Her cordless telephone rang, barely evoking a flinch of startlement. Eyes still glued to the text before her, she reached for the phone on it's base, missing it with the first wave of her hand, but eventually finding it after some blind groping.
"'Ello?" she asked, trying to suppress a yawn.
"Tim!" Bob exclaimed from the other end over the pandemonium in the background. "Why isn't your ass here?" he demanded.
Timber inwardly groaned. "I have homework." she replied.
"On a Friday? Yeah right Dork. Get over here." he said, not willing to take no for an answer.
"Bob..." she started with a weak protest.
"No Timber." Bob said firmly. "Get over here, or I'll go there are fling you over my shoulder and carry you across the street."
She laughed despite herself, twisting a lock of her dark hair in her fingers.
"Look you Dorkas Ignoramus, get you ass over here." he said again. "Bye."
Timber was about to object once again, in hopes that he would actually come over to her house as promised, but the dial tone cut into her plans. "Damn it." she cursed, pressing the 'off' button.
She got off her bed, sending her Biology notebook to the floor, and headed for her closet.
"Well that would be keen if I showed up in my underwear..." she muttered to herself, a brief glance to her attire, or extreme lack thereof, and took to sifting through the contents.
It was amazing how she used to not care about what she was wearing to Bob's house. Now it seemed like what she was about to select in her closet would hold the fate of her and Bob's relationship for the rest of their lives. Fatigue green pants and a grey hoodie better had send the right message. She looked into the mirror. How was she able to go on, knowing that her reflection was and never would be good enough for him? It seemed like a miracle. She wished she could posses what all those other girls possessed. She wished she weren't just 'one of the guys' to him. She wished he saw what she wanted him to see. She wanted him to see her as beautiful. Nothing more, nothing less. Just beautiful.
* * *
With his nose turned rosy at the tip by the harsh November wind, Scott wrung the doorbell to his girlfriend's front door. He jammed his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket, wishing he had brought gloves along with him, instead of trying to act as if the weather didn't bother him at all. Observing the scenery around him, he briefly settled on the thought that it would be snowing soon; he loved snow.
"Scott..." Angela said as she swung open the door. She was out of breath. "One sec..." she sputtered, running back into the house.
Scott raised an eyebrow at her haste, letting himself in and shutting the big door behind him.
"Patti!!!" Angela screamed from somewhere towards the back of the house. "Get back here!"
Shrill gigled followed her demand, seeming closer and closer as the pitter-patter of tiny bare feet on the tile of the kitchen grew louder.
"Patti!!!" Angela yelled again.
"Scotty! Scotty!" Patti exclaimed, running up to him in the foyer.
Scott's eyes went wide, taking notice of the palpable fact that the cherub was fresh from the bathtub.
"Scotty! Scotty!" she exclaimed, raising her arms and beckoning for him to pick her up.
"Um... Angela?" Scott called, his voice cracking with nervousness.
"Is she over there?" Angela asked from an unidentifiable location. "Grab her and I'll get her clothes!"
"Uh... doesn't that fall under child molestation or something?" Scott asked.
"She two Scott. Grab her before she runs away." Angela called.
"Scotty! Scotty!" Patti whined, still begging him to lift her up.
Scott hesitated for a moment, then picked her up, holding her and arms length. "I got her!" he said, heading towards the kitchen.
"Bring her in here please." Angela directed.
"Where are you?" Scott asked, sweeping through the kitchen, but finding it empty.
Patti giggled, enjoying the ride. She swung her feet happily.
"Living room."
Carrying the child into the living room, he found his girlfriend armed and ready with a diaper and pajamas for the baby.
"Angia!!!" Patti screamed. "No! No! No! Angia bad!"
"What'd you do to the poor thing?" Scott asked, setting her down on the table where Angela had the diaper.
"I don't know." the older sister replied. "Children are strange."
"But she's so cute." Scott said smiling and watching his girlfriend dress his sister. "She couldn't possibly be that hard to look after. I mean, the afternoon I spent with her and Mia was heaven."
"That was for an hour." Angela pointed out.
"Still." Scott said with an exaggerated arrogant sigh. "Taking care of kids is cake-work Angie. I think you're just too serious all the time."
Angela gave him a surprised look. "I am not serious!" she laughed.
"Yeah ya'are." Scott argued. "I bet I could take care of Patti so much better. I'm such a fun guy." he teased.
"Do you seriously think you could take care of a little girl who's almost two years old?" She asked.
"Easily." Scott replied, never one to turn down a chance to boast his versatility.
"Okay. Okay." Angela nodded, processing this information. "Wanna make a bet?" she asked.
"You betcha I do." Scott replied. "Whatdya wager."
"I bet you can't watch this little bundle of joy for three hours." she said firmly as she buttoned the front of Patti's pajamas.
"Three?" Scott asked. "Why not six?" he challenged.
"Okay, then." she nodded.
"No wait, did I say six? Why not a whole day?" he asked, his arrogance getting the best of him.
"Are you sure?" Angela asked. "Twenty-four hours with a two year old?"
"What, don't think I could do it?" Scott asked, a satisfied grin on his face. He had no idea what he was getting himself into.
"Alright then." Angela sighed. "Tomorrow?"
"Yep."
"Good, I wanted to go shopping tomorrow anyway." she said passively. "I'll drop her off at three and pick her up at three on Sunday. And you can't call and ask for help or I win. And no asking for help from you parents either. You're daddy for the day."
"You know Angie," Scott said. "If you had another younger sibling, I'd put them in the bet too. This is going to be too easy." he laughed.
Angela smiled wryly at him. "Whatever you say." she said, knowing he would be in for a surprise.
* * *
A moment of collecting her emotions on the front porch was all she needed. Timber sighed, running her hands through her hair a few times before raising her hand to knock on the door. It flew open before she had a chance to make contact.
"Hey Tim!" Dave said with a bright smile.
"Hi." Timber said, smiling awkwardly.
"What's up?" Dave asked.
"Not much..." she replied, thinking that Bob wouldn't notice she was there if she kept her voice down.
"Hey, come with me for a sec." he said, pulling her into the house and leading her up the stairs.
She followed, having no idea where they were going. She and Dave rarely spoke. It wasn't that they didn't like each other, it was just plainly because they never got much of a chance to talk. Dave was always with Jeanine, and Timber with Bob. Their paths rarely crossed, and when they did, it was during a group get-together, not giving them much time to associate. She sighed, realizing how amazing the things you realized where when given a chance.
"I know we don't really talk much," Dave began as if he had read her mind, closing the door once the two of them were in his bedroom. "In fact, I can't remember a time when we've said more than a few words... To tell you the truth, television watching is the extent of our relationship." he rambled. "But I need help, your help."
He needed her help. Everyone always needed her help. In fact, Scott was the only one even aware that she had problems of her own. Did she look like a psychologist of some sort? Was 'Shrink" tattooed on her forehead and she just didn't know it?
"Alright." she said, wandering the perimeter of the bedroom and taking everything in. She had only been in Dave's bedroom once that she could remember.
"Okay." he said with a sigh, plopping on the bed. "So let's say you love someone."
"Okay..." she trailed off when he paused for her reaction.
"And that person has no idea you love them. That person thinks that you're just another one of their friends. In fact, that person's going out with someone very close to you." he continued, speaking in a rather fast paced tone.
Timber nodded slowly, shifting uncomfortably over by the window.
"But you love this person so desperately. You can't explain it." Dave said, the emotion dripping from his voice. "But you don't know what to do, because first off, they're going out with someone else, and second of all, they only think of you as a friend. And you're dying because this secret is killing you and all you can think about is them. When you wake up, they're the first thought you have... when you go to sleep, you dream of them... and all you want is for them to love you the same..." he stopped shortly, noticing the look she was giving him.
Timber longed to grab his words before they could diffuse into the universe. Those were her words... the only words that could possibly used to describe her feelings. "You love them so much you're numb..." she completed his thought subconsciously.
"Yeah..." Dave said softly. "How did you know?" he asked.
She gazed into his chocolate brown eyes. "I've read about it." she lied.
He nodded. "Well reading is nothing in comparison." he sighed. "Love is the first and foremost emotion in the world. Love is what keeps the world turning."
Timber nodded, knowing he was right.
A cloud of silence blocked the sun of conversation for a brief moment. "What do I do?" Dave finally asked, desperately.
Timber's wide eyes scanned over his features. She went and sat down on the bed beside him. "You tell them, don't wait." she ordered urgently. "When you love someone, you have to tell them when the moment presents itself... or it'll pass you by."
Dave's glanced down at where her hands had grasped his in a moment of desperation. Noticing this, she let go, sitting back numbly.
"... don't let the moment pass you by..." she whispered, more to herself.
"I thought I'd find you here." A voice said from the doorway, seeming like a bellow in the silence of the room.
Both teenagers on the bed looked up at Bob.
"Hey. We were just coming downstairs." Dave said, standing up.
"Yeah." Timber reinforced in a barely audible tone. She followed Dave to the door.
"We'll be right down D, I need to borrow this one for a moment." Bob said, a grin taking shape on his lips.
Dave nodded silently, looking back to Timber. "Thanks." he said to her, heading down the hall.
Timber sighed, knowing she should take her own advice. She jumped slightly at the arms that snaked around her waist. Bob's chin rested gently on her shoulder, his breath on her neck.
"Don't be mad at me." he whined playfully, swinging her slightly in his embrace.
She laughed at his goofiness. "I'm not mad at you Boob." she said, trying to sound sincere.
"Good." he smiled, grabbing her hand in his and leading her to his bedroom. "Now one more order of business before we go about our never-a-dull-moment-y lives."
She sputtered a laugh at the truth of his statement, having no choice but to follow him.
* * *
"Hey guys." Scott said, entering the living room with Angela attached to him at the hand.
He tossed his keys onto the table, sitting in the recliner and pulling his girlfriend down on to his lap.
"Hey." Clint said, the only one in the living room feeling the need to reply. He lay across the couch with his head on Jeanine's lap as she played with his hair.
Ben was on the loveseat, staring at the swirled stucco of the ceiling and picking out abstract pictures in the grooves and ridges.
"Kelly not here yet?" Scott asked.
"Nope." Clint replied, seeming quite satisfied with that fact.
"Then where is everybody?" the oldest brother asked, not happy with the silence in the room.
Clint sighed. "Kelly isn't here, I'm right here, Jeanine's right here too, Ben's over there..."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Scott rolled his eyes. "I'm talking about the people not in this room."
"Oh, well you never specified." Clint pointed out, studying his fingernails as he spoke. "Bob and Carmen are probably making out in his room, Timber's with Dave and Dave's with Timber."
"Smart ass." Scott grumbled, sitting back and pulling Angela closer to him.
"Did someone say my name?" Dave asked, strolling into the living room.
"So Dave isn't with Timber." Clint commented.
"Yeah, Tim's with Bob." Dave said, sitting next to Ben on the loveseat.
"Are we going to do anything tonight or what?" Scott asked.
"Yeah!" Clint snapped in reply. "We're supposed to be doing stuff but Kelly obviously feels that she has better things to do."
"Give it up Clint." Scott said. "You guys have been over for weeks now."
"Did I say anything?" Clint asked.
"Uh... yeah!" Dave replied sarcastically.
Clint rolled his eyes. "Drop it." he directed.
"You brought it up." Scott pointed out.
"Well I'm putting it back down." Clint retaliated.
Scott held his hands up in surrender. "Hey, when you're on the rag, you don't have to let us all know."
Clint groped for the pillow below his legs on the couch, hurling it at his brother across the room from him.
Dave looked on introspectively at Angela. She sat atop Scott's lap, smiling at her boyfriend's badinage with his younger brother. She was wearing a pair of tight jeans that made her form look very attractive. Her black, long sleeved shirt also hugged her torso, outlining her nicely shaped breasts and melting into her jeans, conforming around her hips in a flattering manner. Her wispy dark curls bobbed at her chin as she laughed when Scott threw the cushion back at Clint, hitting him in the face and fueling his bilious attitude. He loved her... so why was it so hard to tell her? Timber was right. When you love someone, you have to tell them or else the moment will slip from your fingers and never be returned. He was going to find a way to tell her about his feelings.
* * *
"Close your eyes." Bob whispered in Timber's ears, a gesture that made her skin tingle with excitement.
He slipped a hand over her eyes and led her into her bedroom.
"Ow." Timber said, tripping over an unidentifiable object on the floor.
"Sorry." Bob laughed, kicking the book out of the way. He shut his bedroom door behind them.
They were alone. She should tell him how she felt. She had just told Dave that if you love someone you tell them, how could she go back on those words that had come from her very own mouth? That would make her a hypocrite.
"Bob, I have something to tell you." she said, swallowing her pride.
Bob uncovered her eyes and Timber stopped short, seeing Carmen seated on the bed with a remorseful smile.
"Nevermind." Timber mumbled, spitting her pride back up.
"I want you guys to be friends." Bob pleaded. "I can't stand to have my two best friends fight."
Did he just say that we were BOTH his best friends? Timber demanded mentally.
"Don't be mad at me Timber. I'm sorry for the shit I said." Carmen insisted.
"I'm not mad." Timber whispered, staring at the ground. Her world was falling apart. Suddenly Carmen had encroached on the only thing she had left. Carmen had successfully stolen Bob from her. The moment was gone before it had come.
"You aren't?" Carmen asked in a sickeningly sweet tone.
I just said I wasn't mad! Was my fucking answer supposed to change between that reply and her reiteration of the question? Stupid fuck. What a bitch. She stole the only one that I could turn to. I will never forgive her.
"Why would I be?" Timber asked softly, still finding fascination in her shoelaces.
Without warning, Carmen's arms were around her shoulders. Timber felt so small, so inferior to her. How did she get to be so small?
"So are we friends?" Carmen asked, stepping back.
Timber nodded weakly. "Yeah. We always were. I wasn't mad Carmen. I was over that when it happened." she lied, trying to seem as if she didn't have any emotions.
"Good." Carmen smiled, a genuine expression.
"Now that we're all friends again," Bob cut in. "Let's go downstairs and chill with the others; they pro'ly think we're up here makin' babies." he grinned, nudging Timber with his elbow.
She forced a smile, only a ghost of what it once was. "Yeah." she muttered, trying to seem happy, thought she knew that couldn't ever happen.
The moment had passed. She had to crawl back into the shadows... Carmen's shadow.
* * *
"Remember this one?" Scott laughed, showing Bob the picture of him and Angela kissing.
Bob smiled wryly. "I almost caught pneumonia that day Scott." he snapped, spoiling it with a smirk. "But it was worth it!" he laughed.
"Oh! This is such a cute one of you and me Dave!" Jeanine gushed, showing the youngest Moffatt boy the photograph of the two of them.
They had their arms around each other and were smiling widely. Dave smiled at the picture. "That's a good one." he said.
"Hey, where's that pic of Clint getting his ass wooped at arm wrestling by Jen---" Bob was cut off by the doorbell.
"That's Kelly." Carmen said surely.
"Well it's about time she decided to grace us with her presence." Clint grumbled, earning a swift elbow to the ribs by Jeanine who sat on the couch beside him.
"I'll get it!" Dave said quickly, hopping up off the loveseat and running out into the foyer.
"Suddenly I feel sick." Clint commented in a puerile fashion.
"Grow up." Bob rolled his eyes.
Clint was about to retaliate with an umbraged remark when Kelly strolled into the room, hand in hand with Trevor.
"What the hell is he doing here?" he demanded.
"Give it up Clint." Scott ordered, slightly annoyed by his younger brother's constant enmity for his ex-girlfriends current boyfriend.
"Relax Clint." Dave coaxed. "It's cool, I invited him."
Clint narrowed his eyes at his brother but remained silent, not wanting to start an altercation with the boy. How dare that soccer-playing-clown come into his house with a smarmy smile upon his face? How dare that goon sit down on Clint's favorite chair with his ex-girlfriend of not long enough and even look in his direction? It took all the second born Moffatt had not to get up and assail the intruder right then and there.
"Anyone want snacks?" Scott asked, something that resembled a devious smile forming on his face.
Hearing the general tone of acceptance to his indirect offer, Scott requested his brother help him in the kitchen.
"You invited the prick!?" Clint demanded in a hoarse but intense whisper once inside the kitchen.
"Yeah, I mean, I didn't think you would get so mad." Dave replied innocently with a shrug.
"Fuck yeah I'm mad!" Clint snapped.
"I thought you were over her." Bob pointed out, going to the pantry and pulling out a stack of plastic disposable cups.
"I am." Clint confirmed. "It just makes me sick to see the guy she cheated on me with!" he explained, gesticulating wildly as he angrily paced the tile before the refrigerator. "I mean, if Carmen cheated on you with some dude, you wouldn't want to see that ass-rammer in your very own living room! Would you?"
Bob stopped suddenly, the high pyramid of cups he was building toppling to the countertop and floor. "How... how did you know about me and Carmen?" he asked.
Clint stopped walking, his eyes meeting those of his twin. "Was I not supposed to?" he asked.
"No! You weren't!!" Bob exclaimed, scrambling for the stray blue and red cup that oscillated on the cold tile.
"Well then you obviously suck at hiding things. Everywhere I go, you guys are sucking face like... Scott and Angela." Clint grinned, momentarily forgetting what he had been lamenting only moments before.
"Hey!" Scott interjected. "Sucking face is not a bad thing!"
"I didn't say it was." Clint surrendered.
"No, you guys, Timber's not supposed to know!" Bob whispered.
"Why not?" Scott and Clint asked at the same time.
"She just isn't... okay? I'll tell her when I want to." Bob stated firmly, going back to the cups.
"Whatever." Scott rolled his eyes.
"So why did you need three extra people to help you get some chips and shit?" Clint asked in a caustic fashion.
"Well I was waiting till you guys stopped yapping. I have an idea." The grin returned to Scott's face.
"Oh God. Either the police are going to get called, someone gets hurt, the house catches fire, or one of our closest friends will end up hating us." Dave muttered in an undertone. "Or all the above..." he added.
"Quiet in the peanut gallery." Scott warned. "This is a good idea." he smiled. "Trust me."
"Remember what happened last time we did that?" Bob nudged Dave who nodded.
"Just listen up..." Scott directed.
* * *
"Oh my GOD." Carmen sighed. "Get these chips away from me before I gain another ten pounds."
"It's not like you couldn't use it! Eat! Eat!" Kelly encouraged.
The girls laughed at that comment while the gentlemen in the living room just exchanged looks. Bob glanced over at Timber, noticing she was curled up between Clint and Dave on the couch staring off into space.
"Try some of these Tim, they're really good." he offered, sliding the bowl of Doritos towards her across the coffee table.
"No thanks." she said wistfully. "I ate a big dinner."
"You sure?" Bob asked. "They're good."
"I'm sure." she insisted, resuming her gazing towards the window.
He studied her for a moment. It was amazing what you noticed just by staring at a person; even if you've known them for what seemed like an eternity. Her skin was very smooth along her defined jawline, a soft shade of maple. She had a defined nose, an unusual shape, much like his own. Her dark hair was swept up into a twisted knot, wisps falling over her cheek. Her eyes, though dark brown, were mysterious. They were the same shade as his own. He found that to be beautiful. She was actually a beautiful person when he thought about it. Her long and thin legs were tucked up under her body, and her arms wrapped around them. Her full and pouting lips were slightly parted, fitting the expression of thoughtfulness on her face. He smiled. Timber was pretty.
It was pitch black outside the window. As the lights flickered out, she jumped, the pitch black outside becoming lighter than the room itself.
"Um... what just happened here?" Scott asked, his voice the first one heard in the otherwise silent room.
"Is there a blackout?" Dave asked, getting up from the couch and stepping on Jeanine's hand.
"Ouch!" she exclaimed.
"Oh! Sorry!" he apologized promptly.
"Do you guys have a fuse box?" Trevor asked.
"Yes we have a fuse box." Clint snapped in reply.
"Well then you might wanna check it out to see what the problem is." Trevor said darkly.
"We already know what the problem is... or who the problem is, I should say." Clint muttered, his voice still clearly heard.
"What's your malfunction anyway?" Trevor demanded.
"Look pretty boy." Clint began in a taunting manner. "It may be dark, but I can still whup your little pansy ass."
"What's stopping you?" the other boy challenged.
"Pride." Clint said flatly.
"Cut it out you guys!" Kelly exclaimed. "God! You're acting like kids!"
"Yeah, I know!" Bob agreed. "You can have your showdown when we at least get the lights on."
"Let's split up." Scott suggested.
"Why?" Carmen asked.
"Because. we can cover more ground that way." Scott replied.
"Well unless this is a nature hunt, then I really don't think that's necessary." Ben commented.
"How about I go to the fuse box in the basement; Carmen and Timber go get the flashlights; Jeanie Kelly and Trev go into the kitchen for candles; Bob, Clint, and Dave go to the other fuse boxes in the bathroom, office, and laundry room; and Angie and Ben go fill up the bathtubs?" Scott said, already heading for the basement. "Don't just sit there! Go!" he ordered.
* * *
"I have no fucking clue where they keep candles." Jeanine stated, rummaging in the pantry. "Enough chocolate products to feed a small country, but no candles."
Trevor slid his arms around Kelly's waist. "Doesn't the darkness seem so... erotic?" he asked.
She giggled. "Trevie..."
"Okay," Jeanine snapped. "That's gross. You guys sound like my parents."
"We're just two youngins in love." Trevor smiled, kissing Kelly on the cheek.
"Well be in love somewhere else." Jeanine rolled her eyes.
"I wonder what Clint's problem is." Kelly thought aloud, searching a drawer.
"Hmmm... let's think." Jeanine muttered sarcastically.
"Yeah, what is that guys issue?" Trevor asked. "He's such an asshole."
"He is NOT an ass hole you vapid jock shit prick." Jeanine snapped at the boy.
Kelly turned to her cousin and gave her a stern look.
"Freudian slip." Jeanine said innocently.
Kelly rolled her eyes and resumed searching the drawer while Jeanine continued to look in the pantry. Trevor leaned back against the counter watching the girls work.
"What was that?" Kelly suddenly asked, breaking the silence.
"You talking." Jeanine replied haughtily.
"No, I'm serious..." Kelly shushed her best friend. "I heard something."
"Did it sound like... your voice?" Jeanine teased.
"Oh shut up! No!" Kelly replied. "It was a... rustling sound... kinda..."
"Like the rustling of... a diaper?" Trevor asked.
Jeanine glared at him. "And you aren't even blonde." she said, shaking her head with pity.
"Shhhh!" Kelly hissed, going and grabbing Trevor's arm.
"What're you getting so worked up about Kelly? There're other people in the house you moron. It's pro'ly one of them." Jeanine said, shutting the pantry.
"Shhh!!!" Kelly snapped, gesturing to her cousin to be quiet.
Jeanine rolled her eyes, but complied. Kelly was just being irrational as usual.
The sound of rattling keys cut through the air like a sharp knife.
"See!" Kelly whispered, clinging to Trevor even more than before.
"Kelly, relax." Jeanine whispered, walking over to where the other two were by the counter. "That's probably Mr. and-or Mrs. Moffatt coming home." she coaxed, though she was getting scared herself. "No need to freak ourselves out..."
The creaking of the front door caused both girls to jump, Kelly digging her fingernails into Trevor's arm.
"Okay, maybe we can freak out!" Jeanine whispered. "Let's hide somewhere!"
"You guys, I bet it's the Moffatt parents." Trevor assured them.
Jen let out a breath trying to relax herself. "Yes. It probably is."
There was a loud bang in the next room.
Kelly let out a blood curdling scream.
* * *
"So tell me why we're doing this again..." Ben muttered, turning on the bathtub in the boy's bathroom upstairs.
"I would if I knew." Angela replied, sitting down on the toilet seat. "I wonder why the power went out."
"Maybe some kind of electrical problem. I bet Dave did something. He's always doing something." the other boy chuckled, wading his arms to the elbow in the water.
"Dave?" Angela asked, slightly surprised by that factoid. "He seems to... quiet."
"Dave? Quiet? I'm telling you 'Gie, the guy'll talk your ear off."
"Really?" Angela asked. "He never has much to say around me."
Ben shrugged. "That's a shock." he grinned.
The running of the water provided a relaxing yet thunderous soundtrack, covering the silence between the two teens. Angela stared up at the vent near the ceiling, finding odd fascination with it as the flame from the single votive candle lighting the room reflected upon the chrome fixture.
Ben shut off the faucet suddenly, snapping Angela out of her reverie.
"What?" she asked, seeing the look of alarm on his face.
He held his hand up, signaling for her to be quiet. After a moment, he shook his head. "I thought I heard something." he muttered, turning the faucet back on.
"Oh." Angela nodded, running her hands up and down her thighs restlessly. "Let's go back downstairs. This is getting weird." she said, getting to her feet.
The partially ajar door to the bathroom slammed shut abruptly, causing her to jump.
"Whoa, what was that?" Ben asked, getting up and shutting off the faucet for good.
"I don't know..." Angela replied, rushing to the door and intending to swing it open. It wouldn't budge. "It's... locked..." she replied.
"Lemme try." Ben suggested, stepping up to the door and taking the place of her hand on the knob with his own. He gave the door a yank, but it wouldn't budge.
"Is it stuck on something?" Angela asked, suddenly frantic.
"I don't... THINK so..." Ben muttered while yanking the knob again.
Angela paused, looking up at the ceiling. She suddenly lay a hand on Ben's arm. "Ben..." she whispered.
"Hmmm?" he grunted, still yanking on the door.
"Ben, what's that smell?" she asked.
"What smell?" he asked, hardly paying her any attention.
Angela took a step back. "Like... I don't really know." she took another step back, her shoes sticking to the floor. "What's that?" she asked, whisking the candle from beside the sink.
"What are you talking about?" Ben asked, looking at the floor where she was pointing.
"That!" she hissed nervously.
He ran his two fingers through the substance on the tile, bringing it to his nose. "It's smells like... blood?" he speculated.
A scream was heard, echoing through the house. Angela jumped back, and the candle toppled from her hands, catching on the towel on the floor.
"Oh my God!" Ben exclaimed. "FIRE!"
* * *
"We're going to die..." Kelly whimpered, huddled in the pantry beside Trevor.
"Shut up you stupid idiot! I don't have any fucking time for your whining." Jeanine scolded caustically. "We have to call the cops!" she added urgently.
"Do you have your cell phone with you Kelly?" Trevor asked.
"It's in my purse in the living room." she replied, fresh rheum on her flushed cheeks."
"Shit... that means someone has to go get the phone." Jeanine thought aloud.
Trevor and Kelly both looked at her.
"What?" Jen asked. "Trevor you should go! You're the man! You should be protecting us!"
"But you're the virago!" he argued. "And besides, I have to keep Kelly safe." he smiled smugly.
"Pussy." Jeanine snapped. "Fine. I'll go, but only so I can gloat about you being a pussy." she smiled.
"At least I won't die." Trevor mumbled under his breath.
"I'll be right back you guys." Jeanine whispered, pushing the pantry door open a little ways and slithering out on her hands and knees.
The kitchen tile was cold against her skin, even through her jeans. She crawled through, across the small expanse to the archway of the living room, halting a few times to make sure no one was behind her.
Kelly's purse was situated right on the couch where it was said to have been. Not bothering the keep a low profile, she scrambled to her feet and grabbed it, dumping the contents onto the leather cushion. Sure enough, the pink covered Nokia cellular phone fell out. She turned it on and hastily dialed the police station.
"Hello?" a seemingly nonchalant woman asked in a sharp voice.
"Yes... I need..." She stopped speaking, seeing a figure roaming in the yard.
"Hello?" the woman asked again. "Hello?"
Jeanine's eyes were wide as she recognized a metallic object in the trespasser's hands. The phone dropped from her hand and she leaped up from the couch, tripping and falling forward.
"Shit!" he cursed in a whisper, placing her hand to her forehead where it had smacked the tabled. The tenderness of the skin surprised her, as did the blood on her fingers.
She paused for a moment, wiping at her injury with the back of her wrist. "What the..." she trailed off. The blood wasn't hers.
* * *
Towels. She never thought a family of six could own so many. They never seemed to end. Blue, pink, green, striped... All different. And folded so neatly.
"Wow." Carmen breathed.
"They're not in there." Timber informed her, opening the other side of the hall closet.
A hand reached out and wrapped around her mouth. She tried to scream.
"Oh my God!" Carmen shrieked backing away.
Timber dug her elbow into her attacker's stomach, managing to wriggled form his grasp. She promptly kicked the mysterious person between the legs, sending him to his knees.
"Let's get out of here!" Carmen screamed.
"Relax Carmen, it's just..." She screamed as another figure who's face went unseen in the darkness appeared.
Not able to catch her footing in time, Timber stepped backwards, tripping on the top step. In a desperate attempt to catch herself, she grasped Carmen's arms, sending them both tumbling down the steps in a mass of limbs.
"Carmen!" Bob exclaimed, rushing down the stairs to be at her side.
"What's going on?" Dave asked in a strained voice from where he was crouched on the floor. "And why the fuck did you kick me?"
"You guys?" Jeanine exclaimed, running into the foyer where gradually everyone was gathering. "Someone's in the house! And there's blood everywhere!" she exclaimed.
"No... no..." Bob said, shaking his head from where he was crouched beside his maimed girlfriend. "It was all a prank..." he explained, holding Carmen close in his arms.
"A what?!?!" Jeanine demanded, hands on her hips. "But there's blood everywhere! And the person with the knife in the backyard..." she exclaimed, showing her hands in the darkness.
"What the hell is going on?" Clint asked, coming from the office. "I was waiting in the hallway to jack one of you losers, but no one showed up!" he lamented.
"There's an intruder!" Jeanine insisted, showing her hands to him, though the only illumination was the moon outside.
"Okay! Everybody out!" Dave announced, going to the hidden fuse box in the foyer which was underneath a mirror. He groped for the power button.
"Did you call the cops?" Kelly exclaimed, rushing into the foyer with Trevor right behind her.
"Cops?" Clint asked.
"It was all a prank." Jeanine said darkly.
"Hey! Scott's idea." Dave quickly added.
"Speaking of Scott, where is the prankster?" Jen asked, standing akimbo.
The lights flickered on, the sudden brightness stinging the eyes of the teens who occupied the room.
"You guys, I think she's really hurt." Bob informed the others, examining Carmen's rapidly swelling ankle.
Timber glared at her now ex-best friend. Both girls had fallen down the stairs, and he didn't even acknowledge the fact that she was in the room. He had gone immediately to Carmen's side. She had once learned that in a time of trial the person one loved would come first. This statement seemed unequivocally sensible. So it was decided. Any hope that she had once had was gone. He was in love with Carmen, and she was out of the picture... for good.
"What happened in here?" Scott asked, a smug smile on his features.
"You jack ass!" Jeanine exclaimed, jumping to tackle him. "I fucking thought we were being robbed! I called the cops for Christ's sake!" she screamed at him, attempting to lambaste him with her fists.
"Hey! Hey!" Scott laughed, holding her arms away from him. "It was all in good fun!"
"Not when people get hurt Scott." Bob informed them.
"Oh just because it's your girlfriend..." Scott teased.
For the first time, Bob looked directly at Timber with fear in his eyes. Scott clapped a hand over his mouth and let out a string of curse words into his palm for spilling the beans.
Timber felt all eyes on her, but she only focused on the two pairs that she thought belonged to her best friends. "Y-you guys are going out?" she stammered, the room closing in on her.
Bob looked down at Carmen who lay against his chest. "Um... yeah." he whispered.
Her world shattered. She suddenly felt cold, as if the walls had dropped and she was standing alone and naked in the middle of a freezing dessert of misery. A fake smile was plastered onto her lips. It looked so awkward, she had to make it look real. All hope was gone.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, a light giggle escaping her throat. The laugh was high pitched and most certainly didn't fool anyone. "I mean, how long have you guys been going out?" she asked, forcing the tears in her throat back down.
"About two weeks." Bob replied.
"Well you shoulda told me!" Timber laughed, able to fake it more and more. "I would have thrown a party!"
Yeah, I would have thrown a fucking party for you two! I hope you enjoy your time together. You two at least will get happiness. Just save some for me! she thought bitterly.
It was silent. Silence was what she feared. They could all read her mind. They all saw that she was upset.
"See Bob, I told you that you had nothing to worry about." Dave said.
"Yeah... I guess you're right." Bob half shrugged, feeling miserable for keeping such a trivial secret from his friend.
"Anyone hear that?" Scott asked, squinting as if to focus on the sound he was picking up. "It's coming from upstairs..."
"Where's Angela?" Kelly suddenly asked.
* * *
The dark smoke now permeated the small area. They had managed to get the fire out, not able to spare the mat or the five towels that burned with it, but now a dense smoke filled the air, stinging at Ben's eyes. Angela lay weakly across his lap, suddenly bursting into a fit of coughing. The running of the water in the faucet was the only sound, an odd mantra in his mind. He had his shirt up against his mouth to keep the smoke from getting into his lungs as his thoughts flowed in rhythm with the water.
I'm going to die... I'm going to die... I'm going to die... So this is what all those people think about when they're in a forest fires, and burning buildings and shit. This is weird. I wonder why I haven't yet seen the montage of my life. I would pay good money to see that time in second grade when I put the science lab frog in Mrs. Geisler's desk. That was hilarious. No! I'm supposed to be scared right now! Why the hell haven't they found us yet? The house probably reeks of smoke! Damnit! I'm going to die... I'm going to die. Well... it's not that bad... Wait! I've never had sex! I'm going to die a virgin! I'm going to die a virgin! It IS that bad! For the love of God help me! I'm going to die a virgin! Wait... maybe Angela... no, that would be wrong. I'm going to die a virgin! Help me! Somebody! Anybody! The pounding of the door pulled him from his thoughts.
SAVED!!! he celebrated in his head, jumping to his feet and stirring Angela on his lap.
She fell to the floor from where she was curled against him on the toilet seat. With a few choice words muttered under her breath, she stumbled up and attempted to make her way through the pitch blackness of the bathroom.
"What the fuck happened in here?" Scott voice boomed, flipping on the light.
"Scott!" Angela exclaimed, coughing more as she sucked in a mouthful of air.
"There was a fire! And we were locked in!" Ben explained, pushing his way into the hall and gasping in the fresh air. The impact this air had on his lungs caused him to fall to his knees.
"I locked you guys in!" Dave said. "But I had no idea!" he added, knowing he should not have volunteered the first bit of information.
"And why the fuck did you do that?" Ben demanded, still sputtering on the carpet.
"The... game... we thought... It was all Scott's fault!" Dave defended himself. "It was his idea to have a big prank! And now, just as I had said before, someone ends up getting hurt, and the house caught fire."
As if on queue, the sirens of the police cars came into earshot.
Dave smacked a hand to his forehead. "And of course, as always, the police get called." he grumbled.
"At least one of our friends didn't end up hating any of us." Clint sighed, clapping his youngest brother on the shoulder. "Though Angela looks pre-ty pissed."
Little did the boys know that they were very wrong about that statement. Timber decided to stay silent, making her way back downstairs. That night had proved to be the most horrific of her adolescent life. At least she hadn't told him how she felt, now she didn't have to.
* * *