House of Goths

Chapter 13

In the weeks that followed, Becky had the pleasure of meeting a few friends of the Goths. Mostly other Goths like themselves. She hadn't realized that there were so many around. Then again, a lot of them didn't always dress quite so obviously, unlike her eccentric housemates. Usually she would stay out of their way, not wanting to impose herself on their guests. Most of them were polite when she did happen by. Others simply ignored her altogether.

One, in particular, Jax, his name was, showed quite a lot of interest in her. So much so that his avid attention unnerved her.

Usually, when he came around the house, Becky would stay in her room or if they were out in the garage, she would stay inside watching television. The guys hadn't actually banned her from hanging around them, but she just felt it would be best to give them their privacy. Besides, what did she have in common with Goths?

When it was just the four of them, though, she didn't mind hanging out together, especially to watch television. Next to painting, huddling around watching movies quickly became Becky's favourite pastime.

"Joining us tonight, dormouse?" Crispin asked, making room on the couch between him and Dorian.

Becky smiled and nodded enthusiastically, sensing that the normally prickly Goth secretly liked it when she sat beside him, even though he pretended not to.

Kelley would watch with a reluctant smile as she tucked herself in between his housemates. At first, it had bothered him to see her sit so comfortably with his all too eager housemates, usually with her head on Crispin's shoulder or lap, her feet up by Dorian's knees, but he'd convinced himself that it was perfectly all right for her to feel comfortable in doing so. They were housemates, all of them. Still, he secretly wished it was on his lap she sat.

"You're such a little couch hog," Crispin protested playfully. "What if I wanted to lie down?"

"Go ahead." She giggled, tugging the throw over her shoulders, resting her head on his lap. "There's plenty of room."

"Hey, I draw the line there," Dorian said, tucking the throw around her feet. "If anyone's going to lie down beside Becky, it'll be me."

Having heard enough, Kell scowled at the lot of them. "Are you all quite done?" he scoffed, suddenly very unamused. "Shall I start the movie or leave you three alone?"

"Kelley?" Becky gasped, attempting to sit up. She couldn't help but frown at his inappropriate comment. How dare he imply such a thing? She suddenly felt quite indignant.

"What the fuck's up with you?" Crispin snapped, placing a steadying hand on Becky's shoulder.

"I do believe he's jealous," Dorian snickered teasingly. "Plenty of room for all four of us here on the couch. If you don't mind sharing."

"Fuck off," Kell said, tossing the remote control at the suddenly not so amused Steampunk before storming out of the room. Immediately, Dorian got up and went after him. Moments later, shouting and swearing could be heard from somewhere in the house.

"No, you stay put," Crispin insisted, holding Becky down. "This isn't your fault. If he can't handle it, that's his problem."

"I don't understand what just happened," she whispered with a frown.

"It's nothing I didn't see coming. I'll tell you that much," Crispin said cryptically, reaching for the remote.

Ten minutes into the movie, Dorian and Kell returned, acting as if nothing at all had transpired. Perhaps Crispin was right, Becky thought, watching Kelley sit stiffly in his chair. She'd done nothing wrong. Crispin seemed perfectly okay with her being where she was. Dorian seemed quite comfortable too. She was small enough that she didn't take up a lot of room on the big old couch. Why it bothered Kelley was beyond her.

Could Dorian be right about the jealousy thing? But Kelley hadn't shown any particular interest in her ever since they got back from Toronto. In fact, he'd been acting rather aloof and cool around her at times. She figured he was doing it on purpose so that she wouldn't get any romantic ideas about him. She sensed that about him, his desire to distance himself from her. She couldn't blame him for thinking it either.

Becky had indeed developed a crush on the handsome Goth. How could she not have, given the circumstances of her life as of late? Without her grandmother around, she was very much aware of the fact that she would've been completely alone in the world, had she not met Kelley. She owed him a lot and she couldn't help but grow attached to him. He'd been so kind to her in the immediate days following Granny's funeral.

She had even snuck into his bed a couple of nights just so that she wouldn't feel so alone. He hadn't seemed to mind at first. He'd even cuddled her into his chest which was a bonus since all she really wanted was to lie quietly next to him. Then suddenly, one night he pretty much told her to back off. Not so much with words, but nevertheless she'd gotten the impression that she was imposing on him.

It happened on the third night she'd snuck into bed with him. She noticed that he became very tense, and she was quite sure she heard him swear under his breath. Instead of pulling her into his chest, he'd abruptly turned his back on her and grumbled to himself. Ever since that night, Becky had stayed away from his bed. The last thing she wanted was to be a nuisance.

Halfway into the never ending horror flick, Becky flinched at a particularly shocking scene. In fact, they all did. Moments later, they were chuckling at themselves.

"I don't know why you all enjoy these movies so much," Becky protested, hiding her face under the throw.

"Scared?" Crispin teased, tugging the throw off her face.

"I don't know how I'll be able to sleep after watching this," she complained.

Hearing her words, Kelley turned to look at her with a wistful expression on his face. Come to my bed tonight. I'll keep you safe, he wanted to say. He couldn't, though, because he realized how foolish that would be. If they were to be housemates, it could never happen between them. Even so, he wondered why she'd stopped coming to his bed at night. Had he done something wrong? Had he held her too tight? Whatever it was, it was best she stay away. He wouldn't be able to resist her much longer. He couldn't take that chance with Becky. He would only let her down, and besides, it wouldn't be right.

As it was, it had taken every ounce of his willpower not to take her the last time she'd snuck into his bed. He realized that all she'd wanted was to be comforted, and he did his best to keep his desires at bay, but damn it all, a man could only handle so much temptation. Just the memory of her curvy little body pressed against him made him as hard as a rock.

"And here I thought it was only me who scared you," Crispin said with a vulnerable smile.

"Oh, you don't scare me, Crispin," she said, looking up into his troubled grey eyes. "Well, at first you did, but not anymore." The winsome Goth smiled all the more.

"He should scare you," Dorian teased. "He scares me."

****

House of Goths Copyright © 2014 by Maria Bernard ISBN: 978-0-9938067-3-5

****

Dear Reader,

Did you enjoy this chapter? Please give it a star.