"Your shampoo sucks," Bea said, coming out of the bathroom, drying her hair as Gus laid on the bed, reading a magazine and eating some nuts from a plastic tub. He looked up at her and raised an eyebrow.
"Well," he said, "I don't really know what it is I'm buying, for what it's worth. I know nothing about what's good for my hair, I just picked the bottle that I like the best." "You choose your shampoo bottle based on its color and design? What are you, a child?" Bea asked, laughing as Gus sat up and made room for her to sit down; she threw the towel on the floor and put her hand behind his neck, pulling him, their lips almost touching. "If I am, then that makes this really creepy," Gus said, "Someone should report you." She laughed and kissed him, just as a knock come at the apartment door. Gus kissed her once more, then stood up and headed to answer it while Bea got dressed and went to blowdry her hair. Gus opened the door, finding Melanie standing there in jeans and a turtleneck, her hair pulled back into a ponytail. She looked far more normal than he'd ever seen her, and it felt...weird. "What's up neighbor?" he asked. "Um, I need a big favor please," she said. "Of course your highness, anything for you." "I...I need to stay with you for a while." "...oh." Gus exited the apartment and shut the door behind him, the two of them now standing in the hall as he watched Melanie start to pace, clearly under pressure of some kind. "It's just...ever since Lisa, and that whole...thing...I haven't really felt safe in my apartment, and I'm...I'm scared to go back in. It would just be for a few days, maybe a week, while I get my locks changed and get a security system installed. Please? I really don't want to be alone, Gus." "I mean, I guess, sure," Gus said, shrugging as he leaned against the wall, "Why not? Bea is here a lot, but maybe safety in numbers will make you feel better. You're back on your medication right?" "Mhm, started last night," she said, "It takes a little bit to kick in fully, but I am taking them again." "Good, good," Gus said, "Yeah, I guess just pack a bag or two and come on over. You can sleep on the couch. It isn't super comfortable but it's what I have." "Thank you Gus," Mel said, smiling and hugging him, "I feel safer already." After the hug broke, he watched her head back into her own apartment, presumable to get packed. Leaning against the wall, he shook his head and exhaled deeply. He was her best friend, and he wanted to make her feel safe, but how far could he go before jeopardizing his own life? It was a tough line to balance on, and he finally started to understand how Shane must've felt his whole life. The door to the apartment opened and Bea came out, now dressed in a halter top and shorts, putting her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. "What's going on?" she asked, "What're you doing out here?" "...I don't even know," Gus replied. *** Darren was standing in his hospital room by his bed, his bag on the bed as he packed it, when he heard the door open and Emma stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. He twirled his black marble cane with the gold eagle head a few times in his hands, making her shake her head and rub her face as she chuckled. "My god, this is what I'm going to have to get used to?" she asked. "Baby, you're livin' with a class act," Darren said. "Yeah well, class, how about you get your act together and we get out of here?" Emma said, "I'm parked in a employees space and I could get towed. Do you have everything packed up already?" "For the most part," Darren said, "There's something we have to stop and do on the way home though." "What?" "Just an errand I have to run." Emma eyed him suspiciously, but nodded in agreement. She took his bag after he zipped it up and handed it to her, and then - with a flourish - walked out of his room on his cane as over the top as he could, making Emma shake her head again. "My god, if I knew this was going to be insufferable I wish you'd just died," she muttered, still laughing under her breath. *** Melanie pulled her bags into Gus's apartment, while Bea stood in his kitchenette, eating peanut butter out of the jar with a spoon and watching her. Gus was making up the couch for Mel to sleep on, adding some nice pillows and a quilt. Melanie sat down in a chair and sighed, tugging gently on her ponytail out of nervousness. "You want something to eat or whatever?" Gus asked, as he finished dressing the couch. "No, I'm okay," Mel replied, "I'm just not feeling well." "Want some peanut butter?" Bea asked, mouth full of it as she held the jar and spoon out, making Mel and Gus stare at her, Mel trying not to crack up. "Gross dude," Gus mumbled, "that's been in your mouth." "I'm just trying to be nice, jeez," Bea said, going back to eating it as Gus finished the couch and he and Mel sat on it. He rubbed her back as she ran her hands over her face, exhaling deeply. "Look, you know you're welcome to stay here long as you need to," Gus said, "You're not in the way or anything, okay? I know what happened was terrifying, and I don't want you to have to be alone until you feel completely safe in your apartment again." "Thank you Gus," Mel said, "...but what if I never feel safe again?" "Then I guess you're welcome to rule this kingdom," Gus said, smiling, making Mel chuckle. Bea, standing there and watching this, admired Gus's openness and realized just how lucky she was to have him as her own. She smiled, best one can while eating mouthfuls of peanut butter, and promised herself that that night she would show Gus just how grateful she was for him being not just a great friend but also an excellent boyfriend. That night, when Bea and Gus left, Melanie paced in the apartment and rifled through Gus's things, putting in a CD into his stereo system and playing it loudly, not thinking how it might affect the neighbors, but caring more about drowning out her thoughts. After everything Lisa had told her, she was terrified to trust anyone again. Even her faith in those she did know and trust seemed to be wavering a smidge, and she hated that. As Mel stood at the window and looked out over the city at its twinkling night lights, she couldn't help but think that somewhere out there was a girl, a girl who had hurt her in ways she'd never been hurt before, and yet...she wanted nothing more than to talk to her, and figure out why she hadn't been good enough for her. *** "Where are we going?" Emma asked, starting to sound exasperated by the amount of driving Darren was doing. Darren merely smiled and shook his head, not answering her at all in any manner. Emma sighed and just leaned her head against the window, looking at all the cars they were passing by. After a moment, she asked, "...is this something you need to do, or want to do?" "...both, actually," Darren said, "It's both. It has to get done and I want to do it. I know I'm supposed to be resting, and I will as soon as I finish this errand, but until then I need to do this." "Alright," Emma said, shutting her eyes and reaching over, gripping his thigh, feeling his hand reach down and grasp hers, stroking the back of her hand. She smiled and sighed, trying to rest. It had been a rough few months - and an especially rough few days - and she was so happy to just have Darren back, touching her. This calmed her tremendously, and she quickly grew to realize just how much she still loved him, despite their issues. After what felt like hours, Emma woke up, and Darren had parked and was now opening her car door, helping her out. She stretched and yawned as Darren took her by the arm with his free hand, his other resting on his cane head, and he smiled at her. "This way please," he said. "Alright, whatever." They had come all the way downtown, down near the docks, and Emma was curious. Darren had never made any sort of statement about wanting to see the ocean, but here they were, walking alongside a dozen or so boats sitting in the gentle water, bobbing ever so slightly. As they walked, Emma couldn't help but wonder when he'd planned this. Sure, he'd had plenty of time to be alone in his hospital room, but this seemed like it would've taken longer than just a few days to put it all together. "Darren, this is very romantic and everything, but I am so exhausted, and very hungry," Emma said, yawning again, "I really need to get something to eat." "Don't worry, we'll have something to eat," Darren said, as they turned a corner and saw a table set up on the dock, complete with a beautiful lace tablecloth, candles and two chairs. A small metal bucket filled with ice was beside it, chilling a bottle of wine, and there was a woman standing there, who - upon seeing them approaching - began playing violin. Emma felt her eyes begin to water, as she lifted her hand to her face in shock. "What...is this?" she asked. "What do you think it is?" Darren asked, as he pulled her seat out for him, letting her sit down before he went to the other seat and sat down himself. He leaned his cane against the table and sighed, looking across the table at her. "...why are you doing this?" Emma asked. "Because when I was lying in that apartment, stabbed and bleeding in agonizing pain, I realized that I might die and you'd never know just how much I love you. How much I admire you. You deserve that," Darren said, "All I could think of was 'I need to stay alive, if only to see her one more time', because I didn't get to ask you something I meant to ask for ages. Something I'd put off forever." A waiter came to the table and set down a small metal tray down, pulled the lid off and revealed a small glass full of vanilla ice cream, Emma's favorite, and in the top of it popping out, a ring. Emma looked at the ring and then looked at Darren, who just nodded and smiled. She reached towards it and pulled it out from the ice cream, looking at it now in her hand. "This is-" "It's 33 carrots," Darren said, "It was my grandmothers. Emma, whatever issues we have, we will work them out, because I can't imagine my life without you. I don't want to split up over one little indifference, and I will do whatever it takes to make this work. I love you, and I've loved you for so long now that I don't know that I could live a life that doesn't include loving you. I definitely know I don't want to try though." Darren, helping himself up with his cane, stumbled around the table, took the ring from her finger, dropped slowly to his knee and took her hand as he slipped it on her finger. Emma couldn't help it anymore, she was sobbing now, the biggest smile on her face. "Emma, will you be my wife?" he asked. "Absolutely baby," Emma whispered, leaning in, kissing him. But that night, in the car ride home - after they'd eaten on the dock and been serenaded by the violinist - Emma couldn't help but wonder if this was merely a reaction to his near death experience, or if he actually wanted to marry her. Twisting the ring around her finger, its rose gold band flickering under the brief moments of overhead streetlamps splashing the cars interior with light, Emma knew that whatever the reason, she couldn't argue with the decision. All she'd ever wanted was Darren, and he was willing to sacrifice whatever it was he wanted to be with her. And that killed her. *** Melanie was sitting on the couch, staring at Gus's phone, and breathing heavily. Gus and Bea were still out for the night, and this was the only chance Melanie might get. She took a swig of water, popped her meds and swallowed, then picked up the phone and dialed a number. It rang a few times, before someone finally answered. "Hello, this is Warwick Mental Health Hospice, how may I direct your call?" the receptionist asked, and Mel sighed. "My name is Melanie Irres, and I...I'd like to speak to a patient if I can. Um, their name is Lisa and-" "Patients are not allowed to have personal calls," the receptionist said, "and frankly, that particular patient, if it's the one I'm thinking of, isn't allowed to have any outside interactions at the moment. Would you like me to take a message I can give them at a later date?" "...no, that's okay. Th-thank you," Melanie said, hanging up and staring at the phone. She'd opened herself up to someone, and it had backfired. She began to think back to when she met Gus, and Emma and Darren and how it seemed like everyone pitied her, or simply put up with her, at the risk of their own lives and happiness, and she felt worse. Melanie laid down on the couch and hugged a pillow to her chest, starting to sob. Even after all that had happened, even after what she'd done, all Melanie wanted to do was talk to Lisa and ask her... ...ask her why she had to be the dark wizard who threatened her kingdoms peace and prosperity.
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Royally Screwed follows 24 year old Melanie Irres, an average young woman...who legitimately believes she's a princess. Archives
July 2023
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