Monsters And Us

Chapter 11: The Weekend

Sitting in the emergency room on the bed the hot air filled the room and even with a hoodie I began to feel myself start to sweat but was afraid my stomach would be exposed as I take my hoodie off so I kept it on and dealt with it. I sat on that bed for what seemed like hours my anxiety growing more and more with each minute that passed waiting for the doctor or whoever to come by. My father was on the phone talking to someone and my mother was by my side almost tearing up which I felt was too dramatic. The door opened and a tall man came out, he had dark brown hair in a formal cut with sideburns that end at the bottom of his ears, he was clean shaven and had pale clear skin and the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen he almost looked like he could be late 20’s early 30’s but his stature reminded me of a professional.

“Hello, I’m Doctor Levinson What seems to be the problem today, ma’am?” The doctor said in what sounded like an Australian accent, and I just realized this was Jasper’s dad and got even more nervous.

“My daughter wasn’t breathing in her sleep and wouldn’t wake up”

“Hmm, Annabel right? So tell me what happened, it’s always best to get the patient’s point of view than your mother.”

“I fell asleep and had a bad dream and woke up.” I said nervously to him.

“What happened in this nightmare if you don’t mind me asking”

I start to slowly begin talking about my dream involving Carter and him having blacked out eyes and holding a knife and how he turned to black smoke when I hit him and all that. He began writing this down and thinking real hard on a solution for what my mother calls a big problem. He looked at me, his eyes looking as if he was looking through to my soul.

“Hmm.”

He stood up and turned towards my parents and kindly asked them to leave the room and usually my parents weren’t too keen on leaving me alone in front of a doctor but he somehow persuaded them to and soon it was just me and him.

“Any other dreams Annabel?”

His emerald eyes looking at me with a tone of caring in both his eyes and voice, I looked down at the floor embarrassed to tell him what happened in the woods with Oliver and my brother but I felt I just had to tell someone maybe they would know what the was about. My heart began racing as I was going to tell him the events that happened.

“Well, there is one, but it’s not really a dream I don’t think.”

I spend the next few minutes telling him about the event that happened in the forest letting everything that happened go and felt everything lift off my shoulders and sighed with relief and breathed a little more easily. I don’t know why it was so easy to talk to Dr. Levinson or that I felt safe talking to him, the door suddenly opened and there he stood, Jasper Levinson. He was wearing an over sized black sweater and ripped jeans and black converse and a black beanie, he looked at me with a slight shocked facial expression like he didn’t expect me to be examined by his father.

“Ah, Annabel this is my son Jasper, Jasper say hi to Mrs. Bowyer.”

He said it without even looking at him like he knew it would be Jasper coming through that door, Jasper looked down at the floor keeping his eyes away from me before speaking in a quiet tone.

“Hi”

Dr. Levinson stands up and goes over to Jasper and he pulls him out of the room excusing himself and closing the door behind them I sat there reaching into my pocket and grabbing out my phone and looking at some videos on an app, scrolling through some gaming videos and seeing a person I enjoy watching daily posted a new video and plug in one of my ear buds and began watching the video. About a few videos in and the door opens again it’s my mom and dad, they come in and ask so many questions about what the doctor asked me and I had a hard time just coming out and telling them about Carter and everything. I stood up and just wanted to leave but my parents wouldn’t allow it and I really don’t wanna get into a big argument just to leave so I sat into a seat by the door and waited as my parents sat down across from me. It was extremely awkward just sitting there in a quiet hospital room, the door opened and Dr. Levinson was back again with papers in his hands and started filling out a prescription for sleep walking and depression and handed the prescription papers to me.

“This should help with some of the issues your having, but if anything else arises don’t be afraid to call my office, here’s my office number and personal number call me anytime you have an issue, ok?”

He hands me a slip of paper with his office number and extension and his personal number on it and smiled at me warmly before leaving the room. I get up to leave with my parents, my dad holding the door behind us and we go through all the normal stuff, check out at the nurse’s station then leave. The car ride was as awkward as the hospital room so I just plugged my earbuds in and began listening to music and looking out the car window imagining I was anywhere but in the car with them. We got home around 5pm with my newly prescribed medicine in my hands I get out of the car and head straight for my room still with my earbuds in ignoring the world around me, I look at the bottle take one before bed and morning for sleep walking and depression. I lay on my bed and stare at the ceiling for a few minutes just in a daze and felt time standing still. I sit up in bed and breathe in deeply and stand up, and hear a small quiet voice call my name and recognize it as the sweet warm tone of my father and start to head downstairs, the scent that reminded me of home wafted through the first floor and the smell of what I assumed was homemade pork shogayaki(ginger pork) I walked into the chicken and see my father at the stove, the steam coming from the pot filling the kitchen and leaving a humidity in the air, the table was set up with pure white plates and bowls and napkins with black wooden chopsticks.

“So what’s for dinner dad?” Silas asked,

“Well It’s great grandma’s recipe for Pork Shogayaki, along with boiled eggs, white rice and shredded cabbage.”

“Doesn’t great grandma Sadako buy her Pork Shogayaki from the store.”

“Kotoba ni ki wo tsukenasai.” (be careful with your words)

My dad lightly tapped the back of his head with a wooden spoon and told him to hush as he continued to prepare the pork and rice, I sat down at the table and looked at Kai, who was fast asleep in his dog bed but would likely wake up as soon as the food was set on the table. Silas rubbed the back of his head and sat down across from me and began drumming his chopsticks on the bowl before my dad once again smacked the back of his head with the spoon.

“Ahoka!” (What the f**k!)

Dad looked at Silas with the famous death glare all parents give their children, and even though Silas was 21 it was disrespectful to curse in front of your parents. The door opened and Kai immediately got up and ran to the door and began barking and I heard my mother’s soft voice greeting the dog as her heels loudly clacking on the wood floor which began getting closer and closer to the kitchen. My mother who wore a black capri pants and a white ruffled split neck shirt and a black formal blazer and a pair of black naturalizer anna pumps, she looked like a professional yet stylish businesswoman. She smiled warmly at us at the dinner table and went over to my dad and wrapped her arms around him and put her head on his shoulder whispering softly to him.

“Bleh get a room mom and dad.” Silas said while making a puking gesture,

I giggled and mom grabbed a big bowl of white rice and the shredded cabbage and sat it in the middle of the table, mom was always a workaholic and never seemed to be home to eat dinner with us so tonight was a treat almost. She went back to work after the doctor’s visit and worked a few hours after leaving the hospital.

“So what’s on the menu today honey? Besides something Asian influenced?”

“Well we are having some of my great grandma Pork Shogayaki, it’s basically stir fried ginger pork.”

“Is it any good, Michael?”

“Very good, well in my opinion though the ginger makes it a little spicy and the soy sauce makes it a little salty but with Mirin it is perfect.”

Mom was always the type to want to try new things and with my dad being Japanese he gets to show her his families recipes some good and some not so good in my opinion. I never really cared for Pork Shogayaki because I didn’t really like pork but great grandma Sadako made it in a way it tasted like heaven in your mouth, and me and my brother being Japanese-American were use to eating both Japanese and American foods. The rest of the night went on as normal until it was time for bed for me which was like 10pm so I grabbed a bottle of cola and headed up to bed I sat on bed and grabbed the pill bottle and take out a pill of each and take a sip then put the pill in my mouth and swallow it and lay down in bed and soon I’m fast asleep and soon Saturday has ended and Sunday begins, just one more day till Monday which I was dreaded. I woke up and the sky was still dark it was almost 4 am and I was now wide awake and couldn’t go back to sleep and sat up in bed and looked around my dark room. The moonlight illuminating my room just barely and casting shadows on everything, making some of the shadows looked like scary creatures , my heart rate started climbing up and up and my chest began to get tighter and tighter almost like I was being squeezed by a boa constrictor. I breathed in deeply the best I could and exhaled it all away, and turned on the lamp next to my bed and relaxed a little, I grabbed my remote and turned on the TV and began watching whatever was on at the time. I grabbed my laptop and opened up my book I was writing and began zoning out as I started writing and by the time I finished writing the last page of the chapter the sun was shining an it was now almost 9am. I heard the door open across the hall and heard walking and stumbling from what I heard, and the creaky steps that lead to downstairs and the front door opening and closing shut. I got up out of bed and stretched out, and grabbed the bottle of soda next to the bed and pills and took them before heading to the bathroom. The bathroom which was next to my room was shared by me and my brother, the one thing I always hated was having to share a bathroom with a man who doesn’t even pick up his dirty clothes after a shower and just leaves them sitting next to the hamper. I look at myself in the mirror, I hated the way I looked, my skin wasn’t clear whatsoever, my hair was greasy even tho I showered daily, and I was around 281 pounds and have tried to lose weight in the past and would get super motivated then discouraged at the slightest inconvenience. I got into the shower once again and scrubbed myself vigorously hoping by some miracle I’d scrub all my fat and acne off but sadly it never happened, the only thing that happens is my skin ends up red and irritated. I dried myself off and walked back to my bedroom and got dressed, I picked out a comfy black sweater some dark Grey sweatpants and socks with hamburgers and hot dogs on them these were my comfort clothes. I sat on the cushions on my bay window and just looked out the window and saw the street below it was so different compared to when it’s dark. It was the 2nd of September already and the sun was shining through the window not a drop of rain or snow anywhere, I know it’s fall but I really enjoyed the snow and rain better than it be sunny. I stood up and walked out into the hallway, closing the door before heading downstairs and into the kitchen for a quick breakfast of cereal and refilled Kai’s food bowl and water dish before heading back upstairs but then the doorbell rang as I was halfway up the stairs and I quietly go back down the stairs and look through the peephole hoping it isn’t Carter and see Oliver standing on the porch pacing around, i open the door and see him jump in fright at the unexpected noise.

“Hi?” I said to him,

“Hi, sorry for the unexpected visit but um did you want me to teach you how to drive?”

“Um sure just let me get dressed I guess, I’ll be right back.”

I shut the door and quickly ran up the stairs and go into my room closet and grab some black jeans, kept my black sweater on and got my black boots on

and headed back downstairs and opened the door again and walked with Oliver to the truck.

“I’ll drive and take us to a spot where we can drive and not deal with traffic and such.”

I got into the passengers seat and the truck was soon driving down the road almost zooming down the streets of Port Angeles till we got to a large parking lot that looked almost abandoned. He parked and got out of the driver’s seat and I sat in the drivers seat and breathed in deeply even though my anxiety was already high and was afraid I’d crash. He got into the passenger’s seat and I grabbed the wheel with shaky hands and he began slowly taking me step by step on how to drive until I began getting a little more comfortable behind the wheel yet a little bit of fear was still there but looking at Oliver’s goofy smile put me more at ease and soon I was able to drive around the parking lot without any problem and congratulated myself under my breathe for driving by myself.

“See it’s easy, right? Also don’t worry about the test I’ll help ya study for that.”

He said that with such a warmth that could melt even the coldest heart and smiled back at him, He got out off the passengers side and I slide into the seat and he got back in the driver’s seat and we drove around town showing me the new things in town and then into the forest down a bumping rocky road that looked as if multiple cars had used this path and slowly a house began to come into the distance, the rocky road suddenly becomes smooth as we hit the pavement and up the long driveway, and to the giant log cabin house that was in the back of my head as a memory. Even though my memory was just coming back I couldn’t remember in the slightest that the Arden’s house was this big, it looked like one of those perfect outdoorsy resorts people go to on vacation. We got up to the house and he pulled in front of the garage and we got out, the only thought through my head was in amazement at how big their house was and followed Oliver.

“You probably don’t remember our house since it’s been years, my dad and me and my siblings began building onto it, so most of what you see in new. But there is still something you might remember that I sorta spruced up since we were kids.”

I followed him through the yard and down to the forest by his house and walked a familiar yet unfamiliar path, keeping up with Oliver’s stride through the forest almost like it was his second home, that he knew every stick and stone he could almost walk through the forest with his bare feet and know where not to step and where to step. I felt my lungs burn inside my chest and my breathing got heavier but I didn’t stop mainly because I was afraid I’d get lost and wouldn’t be able to find my way out or find my way back to Oliver.

“You ok? We can rest up if you want or….” he asked me,

“or…?” I managed to say with my deep breaths,

“I could carry you”

This phrase took me by surprise, I never thought I’d hear that from someone but the other feeling I had was fear, I was afraid he’d hurt himself because he didn’t know my full weight and I didn’t want to be a burden on him and didn’t want him to feel the need to have to carry me so I politely decline and try to walk but ended up collapsing from exhaustion, I closed my eyes and braced myself for the fall on the hard cold forest floor but ended up falling on a soft warm surface and slowly opened my eyes and see Oliver’s face looking down on me. His warm expression was gone and in it’s place was a worried expression, when I fully regained the strength I stood up almost too quickly and had to steady myself on a tree trunk that was covered in green moss, it was the texture of wet grass mixed with a soft sponge and I started to breath regularly and my lungs started to cool down and I stood myself up straight and began walking with Oliver again. He acted more worrisome than before and we took several breaks before I started noticing small lights leading down a path and soon I saw a wood fence leading down the path and then I saw it, two large wood spikes planted deeply on top of a hill which connected to a wood swinging bridge and connected to a tree house that would be a perfect place to live in. I placed my hand on the left spike and felt the smooth surface of the top and my fear of heights began to sink it and so did my anxiety and all I kept thinking was ‘what if I fall through the woods boards’ and slowly took a step on the wood board hearing it creak as I slowly put my weight on it and breathed in and slowly began to walk, closing my eyes so I don’t accidentally see the drop down below.

“It’s ok just keep your eyes closed and take my hand.”

I reached out with my eyes closed and felt around till I felt a warm hand grab mine gently and I began walking slowly, letting his hand guide the way to stable ground. Creaking noises heard with almost each step I took and could feel myself swaying from side to side like those ladder games at carnivals where eventually you fall over. I walked and walked till I took the last step and didn’t hear a creak and sighed with relief as I put my other foot on what I hoped was the base of the tree house.

“You can open your eyes now.”

I slowly opened my eyes and see I was at the base and turned around and see a small house like structure, with a doorway and door and windows and somehow lights. I looked inside and see a small couch in front of a small TV, a twin bed and a mini fridge and microwave almost looked like a little apartment minus the bathroom and oven.

“I’ve been building onto it and fixing it making it more livable.”

“Nice, I slightly remember when we first built it, your dad had to help us with the base and basically had to tightrope across the hill just to get on it until we got my dad’s ladder to go up it.”

“Yeah and the roof was basically a gazebo tent we had in the basement and all we had for furniture was some lawn chairs and a bean bag.”

“I remember one night we wanted to sleep out there like a camping trip, we grabbed an air mattress and snacks and flashlights and your portable dvd player and we fell asleep and got woken up when the roof collapse and we got soaked in rain water.”

“Oh god, I remember that, we had to walk through the woods blindly back to my parents house and explain why were soaking wet, didn’t we get sick for like a week after that.”

“Yeah, had to stay at home from school had to go to the emergency room cause I had a fever of 104 degrees, my mother was scared to death.”

“I didn’t know that, maybe that’s why I didn’t see you for a few days. Well anyway how do you like the place though?”

“I like it, more cozy than when we first started building it, only thing it needs is a bathroom and maybe an oven and you’d have yourself a nice apartment.”

“I mean I’d love to build my own house in the future though, it’s sorta calming in a way.”

He smiles as he says that, almost like his passion was burning strongly inside him, I honestly felt like he could make an honest living doing what he loves and would likely be damn good at it too. He walks past me and to the mini fridge and grabs rummages through it while I walk around looking at everything before sitting down on the couch, wondering how he managed to get electricity out here. He sat down next to me and offered a glass bottle of orange cream soda I thanked him and he grabbed a remote and turned on the TV and we just sat there sipping on the soda. I hear something vibrate next to me and reach into my pocket for my phone and realized I accidentally left it in the car and see Oliver stand up and grab his phone and go outside quickly, I can hear bits and pieces of the conversation.

“Hey babe….nothing just chilling in the tree house with my friend….um yeah Annabel why? Listen I am not cheating on you jeez, she’s just a friend. Ok but you don’t have to come over…..Peyton? Peyton? f**k!”

I heard a loud slam against the wall near the door outside and see him come in soon after and sit back down on the couch and just continues to watch TV, his warmth faded and I felt he was agitated and felt if I said anything it’d make it worse. After a few minutes he got up and asked if I wanted to check out the house and I nodded, he turned the TV and lights off and we slowly made our way through the woods, me not wanting to bug Oliver I managed to make it through even though my lungs were on fire and I began feeling nauseous.