Cursed

My heart is racing a mile a minute and I try my best to catch my breath. It wasn’t so much fright as shock. I guess I never really thought about it, living in the country and seeing things like wolves or bears in my backyard. It was just so close. When I first saw it, I stumbled backwards and nearly screamed. I guess I’ve seen too many horror movies because the first thing that came to mind was it going rabid and eating me alive but then I remember my dad always telling me that animals are always more scared of humans than we are of them.

I sigh and fall back onto the couch. I can hardly remember what it looks like. I decide to call Shailey and tell her about my little adventure. She seemed to be very interested, a little too interested in what I had to said. She kept asking what it looked like or if I saw it run off in a specific direction. In the end I couldn’t say much since I had run off as soon as I saw it.

I throw my head back and groan after hanging up with Shailey. She had mentioned a bonfire that she’ll be having this weekend and someone as awesome as me is obviously invited! I had asked if Finn is going to go. Apparently he will not. I will have to have speak to that boy tomorrow. He is going even if I have to grab his cute little cheek and drag him there myself!

I shall spend a weekend day with him and he will enjoy it! Because I said so and I’m boss so what I say, goes.

And when the school day came around and Finn pulled up to my house to pick me up, which Shailey has been forcing him to do recently, I jump into the car and before Shailey can say I thing I speak, “You’re going to Shailey’s bonfire this weekend, Finnegan.”

“What Finnegan are you speaking to?” Finn asks, glaring at me from the rearview mirror.

“You!” I jab him in the shoulder with my finger and repeat doing so to add emphasis to what I have to say. “You are so antisocial and have a stick up your bum hole all the time, which you should replace with my-”

“Kieran!” Shailey howls, looking back at me and trying desperately not to laugh. Finn’s face flushes and he grips the steering wheel a little tighter.

“Anyways, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted!” I look at Shailey while saying that. “You are going, Finn even if I have to drag your sweet ass.”

“I’m not going,” Finn grunts one last time before falling silent for the rest of the ride. He may think this conversation is over and he may think he isn’t going. But he is. Ohohoho, he most definitely is.

~

I think Finn is shocked to see me on his doorstep Friday night with an overnight bag. I think he’s more shocked when I waltz in after he opens the door and announces I am staying so I can make sure he goes to the bonfire tomorrow.

“You are not staying!” Finn says through gritted teeth. It’s obvious he wants to yell but he’s refraining from doing so. “Get out, now.”

“No way.” I shake my head stubbornly. I am not leaving! Ok…so maybe forcing Finn to the bonfire tomorrow isn’t the only reason I’m staying. Perhaps I just want to have a chance to see him shirtless but that my friends is completely beside the point! And admitting to my not so innocent thoughts isn’t necessarily a good thing. “I’m staying and you, sir, are going to live with that fact. Now, where am I sleeping!”

“Outside.” Finn grabs for my things and we end up having our own little tug of war for a few minutes. “Get out already!”

“No way, man! I have to make sure you go to the bonfire tomorrow.”

“And staying over at my house is the only way to do that?”

“Yeah! Because if you say you’ll go and I leave you’ll end up not going.”

“I don’t want to go so I’m not going!”

“Finn, is someone here? What’s going on?” A woman asks, appearing at the top of the stairs. When she see’s me a shit eating grin forms on her face. Finn, on the other hand, frowns and lets go of my things, finally. I thought I was going to have to use some kung fu on his ass! I know kung fu, you know. Just thought I’d share that with you all. “Hello there…who might you be?”

“Kieran. I’m Finnegan’s friend!” I answer, shoving my elbow in Finn’s gut so he can’t deny. When, I’m assuming his mother, see’s this she giggles and walks down the stairs to stand in front of me.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Finn’s mom. You can just call me Kendra. Will you be staying over?”

“No!” Finn answers, glaring at his mother. He’s desperately trying to get her to understand that he doesn’t want me to stay through his expression but Kendra ignores him and wraps her arms around me.

“And why can’t such an adorable thing stay over?” Kendra asks and the two of us grin. I like her! She’s as devious as I am. “He’s your friend, isn’t he? You’re so unsociable, to have such a friend I’m shocked. He can stay.”

“And we’re going to a bonfire at Shailey’s tomorrow!” I announce, trying to get her to help me force her son into doing it. When I see her eyes twinkle with excitement I know that there is no way Finn is getting out of this. Muhahahaha! See, I told you I’m boss!

Kendra claps her hand together happily. “That’s great. Finn, I’m so glad you’re finally getting out of the house and hanging out with some friends.”

“We aren’t friends,” Finn tries but Kendra ignores him and grabs me to show me her house and introduce me to her husband, Casey.

I even end up eating dinner with them, which Finn isn’t happy about. And afterwards, I follow Finn up to his room. He looks back at me from over his shoulder and huffs angrily. I frown. Does he really hate having me around that much? I honestly thought I wasn’t very bad but Finn seems to hate my very existence sometimes.

I bite my lip. Finn is now lying on his bed, staring up at his ceiling. He’s breathing heavily through his nose, like something is bothering him terribly. It makes me squirm and now I regret coming over. I sigh and walk over to my things, grabbing them and tossing them over my shoulders. Finn sits up to ask, “What’re you doing?”

“Leaving,” I answer with a shrug. “It’s obvious you don’t want me around…or even want to talk to me. I just thought…you said that we could try to be friends and I really want us to spend some more time together but…it seems like you really do hate me. Sorry for bothering you. I’ll go.”

I walk towards his bedroom door and I swear he appeared in front of me out of no where. I blink my eyes, wondering how he had managed to get from across the room to me without evening making a sound. He grabs my arm and I can feel his fingers twitching against my skin.

“I…I didn’t mean to make you think that,” Finn says, using his hair to shield his eyes. “I just…I’m not good with people ok and I’m not the friendliest of people. I don’t…I don’t care if you stay over and I wouldn’t mind hanging out at the bonfire tomorrow night.”

To say I’m shocked is a bit of an understatement. I’m stunned. I really had thought Finn didn’t want me over. I mean, he acts like I’m the biggest nuisance in the world. I smile anyways and drop my things in order to throw my arms around him in a hug. His body stiffens immediately. It’s strange, the way he reacts when I touch him.

His entire body stops moving and I swear, he isn’t breathing. His skin twitches at my touch but I don’t pull away. Why would I? I’m hugging a hot piece of man meat! Yes, staying over was a good idea indeed.

“Awesome!” I shout and finally pull away. Finn now has a hand over his eyes and I assume it’s because he’s embarrassed. “I promise, this’ll be fun!”