Page 11 of Chalk Outline
Flames licking the darkness of the night create the best final show.
Another nightmare-riddled note that could either be a prank or an ominous sign, but I’m not sure which is worse. I scrunch the paper and shove it into my pocket.
“I’m doing this tonight, but if I end up fucking her, that’s not my fault.” The Joker’s bright smile pops as his phone pings with a message. “We gotta go. Come on, Mitch.”
“You’re doomed,” Summer says, rolling her eyes as they leave.
“Hey, is that mine?” Says another guy in a Joker costume as he approaches Summer and takes the joint from her hand. “Thief.” His voice is stiffer and lower than the other one.
How many more jokers are out here?
“What are you going to do about it, Klaus?” She stares at him as he places the butt of the joint between his parted lips, letting it rest against his lip ring.
“Do you want me to take you in front of these people? Show your officer what he’s missing.” He smirks, wiggling his eyebrows.
“I’ll think about it.” She whispers teasingly.
Klaus’s eyes slide to mine with growing curiosity. “Who’s your friend?”
“You don’t have to speak about me like I’m not in the same room.” I push the glass of vodka toward him. “I’m no one important, just a girl trying to have a peaceful night.” I sum up our brief interaction.
“Well, shit.” His smile widens and widens. “You just made yourself important, but nothing about tonight or this place is peaceful. We all know that.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Summer lifts the bottle again and guzzles a quarter of it in seconds.
“Slow down.” Klaus snatches the bottle from her hand and slams it against the counter. The liquid drips down her chin before he wipes it with his thumb. “Let’s go outside and get some fresh air.” He wraps his arm around Summer, passing the joint to a group of girls nearby.
The officer clenches his fist and bites his lip hard enough to bruise it as he glares at them with a hate-filled gaze. Then, his bloodshot eyes turn toward me.
I look away from him just as Klaus’s voice captures my attention.
“I hope to see you later.” His murky eyes search between mine.
“Sure.” I lie, grinning sweetly at him, before the loud football team files inside the door with cheers and claps.
Amid the chaos, large arms clad in leather lift me. He quickly maneuvers us between the players and lowers me into the empty hallway. His body heat engulfs me like a warm blanket. It happens so fast that I don’t have enough time to see who it is besides the tactical half-mask covering his lower face—it’s dark and stiff like a helmet against my skin.
“If I didn’t know better, I would say you’re following me.” His voice is slightly muffled. He pulls a phone out of his pocket and walks to the bathroom.
“That’s funny. I can claim the same thing,” I shout as the door slams shut behind him.
A group of football players pretends to holler in the kitchen while a joint is passed around among the group I’m sitting with. Larson from English class scoots closer to me on the couch with his twisted grin, but I keep moving away fromhim. Sometimes he can’t read the room until I point it out. He is the reason I have friends to begin with, if it weren’t for him introducing me to his friends. He’s the lone wolf type, yet somehow he knows everyone.
“Quit it,” I warn. My words hang heavily in the space between us. I hate when he crosses the boundaries I’ve set countless times before.
“W-what?” He stammers, rubbing his greasy, dark-brown hair.
“I don’t like it when people invade my space. Respect my boundaries. I’m also not your girlfriend.”
“I’m sorry,” he immediately apologizes, “and… you can be.”
I tune him off, fixating on the annoying pillar, constantly watching from across. His eyes burn a hole through the side of Larson’s skull. Too close for comfort. I know he cares, even when he thinks I can’t read him. I read him better than anyone, and he’s scared. I am, too. I don’t hate his protection, and I don’t hate the way he looks at me from across the room, eyes burning, consuming, unyielding. Eternal.
I feel it deep within my soul, and I’m scared he might walk away if I give in.
We’ve only known each other for a year.
I don’t want to give in so easily.
