Monstrous

14

Nile Cale

It was probably the first time Autumn stepped foot into my run down neighbor. The scenery was different from the white picket fence, mansions sitting on a hill suburbia she lived in. Uncollected trash littered the street, car alarms and shouting sounded off in the distance. People meeting up to purchase drugs or firearms were the only inhabitants of the neighborhood at night. The air reeked of smoke and the worst part about this place was the fact I had grown accustomed to it, and embraced the bad. As I drove up to my house I felt ashamed for bringing a girl like Autumn to a dangerous place like this, she deserved better. Finally when I parked I looked over at Autumn who stared around her dark surroundings with a blank expression. I was so reluctantly to bring her inside my house, my father said he would be out of town but back in time to see my football game, but still it's embarrassing having to show a girl who is well off to a place that's barely able to keep the light bill on.

"Lets go.." I whispered, Autumn attempted to lock eyes with me but I was too fidgety to keep our gaze. I fumbled out of the car and walked around it over to the passenger, I opened the door for Autumn and she came out holding her belongings and the remains of our movie snacks. I quickly went into the trunk to grab my duffel bag what was carrying my things from football practice.

Right from the broken rusted metal gate that surrounded the house, immediately I regretted bringing Autumn here. I kept in front of her to avoid seeing her possible reactions of disgust. I tried walking as slowly as possible but I got to my front door quicker than I intended. I brought out my house keys, I felt my hands shaking as I pushed the key onto the lock. When the door finally opened I looked back at Autumn and she smiled faintly at me. I didn't know what to read from her smile but it didn't give me any comfort as I watched her look around with concern in her eyes.

Autumn Marie Tyler

Nile's house definitely wasn't what I expected, if anything I thought he lived in the same neighborhood as me, Bella, and Adam. Nile allowed me to go in first while he shut and locked the door behind us. The house was dark, polluted with the smell of alcohol and weed. It was a small house, from the door I could see into the kitchen, the small circular kitchen table, with a small step I basically stood in the living room. There was no correlation within the furniture itself. There was discarded paper, broken glass bottles, cigarette buds, and more covering the floors. I couldn't say much about the space mostly because it was dark. I was waiting for Nile to give me an official tour and turn the lights on but he brushed past me.

"My room is just a few steps up.." He mumbled, I could barely hear him but I saw him navigate himself up the 8 step stairs and I followed him quickly not wanting to get left behind. When I got to the top of the stairs I was met with a dark hallway, of course I wanted to know what the other doors led into but Nile was only interested in taking me into his room, quickly at that.

Walking into his room. I took notice on how different the air smelled, it was the same smell I went crazy for whenever I was around Nile. He had this signature scent that was different from everyone else's. I grew super fond of it and now I'm in a room surrounded by it. Nile tossed his bag onto the floor by his bed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"It's a bit messy. I didn't think I would be bringing anyone home. I'm sorry-" Nile began turning on the light, I scoffed at his words and tossed my bag to land on top of his duffle. I walked past Nile to inspect his room, there was a few clothing pieces of the floor but I didn't mind it. He had dressers for his clothes a small desk for his computer, few of movie posters belonging to actions movies on the walls, There was small minor things in the room that made me smile, like Charlie's stuffed animals, the earrings and face piercings he no longer wears, but one thing in particular caught my attention. A much younger Nile was holding Charlie in his arms while a young girl was on his back. The three of them were smiling. The picture made me curious, was that his sister? They looked so alike, Nile looks so different here. When I took the picture off the desk and brought it closer to my face, I could see the faded bruises on his face but his smile seemed so real, maybe it was, and all that mattered to him was his siblings.

"We aren't going to get into this right now.." Nile slowly came up from behind me and took the picture out of my grasp. He placed the frame faced down his desk before placing his hands on my waist and pulled my body against his. He brought his lips close to my ear, the feeling of his lips tracing my earlobe made me think about dangerous things.

"Lets go back to your place, hell maybe even the diner" He suggested, I shook my head. I reached my hand back and grasped the back of his neck slowly sliding my fingers into his hair.

"I don't want to.." I whispered, clinging onto him. My body completely began to melt against his and I didn't want to leave, I wanted to be here with him. Nile tightened his grip on my waist, he kissed my ear, I felt his smile right across my earlobe.

"Oh yeah? What exactly do you want to do then?" He teased softly, I felt so reckless with Nile, I was too prideful to let him know about the things going on in my mind. A soft laugh escaped my mouth, Nile's lips left my ear and he began to trail kisses from the back of my neck to my jawline. Completely, I melted against him. Nile slid his hands against my thighs until he reached the hem of my dress, he gripped onto the floral fabric as his kisses against my skin became more passionate. His teeth latched onto the nape of my neck, I was trying to hold back but I lost all composure when he lifted my dress and traced his fingers along my panty line. A slight moan escaped my lips and I tugged harshly on Nile's hair. It was thrilling how comfortable I was with him. From the moment he touched my skin, he knew exactly how to make me feel good.

Isabella Mayer

"At least the movie was good.." I said, I spotted another popcorn in his hair and pulled it out and tossed it onto the floor. Adam nodded faintly but was still very irritated that he was assaulted with buttered up popcorn. We were standing by the snack bar, Adam was cleaning the back of his neck with napkins but unfortunately most of the butter stained his emerald green button up shirt.

In all honesty the popcorn flying midair and attacking Adam was the least surprising thing that happened tonight, at least for me. The most shocking thing was when I answered the door bell and Adam was standing on my porch asking me on a date. Of course I was shocked, we didn't talk at all during the party weekend and here he was acknowledging my presence for the first time in a long time. I was close to saying no but Ellis persuaded me. I didn't wear anything special, just blue jeans and a light pink long sleeve v-neck shirt. We hadn't hung out like this since that night in the piano room, it feels like so long ago. Adam and I left the movie theater and ventured throughout the parking lot to find his car.

After leaving the theaters, we were lost on where to go next, before I could suggest ending this date Adam quickly responded and suggested we go to the diner. I was shocked but agreed to it. I couldn't remember the last time I stepped in that diner, I don't think anyone goes in there, I was surprised to learn that they were still in business. Adam ordered us fries, burgers, and milkshakes. After the waitress walked away, a deafening silence stumbled upon us, the two of us sat in a booth across from each other staring at everything in our environment but each other. This outing felt very forced and abrupt but we still were content with each other's presence but was that all, just contentment? My feelings for Adam slowly began to fade over the time we hadn't spoken, the charm I once fell in love with was nowhere to be seen and I didn't know the man sitting in front of me.