Possessed

The Night Before

Lana Del Rey- Mariners Apartment Complex

    "Okay, you look fem as hell," Rite laughed, reaching for Colton's hair. Colt smacked his hand away.

    "Hands off hater. You're just mad your caramel-colored skin can't pull this off," he scoffed in a very fem way. I laughed. 

    "f**k you, Michaelson," was Rite's response. 

    "I think your caramel color is cute," Clary smirked looking up at Rite. I'm not sure what it is but that comment stirred something up in me and sent a tingling sensation all over my body and suddenly I had the urge to hit her.

    "Thanks," Rite shrugged awkwardly, without looking at her. His tone was a little annoyed even. 

    The bell ending lunch rang and we started walking to our next class. Colt walked ahead with Clary distracting her. Rite had made it known that he wasn't very fond of her. He said he gets a weird vibe off of her and he rather not be her friend. Colt and I, on the other hand, we kind of like having her around. She's smart and funny. We also don't want to believe the rumors about her being an arsonist murderer.

    "Are you going tomorrow?" I asked. He hadn't made a big deal out of the dance nor had he asked anyone to go with him despite all the girls wishing he would ask and asking him out.

    "And miss your sick ass mixes? Never," he smiled. 

    "Are you going alone?" I asked. He smiled and just shrugged. "You do know most girls in our class were just dying for you to ask them before they settled for second best right?" 

    "Yeah, well most girls in our class would just want to go with me for the attention," he added. I shrugged this time that is mostly true. "Besides, the girl I want to go with isn't going to be able to dance with me," 

    "What? Why not?" I asked looking up at him. 

    "Because she's going to be providing the music," 

I stopped walking. It took him a second to realized I wasn't in step with him. He turned back to look at me confused. "You want to go to the dance with me?" 

    "Why is that so surprising to you?" he asked lifting his arms up grabbing the straps of his backpack nervously expecting my answer. 

    "Rite, we've known each other since we were kids. Why now?" he shook his head. "Why want to do this now when you can literally have anyone you want?" 

    "Baby, I've never wanted anyone else. When have you ever seen me talking to a girl because I was interested? When did you ever see me bring one around the guys? I never said anything because you were always so close to Colton. I thought one day you guys were going to realize just how perfect you are together and that would be the end of it. It never occurred to me that you'd become more like brother and sister until now. Until I talked to him about you," 

    "I always figured you were just low key about dating girls because you were respectful towards them," I admitted. He smiled shaking his head. 

    "I am but not because I care about where that relationship would go. I just didn't want you to see something that might make you think less of me," 

    "You laid out two big ass racist white guys for me. It'll take a lot more than you breaking a girl's heart for me to think less of you," 

    "So, if I could ask and you would be able to go with me, would you go to the dance with me?" he asked making me laugh. 

    "Yes, a big part of it would be to teach you how to shuffle properly," I smirked. His smile shrunk into a smirk. 

    "That's just rude, Baby. We're not friends right now," he said crossing his arms. I laughed. 

    "How about this? I have six prerecorded songs. I can let them play and take a break so you and I can hang out for a bit?" his arms fell to his sides, his features became serious, but his eyes. His eyes lit up like I had gifted him something big. 

    "You would do that?" he asked raising his hands up to grab his backpack's straps again.

    "Yeah, I would," I smiled. 

    "Okay," he nodded. 

    "Alright," I laughed.

    His face lit up again before he nervously tried to sidestep me and then altogether just spin around and walked in the direction he wasn't going in before. 

    "Where are you going?" I called out trying not to laugh. 

    "My car," he said without looking back at me. 

    "We have class," I laughed, losing my composure. 

    "You right," he groaned, shaking his head before he turned around and brushed right past me. 

    He avoided any kind of encounters the rest of the day. By the time school was over and I made it out to my car he was gone. Colton asked me if I had seen him and I just shrugged. Did he think I was going to turn down his invitation? 

     As I walked out of the school the crowd was still attempting to break apart. By sheer coincidence, I looked up and saw Clary on the other side of the parking leaning against a red truck. Her body is covering whoever was inside but there was something familiar about the truck. I had seen it somewhere. I shook it off and got into my car. I waited a few minutes before I pressed the button to open the top of my beetle and began to back out. 

    "Baby," I jumped at the sound of her voice before looking over at her. 

    "Clary," I said sitting up trying to get a hold of myself while she laughed. "Don't do that  ass hole," 

    "I got you so good," she laughed and I joined her because she had in fact gotten me really good. 

    "Shut up," I laughed shaking my head. 

    "You're not staying today?" 

    "No, I have to get everything packed in here for tomorrow and make sure I have everything I need," she nodded. 

    "Are you excited?" 

    "I am," I nodded. 

    "It sucks that you have to work. I know a few guys who would have loved to go with you,"

    "Yeah? Well, I'm actually kind of going with someone. It's not like official, official but I did promise a few prerecorded songs,"

    "That is so cute. Who is it? Is it Brodie? He asked me if he should ask you a few times," she said tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. 

    "No, I'm going with Rite," 

She flinched. It wasn't a full flinch to make it too obvious but it was there and I caught it. "Rite?" she asked looking away. 

    "Yeah, is there a problem?" I asked. She shook her head not meeting my eyes her hands went up to the ends of her hair. "Clary, do you like Rite?"

    "God, no," she said shaking her head finally looking up at me. "I just- it's just that he's kind of trouble you know? People already talk about how you're always around him and then there's the incident with that Ty guy and his sister. I just don't want you to get hurt," 

    "Clary-" before I could say anything someone honked behind me. 

    "I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow. Just think about what I said, please. He's a great guy and you're a really good person," she shrugged before walking away. I drove forward and then headed home. 

    My dad was home with Chi Yung, his partner. Both of them looked up at me when I walked in. They're surrounded by paperwork.

    "Baby, you're early," my dad greeted me. "You remember detective Yung,"

    "Yeah, hey," I said waving at her. "I came early cause I have to pack my equipment for tomorrow and put some final touches on my costume. Do you guys need something? Coffee, food?" 

    "We were just talking about that," detective Yung smiled. 

    "You don't mind do you?" my dad asked looking down at the file in his hands. 

    "No, want take-out or want me to make something here?" 

    "We have groceries?" he asked glancing up at me.

    "I'll make something," I laughed excusing myself. 

    I sent Colt a text telling him I was going to make food so he wouldn't go out to buy anything. I almost sent James the same thing. I sighed going over to the fridge to take somethings out for spaghetti and meatballs. 

    I remember the first time Colt and I tried to make spaghetti. We were eight. The noodles were in the boiling water too long. When we finally pulled them out, they mushed together and became a big lump. Then we tried cutting said big lump into pieces. After, we put a can of tomato sauce in the microwave. The microwave burned up. James still ate some and spent the entire weekend on the toilet. 

    "Your dad tells me you've had some racial trouble with a friend of yours," I looked over at Detective Yung. 

    Chi Yung isn't the standard Chinese girl. She's really tall for starters. She's about five-eleven, three whole inches taller than me. Her body is thick like she spends a lot of time at the gym. She dresses comfortably. The way she moves and how she looks the food over tells me she was probably overweight at some point in her life. 

    I respect detective Yung. She's an impressive woman. It's hard to make it in a world that is one of the most sexist workplaces there is. Yet she makes it look easy and she doesn't go around acting like some of the female cops who think they have something to prove to the men. She's chill and keeps my dad alive which is my favorite part of her being around. Once in awhile, like now, she gets in my face about "issues". My dad puts her up to it. I'm convinced. 

    "Yeah, we kind of grew up with him. We have some pretty ignorant people in this town," I answered,     

    "Yeah, I've had my fair share of encounters," she nodded.

    "Coffee is almost ready," I said pointing at the coffee pot. I set out creme, sugar, and a couple of mugs. 

    I don't really know how to interact with women. Especially, Chi Yung. She's just as awkward as I am. Lived in a house full of men. Joined the Army and is now a cop. She's surrounded by testosterone just like I am and dealing with women is just harder for us. Even if we do have a lot in common. Actually, I think because we have a lot in common we say less. We just know what it's like. 

    "Good talk," she said after preparing her coffee. I grinned at her as she walked away with the two mugs. She smirked back at me knowingly. 

    "You ready for tomorrow?" my dad shouted from the living room. 

    "Yeah, actually I was going to ask you and Colt if you can help put my stand and my turntables in my back seat. 

    "When is he getting back?" 

    "In about forty minutes," I said looking over at my phone. 

    The rest of the night went accordingly. Colt came home, we all ate dinner, and they helped me take my equipment to my car. While I was making sure I had everything I needed I felt a cold flash course through my body. 

    I looked over the gate towards the house to see the light flicker. My heart started pounding in my chest again. My eyes began to water and it got a little hard to breathe. Chi Yung was on her way out of the house. I tried to hide it but I knew she saw me. She looked over at the house before coming over to me. 

    "What do you see?" she asked me. I looked up at her taking deep breaths. "Trust me when I say it won't sound crazy to me. Tell me what you see or what you feel," 

    "Uh, a few weeks ago. I went over to clean up and get somethings for Colt and I felt this cold presence. I basically ran out of there. It's like a shadow. Something cold. It scares the hell out of me," 

    "Has this ever happened before?" 

I nodded. "When I was younger. We, um, we went to the old abandoned house on Larson. I can't even drive by there anymore," 

    "You're sensitive to dark deities. It's a rare gift to have also a bit of a burden. My brother used to see things and feel them," 

    "Used to? It went away?" 

She shook her head. "When he was nineteen he got sick. Doctors couldn't explain what it was," 

    "He died?" she nodded. "What do you think it was?" 

    "He got too close to them. The Shadows. I think one of them took over. Stay away from them. You're right to be scared. We have a talisman that can protect you but it will only work if you believe in it. Never doubt it. Your soul might just depend on it," she took a necklace from inside her coat and then took it off. She stepped closer to me and put around my neck. 

    "What about you?" 

    "I never believe in it," she shrugged. "I wore it because my brother did believe. I think you can make better use for it, yeah?" 

    "Yes," I nodded, my hand going up to clutch it tightly. She smiled pushing my hair out of my face and motioned me to go inside. I locked my door and walked into the house. By the time I was going to shut the door, she was gone. 

    "What you got there?" my dad asked coming over to me with a bowl of spaghetti in his left hand and a fork in his right before poining at me with it. 

    "The detective just gave me something for good luck tomorrow," I lied tucking it into my shirt. He nodded.      

    "Okay," he nodded impressed and walked back into the kitchen. 

    "Okay," I said letting out a deep breath. She said if I believe it works it'll work. So, it has to work. It's working.