Let's get it on

“You sure you’d be okay moping around though, because this house reeks of longing and gloom.”

I chuck a throw pillow at Himari for that while mum laughs.

“Thank you, Himari. Say hi to Jack for me.” My mum drones from the couch she is slumped in.

“Will do, Fiona.” Himari replies and throws me a glare. “Do remember to stay away from the sunlight, you gloomy gloom.”

“Fuck of! I am in pain!” I cry.

“Language, Tequila. We say ‘fudge’ in this house. Try again.”

“Fudge off, you butch! I’m in pain!”

With a chuckle, Himari leaves.

“And then there were two.”

“Nope, there isn't cause I'm out of here. Jessica just sent a text. She’s free for today since her kids are with their dad. It’s girl time!”

My mum says, jumping off the couch in a way that’s too energetic for the couch potato she has become.

“Stay safe gloomy gloom. Also, when Lolita gets back, tell her I want that boy out of my house ASAP.” She says as she bounds the stairs to her room.

I close my eyes with a groan. Sleeping on the couch has some sort of allure.

Boom!

I blink at the darkness, trying to get my bearings.

There it is again; the harsh sound that must’ve woken me up.

My pulse racing, I get up and make my way towards the sound.

Silly girl! Go back to the parlour and grab your phone. Call the police!

My curious legs refuse to listen to my wise mind and carry me onwards.

I need to know what’s going on.

This is my house anyway.

Hastening my steps, I reach the kitchen and stand beside the door, out of view.

Peering in, bright light blinds me and I shriek, in fear and indignation.

“What thief is so confident in themself that they point a fucking flashlight at someone’s face when they’re caught?”

“What kind of person walks into danger with no fucking protection?”

Of course.

I hiss.

“Get out, Aaron!”

The idiot reaches out and flicks on the light switch.

I’m blinded for the second time in minutes and I glare at him before focusing on the reason for the noise.

“What are you making?”

“Fried egg. I see you have fresh bread. I had forgotten Fiona bakes.”

“How does frying egg create such noise? It felt like the house was about to fall!”

“Ah yes, about that. I dropped the pan, then as I was trying to pick it up, that steel bowl fell.”

“You weren’t scared you’d wake the whole house up?”

“I knew you were the only one home. I checked.”

“Yes, because that’s not creepy at all.”

He shrugs and goes back to his work, adding salt to his mix.

"The door was open."

I sigh and climb the counter.

“What do you want, Aaron? I thought I had made my stand clear to you today?”

“You did. But we have a contract and I’m not backing down on my word. I’ll help you find the people responsible.”

Daddy’s words filter into my mind.

‘I am not a pedophile and you know that.

Lolita knows that, and your mum knows that.

That’s all that matters to me–you three are all that matter to me.’

“No, Aaron, that’s all water under the bridge now. Daddy is truly okay. It won’t do me any good to dwell in the past when I could focus on my future.”

“You cannot be serious. Do you know-“

“That day, Georgette said something, you know? She said, ‘you can never have Aaron’. Do you know what that meant? Was I such a threat to your relationship, she made everyone turn against me at my lowest point?

If she did that because she wanted you all to herself, and you still chose her, who else can I blame for what happened? You were the star, you know?

Everyone wanted to know what you’d do.

If you had told her off and helped me up, some students would have at least held my hand through it.

They must have thought, ‘If both her best friends left her, why shouldn’t we?’ I was bad press, anyway. So I still stand by my words that day, you were the catalyst.”

He places two servings of bread and egg on the counter beside me and digs into his own.

I pick a slice of bread and chew it without the fried egg. Mummy makes the best baked goods.

“I had always wondered why you cut me off. It hurt like a bitch that you didn’t let me stand by you then. Thank you for clarifying everything.”

Mouth full, I nod and look away.

“I came to take you bowling.”

“You know I don’t bowl.” I state after swallowing.

“The alley is two hours away so we have to hurry.”

“You know I don’t bowl.” I reiterate.

“I do. We won’t be bowling. We’ll be stalking a pervert.”

My ears perk up, interested.

He doubles over laughing and slaps his thigh.

“Your ears still do that?” He says, pointing at my ear.

“It does. I still love it.”

“I do too. Wow, you’re like an animal.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. Now, who are we stalking?”

“A pervert.”

“You said that already! I meant, who’s the pervert?”

“My lead on the rape of Annalise George.”

My ears perk again, but he doesn’t comment.

“Really? How did you do that? That case was closed because there were no more more leads.”

“I know where to source information from, unlike some people in uniform. He goes bowling every Saturday with his friends and they usually sleep in the brothel next to the bowling alley. They get pretty wasted.”

“What’s his name? How is he still...”

He places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

“Let’s get the bastard. Remember, though, we aren’t sure he’s the rapist. We only know he is linked to the incident and have enough disturbing data about him to term him a pervert.”

I’m nodding before he finishes.

Anything is better than nothing.

I run up the stairs and grab my detective get-up.

I’ll be so stealthy, the pervert won’t know what hit him.

“What in the world are you wearing? You look like the love child of a vampire and a hard-core emo.” Aaron comments immediately he lays eyes on me.

“Shut up and let’s get it on!”