~Chapter Twelve - I Like Horror Movies. It's Just They Are Scary~

To say that Dan was overflowing with joy at the spectacular video was the understatement of the year. The video was getting so many hits. Damian was gladly not visible but you could still see a small hidden figure behind leaves.

Dan was back to his weird self. Everything was back in place. Blaise was getting so annoyed by my cousin to a point that he even snapped. Dan just won’t stop staring at my crush’s best friend.

“I don’t know about you but I’m completely straight.” Blaise said nervously while we were watering the plants and Dan was staring at him nonstop.

Later while we were having lunch in a diner, Blaise seemed so uncomfortable with the stared that he hardly gulped a bite. “I’m not alien from outer space.” He said through clenched teeth. My cousin had gone deaf at that.

And let’s not forget what happened in the shower. Well I was not there, just entered the room and next thing I knew, Dan and Blaise were coming out of the bathroom. Blaise was still covered in lather while Dan was flushed. It stopped the staring thing going on, but not for long. Ha! That rhymes.

Aunt and Uncle left for a party leaving the house to us with instructions which included- don’t let Dan touch the kitchen. Don’t try to imitate a storm and attack house. Don’t throw parties. Don’t do something naughty.

If Aunt Jen hadn’t given me and the green eyed jerk a look with last instruction, I wouldn’t have blushed the way I did.

It was up to me to prepare dinner but boys had another plan- Pizza on call.

At night, during an evening walk, Dan was back to being his usual self. Blaise was red by the end of the day. His hairs were messed up by the amount of times he had moved his hands through them in irritation. He even wore a mask when we decided to watch a movie.

Dan settled for Saw. Horror movies scare me but I still like to watch them. Wind entered the room from window and chilled me. I wrapped my arms around myself trying to get warm. The temperature was dropping day-by-day. Dan said we are not going to use thermostat because It was out of order. I knew I was not. He only wanted to make Blaise suffer. I was just a sacrifice in this stupid game of theirs.

“Dan, shut the window.” I ordered him.

He removed his gaze from a scowling Blaise and looked at window. After three minutes, he was still staring at the same spot.

“Dan, I asked you to shut the window. It’s getting cold.” I said loudly.

“Shh… I’m trying to focus.” He whispered and raised a finger at me.

“What the heck are you focusing at?” I was getting angry. The cold never agrees with me. I hate the winter and it were approaching real fast.

“I’m trying to shut this window using my telekinetic powers. Don’t interrupt me or I’ll not help you.” He scolded and went back to staring.

I glared at him trying to focus my telekinetic powers to choke him. There was a sound of shutting window and Dan jumped in joy.

“See, I did it!” He pointed at window.

Blaise was standing at the side of window. I threw Dan a flat look shaking my head. “That was Blaise.” I said dryly.

“I know. I hypnotized him to follow my orders.”

“Order him to strangle you.” I muttered under my breath. He heard anyway and gasped loudly looking at me with wide fearful eyes.

“You want to kill me. Are you really my innocent cousin or an alien wearing her skin? Tell me what you did to Beryl, you creature from another world.” He accused me. My face remained passive not giving him bait to continue the act.

“Has he visited a psychiatrist yet?” Blaise asked sitting at my side, eying my cousin warily. Dan had removed his attention from him.

“Yeah, I’m planning to. I need to know how they work before I become one.” Dan answered him before I could open my mouth.

Blaise choked on air. “You want to become psychiatrist?”

“Yeah, that’s my dream.” My skinny cousin stated proudly.

Blaise had a look of disbelief and sympathy on his face. I knew he was already sympathizing Dan’s future patients. I did that too.

“Beryl, you don’t have to go out of family. I’ll treat you without any charges.”

“I think I’ll pass.” I said scooting closer to Blaise as if he will save me from my crazy cousin. His left arm came in contact with my right. He visibly froze.

I didn’t like his reaction at all. Was he so disgusted by me that he couldn’t digest the thought of touching me? It didn’t make me feel so good. For rest of the movie, I sat with puffed cheeks. Air left them whenever there was a really terrifying scene playing on the screen.

“Will he stop staring at me?” Blaise muttered shifting to my side. His arm brushed against mine once again. Then I noticed that Dan was again staring at Blaise.

“Dan, stop it now. You’re making Blaise uncomfortable.” I scolded hitting his arm without much force.

“No, I’m not-“ Blaise started but I interrupted him.

“You’re not?” I raised my eyebrow at Blaise. He sighed in defeat realizing if he needed my help, he had to shut up.

“I’m just trying to read his mind. His intentions are not pure when it comes to you. I bet he wants to kiss you, no, more than kiss you at this moment.” Dan argued. My cheeks were on fire.

Thanks for embarrassing me.

“And he’s-“

Before he could embarrass me anymore, I raised my hands and wiggled my fingers in the motion of tickling. Dan fell on carpet bursting in laughter.

The boy sitting at my side gave me a wide-eyed look. “Is he okay?” He asked. “Should I call 911?”

“No,” I shook my head. “It’s Dan, extremely sensitive to telekinesis.” I told him and continued to wiggle my fingers leaning back on couch.

“You’re not even touching him.” Blaise said.

“If you think you’re ticklish, you are ticklish.” I shrugged and stopped the torture on my cousin.

“Oh God!” He gasped. “You almost killed me with laughter.”

We watched the rest of the movie in silence. I scooted closer to Dan but he was already shaking. That didn’t help me with my own fear but I didn’t want to lean on Blaise. But when Dan shrieked out in horror, I preferred the bad boy’s solace. He didn’t seem to be affected. He was completely at ease.

“Oh My God! He’s going to kill me. He’s going to kill me.” Dan shouted and I buried my head in my hands shaking my head. He was acting like a scared cat. My own fear flew out of the window and I glared at my cousin.

“Will you shut up and sit?” I asked him through gritted teeth.

Sure the movie was scary but it was fun to watch. I couldn’t just blink my eyes and he was hell bent on spoiling the movie night we were having.

“What are you saying? How can I shut up? What if he comes out of the screen and kills me?” He asked with wide eyes. “I don’t want to watch this movie. I don’t want to.” He shook his head.

“You were the one to put it on and now that it has caught my interest, you want to stop?” I say exasperatedly. “No way! That’s not going to happen.”

“I’ll make that happen.” He walked towards the screen and I groaned.

Stupid boy. He has to take fun out of everything. Blaise chuckled at my side and I glared at him.

“What are you laughing at?” I asked with narrow eyes.

“You’re more of man than he can ever be.” He said. Before I could open my mouth to agree with him, a shrill voice almost blasted my eardrums.

“WHAT?” Dan shouted. He glared at Blaise. “I’ll prove that I’m more of man than you could ever be.” He pointed his index finger at Blaise with blazing eyes. “We are going to watch one more horror movie after this one.” He announced loudly. “And try not to piss your pants by the end of this.” He hissed at Blaise and sat at my side.

“Okay…” Blaise dragged with a smirk. He was not threatened by Dan at all. Instead he was enjoying my cousin’s discomfort.

When Dan sat at my side, he looped his arm around mine and leaned on me. I smirked and whispered in his ear. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, it’s not like he’s going to come out of the screen.” He muttered. We continued to watch the movie. “And I like horror movies. It’s just they scare me.”

Dan didn’t say a word after that, loudly that is. He only whispered prayers under his breath much to Blaise’ amazement who only smirked. My own fears had reduced but at certain points, I was ready to hug Blaise. Somehow, I ended up resting my head on Blaise’s shoulder and Dan’s head was on my shoulder. A fuzzy blanket was draped over us as we sat on the couch.

Dan was bundle of nerves by the end of the movie. He raised the blanket and looked down. My best guess was he was checking if he had pissed.

“Blaise, you go and put on the next movie. Make sure it’s horror.” Dan instructed as credits rolled.

“Why don’t you do that?” Blaise asked irritated.

“I’m cold.” My cousin shrugged making me smirk.

The next movie was really interesting. Though I hate their endings which are not endings at all. I was still scared but with the boys at my sides, I felt comfortable.

Blaise stood up and walked towards the television.

“Are you sure, again?” I whispered to Dan.

“Yes, I am. It’s not like anyone is going to come out of the screen.” He said again. At this point I knew he was trying to convince himself more than me.

“Okay,” I looked back at the screen.

To Dan’s horror, the ghost came out of the screen and he was having a fit of screaming. From Blaise’s smirk, I knew he had put The Ring on purpose. It was hilarious at first but annoying after that. It was not easy to watch to complete the movie and we didn’t. I had watched the movie before so whenever any frightening scene would come, I covered his eyes with my hand. This way, we completed whole movie.

“That was scary.” Dan whispered. “I don’t want to piss here but I really want to piss.” He muttered.

“Then go,” Blaise was pulling out the plug of television. “And for the record, I didn’t piss in my pants and I don’t want to piss now.”

Dan glared at Blaise and then looked at me softening his gaze. “Will come with me?” He pleaded with that puppy dog look on his face that never words on me.

“No!”

“Please,” he requested pouting and clasped his hands together in front of my face. “Please! Please! Please!”

“No way Dan! Take Blaise with you. I’m not going.” I shook my head.

“I’m not going.” The smirking boy said flatly. He was enjoying Dan’s condition way too much.

“Neither am I,” I said shaking my head vigorously. That was plain gross. I was not going. Just not going.

“I guess he has to go alone,” Blaise said to Dan.

In the end, all three of us were in bathroom. I was standing with Blaise, facing away from Dan, cursing my fate.

“You put that movie on purpose.” I muttered leaning to him slightly.

“You got it right,” he nodded cheerfully.

“Why would you do that? Now he’s not going to leave us alone.” I muttered under my breath. “We will have to sleep in his room. Just wait and watch.”

“I’m not complaining.”

“You will,” I told him. He didn’t know what he had gotten himself into. I was just dragged with him. Even though I’m also scared, I don’t want to sleep on same bed as Dan… or Blaise.

As I had had already guessed, we ended up sleeping in same room as Dan and on the same bed. I complained, and Blaise didn’t. Dan wouldn’t let us leave. He didn’t want to be left alone. Either I or Blaise had to be with him every second. I was not going to sleep in same room but he insisted. Well that was not the first time.

Dan wanted to sleep in the middle and I agreed with that. Blaise had a sour look on his face. Why was he not happy? He didn’t seem to complain before.

Finally we fell asleep. I hoped the night wouldn’t be very bad.

I was lost in my dreamland when I heard laughter echoing in the room. Instead of looking for what was happening around, I grabbed the pillow and put it over my head to cut off the voices. I was used to this. It was Dan’s common reaction to horror movies.

Blaise’s shriek of horror only made me smirk. Serves him right. I scooted away from Dan as he sputtered some gibberish out of his mouth in horrible voices. I kept my eyes closed and went back to my dreamland forgetting about the commotion going on.

*

I broke from the spell of one of the most peaceful nights of my life by poking on my forearm. I lifted my hand to hit whatever was poking me but something restrained me. I tried to squirm but I couldn’t move a muscle. That made me more and more aware of my situation. Something hard was pressed against my back. My eyes widened. It was a body completely pressed to me from back. A pair of legs was intertwined with my legs.

My eyes flew open and I was on high alert. It’s very rare when I’m this awake when I just woke up. I tried to pull away but a pair of strong arms stopped me from moving. They were wrapped around my stomach. Somehow, I managed to turn around and come face to face with Blaise Anderson.

Our faces were only inches apart. His eyes were closed as he was lost in his dreamland. My hands rested on his chest. He was not even wearing a shirt! No sweatpants! He only had his boxers on. I tried to push his chest but he was too strong for me. My cheeks were burning. As I moved to get away from him, he groaned. I knew it was a wrong idea.

In a blink of an eye, he rolled over me. I was trapped under him. When I looked up at him, his eyes were focused on mine intensely. I couldn’t read his eyes. They were blank. I couldn’t infer what he was thinking. He just stared at me and then I started noticing his warm breath on my cheek. He was leaning down slowly.

If it was a movie playing in front of my eyes I’d scream ‘stop being a tortoise and kiss her already’ but in actual experience I wanted to lean back. There are catastrophic consequences of kissing Blaise Anderson. Remember that. 

My heart thudded inside my chest. I couldn’t take my eyes off his green ones. They were so beautiful. The pupil had grown leaving thick outline of green around it. He leaned further. I was suddenly breathless.

He was too heavy for me. Even though he was not completely touching me, no, not even single part of his big frame touched mine. Still he felt heavy but light. What on earth was happening? I swear it has something to do with Black Magic. Not only his eyes but his whole body is dipped in essence of Black Magic. I have to get away from him as soon as possible before the Devil knocks at my door, or whatever happens when you come in contact with Black Magic. I don’t want to become a black witch.

Someone cleared his or her throat. The heat of Blaise’s body was lost as cool air hit me. I lied there still trying to wrap my mind around the situation. When I turned my head, my eyes fell on dark headed lady who was staring at me with pale blue eyes, a knowing smirk on her face.

“Aunt Jen,” I sat immediately. Blaise was standing at the foot of the bed. I didn’t even know how he got there. He was really fast.

She was about to say something but I interrupted. Trust my Aunt to make a situation more awkward than it already is. I’ve known her for long enough to come up with anything.

“Where’s Dan?” I asked.

That’s the first question that comes in your mind when you ask a mother. And a mother is always happy to tell about her child’s whereabouts. Just thinking about her kids could bring smile to her face. That’s enough to distract her.

“There,” she pointed with confusion written all over her face. Her change in vibe got my attention.

She was pointing at the side of the bed. Dan slept with his mouth opened and drool was running from the side of his cheek. But what caught my attention was that he was restrained. His hands were tied above his head to the metallic headboard and his feet by the foot of bed with what I noticed were Blaise’s clothes.

My eyes traveled to Blaise who looked sheepishly at Aunt Jen. Wow, it was time to see Blaise getting scolded by Aunt Jen. I’m going to enjoy this. I’m really going to enjoying this.

Only I didn’t.

My Aunt laughed, placing a hand on her mouth. “I often worried about Dan’s sleeping habits. That is a fabulous solution to his problem. Thanks Blaise.”

I smiled tightly and walked out of the room scowling. If I had done it, I would have been dead. My aunt is acting like an obsessive fan girl over a seventeen year old boy.

At least I was saved from facing something very awkward.

*

Blaise was leaning against the car have a Glaring Competition with my cousin and I was their referee. None of them blinked. If someone were glaring at me like that, I’d have already crawled inside a hole. Dan had mastered the art of staring and I was almost impressed the way Blaise didn’t seem to be intimidated by that.

We were leaving and Dan had the keys secured in his pocket.

“Stop it Dan. We have to leave now. Give those keys to Blaise.” I told him sternly.

He didn’t look at me. Blaise did.

“Ha! I won!” Dan threw his hands in air and let out a roar of victory. I shook my head. Nothing’s going to save him. He has got me really worried.

“Give the me keys, Dan,” Blaise held out his hand seeming bored.

Dan smirked. “You should have accepted your defeat before. How are you gonna show your face to the world now?”

Blaise gave him a flat look. I reached out for Dan’s back pocket making him jump a foot in the air. I fished out keys easily and threw them to waiting Blaise. He caught them easily, eying me intensely.

How does his friend live around him? He looks at you like he is going to eat you alive.

“If you were not my cousin, I’d feel violated.” Dan told me. I rolled my eyes and threw my arms around him.

“I’m going to miss you.” I mumbled.

His arms came around me. “Me too. I guess I should have another girlfriend soon so that she breaks up with me and you come to visit me.”

“Your next girlfriend is not going to leave you. At least not for a year.” I said pulling away and smiled at him.

“And how do you know that?”

“It’s a pattern. A week, a month, a…year. Who knows?” I shrugged. “Give me a visit someday.”

“I’ll give you a surprise. Just wait.”

“Oh I will. A surprise from you, I can’t wait.” I smirked at him. “See you soon.”

“See you soon,” he nodded and I got into passenger seat. Blaise started the car. I waved at Dan as we took off on the road.

There was silence in the car for few minutes. It was a fine weekend. A family is a family. I wish I could see mom. She had called me in the morning saying there was an important surgery. It’s her job. I can’t complain.

“Hey Blaise,” I turned to look at him.

“Hmm…” he didn’t take his eyes off the road.

“You will not tell anyone about park incident and the night.” It came out as a request. Well it was a request. Only I couldn’t say please.

“Magic word,” he smirked.

This boy…

“Please…” I said scrunching my nose. It’s not like I don’t say ‘please’. I do. It’s polite. But I don’t say it to boys. Ever since that jerk of Neil had said I was ‘already begging’, I refrained from saying that word to boys. Even when I said, it was mostly devoid of any emotions.

He smirked. “Fine, I won’t tell.” He said with a shrug.

I looked forward relived. I think I can rely on him, not completely but I can.

“And I wasn’t going to tell anyone even though you asked me not to.” He added after a