Dance Of The Dead // Andy Leo (RECONSTR)

22- Cinderella Gets Her Man/ I Get A Dead Body

Young and in love.
Heart attacks waiting to happen.
So come a little closer.
Tell me it's all in my head

___________________________________

I've never liked taking showers.

There's a somewhat horror scene playing in my head every time I pull the curtain back. I'm not sure if it's because of my slight claustrophobia, or not being able to see through the thick black curtain. Either way, my fear of showers just might help me survive the horror movie.

Now I couldn't decide between a bath or a shower. The faucet mocked me menacingly, drip-drip-dripping until I screamed in frustration and threw the soap at it. "You are an evil piece of man-made shit!" I yelled at the tub, flinging my finger accusingly

God. Look at me. I've truly sank to rock bottom.

I'm talking to my tub of all things! What's next? The toaster? My neighbors? Fuck knows I haven't spoken to them since before I knew English. I squinted my eyes angrily at their house from the bathroom window, which stood larger than ours from years of add-ons and noisy construction. Then I started to question why our downstairs bathroom has a window in it. Isn't that the fastest way to get a peeping tom?

I turned around to leave the bathroom and behold before me; a wild Caroline appears, looking like Nikki Minaj just "shitted on her"

"Please tell me you dug your way out of hell and the dirt doesn't come from another murder slash mystery that Andrew has you caught up in?" I couldn't bite my tongue on this one, the words flew softly from my lips and I couldn't take them back. It hit me like a bag of bricks; did I just blame Andrew for all of this?

I mean it makes sense. Everything was fine until he came along. But it can't be just his fault... What about Dave?

"I guess you could say that" she said while nodding her head enthusiastically and then smiling at the not-so-perfect soap, clinging to the wall after my fit of dumb rage. "I like the re-decorating. It might stick for awhile"

"Shut up! Or it'll be sticking to you!" I stomped my foot, but couldn't ignore the irony. I laughed. she laughed. We slapped each other on the shoulder and then leaned on one another.

"I've missed you" I finally got the courage to whisper after all the laughter had died down, and easily got bumped down five notches to crying. I couldn't believe myself being such a wuss and crying. But it'd been a long time since I called my best friend Carl, or his behind her because I was scared of bullies. It's been so long since I thought it to be okay to lean in and hug her, and forget for a second that everything around me is going to shit.

"Missed you too, kiddo" she said as she ruffled my hair.

Her actions, and her presence, seemed familiar. But it didn't seem like Caroline at all. Call it paranoia but...

I sniffed her hair.

Just like Andrew.

Damn. Fuck. Shit.

Why does everything lead back to him.

I peeled away from her and squeezed my way out of the bathroom. If there's anyone with answers, it's gotta be my dad. After the way he acted when he saw Andrew, I'm willing to bet my not-allowance that he knows something he isn't willing to let on

"Mother, where is John-" I slipped on the fuzzy fake bear rug in front of my parents room and landed on my back. All the air rushed from my lungs.

I counted to six, and realized I hadn't passed out. That's a first!

I pushed myself up on my elbows and peaked into the neat empty bedroom that my parents have shared for as long as I can remember. A small, triangle-folded piece of paper wedged so-obviously between the bed and the nightstand on my mothers side. Curiosity killed the cat, but I consider myself dead already.