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Okay so consult the warnings, there may be more but for now, this and there might be some fics with pregnancy mentioned really just depends on the character or what requests I get so this should be fun is all you should expect for warnings. Uhm, just to make this clear I own NONE of the rights to ANY characters except the love interests and the children characters. All AHS characters belong to R*an Murphy and the other writers, directors, and other producers. I hope to do all the characters justice! As always, I do not accept bullying on my page, if you see a typo, copy the sentence and put it in your comment, I will find and fix it. Be respectful to me and my writing. Be respectful of the people commenting along with you. I see spam, I'm blocking. Glad we can make ourselves clear:) Now go ahead and read as I update, much love!! Stay safe and blessed:)!! Don't forget to eat, drink loads of water and be kind to yourself!!
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“Madison- Madison! I don’t do parties-” Maria said pulling the dress Madison made her wear down a bit. Zoe laughed and walked with her and Madison. “This is our one night out, just enjoy it please, Maria?” Madison said a bit bossily but with friendly love. Maria felt it all as she walked through the party, felt the drunk, gross, lustfulness of the frat boys. The doped out drowsiness of the stoners. The thrill Madison felt, Zoe’s nerve yet excitement…. Everything. When they split up she just stood by a table, a light in the glass on it catching her eye, she looked up, and saw a boy? Yes, a boy was on the other side, staring right back, she tilted her head. Then walked away, he couldn’t have been looking at her. She knew he was, yet her brain still tricked her about her uncontrolled power. When she moved away he followed her though. His interest was snagged, and he was just wanting to start a conversation. So, after he saw her move away from the glass he was looking at her through. Grabbing her a drink he walked up to her. “So, coming into a party with a famous chick, you must be cool.” He said, walking up to Maria’s side. “Eh, I wouldn’t say that, but sure.” She smiled and faced him, he stared at her face. “For me?” She pointed to the drink he nodded, handing it to her. “Thought you looked thirsty.”“Ah, I see, so what are you? Hydration-Man?” She said in a teasing tone, and took a sip, knowing he didn’t roofie it. “Oh yeah, definitely, a superhero is definitely who I am.”“Humble too.” She laughed. “That’s me.” He laughed too. “I-uh I’m Kyle, Kyle Spencer.”“Maria.” She said and gave a small smile putting her hand out. “Maria Rossetti.” “Hmm, gorgeous name. So, Rossetti, I guess Italian?” He said, shaking her hand. “Mhm, my mother and father moved here when I was born.” “Interesting, must have been an interesting life.” Maria looked at her drink, you have no idea , she thought. But she shrugged, “so, frat boy? Must be trying to pick up all of the ladies.” “Oh, hah, yeah no, that’s not exactly my style. I’m only here on scholarship, I’m using it to my advantage to get better, not laid and stupid.” He was saying this, truthfully, she felt it. Her head tilted. “Oh? What’s the scholarship on?” She took a sip of her drink again. Kyle smiled and then went on explaining how he’s a tutor and how he has an honor roll from high school, as well as how he wants to be an engineer. She became more and more interested in him, so she kept asking questions. They walked, they talked, mainly about him because she didn’t let him question her, she always jumped to ask him. Only when they were standing by the banister did he stop her questions, the lights on his face, and on half of hers. “Okay seriously, all night all about me?? You’re the first hot girl I’ve met that didn’t want to talk about herself, there has to be something wrong with you!” he joked with an accent poking through, she thought it was cute, and shook his head looking at her. He was always keeping his eyes on her face, she loved that. She laughed at his joke and shook her head leaning on the railing sipping her drink again. He paused and tilted his head, “oh, I got it, you’ve got a boyfriend,” he covered his eyes with a hand and pointed his head downwards then parted his pinkie from his ring finger. His left eye showing as she looked at him. He was obviously hoping she was single…which she was. Because everyone she got remotely close to, she felt their pain, or hurt them without even wanting to… “No, no, I don’t have a boyfriend.” Maria replied. He took his hand from his face. “Accepting applications?” She smiled a small giggle leaving her, she was about to entice the idea, he convinced her. But suddenly she felt a deep sense of fear, she froze, dropping the cup. “Oh! I-I’m sorry- I have to find my friends-” she turned away and went up to the rooms, he followed, he was worried about her. “Woah! Maria! Maria, are you okay?” She stopped at a room, her gut twisted. “Oh my gosh- Madison-” She gasped, Zoe on the other end of the hall ran to her hearing it. “NO!” “What- HEY WHAT THE FUCK!” Kyle saw the ajar door where his fellow frat were, and a girl on the bed, he pushed the boys off her. “WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU GET OFF HER!” He pushed at them and they all scattered, he followed them when he saw one had a phone with Madison’s pictures on it. Maria and Zoe rushed to Madison to help her, but she was disoriented. She pushed at them. “DON’T TOUCH ME!” She yelped and got off the bed in a scared, broken, horrified daze as she followed the boys Kyle had. Kyle, on the bus he chased his fellow frat onto, grabbed at the phone, “Delete the picture dickhead! You asshole!” “Madison!” The two girls yelled after her running after her– but they were too late, Maria felt sharp pains through neck, torso, legs, all of her body–she didn’t know why–all she focused on, Madison who was on the ground crying, they were too infatuated in her moment, they didn’t see the bus she threw around with the boys inside it. And when Maria went to look for Kyle she didn’t even think twice about it…just left with Zoe and Madison.
That weekend Maria was sitting with the coven when the news came on. “And on the bus with the boys were,” the announcer listed names, “And lastly, with the most horrific disembodiment, Kyle Spencer, an honor roll student, he was known to be kind, and good.” Maria stopped listening to it the moment they confirmed Kyle with a picture. “No, not Kyle, not Kyle!” she said, seeing his face on the screen. She felt sick…it said how he was torn to shreds in the wreck, cause, unknown. She felt her heart drop, she rushed up the stairs and laid on her bed, she felt sick…she barely knew him, yet her heart ached like it was missing this external part of itself. Zoe came in seeing her sobbing on her bed. “Mari? What’s wrong? You okay?” She said quietly sitting next to her, her head tilting as she put a hand, slowly on her back. “He’s gone…” She shook, she felt the sympathy from Zoe, yet she also felt numb. She pushed her hand off and left the room, she bumped into Madison and the satisfaction she felt, the school Kyle went to’s newspaper in her hand, she stopped. “You.” There was a gruff, deceived, hurt, tone to her voice. “Me?” Madison asked, confused. “You killed them, the boys on that bus, I could care less about the one in the hospital, or the other ones, they all deserve what’s coming to them, but Kyle?!” “Who?” Madison said, still confused. “Him, the blonde!” She yanked the paper from her showing her. “You killed him! He was the one that saved you.” She said pitifully and walked down the stairs of the Miss Robichaux’s Academy steps. Grabbed her coat and left the house walking to where the bus was found.Madison stood frozen the boy Maria showed her, her eyes never left him, a slight guilt filled her. “Zoe!” She called and walked into the room Zoe, her and Maria shared. Maria felt the pains again as she stepped where the bus once was. She knew she was feeling what Kyle went through so she closed her eyes and touched the ground. “Show me…” She whispered and the night replayed, she felt the bus flip, she saw Kyle and the boys and she let out a scream as she felt Kyle’s death and sat against a tree. Her tears fell onto her sleeves as she had her face in her arms. Time passed and she got up. She was hurt, she was pissed, she was everything, she just felt lost. She stared at everything around her then made her way back to the house in a blur. She walked to her room and when she saw Madison and Zoe she just sighed and went to her bed. She didn’t care what they were doing or what they were saying; she just laid there until nightfall. When she knew, because she felt it, that everyone was asleep, she walked out of the house. Ventured to a main street and hailed a cab she asked it to go to the hospital and he drove. She was staring at the other boy who was in the wreck, he was still alive, the one that Kyle had yelled at. He was at the hospital, she had to know… make sure he was actually there. The cab drove her, she paid him to wait for her and she walked in, playing the part of a worried girlfriend she asked what room. They told her ‘no visitors until morning’ so she set her plan out in her mind and nodded, then went back to the cab and then to the Academy. When the next morning she told Zoe her plan, they went to the hospital and as Maria whispered into his ear what he deserved, her friend administered it, and while acting a mess of ‘losing him’ they left. “I feel bad, bit at the same time…after what he did, he deserved it.” Maria said to Zoe but she was crying she felt the pain but not as horribly as she still felt Kyle’s. “He hurt Madison, he survived and Kyle didn't. I hate him…”Zoe nodded but she knew Maria’s morales, she wouldn’t feel right about this for a while but she also knew Maria was grieving. “You didn’t do it Mar, technically, just remember that.” “I still thought it up.” “Well, you didn’t do it yourself so that’s something.” “How do you feel about it?” “We avenged Madison and Kyle, that’s how I feel. Maria sighed but nodded and looked out the car window until they got to the house, lied about running errands which obviously wasn’t believed and Maria fiddling with the necklace her nonna gave her ate dinner with the other girls and they all went to bed, again Zoe and Madison whispering about something, maybe about the events of the day but she was too numb to care or hear. She knew the brunette had told the blonde about the revenge trip… but she honestly couldn’t listen to it all so she fell asleep a half hour later. The next morning Maria woke up, she got ready for the day after showering while Madison was doing her makeup and saying some pretty cryptically odd things. Other than that, the routine was the same as always, but noon time was intriguing. Madison was waiting for her to come into the room, a book in her lap, picking it up as she stood, she looked at her and took the first steps. “I want to tell you about something, something as a thank you for what you and Zoe did yesterday.”She tilted her head, “yes?” She felt the emotions off of Madison, apologetic, ideas sparking….What was happening? “I found a spell.” She opened the book, “something that might repay your favor-” “Madison I just-”“It’s a resurrection spell! You can have Kyle back!” Madison said quickie to cut off her protests. She paused, looked at her and then the book she was being handed. “I- You’re- you’re serious??” Maria knew the answer, she felt it, and was reading the spell. She read it carefully- “w-we don’t even know where his body is or what condition it is in-” “I’ve got it all sorted out, okay? Just let me do this for you.” “Why?” “I owe you one, plus he saved me from those guys…seems I owe it to him too. So, I want to help.” Maria smiled and hugged her, which caught Madison off guard, she was never the touchy feely type, given her stature and limelight preference. But she hugged back anyways, the least she could do.
So that night they went to the morgue, and found Kyle- when they did Maria let out a gasp and she felt sick…he was literally just parts . His head, his torso, arms, legs, ALL of him wasn’t connected…. It was just horrifying. Maria swallowed her wanting to escape screams and went to him. “Oh Kyle… you didn’t deserve this…” she whispered tears in her eyes and looked at the sight as Madison lit candles. “Start putting him together, I’m sure a few of the other guys’ parts are around somewhere.” “All of Kyle is in the bag with him though? Why would I get the other guy?” “Why wouldn’t you? It’s like a build your own boyfriend factory-” “I’m here for Kyle, ALL of Kyle, Mads not some other guy.” Maria said and carefully lifted the pieces of Kyle and placed them on a table…he felt so cold she was slightly grossed out–also she was holding his head so… maybe that’s why. She put him together and looked at Madison who was about to protest. “He’s already perfect the way he was. Now what else is there?”
They did the ritual, painted a pentagram on his chest in blood and she was grossed out by some of it but if it got Kyle back she was doing it. She watched him, waiting for him to wake up but they were interrupted by a guard walking in, Maria and Madison hid as he came in with a flashlight, looking around and as he did Kyle sat up and the sight of what happened next was horrific, again. Kyle killed the guard and Maria ran out. “Kyle! Stop no!” She grabbed him and when he saw her he froze, he released the corpse moving a hand rested it on her cheek and she held his shoulder. “Hey, no, you don’t hurt people, okay?” She whispered and he just stared at her. She looked at Madison and he just stared at her as if he knew her… “is this supposed to happen-” “No idea. But there’s your boy toy, let’s get him-” Kyle let out a growl-like sound at Madison, jumped off the table and ran out the open door. “Kyle!” Maria yelled and she hopped over the corpse on the guard and ran after him, her boots making it hard, but she caught him and took his hand. “Hey, hey, hey, it’s okay! Kyle you’re okay!” She said and he froze again. He knew her, she knew he did, his face had recognition, his eyes shone like they did that night… she tilted her head. He stared and moved closer to her, she kept her eyes on his face, remaining respectful of him. She held up clothes, a T-shirt and some jeans. “See? Not hurting you, helping, okay? Let me help?”He moved closer again, and taking his hand, she carefully dressed him, she was crying inwardly because he didn’t feel 100% the same. Then again, he was raised from the dead so she doubted he would be completely the same. Once he was dressed, she sighed, he put a hand on her again, and she looked up. “You remember me, don’t you…” Again, she knew the answer, but his nod made it so much realer. She nodded and put a hand slowly over his. “I’m so sorry Kyle-” He didn’t speak, just stared, she realized he couldn’t talk. She felt her heart break again and she held his hand and started taking him out of the area. “C’mon, I’m taking you to get healed up okay?” she said to him, he just followed her to the car while Madison left in hers.
Maria drove him to the bayou where she knew a fellow witch named Misty lived. “Kyle wait here, just for a minute?” she said as she unbuckled but he made an alarmed sound and grabbed her hand shaking his head. “What is it? You, okay?” He stared at her, he didn’t want to be alone, she nodded and unbuckled him. “Okay, you can come inside with me?” He followed her and she held him gently as she guided him into the shack, Fleetwood Mac playing and Misty dancing in the middle of the room. “Misty?” It took a second but when Misty saw her, she exclaimed and rushed over. “Hey! You came back, who’s this?” “Someone I know, he was in a bad uhm…” she sighed and whispered to Misty, “accident. Think you can fix his scars?” Misty looked at him and tilted her head as she took his hands, saw the scars around his wrists and the ones on his neck. “How many?” “Uhm, his shoulders, neck, wrists, upper legs….a lot.” Maria felt sick as she listed it all and saw how Misty looked at him. “He can’t speak either so please be kind to him-” The blonde nodded but it seemed pacifying, the smile too, as she pulled Kyle to a chair, who looked at the brunette and she walked with him and kneeled in front of his stool. Watching as the other girl grabbed a bucket full of what, she had no idea, but when Kyle’s shirt started coming off Maria felt insane worry form from Kyle and jumped. “What are you-”“His scars, I can’t reach them all unless I remove his shirt.” she started spreading the stuff on his neck and wrists and Maria held his hand as she watched, it all took so long and then suddenly Misty was pushing her away, “maybe keep him here for a week, I’ll watch over him and his scars.” Immediately she didn’t trust it but also she wanted him better. “C-can I stay with him, I could help! I mean I know what he’s feeling, please?” Misty started to protest. “You and I are far different from the other witches!" She said knowingly, "we’re our own. You’re a healer’s soul, I’m an empath, and match your energy…. Just, let me help please, he’s scared, and I can’t shake the feeling… He killed a guard. He needs someone familiar right now.” That made the blonde pause, she tilted her head, hair falling with her head. “Like our own coven type thing?” Hope… The tension eased in Maria. “I know how lonely you get here and he needs someone he knows… I want to help you, so you can help me help him.” she felt him put his head on her hand and she put the other in his hair to keep him calm. “Please Misty.” Misty watched her then nodded and started working on Kyle’s scars as Maria held his hand and watched him. Honestly she was thanking God for Misty stopping her original feeling towards Kyle, and for her help.
Days passed and Kyle slowly was healing with his scars…. Maria watched over him the whole time and held his hand, her empathy growing into more telepathy too…. Her head was very loud for a while but it seemed to always be like that she just never noticed because she was too busy feeling everyone not her mind, Misty talked her through it though. “I hear him talking…it’s not clear though, he’s scared.” She admitted on the porch of the shack drinking tea with Misty after just having snuck back from Miss Robichaux’s she sighed and looked at the leaves floating in the cup. “What’s he sayin’?” “My name, and other things… Did I make a mistake by bringing him back?” “What you mean?” “He was dead, torn apart, I broke natural law-” “You didn’t do nothin’ Madison did by killin’ him in the first place, she’s the one who flipped the bus. Though I do agree she had a right reason to flip it, she still killed out of revenge, that’s breaking more laws.” “I hate those guys… If they just fucked off—pardon my language—Kyle would have been okay…” “Well they’re gone, and you’re takin care of him mighty nice now, I actually appreciate the company too Maria.” “Thank you Misty.” The two smiled at each other when Maria stood suddenly and saw Kyle in the door way. “Kyle, you okay?” She put a hand toward him and he took it as she moved closer, “looser grip Kyle.” She whispered and he let go. “No, you’re okay to hold my hand but not as tight see look.” She took his hand and gripped it gently, “like this?” He watched her hand and nodded as he held her hand, she heard his mushed together apologies in his head and she stroked her thumb on his hand….she wanted to cry, he was so broken she felt it all… She smiled at him. “You’re okay…I’m okay.”Misty watched and tilted her head. “How’s his scars?” Maria carefully gestured once Kyle moved closer she moved the collar of his shirt and looked at his scars and nodded. “Better, they look a lot better. Why?” “Well it’s been about a week, he can leave now… Where’re you taking him anyway?” “Uhm…I found his mom, I was thinking her? I mean she must be wrecked without her son, give her some hope?” “Alright.” “You will see me again, I promise Misty.” She said as she fixed Kyle’s collar and looked at her friend. “Honestly you’ve been one of the best witches I've met since coming here to New Orleans. So of course I want to see you more. Plus you helped him, I owe you alright?” “Nah, you owe me nothin’ I appreciate the thought—” “I owe you, I’ll see you tomorrow okay?” Maria smiled and brought Kyle towards her car, “I’ll tell you how dropping him off went okay?” The blonde didn’t need to say anything for her to know that she appreciated it. Maria helped the boy into her car and buckled him in “All good?” He nodded and she smiled then she went to her seat and buckled in and started driving.
Once reaching Kyle’s mother’s house she looked at him and helped him out, then brought him up the stairs. He looked lost and when she smiled, gripped his hand, rang the doorbell then left, made her feel bad but he didn’t belong to her… And watching from her car saw his mom walk out staggering and pulling him into a hug. She smiled…though she couldn’t shake the feeling of something being off even meeting his mother something felt off. She shook it off and then went back to Robichaux’s….
Maria just went about her day for about two days, visited Misty, and then back to the Academy. Just normal days until she felt this overwhelming fear and she knew EXACTLY who it was, she excused herself from lunch and ran toward Kyle’s house. “Kyle!” She yelped when she found him in a bathroom, on the floor, next to the tub, with blood all over him- Heart in her throat, eyes wide she saw him hitting his head on the tub she rushed to grab a towel, hot water, soap and crouched in front of him starting to wipe. That was until he grabbed her wrist, she jumped and fell back on her butt. “Kyle-” She whimpered in fear. Kyle saw her and froze, looking at her wrist in his hand, already a red mark from a grip he couldn’t control…. He let her go then bolted out the room and out the back of his house into the woods. “No! I’m sorry!” She yelled after him knowing he was scared…just as much as she was… She had no idea why he was like this…. Whose blood was this? No times to question until, while passing his room as she ran—when she saw his mother-–an audible gasp escaping her as she covered her mouth. He killed his mother? She felt sick, moving on to the back door to follow him, this was a bad idea but who else would he hurt?!
Running and following footsteps and broken branches, she tried to keep a hold of the feeling of fear, his fear, little bit of her own. Kyle was going towards the Bayou, she knew because she recognized the distant road and the moss hanging from the Bayou trees…. Misty. He was headed to Misty’s. Her pace picked up.
When he got there, Misty brought him in, got him undressed, then bathed him, when she tried toweling him is when he lost it, JUST as Maria walked in- “What’s wrong with him!?” Misty cried out as she held up her hands with broken radio pieces in them. “KYLE!” Maria yelled and he stopped, he faced her, she noticed he was naked and looked at a towel grabbing it just as he went to her, kneeling as he started sobbing. Her heart ached, she put the towel over him and put her hands on his face. “Hey, hey, hey, you’re okay, it’s okay…” She whispered but it was FAR from that… Fear was in her . She was scared of this…but he calmed seeing her… why? Misty and her took him back to the Academy after he was dressed again…. Maria put him in the greenhouse, chaining him. “That going to hold him?” Misty asked. Maria was wiping her eyes as she secured it, and nodded as she looked at him. “It should…” She turned away, he tried reaching for her as he yelled crying, words nonexistent in his throat…. She had to give him time…or…kill him. The mere thought broke her. “What happened to you?” Maria heard as she was crying on her bed. “He is uncontrollable- I- I don’t know what’s wrong with him…” “Oh the boytoy?” “He’s not a boytoy Madison! He’s a good guy-” “Not if he’s killing people, but you have to admit he’s kinda hotter with a bad boy streak.” Madison said sitting on her bed, Maria sat up and narrowed her eyes. “What is wrong with you!?” “Oh come on! Don’t be so goodie two shoes, look if you’re so scared the Head of house has a gun outside the Greenhouse where he is, just get rid of him!” Madison then went to the bathroom and out of anger and fear Maria left the room all together and went towards the green house. She stared at the area Madison talked about…. Stared at the door and grabbed the gun, an apron, and went in, she hid it behind her back hearing a scream as she walked, sobs.. She walked up to him. “Kyle…” He jumped back and looked up at her, he was wiping his eyes aggressively, she knelt about a foot from him. He stared at her and moved until the chains restricted him, she flinched, but only slightly. “You killed someone Kyle…. I- you killed your own mother.” He stared as she spoke and she felt his regret but also something else, she felt fear, and disgust…? “You…you’re not a good guy anymore so-so I have to-” She moved the gun in front of her and pointed it. He stared at it, closed his eyes and she couldn’t do it, she put it down and shook her head. “I can’t” He opened his eyes, saw her tears, then reached for the gun. “No! Kyle!” She moved it from him as he pointed it at himself and she threw it, that’s when she heard him talk, in his head, about his mother. She stared at him and held his head. “She did this to you?” He was sobbing, but nodded, she looked distraught, she hugged him and held his head to her chest as he sobbed and she put her head on his. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” Maria from this point vowed he would never be an object again, she held him, snuck him up to the academy and let him stay there…. Where she took care of him….
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Victoria Belle and Kai Anderson, you know the girl next door, boy next door trope? That was them. Both grew up in Brookfield Heights, Michigan. Only about two years apart in age, and he never let her forget that, along with the fact he was taller, and hell of a lot smarter, even if slightly neurodivergent, while she was shorter and more into her art than the books of the school textbook association. She was friends with his sister Winter, but her and him were like two ships in the night, passing, yet never too quickly, communicating but never thoroughly. As High School came into view they were starting to get closer…and her knowledge of the family became larger.
Now Victoria knew her friend’s parents were–
colourful
–but it wasn’t until she was 16, him 18, and saw a bruise on Kai’s side, when she realized just how
colourful
the situation her friends were in was.
Her seeing the bruise was an accident, she was just passing his room to Winter’s after getting snacks for them to have, when she saw him walking. He was going towards the bathroom, changing his shirt, and that bruise was just so large, her gasp escaped her. She was shocked, the snacks dropped from her hands, and Kai, in fear, rushed to hide it by running into the bathroom.
She had a gut feeling of what had happened to him, but she wasn’t sure. So she sat outside his bedroom, door waiting for when he was finished in the bathroom.
He came out after ten minutes and was pulling his shirt down as he shut the light off. And pardon her she was just a girl she peaked at his stomach, but recovered the moment it was out of sight. She saw him and stood to look at him.
“Kai, can we talk?” She said standing in front of his door, he looked at her confused on why she was in front of his door.
“Yeah…? What is it Belle.” He said in reply, she hated it, but it gave her butterflies, she swallowed it and tilted her head.
“Are you okay?”
His lips twitched into a half smirk, he was about to play it off, she knew him. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Don’t bullshit me Kai, why was there that bruise on your side?”
“I fell,” a lie, she knew because his eyes wandered.
“Don’t lie.”
He stared at her. He hated her persistence…he actually loved it, she doesn’t need to know that though. “How do you think, Belle?”
She frowned, she knew that her friend’s dad was abusive…but not that bad. There was a long pause as she looked at him trying to grasp the words… “…I’m so sorry.”
“Not going to make it disappear.”
“You need to tell someone-”
“And do what Victoria? Make it worse once he gets a call about my complaint? You don’t think about the consequences for anything.”
“I’m worried about my friends, has he always hit you-”
He let out a scoff at that. “We’re friends now?”
The question caught her off guard. She made a face at him and then looked at him straightening herself. “I- I thought we were…”
“Well, that was your misstep in judgment.” He said moving past her, and going into his room. She frowned, faced him again and put her hand up to stop his door. “You can go now.” He said seeing her in the doorway still.
“
This house is haunted
, and it will stay that way unless you change it, and tell someone.”
“You don’t understand do you?” He said gruffly in a way she wasn’t used to, especially not from him.
“I want to help, so let me help!”
“And how do you suggest you’d help Victoria?! What flash your dumb drawings around and he’ll be distracted long enough to realize he’s a dick?! Just stop!” He said and got in her face now.
She flinched as he raised his voice and she stepped back. Regret flashed across his face instantly. He opened his mouth then closed it quickly. She didn’t like the feeling in her heart, those words hurt. ‘Dumb drawings’... she stared at the wall and then started backing out.
“Sorry, I just thought, maybe, maybe I could help…. Let us all…
Be pirates
, remember?”
He saw the look on her face and felt sick, “V, no. that’s not what I-I’m-”
“No, I get it, I should get back to Winter. Night.” She left and walked into Winter’s room, sat on her bed and they continued to go about their sleepover. While Kai berated himself for how he acted… what he said to her was unnecessary. He regretted it, but he had to keep to himself…. ‘
Men don’t cry
’, his father’s voice echoed.
He plopped onto his bed falling asleep after a good hour of his mind yelling at him…. She cried herself to sleep, how could he have said that….? She just shook it off before sleep took her.
Years passed, she never brought it up again due to the fact, he graduated high school two years before Winter and her, he went to college, he got a degree in religious studies. Then, from what she heard, he went to Iraq, she prayed he would be safe. That happened when she went to art school, in a program where she would get to spend four years abroad. Then she heard when he came home from the army he went back to school, Yale, and graduated with a double degree in pol sci and feminist studies.
She on the other hand was studying in Italy, Paris, Israel, and her last year was supposed to be London but then her father fell ill, so she returned home. Oddly enough, according to Winter, so had Kai, because their father had gotten into a motorcycle accident, and was now paralyzed….
Today was homecoming for her. He had been home for nine months.
Victoria was walking to her door, getting her bags out of her car. Just going about it and emptying covered paintings she had collected from the post offices on the way through from her car. When she saw Kai taking out the trash next door, she was setting the bags down when she caught him walking. She hadn’t spoken to him, really spoken to him, since that night in high school. But as she saw the look on his face she had to say something….
“So, is flannel back in style?” She said her accent was more in depth, going to her family’s home country really dragged it from her. He froze and turned his head.
“Victoria,” he said, as if the biggest shock happened, he threw a glance over his shoulder and walked to her family’s hedge. “I thought you were in Paris this year?”
“Two years ago, actually, this year was supposed to be London, but alas. Came home early.” She said slowly getting off the porch and walking to the hedge with her hands in her back pockets. She looked at him, somehow…he looked even more handsome, he had a scruff and his hair was–so nice. She had a crush on him before but
wow
.
“So, how was it?”
“Amazing, how was university, you studied different political aspects right?”
He smiled, not quite remembering the last time he smiled, and nodded. “Yeah, it was great, staying with mom and dad for a while now, living in the downstairs part now though.”
That concerned her, her eyes studied his and she nodded. “Oh yeah, I remember, it was a nice setup down there. Winter told me that.”
“Yeah, forgot she did. How’s–how’s the boyfriend?”
She looked at him, he paused, she knew he did. Why? “We broke up, mutual, we just–we were forcing a relationship that can’t work, to work. That’s not healthy. We’re still friends. How about you? Prospects?”
He laughed at the world, again, he forgot the last time he laughed. “Did you just say ‘prospects’?” She smirked, chuckling, “what is this the wild West?”
“I am being proper.”
“Don’t” he said more assuringly than commandingly. “None, I just, no one’s caught my eye, you know?”
That actually made her so genuinely happy, she nodded and looking at her feet went from the balls of her feet to her heels. She then looked at him, “Unfortunate, their loss.” She was trying her best to dance around the lingering memory of their past, and the sound of yelling and breaking plates.
He knew she heard it, I mean how could you not? He looked towards his house as if trying to quiet it.
“Sorry to hear about your dad’s accident, it can't be easy.” She said softly, the accent was catching him, he didn’t think of anything but that, he faced her.
“Yeah, definitely. So you went back to the ancestral motherlands. How was that?”
She knew he’d avoid it, or was he genuinely curious? His eyes showed the latter of the two options. She kinda smirked, “Oui, got to see the Eiffel Tower on breaks, these shoes are actually from a store down in the plaza,” she stepped back showing her boots. He looked and nodded, looking her up and down, he smiled.
“You look good Belle.” He said then realized in full what he’d said, “I mean the boots, the boots look good–”
“No I do too, don’t take it back now.” She said teasing him, her eyes moving to his as he showed a flustered look, her smile widened. “You look good too, the scruff suits you, Brown Eyes.”
He missed that, that dumb nickname, he stared at her eyes, her smile, he hummed. “Thanks, might shave soon though.”
She made a disappointed sound and groaned. “Awh no, please, for me? Keep it for a while?” She said looking at him pleadingly, her eyes slightly wide as she looked at him. Like a puppy or a kitten begging for a treat, her eyeliner, she must’ve done it at the airport before she left, accentuating the eyes.
He felt hot, she was gorgeous, how had he never noticed? Well, maybe he did, he was just too busy hiding from the “ghosts” of his life. “Okay.” he said, meaning it, she smiled chuckling, as she moved her foot over the grass of her family’s lawn, her head still dwelling on his life traumas. His abusive father.
“So…h-how are you? I mean, with living with them and all? Has he….lessened the blows on you?” She blurted, she had to say something.
He was broken out of the trance. “What?’
“You heard me.”
“Victoria, you know it’s none of your–” a crash interrupted him.
She saw him turn and run into his house quickly and she sighed, for the rest of the day nothing was seen of him. She heard something in the night and the next morning saw his and Winter’s older brother walking in and out of the place…. She caught him as she was walking back to her house after going down the street to a neighbor’s.
“Everything okay?” she said, seeing Vincent through the window rushing up the stairs. She was worried, Kai seemed agitated and scared, his eyes shifty.
“It’s all good yeah, Vince got called by mom, cause she fell ill, he’s just cleaning around,” he said quickly, almost too quickly.
“Do you need more hands?” She said starting to walk up to him.
“NO!--” She jumped slightly, especially as he grabbed her shoulders, because of how loud that was and he quickly recovered. Let go of her and fixed his shirt, “I mean no, no we’re okay, I promise, alright? How–how about you and I go to dinner? We can talk?”
She tilted her head, the offer wildly unexpected. “Dinner?”
“W-well yeah, I could take you for pizza, I uhm–Vince is home, he can–hold the fort down, so why not?”
She felt giddy, but also so confused, how did this happen? “I- o-okay. Yeah, yeah that works, when?”
“Tonight, 6:30, I’ll pick you up.”
She forced the confusion away and nodded with a smile, “Oh, yeah okay perfect, see you then? I’ll go get ready-”
“You don’t have to change-”
“Oh yes I do, I took a very long walk and wanted a shower, so I’ll see you at 6:30.” She said and laughed as she turned toward her house, “tell Vincent I say ‘hi’!” she said as she stepped up the stairs and went into her house. Kai watched her and then, once she was out of sight, ran into his house, explained to his brother then rushed down to his room.
Getting ready for his date, he waited for 6:00 and went to her house at 6:25. He knocked once he had worked up the courage to.
She had just finished dressing when she heard her parents say there was a knock.
“I’VE GOT IT!” She ran out of her room and down the stairs and looked at her parents smiling. “I’ve got it!” She smiled as she grabbed her leather jacket and went to the door.
“Who is it?” Her mother, Marienette, asked walking in.
Victoria was smiling widely and finally pulled it open. “Maman, you remember Kai?”
“Oh Kai! How wonderful–you two going out?”
“Hello Mrs. Belle, and yes, mind if I steal her for the night?” Kai said with a smile, he still seemed nervous. “OH!--ahem–oh, I brought these for ya, Belle.” He said and pulled his hand from behind his back.
“
La jonquille
! My favorites, how’d you remember?” She took them gently and brought them to the kitchen.
“Winter always bought you them when you were sad, how could I forget?” He smiled watching as she walked to put the flowers in a vase. Her mother was watching as well, a smile on her face, she knew it.
“Where are you two going out?”
“We’re going to the pizzeria, it’ll all be on me, don’t worry, and I’ll have her home at a reasonable time, promise.”
“Alright well you two have fun, nice seeing you Kai.” Her mother said and smiled then hugged her daughter. After a little exchange between mother and daughter,Victoria and him left.
They got into her car because he had none and neither wanted to walk. They talked the whole time and she smiled the whole time as she looked at him, she missed him so much, he missed her. They were just clicking but she also knew SOMETHING was off, he seemed off, seemed oddly sad. She never pushed.
They got there, he ordered for them and she sat as she smiled at him, they chatted about anything and everything, but when she brought about families his glint was gone…. She asked him how his mom was, and he just looked away.
“Kai?” she said noticing how off her looked, she put her pizza down and grabbed his hand. “What’s wrong?”
He didn’t pull back, actually he gripped her hand tighter. He sighed and shook his head mumbling, “not here.” She nodded and got up, asked for boxes and they left as he had already paid, she drove to this spot near the woods, outside of town, they’d all found it as middle schoolers, Winter, Kai and her….
Victoria drove and they got out, Kai walked out to their spot immediately, she grabbed a blanket from her trunk and followed, setting it down they sat. She gave him time, held his hand and messed with it, he let her.
She knew something was going on in that house… and sickening as it was she knew what….
Suddenly, and confirming what she knew he turned and hugged her, crying into her chest. He only cried when it came to his mother. Her heart broke for him, she held him tightly. By the time she had worked up a courage to say anything, he was sobbing, broken cries, muttering about his mother… More confirmation.
“Kai, what happened to them?” A sniffle was heard and she moved to hold him to her. “What happened? It's okay.” She whispered, petting his hair softly.
“She's gone....” The word dragged out by a soft sob. He kept whispering the phrase, broken cries for someone he was close to.
Victoria sighed and put her head onto his and kissed the back of his head as she held onto him.
“Is that why Vincent is home?” She whispered and he nodded, “Winter know?” He shook his head, she whispered a quiet “okay” and let him cry.
She had no idea how long they sat there, or how long he cried, but she let him cry, she let him hold her so tight it almost hurt. She whispered into his hair sweet nothings…she whispered how she was there for him, and he gripped tighter.
Maybe an hour later, probably shorter, but it felt like an hour, he moved and looked at her… She put a hand on his cheek.
“Your eyes are red.” She whispered wiping his tears, he stopped her hand and held it putting it to his lips he kissed her knuckles. She felt bad, he looked so broken, she watched him as he held her hand to his lips and she moved closer. “You okay….?” It was a dumb question she knew that but she asked it, he looked at her.
“She shot herself.” Kai whispered as he looked at her, his voice rough from his sobs, cracking from the weight of his words.
Frozen the words made her freeze, she tilted her head in sympathy, he continued before she could even say anything.
“Right after she had shot dad, she shot herself.”
And the final blow that shattered it all. She hugged him. “Oh Kai, I’m so sorry…” He had her hand still in his, the other went around her she squeezed and pulled back, “when’s their funeral, i-if you and Vincent are setting it I can help you?”
“No one knows.” He whispered, gripping tighter.
She was confused. “What? What do you mean?”
“Vincent said we shouldn’t tell anyone.”
“What?! Kai it was a murder suicide…you need to-”
“He said we would lose the house, and the whole thing-”
“Why does that matter!? So what, you can come stay with my family if you lose the house. And isn’t he some kind of fucking doctor!?”
He sighed and shook his head.
“Mom and dad haven’t had work in a year-”
“Kai, listen to me.” She whispered and held his face. “You have to tell somebody, Vincent only cares about the money aspects, what do you care about?”
He looked at her, looked around and sighed. “I want to tell someone…he has them in their room, covered in this powder stuff…. I hate it.” He sighed and rubbed his face with his free hand.
“Then come over and we’ll call someone tomorrow…” She whispered and he looked at her, he leaned into her.
“I was an ass to you-”
“On one occasion. The rest of the time I’ve known you, you’ve been one of my best friends.” She whispered and smiled. “And my first crush….” she admitted. “Let me be there for you please?”
“I was your first crush?” He smiled slightly, she laughed even though some tears were in her eyes from how sad he had been.
“Of course, you and Winter are the only people other than Miss Walters, and my parents, to push me to do what I loved…. You and I are
pirates
, remember?” Her head tilted, she smiled.
“What has that ever meant?” He asked, messing with her hands. She smiled and looked at their hands.
“Means we’re on our own paths and journeys from broken pieces…. Yours was family, mine was the outside world.” She whispered and looked at him. “My love lasted so long, and growing up I remembered your eyes like they were from a TV screen, relaying emotions that didn’t need to be said to be heard…you were always so scared even in good times….”
He stared at her and he moved unwittingly closer as he sighed. “Is that it?”
“Other than how I knew we were safe as long as we were together, you, Winter, and I. No one could touch us…. We were pirates.” She said, messing with his hand and looking at him, she smiled. “I think we can be still… Just say the word.”
He laughed and looked up at her. “Gonna get me in trouble?”
“Get you out of it Kai.” She whispered, and when she looked into his eyes she saw a light, he was already watching her, she smiled, about to talk but he kissed her.
Her hand went to his cheek when he did, she was shocked, but reciprocated and kissed him as she closed her eyes and dove into it. He moved a hand to her neck and cupped it as he kissed her. She hummed and he smiled as she moved close to make it more comfortable and then he pulled away. His eyes still closed he had his forehead on hers and she sighed as she smiled.
“Well…” she said quietly.
He chuckled and looked at their hands “just ‘well’...?”
“Yes, just ‘well’ I’m in shock.” She laughed and moved her head to look at him.
His eyes were bright as he looked at her and she smiled as she held his face. “You’re beautiful….” he muttered and she smiled, a blush infiltrating her cheeks.
“You’re just saying that-”
“No really, you’re like the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen, ever.”
She stared at him and tilted her head. “I’m sure that’s not true-”
“Oh it is Victoria. You’re like the stars, so beautiful, so bright, I can’t help but stare.”
Her heart skipped a beat and suddenly, she was in middle school again looking at her best friend’s brother and wishing he would look at her. She leaned forward and kissed him, this time the reciprocator was ten times quicker, Kai kissed her back and moved her closer, as close as they could, sitting on the ground. He held her face and she had a hand in his hair, he loved that. They just held each other as they sat under the stars.
After a while of sitting and talking, they went back home, she made him come into her home, they snuck into her room and they laid together setting a plan for him to escape his situation, telling the truth once Vincent left.
She knew he was suffering from his parents, after watching him for a week. So she wanted him protected stability wise which, he finally would be with her, she would take care of him, and when she came home from school, Winter. Victoria took care of her father’s store, who would sit with Kai and they would talk until he was ushered back upstairs for his naps by Victoria’s mother.
Kai saw her struggling with her own father’s issues…. So they leaned on one another, they didn’t sleep in the same room all the time but when needed she snuck to his, or he to hers. Cuddling until the sun rises.
Life was calm, Kai wasn’t alone…wasn’t hiding, he was still awkward and quiet, but she believed he had a right so, baby steps were being taken….
They were pirates now, sweet tea in the summer that year, swinging on the swings together at the park at night, his father wasn’t mad now… albeit the house was still haunted but Kai wasn’t affected now…that’s what mattered to Victoria…especially as their relationship progressed and she fell harder and harder.
Kai and Victoria took care of her parents and he took care of her, as she did him, marrying within three years, and letting their life unfold….
Peace was found, even if it took seven years….
Their kids got to know the good stories though.