Page 56 of Forgive Me For I Have Sinned

"You know I don't need babysitting anymore. I've learned my lesson from Zach," Melody says, plopping on the couch with a bag of freshly made popcorn. It's Friday night, and I shut off my phone and asked Dorothy for two nights off, promising her I would take the late afternoon shifts to make it up to her, avoiding contact with anyone at Kenyan.

"I know, but maybe I needed to be around a friend for a change."

"It's Friday night," she says, while I'm scrolling through the streaming apps, looking for something to watch. "You’re over twenty-one. You could be at a dance club with a hot guy or on a date. Yet, you’re holed up here with me. Maddison said you have hot friends."

I pause my fingers on the remote. "Trust me. You are better company…and…those aren't my friends."

I hear the front door open and slam shut, but I continue scrolling, looking for something to watch in the horror section.

"Of course, they are your friends. Maddy said they want to hang out, but you always refuse their offer."

I cringe inwardly because Jess did point that out the night of Draven's party, but I shrugged it off and changed the subject. Melody has no idea about Kenyan or the things I've done.

"They aren't,"Adam says, plopping beside me on the couch.

Melody gives a side glance. "How would you know?" she asks between bites.

"Because I know, and that is all I'm saying. I've worked with Veronica for almost a year and have never seen them show up until recently. Take her word for it"––he leans forward and snatches the popcorn from her hand––"we are more her friends than they are."

"I was eating that," she snaps.

"Sharing is caring."

"Why are you here and not on a date with Lizzy?"

"Because I wanted to hang out with my friend Veronica. Besides, Lizzy can't go out tonight. Her parents are a little strict." He hands me the bag. "Why did you take two days off?" he asks me.

"I needed a break."

He nods. "How is the internship going?"

"I wouldn't know because I left Thursday morning and haven't returned."

"Is that why you have your phone off?"

I haven't told anyone what happened or how I felt seeing Tara in Alaric's office or the fact that he took me up on my advice and went on a date with her after his meeting, like those cliché dates where a guy asks the girl to go out with him for coffee. What's worse, I lashed out and acted like a jealous idiot when there was nothing to be jealous of because I was there for two entirely different reasons, and none of them had anything to do with dating or a serious relationship. I turned him down when he asked, but seeing and hearing about it by the horse's mouth hit home. "You're getting married to Dorian Black in two months, Veronica. You never meant anything to him, and you never will."

I scroll and land on Nightmare on Elm Street. Perfect.

"Really, that one?"

"Yeah, why not."

"It's scary and messes with your head."

"That's exactly what I was going for, and it's not scary."

"I heard it was based on a true story where the guy couldn't sleep, and he checked himself into a psychiatric ward and was found dead, clawed to death or something."

"He must have fucked up somewhere."

Adam laughs, but then there is a knock on the door. He glances at Melody and then at the door when the knocking becomes louder.

"Are you expecting someone?" Melody asks.

"No," Adam responds, getting up to open the door.

Boom! Boom!

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