glow to drift like a narrow stream across the hall. I somehow wanted to know what was in there and didn’t at the same time. I could tell the extravagant chandelier that hangs in the middle of the room costs more than my life. The whole house looked like it was still living in the 18th century, completely ignoring how it looked on the outside. Everything seemed so neat and shiny, the walls, the floors, the furniture. Even the windows look better than me. I wondered if something would disintegrate to dust if I so much as stared at it for too long.

So this is why you don’t judge a book by its cover. Though I was still expecting someone to jump out and grab my soul. Or offer me a macaroon. Whichever one comes first.

She led me to what I assumed was the dining room. “We could finish our work today if we used our time wisely.”

I stopped admiring the room and began setting up my stuff on the table. I noticed her stuff was already there like her laptop and the novel as well. “...Right.” Was that the only word I knew?

She looked at me quizzically as if trying to read me. Then went to the double doors, looking out into the hallway. “Mitchell,” she called out calmly but I could tell everyone heard her.

In less than a minute, a man in a butler uniform appeared through the door. “Yes madam?”

Rosalie looked back at me with the same blank expression. “Would you like anything to drink?” even the way she talked sounded intimidating.

Though I still perked up at the question. “Uh...do you have any coffee?” why did I ask that? Of course, they have coffee, they have about anything I could ever imagine in just this room alone. But what if they don’t like coffee? What if she doesn’t like coffee? No, what if she hates coffee? What if she’s allergic to it? What if she prefers tea? Oh my God, what have I done? Or said? Or said and done? What if-

“What kind?” she interrupted me from my thoughts.

Oh. I was malfunctioning for nothing.

“Cappucino?”

“I’ll have some green tea,” she said and the butler bowed then left.

Wait, now I want green tea.

I organized my files on my laptop, hearing the chair in front of me creak and she quietly sits on it. I glanced up when I heard her typing on her laptop like she was in a marathon. At school, she usually expresses a harsh demeanor to anyone who wasn’t her friend. But watching her sitting so calmly you wouldn’t she was the same girl that could slit your throat in her sleep.

She has nice eyes.

Like really nice eyes...were those specks yellow or gold?

I tried to tilt my head downward to take a closer look-

“You’re staring,” she told me, not even looking up.

“S-Sorry.” I'm embarrassing.

Change the subject. Change the subject, please.

“So..." I cleared my throat. "Where are your parents...if you don’t mind me asking of course.”

I paused my typing when she stilled. Okay...I should not have asked that. Where’s the hole to suck me into another dimension?

“My mother’s not here. Hopefully out into the wilderness or stuck in a ditch, whichever comes first.”

Mommy issues?

I resumed my typing. “And...your dad?” Levi stop talking.

She stopped typing completely. She looked as if she had murder on her mind.

She then shrugged. “He doesn’t live here.”

Daddy Issues?

Or just issues?

I nodded, satisfied with the answer and cursing at myself for asking the questions in the first place. “What about you?”

“I-”

“Don’t answer, I already know.”

Then why did you ask?

I took a sip of my coffee, setting it back on the table. “So I created a PowerPoint and shared it with you. I’m about halfway through the plot analysis. You can edit the slide if there’s anything you wanna change or you can writing about the characters individually. It’s up to you.” she nodded and we set off to work.

----------

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I got it out but still kept the phone under the table so only I could see and opened the message.

Dad:

I have two new locations. Though I don’t think you’re going to like them.

I frowned at this. Well, this definitely isn’t good.

“Um, can I go into the hallway for a bit?” I ask as I put my phone back in my pocket.

“Why?”

“I-I...uh...,” I was flustered.

She inched closer to me. “What’re you hiding...Snowflake?” her eyes narrowed.

“Um…”

My vocabulary is now empty.

She unexpectedly burst out in a laugh. “I’m just kidding I don’t care. Baiii.” She took a sip of her tea.

I quickly got up from my seat and began to walk away but for some reason, I still felt her gaze on me but I didn’t dare to look behind.

The last thing I heard before I walked out of the doors was someone rapidly typing on their laptop.

She needs to slow down.

---

I went out in the hallway and found a secluded corner to which I got out my phone once more and dialed dad’s number. My heart began to beat a bit too fast for my comfort but I tried to ignore it.

He picked up the phone but before he could say anything, I quickly cut him off.

“What about the locations?” I immediately cut to the chase.

“Oh wow. No ‘hey dad’, how was your day? Or what are you up to right now?” he mocked my voice. “Whatever happened to manners?”

I rolled my eyes. “Hey, how was your day?”

“It was great thank you for asking. Thank the lord Cal wasn’t at work today or I swear, I would’ve-”

“Dude! The locations!” I snapped him out of his crazy thoughts about torturing his co-worker Cal. It’s complicated.

“Oh right! So anyway, I’ve got a hold of some places that you can check out but…”

“But? But what?”

“One’s in…”

“Dad spit it out. One’s in where?”

“It’s near the orphanage I adopted you from”

I was silent for a moment. “...But didn’t you guys shut down the place after...all that happened?”

“Yes, but I got a hold of the staff that used to work there like... Felix...and also Beatrice...”

“I thought Felix was in prison.”

“Oh, he is…”

“...Oh.”

I paled but said nothing. Dad obviously understanding my silence gave me a moment then spoke up again.

“If you don’t want to go I completely understand-”

“-what’s the other place?” I cut him off.

“What?”

“The other place that you found.”

“Oh, um...the foster house they put you in for the first time,” he said quietly.

I paled once more.

“Like I said, you don’t have to-”

“-I’ll go,” I finally spoke up again.

“Wait, really?”

“You sound shocked,” I accused him bluntly.

“That’s because I am-so you’ll go?”

“Yeah. I’ll go.” It’s about time I go back to the part of my life that gave me PTSD, extremely low self-esteem, and anxiety. It's totally a good idea. So amazing. Why didn't I think of it sooner?

“But you know I’m gonna be at work on the days they said they were available to meet son. I’m sorry but I can’t let you go alone. You need to have someone else to accompany you or else I’ll have to skip wor-”

“-dad. It’s okay. I can handle myself. You don’t have to skip work because of me. It’s just a visit anyway,” I tried to laugh it off even though I felt like dying.

He was quiet for a while before he made up his mind. “...okay. But if anything happens, I’m carrying Charlie on my back and running over there if I have to you got that?”

I laughed. Sincerely this time. “Yes sir. Be sure to say hi to Cal for me. Tell him he’s doing a great job.”

“Oh, screw off," he hung up.

Don’t think about it.

A hand lifted and hardly slapped my cheek.

Don’t think about it.

Two arms grabbed my collar and slammed me against the wall.

Don’t think about

A whip raised and slashed against my bare back.

Don’t think about it.

A thrown glass went past me and smashed against the door leaving a narrow cut on my cheek.

I opened my eyes.

I went back inside the dining room in silence and sat down, reopening my laptop. Rosalie was writing something on her notepad when she paused to look up at me. “...Are you okay? You look like shit.”

I snapped out of my thoughts. “W-What? Yeah.”

Oh, screw it.

“Do you…” I hesitated. Do I really want to do this? Was I so much of a coward that i had to this with someone else's presence? Is it worth it to drag a pretty much stranger into all of this?

“Do I what?”

I met her eyes and which somehow gave me the confidence to finish my sentence. “Do you…”

Stop.

“Do you…”

Hoe don’t do it.

“Do you want to go somewhere with me?...J-Just for a little while?” I rapidly clicked the tip of my pen. Why did I word it like that? I sound so weird. What if she thinks I'm gonna take her to a crackhouse?

She’s gonna say no.

She stared at me for a very hot minute.

She’s definitely gonna say no.

“Sure.”

Wait what? I thought.

“Wait what?” I said out loud.

She smirked. Ok, she’s scaring me. “Why not? This work’s boring anyway and I finished ages ago.”

“Um...cool,” I grinned. “Great...dandy...swell-”

“Stop.”

“Sorry.”

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Hello! Did you like the chapter? I swear I'm trying my best lol!

Stay tuned for the next one!

Meme of the day:

Another meme of the day because I don't like Shane Dawson for very obvious reasons:

K peace✌️

~Potchachoe~