The Misadventures of Daria Pigwidgeon (26 page)

My voice wavers at the end, Ashley doesn’t miss it. The hurt slips from her features. She regards me now with definite curiosity, the wheels turning inside her head. Then surprisingly anger moves over her and she turns to direct it at my sister. I consider Ash my best friend the moment Riana sees the look thrown her way.

“So what brings you all here Riana? Because Daria has been here for a while now and she hasn’t mentioned you at all, I’m wondering if there is a reason for that.” Ashley leans over the table, bringing her closer to Riana. “Is there?”

Riana sits back in shock, but quickly covers it up with a small laugh. “Well you know our sweet little Daria. She has never been one to overshare, especially not when it’s personal.” She turns to me. “Isn’t that right sweetie?”

I nod. “That’s right Riana. I’m so shy that I overlook talking about myself to avoid anything personal slipping through the cracks. Woe is me.”

Silence fills the table once more. All eyes are on me. Sarcasm is thick in the air around me. Look who has a new ability. Yippee. It doesn’t last though. In a matter of seconds Jane turns to Riana with a wide smile, as if nothing strange passed over us all.

“So what year are you in Riana? And please gush about your brothers. Leave nothing out.”

Jane and Riana dominate the conversation for the rest of lunch, while Ashley and I stay stoically silent. I do learn a few things though. Like the breaking news that my sister and I are in the same grade; juniors. The twins are seniors. For a little while there I was hoping they might have left no matter what Jane asked about them. They were absent from our table after all. Unfortunately they have taken to the guy’s football table. The one Chance sits at. They are all too busy to notice me watching, but I have the unsettling feeling that it will turn into a problem. Like the one with Riana sitting with me. Who knew after all these years of yearning for my family to care about me, that when they finally did I’d want nothing more than for them to disappear.

Like my morning classes, after we all leave from lunch I am basically on my own again. There are miracles after all. At the end of the day I all but skip out of the building when the final bell rings, I avoid confrontation on any good or bad front. It doesn’t last though, because I can’t simply go home and hide under my covers like I want too. No. I have to go to work. That’s right, I said it, work. Last night’s activities caused me to miss my shift, so I
really
need to make up for it tonight. Bless my little co-worker Toby’s heart. He didn’t even question when I walked in unannounced, and to my relief, he didn’t even ask about last night. Good to know I have job security.

The rest of the afternoon went by without anything to really get into and soon enough it was evening. Customers started rolling in around then and Toby and I were backed up with building sandwiches and ringing up cranky old people. The lobby was filled with screaming children and laughing adults. The distraction was wonderful. I didn’t even mind having to clean up after them all. Pretty soon though they started to clear out and all that remained was Toby and I. Near closing time we tag teamed the clean-up chores. I was dubbed with trash duty. That’s when things got pretty freaking interesting.

Two big heavy (and stinky) black bags in hand, I wobble out the back door and make my way to the dumpster without letting either bag graze my person. I’m just slamming the dumpster shut and about to wipe my hands when I feel it. A familiar chill courses down my spine and takes my breath away. Hunching over, I gulp in great gasps of air that fail to fill me up. Shadows begin to roll in and surround me. Goosebumps spread out in a flurry over every inch of my body and I’m afraid. Not just of not being able to breath, but a real palpable fear. It sinks into the very depths of my soul and tears at it.

Distantly I can sense ozone all around me, but I can’t grasp onto it.

As hard as I try to fight off the fear, the stronger it becomes in me until it coats me like a fog. It pushes into my mind and tries to trick me. It tells me that I’m too afraid to catch a breath and the only thing to relieve it is to just give in. I feel myself wanting to give in, just like last night. My fuzzy oxygen deprived brain starts to get sleepy. I start to get sleepy. The fog tells me to just lay down and do what my body is telling me. So I do. My knees give out and hit pavement. My eyes slam shut. My chest burns with lack of air.

I feel myself start to fall sideways, but the scent of ozone spikes and stills my movements.

A charge that is my inner Taser stirs inside me. It flares outward at an alarming speed until my fingers and toes are practically numb from the rush. The fog pushes harder into my mind, but this time I push back. A current plays across my skin causing all the hair to stand on end. The fear fades enough for me to catch a deep breath. It doesn’t stop though. I can almost feel it gathering for another strike. A whimper escapes my parched lips. My strength is fading, if it comes at me again, I don’t know what will happen. Using my memory block doesn’t even cross my mind.

The electrical charge that is my inner Taser pulses inside me, and I know what it’s going to do before I feel it rushing through my mind. The wait for it to zap me again like last night is agonizing, but it doesn’t come. In fact, the terrifying and breathless fog fades away on a breeze. Snapped free of its grasp, I fall to my hands and knees gulping in the night air. The shadows ebb and now no longer needed my inner Taser returns to its hiding place inside me.

Air fills me chest. Tears course down my cheeks.

My shaking hands grip pavement trying to steady myself.

Then a resounding bang brings my head up in a flash.

Light pours out around a figure standing in the open backdoor. Toby. His frame takes up most of the entrance. His blue eyes are wide behind his round rimmed glasses. His face is startling pale and I’m not sure if it’s me that causes it or simply because his hair is so dark tucked away under his visor. He takes me in nervously and I have to believe that it’s me that bothers him. I must be quite a sight on my hands and knees on the filthy pavement.

He kicks a can into the door to keep it open (I forgot to do that – smart) and rushes to me. “Jesus Daria. Are you all right?”

Not having the words to explain, I shake my head and allow him to assist me to my feet. I cling to the warmth of him, cowering under the arm that he places around me. He guides me back inside the building. When the door closes in our wake I sigh in relief. But I can’t help wondering what the heck just happened. Was it my family? Or was it something else? And if so, what do they want?

My mind whirls with the endless possibilities.

***

By the time Toby and I are closing up shop for the night, a cold lingers inside me that doesn’t go away. I have the sense that it’s more to do with what happened and less to do with the fact that it’s early November. I huddle inside my thin hoody as I wait for Toby to clear the doorway so I can get out of here. Not that I am really in a hurry. I still have the short, but all too long, walk home. A real fear floods me with worry of another run in with the weirdly strange. But I shouldn’t have worried. When I step free, I recognize a familiar slightly beat up mustang in the abandoned parking.

Warmth rushes inside me when I see the all too cute boy leaning on the back fender with his arms crossed and a smile that reveals his white teeth. I have to physically restrain myself from taking off at a dead run right for him. By the look in his eyes, I don’t think he would’ve minded, but I have to have some control. Chance eases away from the car as I meander over to him with Toby right on my heels. After my little freak out earlier Toby has basically stuck to me like glue. Now though, I wouldn’t mind some space. There are some things a girl needs to do on her own. Even demon girls.

Chance barely glances at Toby as he meets me halfway. We stop toe to toe with one another. A sigh slips through my lips. He grins. Toby sulks away and over to his car. I feel bad not thanking him or even reassuring him that he doesn’t have to sulk so much. But I don’t. There is only Chance and his smile. He tilts his head toward the mustang. I follow him inside. The small space here warms me with a heater that he kept going. It’s almost like he knew I would be freezing. Maybe there is more to his feelings where I am concerned? More to his dreams he’s not telling me?

I rest my head back and watch as he drives us out onto the road heading for home. Distantly I know I should fill him in on what happened tonight. Heck, I should tell him about my stupid family that are stationed not even a mile away. But I don’t. Instead, I let my eyes slip shut. Chance’s quiet voice startles me, brining my sleepy gaze to him.

“So your family’s in town huh?”

I yawn and shiver. “What gave you that idea?”

He pauses. Cranks up the heater another notch.

“So...uh…What are you going to do?” He eyes me cautiously. “About them I mean.”

I have to look away from him. Heaviness weighs on me. I’m not sure what do.

I decide to be honest. “Not much I can do unfortunately. They’ve made it pretty clear that they aren’t going anywhere. The best thing is to just let it run its course and hope for the best.”

Another pause.

I feel his eyes on me. “Maybe that could be a good thing? Them…being here.”

Eyes wide, I whip my head around to face him. He’s watching me and not the road. What a dummy.

“Um, I’m sorry what? I must have misheard you because I could have sworn you just said it’s good that they are here.”

Silence.

Chance goes back to watching the road as I take in a shaky breath and try to calm down.

I sigh. “Chance…I’m sorry. But, the reason I came here in the first place, is because of them. All they are…are lies after lies. I won’t go back to believing that there is anything good about them. I can’t. I won’t.”

Tears prickle at the corners of my eyes. I debate letting them fall or not. Chance’s hand that comes to rest on mine in my lap takes the choice from me. Cold wet drops ease out of my eyes and take a wandering path down my cheeks.

“Rabbit” His hand tightens around mine. “What if… you used
them
being here to your advantage?” He pauses. “Let them think you trust them and get on their good side, but hold back to pump them for information.”

I arch an eyebrow at him warily.

A faint blush rises on his cheeks. “Or not. I’m just an outsider here looking in…”

The hand in mine starts to pull away, but I hold on tight. It stays put. Could this work; his idea? Could I really get close to my family if only for information? In theory it’s a sound plan. But I would have to be the one to do it. And considering what I’ve been through with them, I don’t know if I could really muster up the courage to try. I don’t have a choice though. I have to do it. It’s my only option to figure out whom and what has been attacking me. It can’t be a coincidence that it showed up when they did.

“No, I think you might be onto something.” I tell Chance softly. “I don’t even want to think about this, but you’re right. They may have warned me about a threat or something...last night. But I thought they were just messing with me so I didn’t listen. Now I kind of wish I did. It can’t be a coincidence that mere minutes after leaving them…I was attacked...right?”

His fast nod causes his hand to jerk.

“See, they know something. You should definitely find out what.”

I should huh? “Yeah, well, it won’t be easy. I’ll have to fool them to get in their good graces. And after years of doing the exact opposite, they might not even believe me. Then again….”

Chance takes his eyes off of the road to watch me again, the dummy, but my mind is elsewhere to be able to yell at him. Could my parents
really
have been telling the truth last night? The little girl inside me that never got any attention wants to believe in them. The me that ran away doesn’t want to listen. But it’s my only option right now right? Dammit.

“Then again?” Chance urges.

“They
were
kind of playing the holier than thou routine last night when I went to see them. So…maybe it’ll be cake?”

“What?”

I give him a funny look. “What? What.”

“Hold up. You went to see them last night? That’s where you were before you were attacked?” He turns back to the road clenching his jaw. “I know it was my idea, but would it sound ridiculous that I kind of don’t want you to get involved with them?”

Oh. Oops. I figured he assumed that was who I went to see. How does the saying go again? My bad.

“No.” I tell him with a squeeze of his hand. “It would make you smart, not ridiculous. Even
I
know we can’t trust them no matter what they say. This could get tricky. I’ll have to…weed out anything they tell me, just too even
try
to find truth in it.”

The car comes to a stop and Chance cuts the engine.

We’re parked in the garage. I didn’t even realize we were close.

It’s dark in here, inside the car with just the two of us, almost like we are in our own little universe. That can feel safe one moment only to shift to tension in the next. His eyes search out mine, but it’s a short one. Mine are automatically drawn to his.

“I’ll help you with that you know. I don’t know how, but I’ll do anything I have to. Just…” His full bottom lip slips inside his mouth as his worries it.

Warmth builds inside my chest, my heart.

“Just what, be careful?” I ask softly. “I know how to do that Chance. I’ve come quite good at it actually. One could probably consider it another gift or whatever. You don’t really have to worry.”

“No it’s not that. Well, it is that, but not completely. I am worried for you, but I’m confident in what you’ve told me you can do. Now I’m rambling, Jesus Chance, just spit it out all ready.” He pauses, worrying his bottom lip again. “What I’m trying and failing to ask, is maybe you could fish around about me? Ask your family if they know of other demons that have dreams…like me…or whatever…”

Is he cute or what? I so want to bite that bottom lip of his. Wait. No. Get a freaking grip Pigwidgeon.