I Too Like Pie

chapter sixteen

Wit

I rolled around in the sheets, too comfortable to leave the soft bedding. Mmmm. It'd been forever since I'd slept on an actual bed. Probably a few years now.

Let's see. Last night it was the cot, before that it was the forest floor, and then the shed and, even before that, the cardboard I'd slept on inside the trailer closet.

Things have changed so much in just a few years...It feels like it's been a lifetime since I lived with my parents...I'm starting to forget their faces, their voices, and even the time we spent together is fading from memory.

...It's almost like it never happened.

The sound of the door opening snapped me from my thoughts and I skittered as far into the corner as I could manage when I heard it open further. As the door creaked on its hinges, my breathing became erratic and my focus faded.

Opening it just wide enough to poke her head through, the beautiful woman who'd treated me, showed me the same kind and concerned smile my mom used to have when I got sick. "Good morning," she spoke gently. "Did you want any breakfast?"

...I couldn't respond. My chest pounded like an active heart attack. I clutched the bed below the sheets and stiffly shook my head.

Please, just go away.

"Okay, just tell me if you need anything. I'm leaving to go to the infirmary for a little bit. Did you want to come with me?"

The words were going in through one ear and out the other. My focus had disappeared and, with it, my ability to think. I just shook my head again.

Please, just go away.

"Alright, Wit, I'll be back soon." Reluctantly bringing her head back, she quietly closed the door behind her. As soon as I heard the click, my heart eased and my body submerged itself in the haven of warm sheets and soft pillows.

She moved around within the other room, cursing as she dropped something on the floor. "Son of a fletcher!" she yelped, before opening the outside door and closing it behind her.

Grieving into the pillow, I wondered what was wrong with me. With plenty of time to think, I eventually calmed down.

She was just trying to be nice and I freaked out. Why? It was the same thing with the men in the forest and then again with the Highland family from last night.

Am I scared?

I opened my eyes. Kane. Amber. Sammy. They were my demons; they're the reasons I'm scared. I know Mary was just trying to help, but I was petrified when she surprised me. I know the girl last night was just being friendly, but I didn't want to talk to her...I'm scared.

Well, with my melodramatic tendencies figured out...I'm kind of hungry.

Safe in the knowledge that the house was empty, I scuttled out of bed and took my grimy clothes off. Disgusting. Wearing only my birthday suit, I tiptoed to the door. Opening it, I gave a vigilant look through and walked into the living room. This is nice. Finally able to enjoy some privacy, I did a jig.

"Uh, uh, oh yeah! Get funky."

The front door burst open with a slam.

"Ahhhh, don't come in!"

"Why are you naked?!"

Grabbing a large green leaf - which is an already a weird thing to have 'hangin' around - I covered my staff and jewels. "Why are you back?! I thought you were gone!"

I was clearly in the wrong, but I was way too embarrassed to admit it. Even my anxiety took a backseat to the blush spreading all over my, very naked, body. "Have you ever heard of knocking, woman?!"

"Knocking?! This is my house! What do you mean?! Why are you naked?"

"Don't judge me! My clothes were dirty!" I hollered, taking steps back into the guest room.

"Okay. Okay. Okay. I'll get you some clothes just please...stay in that room."

Nodding my shameful head in agreeance, I quickly turned around and sped inside the guest room.

"Hey! Cover your ass!"

Closing the door behind me, I slid into a crouch with my back against the door and finally had a moment to properly feel humiliated. How could this happen to me? "Oh, my god." I cried into my hands. "My innocence."

"Innocence my ass!" Rapping on the door, she immediately cracked it open and slung a handful of clothes through the gap. "I knocked. Happy now? Here, take these. They're Jax's so they might be a little big for your skinny ass."

Snatching the clothes from her hand, I immediately got to dressing myself. All the while wondering how she was so rude. Through the door, where I felt nice and safe, I asked her just that. "Why are you so rude? I don't have a skinny ass, you just can't see it because I'm malnourished." I explained. "God, you're so unladylike."

An eerie pause filled the conversation while I put the clothes on. She was right: it was a little big. The plain black t-shirt was really nice quality - softer than cotton - and it was big enough to count as streetwear where I'm from, so it didn't feel uncomfortable despite the size. The pants though...they needed to go. They were a pair of grey jeans. I'm not sure what the fabric was, but the problem was that they were way too wide for my skeletal legs. I was already hiking them up to my armpits and, even then, it was a tad too wide to stay secure.

Well, I probably still look good doe.

Strutting out the door with a swagger to my step, I was immediately attacked by the woman outside.

"Who're you calling unladylike, you son of a flecher! That's no way to talk to a beautiful lady! Apologize!"

I ran outside the house to get away from the flurry of falling fists. I apologized over and over again, but she still didn't stop attacking. How did this happen to me? Mary chased me outside and we ran around in circles until someone finally showed some initiative to get this crazy chick under control.

"Girl, whatta ya' doin'? Mary, leave that poor boy alone!" A kind old woman swatted the evil witch upside her head and gave her a very very...very long lecture. I was starting to feel bad; it was getting that long.

Grabbing the hem of the old woman's blouse, I tried to explain the situation. Stuttering and blushing, I tried my best to relieve some of the blame from Mary. When the old woman, who Mary had referred to as Phyllis, was fully informed, she knocked us both upside the head this time.

"Enough horsin' around. Act ya damn age, woncha?"

Getting a sheepish nod from the both of us, she ran inside her house, which stood just adjacent to Mary's own. Now I feel really bad...but that only lasted for a second before she came back outside with the best smelling pie I'd ever had the grace of smelling. "Here ya' are, Mary. Eat this and makeup, you two." Handing it off to a drooling Mary, the amazing woman turned and left, leaving the two of us to deal with the bomb she'd just dropped.

My stomach growled.

Peeking over to Mary, I was sure she'd share...right? I'm still hurt. Please share.

Unresponsive to my begging, she went back inside with unwiped saliva sliding down her chin. How disgusting, I thought, wiping a bit of my own.

We went back inside and a staredown ensued. She clutched the foil plate with such strength I thought she'd ruin the pie.

"Hey, Ma-"

"Wit. Let me tell you something." She looked into my eyes and a shiver ran down my spine. "I have to go take care of the infirmary." She frothed through a thick layer of drivel. "We will eat this when I get back. Do. Not. Touch. It. Before. That...understood?"

With no option but to nod, I agreed. Damn, this chick is scary, son.

Placated with my answer, she grabbed the basket of plants the Highlands gave her last night and left. But not before giving me a death stare as she pointed from me to the pie and made a line across her neck with a thumb.

Slam.

She closed the door and I was finally by myself. I should've asked her about maybe a shower. Or a bath if they had one.

Whatever, it's too late.

Glancing around the room, I was really worried about the chick's mental state. The living room was normal sized in every way, but boxes upon boxes of crap littered the floor. Clearly, no management skills, that woman. Going into the kitchen area, I looked around for something to eat. That pie was driving me crazy.

Inside a sealed cupboard, I found an icebox with wicker baskets full of different meats and jerkies. But where were the fruits? I grabbed what looked like a vat of chilled water and set it to the side. Then I closed the fridge-thing and scoured the cabinets, looking for something I could actually eat with zero knowledge on cooking.

No cereal or waffles? No fruits? No wonder the chick looks anemic. Not that I can talk. But seriously though? No milk? Closing the last cabinet, I gave up on finding anything, because there was nothing here. Was Jax the grocer or something? Poor guy.

Glancing down at the breakfast I'd forged myself, all I had was some cold water, a jar of purple berries...and a pie...a damn good pie.

Shoving a handful of berries down my throat, I chased it down with a shot of water. Another handful was thrown back. And another. I threw them back like skittles. But by the time the jar was empty, I was still hungry.

Rrrrr~

My stomach roared in my belly, and my vision was turning red as the pie became more appealing, almost like a forbidden fruit.

I bet it tastes soo good.

Rrrrr~

I undid the top layer of cloth. My mouth was leaking bad, but I couldn't stop looking. The pie was a perfect brown. The crisp crusts and juicy filling turned my nose into a vacuum, sucking up every last iota of aroma.

Rrrr~

...She wouldn't mind if I just took a bite right?

Gingerly grabbing a stray knife, I hesitated above the thick golden crusting.

It should be fine right?

Hand shaking, but stomach roaring, I cut into the pie.

You're all in now.

I cut myself a piece and shoved it into my mouth as fast as I could humanly manage. I almost wanted to use aura to get it inside me sooner. After the first piece, I couldn't control myself; one slice turned into two and, when I planned to stop at half the pie, my hands cut and grabbed another. By the time my hunger had been quenched...

The pie was gone.

Just like in the forest, hunger had driven me to do the unthinkable...and I felt the immediate guilt. Shame tore through me for only a second, because I remembered why I was shaking while I shoved the food into my mouth. Mary.

Shit...What have I done?

Hastily grabbing a towel, I shoved it inside the container and straightened the top, precisely wrapping the cloth back over the cover like I'd found it.

I need to get out of here before Mary finds out what I've done.

I ran outside to grab a long stick I'd run over when Mary was chasing me. I grabbed it, ran back inside, and snatched up an empty canvas bag from the corner. Poking the stick through the handles of the bag, I went into the guest room and put my clothes inside.

Now slinging a newly made bindle over my shoulder, I shamefully made my way to the front door, giving the house one last cursory glance. I nodded my head. I think that's everything.

I grabbed the doorknob and twisted, quickly leaving the house and closing the door behind me.

I'm so sorry, but...I too like pie.