The House of Smoke and Nightmares

Chapter Three: Could it be Love?

“What are you thinking about?” Fred asked her.

“You are hurt.” Diane said, looking at hi wound on the forehead

“It is nothing.”

“No. Let me see.” Diane said as she sat up straight and leaned closer, wiping the blood off with her bandana. Fred inhaled slowly as the fragrance of her Cocoa butter lotion hit his nostrils. He love d this scent. It was Diane’s signature allure, often awakening sensual desire in him. Diane was also finding it hard to be this close to Fred. She could feel his breathe on her bare neckline, blowing softly on her skin.

“Diane…” Fred said; his voice impatient; his blue eyes fixed looking yearningly in her eyes.

“Yes.” Diane answered but Fred was absentminded; lost in reverie of his imaginations.

“I want you.”

“Fred….” Diane called out to him and awakened him from his reverie.

“It is okay. The wound will get infested…Not that your bandana has bacteria and germs.” Fred said making everything clear. Diane chortled and leaned back.

“I understand what you are saying and I agree you. We should get going now since your word has to be properly cared for.”

“Yes, you are right.” Fred said, chortling merrily.

“Please focus on the road this time around.”

“I promise.”

***

The moon was red, having only small fragments of white. Fred stood at the edge of the cliff and looked down below him. A house stout and archaic stood erect facing the Mayon River. He marveled at the beautiful view, reaching out to touch yet it was too far. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned, only to find himself inside the house he had been looking at afar. It was quiet, old and rusty in the inside. The walls had cracks and its paint had worn off. Fred panicked, calling out for the owner.

“Anybody here?”

“Fred…” he heard a feminine voice and quickly turned. It was a girl standing at a distance. It was hard to see her face as it was dark but Fred was sure that she was wearing some kind of uniform.

“Will you come to the yacht party, Fred? I would love it if you came.” He heard her say.

“Please, come to the party, Fred. I am waiting for you.”

“Who are you?” Fred asked but there was no reply. The girl took steps towards him and came up to his face, growling like a beast.

“No, no!” Fred screeched. “Please don’t kill me.”

“Fred!”

“Yes, yes.” Fred sprang up from his bed, meeting his parents and sister’s gazes.

“What happened?” Freda asked.

“Yeah, Fred. You have been screeching for half an hour.” Brad added.

“Half an hour?”

“I think the mini accident he had has traumatized him.” Freda concluded.

“No.” Fred retorted and sat up. “I can’t remember anything but I am certain this has nothing to do with the accident.”

“Do you want to talk?” Brad asked his son.

“Yes, Dad.”

“Freda, Marina. Please excuse us.” Brad said, dismissing his wife and daughter.

“Hang in there.” Fred said and kissed her son’s forehead before walking out with Marina.

“Dad, something strange is going on with me.” Fred confessed.

“Go on.”

“I think I saw a ghost or something the other day. She impersonated a friend.”

“Which friend?”

“Promise me you will not blame her for this.”

“I promise.”

“It is Diane.” Fred said ad narrated the entire story.

“And today?” Brad asked, scrutinizing his son’s facial expressions.

“I don’t remember anything but I have feeling what I saw is connected to my dream tonight.” Fred replied with fright. “Dad, I swear I am not losing my mind. I know what I saw.”

“Does Diane know about this?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Dad, I don’t want her to see me as a freak and run away from me.”

“It looks like she is the one you like.”

“I love her.”

“Now you are exaggerating. What do you know about love?”

“Dad, I mean it.”

“No, son. What you see between me and your mum is what You should call love. You are still young to determine love.”

“What is love, dad?”

“Go to sleep, Freddie. I will look into what you have said because I know my son cannot lie.”

“That is why I trust you the most, Dad. You never judge me or ridicule me even when something does not make sense.”

“Doesn’t Chloe do the same?”

“She brushes me off.”

“And Diane?”

“I haven’t spoken to her about my deepest fears or insecurities. I don’t want to shoo her away.”

“You try her. Maybe you might just be fish in the same pond. She can your strength and you can be hers.” Brad said.

“Alright, Dad. Thanks for tonight.” Fred said. Brad nodded smilingly and walked out of the room.

 ***

 Sunday elapsed without seeing Fred and this made Diane worry but Monday morning was a different story. That morning when she was trying to get into her car and head to school, Fred came speeding towards her house and stopped beside her.

“Care to join me?” He asked excitedly.

“You look so happy. What happened?” Diane said as she got into the car beside him.

“I have seen you.”

“What is that?

“I am happy to see you.” Fred chuckled as he leaned forward, reaching for Diane’s seatbelt. He brushed his chest on hers and she flinched as the same sensation she felt during the weekend came back again.

“You make me happy.”

“You have a girlfriend.” Diane said as Fred fastened her belt for her.

“But I am drawn to you. Don’t you feel it too?”

So what if I have a girlfriend?” Fred asked casually as his lip widened into a naughty smirk.

“Fred, please just drive us to school.” Diane said, feeling hurt. “What if Fred wants to use me and dump me? Did he make a bet with someone over me?”

“Whatever you say.” Fred said, looked ahead and sped into the main road, driving to Novelties High school.

At school, eyes turned to Fred and Diane as they got out of the car and headed inside. Chloe and her two friends came to meet them. Chloe hugged Fred and gave Diane a side hip push so that she could walk beside Fred instead. Patrice took the other empty side, leaving Marble and Diane behind. Both the girls pouted making them turn to each other so quickly.

“You like him too!” They both said at the same time.

“Well, yeah a little.” Marble lied. Diane smiled and placed her hand on her shoulder.

“I know how you feel.”

“You are not allowed to touch me.”

“Why not?” Diane teased her and touched her blazer.

“Hey!” Marble jerked playfully and suddenly laughed.

“There you go. You look great when you laugh.” Diane said and smiled with pride.

“You not so bad yourself.” Marble commented. “Shall we go now? People are watching us.”

“Yes, let’s go.” Diane said, feeling exulted that she and Marble were no longer enemies. It turns out that Chloe was becoming less friendly while Marble was learning to accept her.

 ***

In class, Fred kept on staring at Diane and when she looked at him, he smiled merrily winking at her. Chloe was just seated behind Diane and she was not blind to the loving glances Fred was stealing at Diane. Chloe grimaced; she was only being friendly with Diane to earn points with Fred, but never in her wildest dreams did she think Diane would be able to captivate his heart and snatch him away from her. Chloe looked at Diane and it was obvious that something was brewing in her mind.

A war.

After a while, the break siren rang and Fred sprang up and dashed to Diane.

“Come with me.” he said, taking her hand in front of everyone. The two of them left class leaving everyone flustered.

“What the hell is going on with Fred?” Chloe pouted loudly.

“What’s the matter, Chloe?” Jake, another classmate asked. He too was one of the guys who used to defend Diane although he, himself was a bully too. Jake had had a crush on Diane for years as well but not longer than Fred.

 “Did you suddenly get dumped?”

“Mind your own business.” Chloe hissed and stood up to leave the class.

“Following them will not help, Chloe.” Marble said.

“What are you saying, Marble?” Patrice chipped in.

“Look who is talking. You have no right to question me.” Marble said, smiling naughtily. Patrice kept quiet fearing that Marble would blurt out the party incident.

“Just wait for him here, unless you want to be humiliated even more.” Marble continued.

“Fine.” Chloe agreed and sat down. Marble stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“Its break time. I have to eat.”

“I thought you said I should wat for Fred.”

“Yes. He is your boyfriend not ours. So, why should I wait with you?” Marble said and walked out.

“Marble is acting weird, Patrice.” Chloe commented, looking back at Patrice but the latter was absentminded.

“Patrice!”

“Huh, yes?”

“Don’t tell me I was talking to myself.” Chloe groaned.

“I am sorry.”

“Just forget it!” Chloe sneered and left the class too.

Fred took Diane to the café and ordered some food for both of them. Then, he helped her take a seat on the chair where Chloe usually sat. Marble showed up later and joined them and in less than ten minutes, Chloe also came, approaching them angrily.

“Babe...” she said, addressing Fred.

“Hey babe.” Fred answered casually. He acted like nothing had happened until this point. “Come and sit down with us.”

“Why did you leave without me?” Chloe questioned him.

“Oh that?” Fred chuckled insensitively. “It was nothing. I didn’t want Diane to run away. She never eats from here you see.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes. Stop paranoid and come and sit down.”

“Diane is in my seat.” Chloe remarked.

“I can seat somewhere else.” Diane resolved, trying to avoid trouble, but Fred stopped her.

“This is where I want you seat, Diane.” he said, placed his hand on her shoulder and leaned closer, whispering into her ear.

“I want you to be in a spot where I can see you.”

Diane coughed uncomfortably. Chloe and Marble stared at Fred in surprise.

“What is going on between you two?”

“We are friends now.” Fred said.

“Is that true, Dia?” Marble asked

“Dia?” Diane was shocked.

“Oh that is my pet name for you.” Marble said.

“Pet name?” Chloe and Diane exclaimed.

“Yes, why?”

“You have never given a pet name, Marble. I asked why so many times but you had no answer.” Chloe complained.

“Chloe, relax. You are just being paranoid.” Marble said and chewed on her burger.

“You are eating a burger? What happened to keeping fit and avoiding junk?” chloe remarked again.

“Chloe, please. I love you, but I really want to take control of my life from now on.” Marble said. “….that includes the food I eat, the drinks I take and the clothes I wear.”

“Okay, girls. Why is there too much tension on the table?” Fred chipped in, eyeing both girls with shock.

“Chloe here is upset that you and Diane are hanging out but she is taking her anger out on me.” Marble complained.

“Maybe I should leave.”

“Yes!” Chloe agreed.

“No!” Fred and Marble disagreed.

“I will forget this betrayal, Marble.” Chloe said and walked out on them.

“Babe!” Fred called out to her.

“Just go after her.” Marble said. Fred looked at Diane, hesitated and patted her shoulder before he stood up.

“Excuse me.” Fred said and left immediately.

“Fred is gone now. You tell me what is happening between you two.” Marble was ready to listen to the first hand tea.

“Nothing.” Diane said, nibbling on her pie.

“Are you upset that he left to go and find her?”

“Why should I be? She is his girlfriend after all.” Diane replied in a sad tone.  need to go.”

“You haven’t even eaten your food.” Marble exclaimed.

“I have lost my appetite.” Diane said and left. Jake also took off, following her behind. Marble shifted her frowned face to her plate, picking up her burger.

“They have someone to chase after them and here I am; lonely as hell, lunching on a burger.” Marble sighed loudly.

***

Diane ran towards the playground, tears streaming down her face. Jake caught up with her and stopped her.

“Let me go.” she thrashed out violently, almost dropping her glasses. Jake grabbed her arm as she tried to run off and pulled her into an embrace.

“It is okay.” he said. “It is me, Jake.”

“Jake?” Diane snuffled. “I am sorry. I thought it was Fred.”

“That jerk went after his real girlfriend. What do you like about him anyway? He hasa douchebag vibe yet you still like him.” Jake remarked.

“It is because I am such a fool.” Diane retorted angrily.

“No, you are not. You are beautiful, smart and-

“And what?”

“Naïve and nerdy….but you are perfect the way you are, trust me.” Jake smilingly replied. “I actually like you just the way you are.”

“Another guy who is way out of my league is making fun of me.”

“I am not. I am really serious about you, Diane.” Jake said and pulled her close. “I mean it.”

“I can’t do this.” Diane said, slipping off his arms. “Sorry….”

“Diane. Wait!” Jake said as she ran away from him, and turning to leave, he found Fred standing behind him, looking furious.

“What’s the matter, Fred? You want a fight.” Jake remarked, smirking.

“I will not stoop to your level.” Fred said and tried to walk past him. Jake grabbed Fred’s arm, stopping him from taking another step further.

“….eave Diane alone. You will only break her heart.” He said.

“What I do is none of your business.” Fred said, freeing himself form Jake’s grip.

“If you hurt her, I will break you bones and ruin your face.” Jake threatened Fred as they stared into each other’s eyes with fury.

“Right and I will make sure you end up in a juvenile prison.” Fred countered him.

“Why? Is it because your father is a special cop?” Jake asked. “My father has way more power that your father, Fred. Remember that.”

“No one is above the law.”

“Just leave my girl alone.”

“She is not your girl, Jake!” Fred shouted. Jake laughed mockingly and walked away

“She is not your girl.”

Later at night, Fred crossed over to Diane’s house. They had not talked at school and Jake was the one who even dropped her home. He wanted to talk to her, at least and explain his dilemma or else he would not be able to sleep. Climbing up the willowy tree near Diane’s bedroom window, Fred carefully heaved himself up and jumped into Diane’s bedroom, awakening from her sleep. She tried to scream but Fred’s hand covered up her mouth in time.

 “It is me.” he whispered and switched on the bedside lamp.

“Fred…you…you.” she struggled to speak, not knowing what to say to him.

“I am sorry.”

“Sorry for what?” Diane hissed. “Are you sorry that you are playing with two girls’ feelings or maybe I am the only being played here?”

“I am not playing with you. I promise.”        

“Get out of my room.” Diane looked very upset.

“Listen to me.” Fred said but Diane was too upset. She grabbed a pillow and thrashed him with it severally.

“Get out!” she said. Fred grabbed the pillow away from her and pinned her down onto her bed, hands above her head; twined with Fred’s hands.

“Let go!” Diane struggled. Fred leaned forward, brushing his lips on her cheek.

“Stop struggling.” He whispered.

 a