Chapter Text
I don't know how long I slept, but I know it was the best sleep I’d had in years. “Yeah I checked earlier, her fever has gone down. Hopefully she will wake up soon.” I looked over and Sally was sitting at the bottom of my bed, facing away from me.
“Sal?” I turned over onto my back. Sal whipped his head around and looked at me. I grabbed my throbbing head and groaned.
“I gotta go Larr, she's awake.” Sal hung up the phone and made it over to my side of the bed. “Well hello, sleeping beauty.” Sal put his hand on my forehead and smiled. I looked beside me and saw a couple different thermometers on the nightstand. There was also a bowl of steaming soup on the table.
“Good morning, how long was I out?” I said reaching for my phone. 9:00am, ew.
“About 2 days.” Sally picked up the bowl of soup and set it on my lap. “You’ve been having a crazy high fever, and whenever you would wake up you just mumbled gibberish half asleep and fell right back asleep.”
“Jesus Christ what the hell? Do you think it’s from drinking?” I asked. Sal shook his head.
“No, I think whatever that guy threw up on you made you sick. Either he was drinking some gross stuff or you just have a shit immune system.” He chuckled. Sally grabbed the bowl of soup from the nightstand and handed it to me.
“What ever happened to that guy?” I asked while checking my phone. 3 missed texts from Grandma.
“Larry and some other guys beat him up.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah, he deserved it.”
“I don’t think he deserved to get beat up!”
“Are you kidding Y/N?! He literally tried to have sex with you! Against your will?! Do you not see the problem with that?”
“Yeah I know but-“
“No buts. He is a piece of shit and a rapist.” Sal scoffed. “If I ever see him again he’s fucking dead.” Sal slammed his hand down on my bed and it made me jump.
“Okay Sally Face, I’m not going to argue with you. I was literally just in a mini coma. I do not have the energy.”
“Speaking of energy, here, I just made this, I hope it tastes fine.” He handed me the steaming bowl from my night stand. I grabbed the spoon and took a big bite. It looked like just regular tomato soup, but it tasted awful. I sputtered and coughed. “Y/N! Are you choking?” Sal moved closer to me and started patting my back. My coughing fit soon turned into laughter.
“It’s so salty!” Was the only thing I managed to say in between my cough-laughter. He rolled his eyes and playfully punched me in the arm. “Are you trying to kill me?” I laughed again and Sal rolled his eyes once more.
“First I thought you were dying, now you’re insulting my cooking?!” He threw his hands up. “I can’t get a break!”
“Sal, I appreciate the thought but maybe leave the cooking to me.” I smiled at him. His mask lifted slightly which means a smile.
“I tasted it earlier and it was fine!” He shrugged and took the bowl from me.
“It’s okay dude, cooking just is not your specialty.”
“Mhmm, but baking is!” He said opening the door to my room. I got out of bed and stretched every inch of my body. What a good nap that was. I walked out and saw dishes piled up in the sink. I rolled my eyes.
“Sal, you’re going to clean those right?” I called, entering my bathroom.
“Yes! I’m on it right now!” I heard the frantic clanging of pots and pans and just closed the door. Looking at myself in the mirror was a wakeup call. I can’t believe I let Sal see me like this. My hair was so frizzy and knotted, and there was mascara under my eyes. Before I could do anything, I had to empty my bladder. Not peeing for 2-ish days was really catching up to me. After the longest pee of my life, I went back to the mirror. I took a makeup wipe out of the package I kept near the sink and viciously rubbed my eyes and the rest of my greasy face. Once I felt clean enough I started trying to tackle the knots in my hair. It took a good 5 minutes to brush my hair fully but I felt much better afterwards. I smiled at myself in the mirror and spun around opening the door to the bathroom once again.
“So, you bake?” I asked out loud. Sitting at my dining room table. Sal placed a glass of water on the table and pointed at it.
“Chug that, then I'll talk to you.” I rolled my eyes and then shot him a playful glare. I downed the water in seconds and slammed it down on the table. “Good.” He took the glass and filled it up again, before returning it to me. “Lisa taught me how to bake.”
“My grandma bakes a lot, I’ve always wanted to learn how to bake.” I took another sip of my water and got a fantastic idea. “Oh! You should teach me how to bake!” My eyes lit up and I smiled at Sal.
“Okay, let's do the basics first then.” He put the last plate he had washed in its designated cabinet. Turning around and opened the bread box. “I'll teach you how to make the best chocolate chip cookies you’ve ever had-“ He grabbed two pieces of bread. “And you’ll teach me how to make some tomato soup?” He said, placing said pieces of bread in the toaster.
“Yes, that sounds like a plan.” I watched him watch the toaster. After about a minute, the pieces of bread popped up and we both jumped. We both burst out laughing. When we finally calmed down he buttered the pieces of toast and handed one to me and put the other in his mouth.
“Eat this please. It’s plain and there’s no possible way I could have fucked this up.” He shook the toast in front of my face and I took it. He’s right, he hadn’t fucked up the toast.
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As I pulled the cookies out of the oven, I heard a knock at the door. “I’ll get it!” Sally said, his pitter patter stopped at the door and I heard it creek open. “Oh hey Ash! Hey Larry.” Why was Ash here?
“Wow this place looks so much shittier on the outside, looks can be deceiving I guess. It’s actually quite cute here!” Ash sounded surprised. Larry set some flowers on the island in the middle of my kitchen.
“For you babe, how are you feeling?” He sat on one of my dining room chairs. I put the oven mits I was wearing onto the counter.
“I actually feel much better, getting up and moving around cleared my head a lot actually.” I pulled up a chair across from him and sat down. I had actually worked up a bit of a sweat while Sal and I were baking. We probably made around 70 cookies. Larry picked one up and fake moaned.
“This is fucking good.” He said with his mouth full of cookie.
“Ash, you've had my cookies before but Y/N perfected the recipe.” Sal picked a cookie up and handed it to Ash. She shook her head.
“I’m all good for now, I don't really feel like eating junk.” She glanced over at the couch that still had the blankets and pillows Sal was using while he looked after me. “This is where you guys sleep? How do you both fit on the couch?”
“Sometimes we don’t.” Larry said while grabbing his 3rd cookie. “Sometimes Sal sleeps in Y/N’S room.” Ash tensed up when he had said that. She looked me up and down then looked at Sally. If looks could kill we’d all be dead right now.
“It doesn’t happen very often.” Sally sounded panicked, he shot a look at Larry as if to say ‘What the fuck?’. “Plus it’s a big bed so it's not like we’re ever close to each other.” He was right, but the way he put on a disgusted tone of voice to please Ash kinda stung. I mean they had more of a history obviously but I'm still allowed to crush on him right?
“Yeah don’t worry Ash.” I got up and started on the many dishes Sal and I dirtied during our baking fest. “I have no interest in stealing Sal from you.” I didn’t look up from the sink but I could tell that Ash was someone pleased with what I had said. As much as I think Sal was hot I did have to come to terms with the fact that: 1. I had only just met this boy days ago, 2. He was already involved in a situation-ship with someone else (as much as I already couldn’t stand her), and 3. I hadn’t even explored all my options in this town yet.
It didn’t matter that he lent me a hand that first night and stayed up for hours just to learn about me. It also didn’t matter that he had stayed when I had asked, even though everyone else had always left. It didn’t matter that we shared similar trauma, and that it made me feel so much more connected with him. It didn’t matter that he cared for me while I was in a mini coma for a couple days. It- It just simply didn’t matter. However charming and magnetic this boy's personality was, he was with Ash. That’s what mattered.
“What do you think, Y/N?” Larry’s voice broke my train of thought.
“Hmm?”
“Did you even hear what Ash said?” He chuckled. God no, I would rather listen to this water run than hear her speak another sentence. I get why she was hostile but she could at least be subtle. I shook my head and placed the last dish on the drying rack. Probably could have used the dishwasher but it was an excuse not to sit at the table with them.
“Ash said that we should throw a party here, since you’re now recovered from whatever that guy gave you.”
“What if it was an STD?” I heard Ash whisper to Sal, just loud enough so I could hear; probably on purpose, we’re talking about Ash here.
“A party is the last thing on my mind right now.” I rubbed my face so hard I felt like I was in a different dimension. I yawned as I said, “My house is for chillaxing only, not for people to come and assault me.” Everyone's faces looked disturbed by my comment. Except for Ash’s.
“You hooked up with that guy?” She snickered. Sally and Larry extended their disgusted faces to Ash. I dropped my smirk.
“No, I just said he assaulted me.” My tone was quite defensive, but if you can’t see why, that’s a you-problem.
“Yeah but girls usually say that when they regret hooking up with someone.” Ash was texting on her phone as she said this. She said it so casually too as if she was certain I was lying.
“Get out of my house Ashley.” I said firmly. “You are a cunt.” Everyone whipped their heads to look at me. Larry’s mouth was agape. I couldn’t tell what Sal’s expression was fully, but from what I could see under the mask his eyes were widened.
“What gives you the nerve to speak to me like that?” Ashley shot up from her chair and it tipped over. It would've hit the ground if Sally had not caught it.
“I have known you for like a week - not even - and you have been nothing but hostile and rude towards me. Accusing me of lying about getting sexually assaulted is way crazier than me telling you to get the fuck out of my house!” My voice was raised and my hands were balled up into fists at my sides. I stood my ground and straightened my back to make myself look more intimidating.
“Y/N, Y/N, Y/N… You have no idea what me and the boys have gone through together. You're putting yourself in a position to have zero friends again.” Ashley was slowly walking towards me as she said this. Her tone was sinister, as if she was threatening me. She kept walking towards me until we were almost standing face to face. I could smell her breath, it smelled of cigarettes. This close I could also see just how vibrant her eyes were, the brightest green. Her hair was so shiny. I could see why Sally Face found her physically attractive, but I could never see how they got along. Maybe because they were always sucking each other's faces instead of actually talking about important things like him and I always do.
“Again? You know nothing about me Ashley.” I spat those words out as mean as I could. I just wanted to make her feel as shitty as she was making me feel. I could tell at this moment she was prepared to say anything to make Sally and Larry dislike me. She was just a couple inches taller than me but it was still obvious that she was looking down at me, trying to intimidate me. It was working. I had all eyes on me. I quickly glanced over to where Sally and Larry were still sitting and they were just staring. Waiting for something to happen almost.
“I know that you're a pathetic loser that does whatever she can for attention. Including making up lies about being assaulted.” She suddenly grabs my arm. “And this-” She hisses, “You fucking cut yourself? Pathetic. Try and go deeper next time so I don't have to look at your pathetic ass anymore trying to steal my spot.” She throws my arm back down, and spins on her heels to start walking away. Suddenly, all my pent up rage from the last 18 years has come forth into my fists. My face is hot and my heart is beating faster than I thought was humanly possible.
“Fuck you!” I scream as I grab Ashley’s hair and yank her to the ground at my feet. I don't think about what I am doing until I am slamming my fists into Ashleys stupid perfect face and blood is splashing up at me. I feel a bony set of hands catch my balled up, bloody fist before it makes contact a 12th time. I got hoisted up and pulled back up off of Ashley.
“Okay dude, let's get you cleaned up.” I hear Larry mumble as he's pulling me into my own bathroom. My vision starts to get blurry as the tears start welling in my eyes, and I can just faintly see Ashley covering her face and wailing in pain. Sally Face is sitting right next to her but he's not looking at her - he’s looking at me.
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Larry and I were sitting on the couch as he finished disinfecting the wounds on my hands. He wrapped my hand in bandages and set my hand down slowly. We had not said a word to each other since he dragged me into my bathroom. I think we were all in shock. I don’t know where Sal and Ashley went, but I could care less. Sally probably hates me now because I beat his little crush into the ground.
I have never felt so upset with a person in my life. When I first met Ashley I thought we could be genuine friends, having a close girlfriend again would’ve been great. I don't think I'm a violent person either, I just finally exploded with rage.
I felt my phone buzz in my pocket, I pulled it out quickly. It was from my grandma again, asking how the move went, if i'm eating enough, typical grandma stuff. Not from the person I was hoping for.
“Y/N, do you wanna talk about it?” I forgot Larry was even there. We had been so silent for so long that I genuinely forgot he was sitting next to me. I felt my eyes well up with tears and shook my head no. “That’s okay.” he sighed, “Honestly if I was in your situation I would have beat her ass too. She was being a bitch. She's never usually like this, I just think she can’t handle the fact that Sal could potentially not like her anymore. She can sleep with anyone she wants and reject him time and time again, but as soon as he shows interest in someone other than her she apparently is all over him again.”
Those words stung. Sally Face was interested in me? Not super surprising as he has spent countless hours getting to know me, sleeping in my bed, showing me important things in his life, teaching me how to bake, and taking care of me while I'm literally in a mini coma. But Ash ruined that.
My train of thought was interrupted by a knock on the door. “I’ll grab it.” Larry pushed himself up off the couch and opened the door. I think I was still shook up by the whole interaction because I didn’t even move or speak. I just continued zoning out.
When Lar opened the door I could see that it was nighttime. I guess I haven't checked the time in days. I didn't even know what day of the week it was. I glanced at the doorway and saw bright blue hair, Sally Face, Ashley - and another Ashley? It was a woman who looked exactly how Ash would look if she was about 20 years older. I stood up and walked towards the door, already seething with anger from seeing Ashley’s face near my house again. The older woman spoke up when I stood next to Larry.
“Y/N, I wanted to come and deeply apologize for Ashley’s behavior. As neighbors we are meant to look out for eachother and make eachother feel welcomed in the community. She has some words she would like to say as well.” She offered me a warm motherly smile that I hadn't seen for a long time. She gestured to Ashley to speak up, Ashley sighed.
“Y/N, I am sorry my hurtful words caused you to act out violently towards me.” She sounded like a robot, or like she was reading off a script. Her mother had obviously set her up to do this. Looking at her mangled face made me feel almost giddy, like I had won. She had a horrible black eye and another tamer one just starting to peek through on the other side. Her lip was busted and about 2 times the size it usually is. She had tried to cover the wounds up with makeup, but it seems to have not worked, and kind of made her look worse than she probably did without the makeup on.
“It will never happen again, and after Sally told me verbatim what she said to you, I don’t blame you for how you reacted.” Her mother said, shooting a glare at Ash.
“Thanks.” Is all I managed to utter out. I was so tired from earlier and this interaction was just draining me more. I looked over to Sally Face, who was looking at the ground. I couldn’t tell his expression because of the mask, I wish I could see his face.
“Well, please let me know if you need anything.” Ashley's mom sighed, and her and Ashley walked down the steps and across the road, into their own house. Larr, Sal, and I all just stood there. Not saying a word and looking at each other. I felt like I was in a dream, this all felt so polar opposite from the last couple of days.
“Can I come in and talk?” Sally asked, looking me in the eyes. I nodded and he stepped in.
“I am going back home Sal, I’ll see you later Y/N.” Larry gave me a huge hug with his bony arms, he smelled of BO and about 20 lbs of cologne. It was still comforting even though he was so skinny. When he broke off the hug he patted Sally on the shoulder, and walked out the door, shutting it behind him. Sal locked it and took me over to the couch by my hands.
“You really did a number on her, Y/N.” Sally sighed while he plopped down. I sat beside him and just melted into the couch.
“Yeah well, she deserved it.” I grumbled. Not making eye contact with him. I felt like this conversation had the potential to make me cry, but I had no more tears left. I felt Sal shift uncomfortably on the couch.
“Yeah no one should speak to anyone like that. She didn’t know your history so-”
I cut him off. “That is no excuse for her being a mega-bitch. Ever since the party she's been rude to my face and I don’t even wanna know the shit she’s saying to you and other people behind my back. I know you’re obsessed with her and you want to date her but you shouldn’t defend her shitty behavior in hopes that it will make her want to date you. I promise she doesn’t actually like you and she's just using you for attention and hookups. Anyone is able to see that, even Larry, so that should tell you something.” At this point I was facing him on the couch. He was just sitting back taking all my words in and nodding at me.
“You might be right Y/N, but if there's even the slightest chance that she will ever see me as more than a toy for her to play with, I want to keep trying. I know I shouldn’t defend her shitty actions and I'm sorry. I never want to hurt you because I care about you Y/N. We are all so lucky to have you in our lives and I would never want to lose you.” He was staring right into my eyes, into my soul. I was staring back. We sat there for a second, not saying a word. Then suddenly he pulled me into a hug. I closed my eyes, and took in his scent. I took in his warmth. I took in the flutter feeling in my stomach. I don’t know how long we hugged, I was in total bliss. Our bodies felt like they were melting together to form a new and perfect shape. Then he broke away, lifted his mask to expose what was left of his mouth, and gave me a small peck on my forehead.
“You’re an amazing friend Y/N, I never wanna lose you.” He said while resting his hands on my shoulders. The heartbreak of hearing the word friend was so heavy I could’ve collapsed right back into his arms and stayed there for eternity.
“Thank you, Sally Face.” Is all I managed to whisper. “Why didn’t Ash’s mom want to press charges?” I had wanted to ask that to her face, I just felt paralyzed in the moment.
“Well first of all, you were right to feel the way you felt and react the way you did, and secondly no matter how much our parents don't believe us about the cult and the demons, they know for a fact the police are still corrupt and don't give a shit about little things like that.” I nodded, that makes sense I guess. “She just didn’t see the point, I told her exactly how it went down and she didn’t really seem surprised, and didn’t try to defend Ash at all. Apparently she has done this before, bullied a girl so hard that her parents tried to file a restraining order against Ash.”
Sal seemed very distraught. I had a feeling that learning all about hoe crappy of a person his perfect little crush was put him in a horrible mood. I wanted to tell him to just forget about her and focus on me. I wanted to tell him that I was right for him, not Ashley. That I would never use him for just attention and experience. That we could fall in love and have wonderful experiences together. But I just didn’t have the energy today, I was sick of talking about Ashley. Instead, I said:
“Well, thank you for telling the truth and not trying to protect her just because you like her. I know that it was probably hard choosing a girl you just met over the love of your life.” Sally whipped his head towards me, as if I had just said something blasphemous.
“She is definitely not the love of my life, Y/N.” Again, just staring into my eyes - my soul. I admired the beautiful picture I saw before me. Such a broken, traumatized individual. Doesn't even show his real face, but still picture perfect. I imagined myself ripping his mask off and planting a soft kiss on his mangled mouth. I imagined climbing on top of him and running my hands through his gorgeous blue locks. I imagined taking his shirt off to reveal his soft, delicate skin on his stomach, trailing my hands down his body until I reach his-
“What are you thinking about Y/N?” Sal cocked his head. Oh nothing, just imagining kissing you passionately and ripping all your clothes off. Why was I thinking about this? I just beat a girl's ass, I just moved to a town where I know no-one, and I saw a real life ghost summoned right in front of my eyes. There are a million other things I should be thinking about and planning right now, but for some reason all I can think about is Sally Face. Sally Face. “Hello? Earth to Y/N.” Sally waved his hand in front of my eyes and I finally snapped out of my trance.
“Sorry, I was just thinking about Megan.” I lied. I mean I could have told the truth but, it either would have ended in us spending the night together, or me having to move again because he removed me from his life. Or an even worse third thing, him rejecting me and telling me that we can be friends instead.
“Do you wanna visit her again? She asked about you the other day, she doesn’t want you to be afraid of her.” He seemed genuine.
“Maybe soon, I just need to work on being brave enough to see her again.” I smiled, Sally giggled. His laugh makes me feral. Before I could do anything I would regret, I piped up, “Alright, well I'm tired. You can stay here if you want, you know where the blankets are.” I stood up and stretched my sore body.
“Nah, I’m going home tonight. See you later little lady.” He yawned, and off he went.