Darling Psycho

Claire laid across my bed, legs dangling off the edge as she scrolls through her phone. The soft, warm light of my room was casting a glow on her face, and her dark curls tumbled over the pillow like ink on a page. "So?" she said, not looking up. "Are you actually going to sign up for dance club or just talk about it until they close applications?" I tossed a pillow at her. "I’m thinking about it. I just don’t want to embarrass myself." "Embarrass yourself? Girl, I’ve seen you dance. You move like you were born to do it. Plus, the club captain is hot." "Exactly. That’s the problem," I mumbled, sinking into the beanbag by the window. Claire snorted, rolling her eyes. "Oh, come on. Live a little." Before I could answer, a thumping baseline vibrated through the walls, shaking my windowpane. Claire made a face, her nose wrinkling. "Oh my God. Is that your neighbors again?" I nod, pressing my lips together. "Yeah. They’ve been like that since they moved in three weeks ago." "Seriously? And you haven’t said anything?" Claire propped herself up on her elbows, eyebrows raised. "I’d lose my mind." "I’ve gotten used to it," I said, but my voice sounded unconvincing even to my own ears. "I swear, they party every night like it’s New Year’s Eve," Claire mutters, flopping back down. "Who are they again?" "Three kids," I said, eyes drifting to the window without thinking. "Two guys, one girl. They’re siblings. Their parents are... never around." "Weird," Claire said, and then she grinned. "I bet they’re hot. Are they hot?" My eyes snapped back to her. "What?" "Come on. Guys who party that much? Bet they look good." "I guess," I muttered, shifting uncomfortably. "They’re... loud." "Loud and hot," Claire teased, waggling her eyebrows. I roll my eyes, then glance at the clock. It’s 9:09 PM. "You said you were staying over tonight, right?" "Yep," Claire said, stretching like a cat. "I brought snacks and everything." "Good. Then don’t say anything." "About what?" I knew what I was about to do was stupid, but something in me wanted to do it. I stood up and flicked the light switch, plunging my room in darkness. "Whoa," Claire said, laughing nervously. "Why are you—" "Shh," I murmured, stepping closer to the window. "Just watch." I inched the curtain aside, and the glow from the house next door spilled into the room, illuminating Jason’s window across the gap between our houses. He was there, sitting in a black office chair, one arm draped over the back, his head tipped back lazily. Smoke coiled from a cigarette between his fingers, the cherry burning bright in the dark. His shirt was open, revealing a hard chest and abs that gleam under the light of his room. But that’s not what made me gulp. It was the girl. She was kneeling between his legs, blonde hair falling over her shoulders, head bobbing as she moved—her lips wrapped around his c**k. Jason’s eyes were half closed, a smirk playing on his lips as he takes a long, slow drag of his cigarette. Claire gasps. "Holy—" "I told you not to say anything," I muttered, but my voice was shaking. My cheeks were burning, and I tried to look away, but I couldn’t. It’s like I was frozen, my eyes locked on the way Jason’s head tilted back, a low, lazy groan escaping his lips. "This is disgusting," I said, but the words felt heavy and thick in my mouth. For a moment, I doubted my thoughts. "This is hot," Claire countered, her breath fogging up the window. "Are you kidding me? That boy is a whole meal." "There’s nothing hot about that," I snapped, trying to keep my tone steady. "Not every day you get to see a guy that gorgeous getting off like that," Claire whispered, and I could feel her eyes on me, her grin wicked. "Admit it, Vanya. You’re into him." I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to look away. But the image of Jason’s lazy, satisfied smirk was already burned into the back of my mind. And I hated that. Claire grabbed the nearest phone — my phone — her fingers quick.. "What the hell are you doing?" I snapped, jumping to snatch it. "Come on," she said, holding up the phone. "It’s like being given free porn. I can’t just let this slide." "Claire!" I hissed, my voice coming out sharper than I intended. "Are you serious? You can’t record them. That’s wrong!" "Relax," she said, her eyes not leaving the screen. "I just want to watch it again later. You can’t expect me to just forget this." "This is why I didn’t want to show you," I muttered, my skin prickling with a strange, uncomfortable heat. Claire kept recording, her lips curled into a satisfied grin. * The next morning, we stepped outside, the air cool and heavy with dew. Claire yawned, tossing her hair over her shoulder as we made our way down the front steps. I tried to focus on the sidewalk ahead, but my eyes drifted next door, catching on Nathan. Sometimes I got confused over who was older. Nathan or Jason? They looked like they were the same age. He was taking out the trash, wearing nothing but a pair of low-hanging sweatpants. His dark hair was a tangled mess, and his skin looked flushed, like he’d just rolled out of bed. The waistband of his pants sat dangerously low on his hips, revealing a sliver of skin that made me gulp. He wiped a hand across his jaw, looking every bit like someone who hadn’t slept and didn’t care. "God," Claire muttered beside me. "I’d kill to live next to boys like that." "That’s insane," I said, shaking my head, but my eyes refused to look away. Nathan noticed us, his eyes dark and flat, as if we were just another annoyance in his day. He didn’t smile. Didn’t even nod. Just turned around and tossed the trash bag into the bin, the muscles in his back flexing beneath his skin. "Why? Are they always so angry?" Claire said, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Maybe because they’re rich, spoiled jerks who can do whatever they want," I muttered. Nathan disappeared back inside, slamming the door behind him. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, and when I glanced over at Claire, she was still watching the house, a dreamy, glazed look in her eyes. And for some reason, I felt sorry for her.