《Monster Story》4: Jordan Balan
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The instant we went into my house, she ran to the living room, throwing herself onto my couch as if this was also her own home. "So... why did you want to come here?"
Jordan groaned, spinning around to look at me, "There's a really creepy ghost in my house so... I'm here now."
"Ah," Of course it was that. "I realized something."
"Hm?"
"Well... you don't talk to Naomi and Violet much, why is that? You've just been really pretty quiet a lot of the time."
Jordan gave me a hesitant look, "Violet is hard to talk to... too much energy, and Naomi is scary."
I let out a chuckle, "You think a lot of things are scary."
"Well! The Ghosts are scary no matter what, y'know!"
"Hm..." I put my hands on my hips, "I wonder if they're ghosts or not. We've been calling them that but..."
"Does it matter?"
I shook my head, "Nah, it doesn't," I paused, looking to the kitchen before looking back over at Jordan, "I'll make you something." Jordan nodded as I crossed over to the kitchen, rummaging cabinets whilst gathering up ingredients. It was silent from then on - it wasn't an awkward silence, but more of a comfortable one? I don't know how to describe it but... I remembered something while in the kitchen cooking. I always thought my whole situation never made too much sense but I think I understand now... why a lot of people distanced themselves from me. If it was because of the whole situation, that would mean someone would be behind it... somewhat. I'm being a bit vague but my thoughts aren't exactly organized either.
So while I was cooking and thinking about all of this, I realized that I didn't remember my reaction to it all. I remember the aftermath and everything, but what about my initial reaction? That's all missing, I can't remember it whatsoever. So I mulled over it whilst I cooked and... well, I realized that whenever I'm in a real fight, I sort of just space out, now, I imagined this while I was angry, then I remembered someone accusing me right in front of my face before I even knew about it. I denied it, refuted, then people started ganging up on me and it turned into a fight, and once I fought back... I blacked out. I don't remember anything other than that, but I'm pretty sure I recall some students having bruises or something. Damn... I can't even think properly right now what am I even doing? Plus, it sounds stupid anyway.
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Moving on, as night approached, Jordan looked over to me in the living room, "Have you heard?"
"About what?"
"About the suicides recently."
I raised an eyebrow, crossing over to her as she was strewn about on the couch. She sat up properly and I sat next to her, "What do you mean?"
"Well..." She sighed, "Dunno, some girls in the area have turned up dead, suspected suicides y'know?"
I shook my head, "Nah, haven't heard of it until now."
She snapped her fingers, "Well, that's the weird part, right? We live in a small area right and no matter how far, or at which school, we'd have heard about it, yes?"
"Well..."
"Same with murders and missing reports - Like, a lot of missing people's cases were this big thing here... y'know?"
"Yeah... you got a point," I chuckled, "Where'd this come from? Being a detective out of nowhere?"
"Well... today just had me thinking."
I nodded, standing up from the couch and heading for the stairs. I stop at the bottom and point, leaning to make sure that Jordan could see me, "You can sleep in my bed again, I'll set up some stuff downstairs for me to sleep on." I walk over to a closet inside the staircase.
"I know you didn't sleep the last time I came over."
I freeze up as I opened the closet, turning around slightly, "Well..."
Jordan chuckled, "I'll be taking a shower," She crossed over to the stairs, stopping halfway up the staircase, "Meet me in your room." Just before she went on her way to the restroom upstairs, she went back down again, peeking her head over the railing, "Should I borrow your sister's clothes or yours?"
I try processing as much information as I could before pressing my lips together, "I don't really want to deal with my sister today so you can just borrow some of my clothes." I was taller than her anyway so any of what I'd wear would be full-on normal clothes to her in the first place, though oversized. She nodded and went on her way. I scratched my head, wondering what she wanted, and made my way into my room as I watched her grab one of my shirts and head out the door. The drawers weren't closed all the way so I just assumed she struggled to find what she wanted.
I grabbed myself some clothes as well, waiting for her to finish her shower down in the living room. Kitsune made her way down the stairs, wearing a tacky shirt and short shorts, "That glasses girl here again? You have a thing with her or something?"
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I shook my head, "No, she's just a friend."
Kitsune looked back, eyes directed to the restroom, "Why is she here again anyway?"
"Personal issues at home, why are you asking?" Kitsune glared at me, causing a sigh to leave my lips, "What's with the suspicion?"
"Nothing, more concerned for her."
"What did you just fucking say to me?" A guttural growl came from my throat as I spoke. Kitsune clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes, trying to make her way up the stairs again, ignoring my question. "Hey!" She stopped midway up the staircase, "Let me ask you a better question then - why do you hate me? Why do you distance yourself from me now? What the utter fuck happened for things to turn like this?"
"Why would you care?" Kitsune looked at me, her voice slightly shaken so I decided to lighten my tone.
"I care because you're family. I hate living in an environment like this wherein I feel alone and alienated by the people I'm supposed to be closest with. Mom's not here, Dad doesn't seem to care about me and only seems to care about you, Brother doesn't give a single shit about any of us... plus, Dad's technically never here either... so... we should have each other yet..." A pained look came across her face, "Hey... do you hate me?" I didn't want to utter those words but it felt necessary. Kitsune didn't say anything, she just glanced and left. I could only hope that - that just there was her just being mad at me for yelling at her but... I hope she doesn't actually hate me. That'd be too painful because... she's my sister... she's always been, my precious sister.
Jordan broke the silence caused by the tension between me and my sister by opening the door to the restroom. We passed by one another as I went into the restroom as well and I think she noticed something was wrong.
I finished the shower and decked myself out in the finest of casual clothes, pajamas, more specifically, a grey shirt, and loose sweatpants. I know, insane. Sorry, just wanted to cheer me up. I head into my room, Jordan sitting upon my bed with a smile on my face, phone in hand. "What's up?" I asked, approaching her.
"I didn't want you sleeping on the couch so we could just sleep on your bed," She slapped the bed, "It's big enough."
My cheeks were flushed with red as she suggested this, "W-why though?"
"It's fine, we'll just sleep on opposite sides, it's not that crazy."
She made herself comfortable, pressing herself against the wall while lifting the blanket, inviting me in. I let out a long sigh and hesitantly go under the bed, facing away from her as I entered. I could feel her facing the other way as well, and, heart racing - "This feels awkward." My voice cracked.
Jordan turned my way in the bed, "Face me." Saying it almost as if it was a demand. I faced her, just realizing the light was still on in the room. I spin back around and get out of the bed, turning the light off and getting back inside, laying flat on my back. She stifled a laugh, "Face me properly."
I take a deep breath and turn towards her, "Alright..."
"There ya go, not too hard."
"This is weird."
"This is fine," She paused, "I heard what you guys were saying outside."
"I'd prefer not to talk about it."
"No... I was just telling you. I don't have much to say but... that was a kind of cruel thing to ask."
"Sorry..." Our voices progressively got quieter and quieter.
"How do you feel about everyone in the club?"
"That's a sudden question."
"This includes me by the way."
I mull on it for a few seconds, "Violet is Violet, I'd like to know a bit more about Naomi, and... you're cool. It's the easiest being around you out of the club. But it's always been like that."
She nodded, her eyes flickering shut, trying to remain conscious before looking up at me with a smile, "Hey... hold me."
"Huh!?" I almost blew out her eardrums with my shout, "Where'd that come from!?" Jordan clicked her tongue, wrapping her arms around my body and quickly passing out. "What the fuck was that?" I was just left muttering those words.
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