Page 22 of Tasting Innocence
“Wow, that’s crazy.”
“Anyway, Jayden and…I think his name is Shawn, are downstairs setting up a projector in some office space. I think they brought some scary movies.”
“Cool. I’ll head down soon,” I say.
Right before I’m about to walk out of the room, Renzo sits up and says, “Thanks for following Vi down those stairs.”
“Oh. Of course.”
“I’m glad she wasn’t stuck alone. I know she thinks you’re just as annoying and protective as me, but she probably would've freaked out if you weren’t there.”
He laughs as he gets off the bed, and playfully hits my shoulder as he passes me. I force out a chuckle.
* * *
After everyone’s had dinner,some go back into the room with the projector to keep watching movies, and others go into the room with the games. Lost in my own head, I decide to make my way outside, looking for the garden I saw from the third floor.
There’s absolutely no lights out here, leaving only the moon to guide my way, but I eventually come across the entrance to the area I spotted before. It’s almost completely enclosed by tall hedges, but once inside, I spot a couple benches on a circular piece of concrete.
Sitting down, I think about whether it’s worth making a move on Violet. Truth be told, that night around Christmas when we were trapped in a cabin together, the alcohol didn’t have me thinking straight. Had I stayed sober, maybe I would’ve kept myself in check better. I had been doing so well leading up until then.
It’s not like I did much. I let my knee rub against hers as we were watching TV, and maybe I got a little close to her ass when we were in the kitchen. Nothing too obvious, and all of them could’ve been coincidences, but then I walked her to her room and my brain left my head and I leaned in and kissed her cheek.
The absolute shock on her face had me rushing down the hall and into my room, not wanting her to start yelling at me. Though, I would’ve deserved it.
Instead, she pretended nothing happened at all, and that was probably worse.
However, I have a lot to lose if this ends badly. Renzo is my best friend. I’ve known him since I was six. He’s like the brother I never had, and his family is my family. Which I get sounds weird, considering I’m lusting after Vi, who’s a part of this family.
Their parents are the warmest, kindest, most loving parents in the world. They’ve always made me feel at home with them. I’ve spent countless nights at their house, taken trips with them, and spent holidays with them, because they know I don’t have that same type of family at home.
It’s just me and my dad because my mom took off when I was ten and I haven’t seen her since. My dad works a lot, and it’s not like he doesn’t care about me, but it’s like he doesn’t have a parent bone in his body. He provides for me, but he doesn’t stick around to ask me about anything. He doesn’t know what I’m up to at school, what sort of extra curricular activities I’m in, or whether I’m happy or depressed. He gives me money and assumes that’s enough.
If I mess around with Violet, I could lose Renzo and his parents. Then what would I have? They’ve treated me better than my own family, and I don’t know if I could handle not being able to be in their lives anymore.
A white streak catches my eye, and I focus my gaze on the darkness in front of me, wondering what I just saw.
I get up and stroll across the concrete until I hit grass again, heading toward the hedges. As I get closer I see the arch cut out and realize there’s more to this garden.
To my left, I hear a noise and do what everyone always yells at the main character of a horror movie not to do...I follow it. After all, I don’t believe in ghosts.
I quicken my steps, and when I get to the end I see a long piece of fabric blowing in the wind as it disappears behind another hedge.
I shake my head and keep going. Before I get to the archway, Violet pops out.
“Boo!”
Instinctively, I jolt back before I start laughing. “I hate you.”
She grins. “What? I thought this is where the ghosts all hang out.”
I shake my head. “Touché.”
“I scared you. Admit it.”
“I wasn’t scared.”
She puts her hands on her hips and cocks her head. “It’s okay to be afraid, Dex. I won’t tell your friends. Your masculinity is safe with me.”