Bittersweet Revenge (8 page)

“Hey you never answered me, where is Corey?” I asked just as we made it to the door to his room. We both glance back down the hall before opening the door, and closing it behind us. I let out a sigh of relief the minute the door closes.

“Marie’s got him preoccupied.” I roll my eyes, “and by preoccupied I assume you mean she’s taking off her shirt and showing him her tits?”

She shrugs her shoulders and says “Basically.” As I look around the room, I take notice of the fact that it’s extremely clean, like scary OCD clean. Does she even have the right room? Nothing looks as it did the last time I was here. The bed is pulled down, the black sheets a mess; there are no posters on the walls or pictures hanging anywhere. Its crisp, clean, and guy like. Mimi takes the bag and walks over to the attached bathroom. I follow behind her, not wanting to be in this room any longer than needed.

“Here, unwrap these.” She says handing me six small cubes wrapped in foil, what the hell?

“What the hell are these?” I ask as I pull the foil off of them. I take notice of the smell of beef, and realize that the smell is in fact coming from the small objects in my hands.

“Bouillon cubes, really Mimi, really? What are you doing with these?”  We enter his shower which is about the size of my bedroom at home. I guess that’s what you get when your dad's a doctor.

“There’s like thirty shower heads in here. I should have brought more supplies.” Mimi says frustrated. I look up from the task of unwrapping  to see there is in fact more shower heads in his shower then there are  probably in mine and three of my neighbors houses.

“Oh well, I guess we can stuff all of them. We both smirk at one another. She reaches into her handy dandy bag again and pulls out two syringes filled with bright green liquid. Holy crap, she came guns a blazing.

She must notice the shock look I’m giving her because she speaks up right away. “I told you, I was going to turn him green, that’s what these babies are for. Neon green should do the trick.” I smile at her and get back to work. Unscrewing all the showerheads that we could get off, we stuffed the Jolly Ranchers in one, the Life Savers in another, the neon green dye in the main one and the bouillon cubes in the other main one.

“Alright let’s get out of here before we get caught.” Mimi giggles out. Yup, lets, the last thing I want to do is get caught in here. We slip out of the room, and the air around me crackles. We run to the end of the hall, just as we're rounding the corner to go down the staircase and be in the clear Corey appears with his arm wrapped around none other than, you guessed it Marie.

“Ladies.” He says, with a hint of suspicion in his voice. So it seems more like a question than a statement. I do all I can to rid my face of any possible evidence that I was doing something wrong.

“Corey.” Mimi says as she looks at her nails as if they’re ten times more interesting than he is. He looks from her to me, and then down to the bag in her hand.

“What were you guys doing up here?” He asks as if already accusing us of doing wrong.

“Using the bathroom, not that it’s any of your business.” I look between Marie and Mimi, the disgust and hate between the two of them could almost give me and Corey a run for money.

Releasing Marie, Corey steps into Mimi’s space and I’m almost afraid we're going to have another scene from earlier today. “Actually I think it is my business, you're in my house at my party, and everything about those two things has to do with me.” The annoyance, radiating from him makes me want to bolt and run down the stairs but I don’t, one because no matter what, I won't let Corey know he scares me, and two, you never leave a friend behind. Even if that friend could cut a man’s balls off, jar them, and give them to him as a gift for his birthday.

Mimi steps forward, her fingertip pushing into his chest. “Please tell me how anything that has to do with me, qualifies as your business, because I’m just not getting that from your little rant.” I can see the claws coming out, and I know all too well that if I don’t get Mimi out of this situation Corey’s going to need a rabies’s shot, and as fun as that would be to watch, we have no time for that.

I grab her by the arm, fully prepared to throw her over my shoulder and carry her down the stairs and outside. “Let it go Mimi, we have nothing to explain to him.” I feel like I’m begging her to give up this fight. The determination in her eyes tells me any loss from this will be short lived. The trance of hate he has over her breaks and she pulls away.

“You're not worth it, oh by the way Teddy puked all over your down stairs bathroom, just thought I would let you know.” She says her voice full of snark.

I hear a muttered “Fuck.” As, I pull her away from him. I need to find Rex. The anxiety of Corey finding out what we did before I can leave is weighing heavily upon me.

“Slow down girl, I have short legs, you're practically dragging me.” I’m so anxious and flustered I can’t concentrate on finding Rex. I’m afraid I’m going to throw myself into another panic attack, so I try and focus on my breathing and the conversation with Mimi.

“You know you're going to have to explain to me in extreme detail what all this is about. I do not by any means approve of you dating him, nor do I like the idea of him being interested in you. It could be a trap.” She looks astonished, but then says “Yeah, well so could dating Rex.” I can’t help the reaction I have to her statement. Did she really just say what I think she did?

“What do you mean? Rex and I have something that’s real, and we aren’t actually dating, well not officially anyway, and that doesn’t matter because Rex has never done anything to hurt me. He didn’t spread malicious rumors about me having sex with people, he didn’t torment me, call me names, tape shit to my locker, or have his friends and sister attack me. You know nothing when it comes to the person Rex is.” I take a deep breath to try and calm myself, but after all but yelling I just can’t do it.

I don’t want to fight with her about this but I know I’m right. Corey would never be interested in her unless it had something to do with getting back at me.

Tears well up in her eyes, and I automatically feel bad for what I said. “You know what Jenna you're right, you're always right. But did you ever think that maybe his feelings are real. That maybe he does actually want me for me? That for once maybe it’s not about you, or to start a rumor about you. People change Jenna. Rex could be lying and hiding things from you too, he is related to Corey. ” She yells. I take notice to the fact that we’re yelling at each other in the middle of the kitchen, and now more attention is being drawn toward us.

Reaching out to her I say “I’m sorry Mimi.” She shakes her head at me, tears streaming down her face. She takes a step back before turning around and walking away. I throw my hands up in the air in frustration. Two guys are staring at me and I give them that what-the-fuck-are-you-looking-at look. Growling, I exit the kitchen and all but collide with a very tall and attractive male.

“Well hello there beautiful.” The male says, his voice is deep and warm almost similar to another male’s voice I know very well.  I want to wrap myself up in it, but pull away and look straight into a face that looks exactly like Rex’s but somehow different.

I gasp, unable to find my voice. It’s like an exact clone of Rex is standing in front of me. I feel the need to reach out and poke at his skin to see if this is someone in a costume and my eyes are playing tricks on me or if this is really real.

“Who’re you?” I croak out. A wicked smile forms on clone guy’s face, with a dimple in the same exact place where Rex’s has one.  If I didn’t know better I would say this is Rex, but just from the way he’s standing, holding his head a notch higher, and where Rex is more of a gentlemen this guy… isn’t. His ear is not pierced, he’s not dressed as a scarecrow, and his eyes aren’t the same storm cloud blue.

“The better question is who’re you, and why haven’t we met? I can show you down the yellow brick road if you’d like me too?” He says grabbing at the hem of my costume, and winking, showing his brilliantly white teeth. His voice repulses me but at the same time draws me in, it’s a confusing emotion and though I feel like listening to him talk all day, and I also feel like kicking him in the nuts. I’m sure that look, and voice works on others but not me.

He’s not dressed up as anything, and the more I stare at him attempting to gauge his intentions or motives the angrier I get at the fact that I didn’t know Rex had a twin.

“You can stop looking at me like that beautiful, no need to tell me your name if you don’t want to. I’ve heard all about you, although, they didn’t tell me how pretty you were, you're one hell of a looker.” He says his voice as slick as honey. He grabs one of my pigtails pulling on it. I bat his hand away and back up slowly. Confusion sets in as I try and figure out what he’s talking about. What does he mean I don’t have to tell him my name? Then it hits me… I don’t have to tell him my name. I’m prettier than they let on. A fire I’ve never felt before consumes me, and in my thoughts, all I see is red.  I have to clench my fist, digging my nails into my hand to hold back from clobbering this Rex look alike in his stupid fucking head.

“Excuse me asshole, but I’m not a slut, whore, call girl, or someone that you can pay to have sex with you. I don’t take money for blow jobs, and I don’t appreciate you talking to me like I’m any of those things. So if you don’t want punched in the face right the fuck now, back off.” I’m seething, no raging with anger. A devious smile plays on his lips, and it takes everything I have in me to hold back from hurting this guy.

“Actually you can call me Ryder, all my ex’s call me asshole, although honestly you’re not in that category yet.” His smile gives me the shivers and not in a good way, if this guy is in fact Rex’s brother, well, I already hate him.

“Well Ryder”, I sneer. “Leave me the hell alone, I don’t know you, nor do I care to.” I pull away to leave, but realize I have nowhere to go. I have no idea where Rex is, Mimi and I are fighting, and I almost wish Corey was here. Almost.

“Where are you going, I’m not done talking to you.” He says in a tight voice, while grabbing my shoulder to turn me around. In that moment my first reaction is fear, because I’ve already told him to leave me alone and he’s not taking no for an answer. Second is to punch him, because let’s be honest he’s already been warned. So I do just that, I clench my fist and swing blindly hitting him right in the cheek. He releases me, clutching his face, as I shriek out in pain.

My fist is already turning black and blue as I hold it to my chest. The look on Ryder's face is anything but happy, and suddenly it occurs to me that I stood up for myself, and I punched somebody in the face. I would do a victory dance, but my hand’s hurting like a mother.

“You little fuckin’ bitch.” He says gritting his teeth, eyes bulging out of his head, his face growing redder, and his fists clenching. Fear is etched on my face, and I let out a squeal before running toward the stairs. At this point I would rather be anywhere than where I am right now, even if I end up running into Corey.

Taking two stairs at a time, I make it to the balcony in no time flat. I scan the crowd below for anyone I may know, but between the music and strobe lights I can’t see anything, let alone someone I would know.

            I feel someone’s hand on my back and turn around defensively ready to punch whoever it is straight in the face. Mimi’s mass of brown hair, catches my vision stopping me right in my tracks.

            “Hey are you okay?” She asks a concerned look on her face. I know fear is clearly written all over mine so I do the only thing I can to comfort myself, and I grab her in a hug.

            “It’s okay, whatever it is, it’ll be okay.” She says trying to comfort me. The words begin to flow from my mouth like an over flowing river dam. I tell her about Ryder and how I had to punch him, how I ran from him and how alone I felt.

            By the time I pull away from her to look at her face, she seems angry, but she’s also looking at me like I may have done LSD or something.

            “I’m not making this up Mimi, I want to leave. I don’t care about finding Rex right now. I care about getting out of here before I get approached again.” The thought of leaving Rex here without telling him makes me sad, but the anger I have towards him takes place of that sadness. Why didn’t he tell me?        

“Okay. Okay.” Mimi says, looking as if she still doesn’t believe what I’m saying. This whole incident is frustrating, and a whole lot more than I can handle. All I wanted was one normal night, and I got anything but that.

            We make our way down the stairs, Mimi in front of me as if she’s my defender to all things evil. All we have to do is make it up to the door keeper and get our keys. The music, lights, and the dancing make it ten times harder than it needs to be to get where we’re going.

            “Are you sure you don’t want to stay? Maybe he was a look-alike; you know it is Halloween Jenna.” Is she serious right now?

            “You're kidding right?” I say stopping in my tracks. She shrugs her shoulders at me, and I’m about five seconds from finding a ride home with someone else. No make that three seconds. Yup.

            “Are you sure someone didn’t slip something in your drink?” My heart feels as if it’s going to beat out of my chest. I can’t find Rex, his look-alike twin is harassing me, and my best friend thinks I’m losing my mind. The bullshit is getting way too deep in here.

            “You know what, I’ll just walk, thanks.” I say sliding past her hightailing it to the door before she gets the chance to stop me. “Don’t believe me that’s fine, but I’m not going to stand there trying to convince you.” Pushing through the doorway to go outside, I almost run into a very drunk and sick Teddy. Poor guy.

            He’s leaning over the edge of the wrap-around porch puking his ever loving guts out. This place is a mad house, and from tonight’s experiences I know I should have taken Rex up on his offer to stay home. Then again, I never would have met Ryder or discovered that I have a whole lot more to learn about Rex.