Falling Capricorn (11 page)

“Oh I see,” she stated as she pulled up to Christen’s apartment. “So here we are then, I think,” she muttered calmly.

“I can see that.” Christen gave her smile. “Thank you for the ride." Christen unbuckled her seatbelt has Roxie pulled to the curb.

“Of course, sweet heart,” Roxie nodded her head. It wasn’t hard to see that Christen was no threat to her. The girl was way too emotionally damaged and stuck on Joey to be any sort of trouble. “Pull on the lock/unlock little lever, that should let you out." Christen nodded with a cheesy smile as she pulled the lever up.

“Good bye Roxie. It was nice to finally meet you.” With that Christen got out of the car and closed the passenger’s door, heading to her apartment complex.

“Finally?” A smile cracked onto Roxie’s face. Did he actually talk about her to others? Did he brag about her? Her mind jumped to the conclusion, and she felt so joyous. She headed straight home musing over whether Eric was proud to have her. Damn right he was!  She was going to demand to hear these sweet words she had assumed. She was in such a cheery mood that she totally missed Eric’s car parked in the apartment’s parking lot as she pulled away.

Chapter 6

“Eric!” Christen gasped in surprise. She had walked into her apartment after Roxie had dropped her off, wanting to take a shower and go to bed. She was surprised to see Eric in her apartment playing with her giant cat stuffed animal. “How did you get in here?” she muttered with wide eyes. It was creepy to her to see him in her apartment. If it were Joey though, that would be a different story.

“Christen.” He looked up from the stuffed animal and scowled a little. “You left the door unlocked again. You really got to start remembering to lock that. Well now that you're here, come and sit next to me.” He beckoned her over. Christen kept staring at him in return. She wondered to herself if just because the door was unlocked, he thought that was an invitation for him to just walk in. She then puzzled over how he knew she was often forgetful of locking her door. She answered the first question in her mind; he did not have a right to come in like he owned the place. The second question, however, troubled her a lot. This only brought her more questions. She slowly walked over and sat next to Eric. While doing so, she asked herself, "Had Joey told him she was always forgetting to lock the door?" That did always make Joey so worked up.  Was Eric just stalking her? She thought about Roxie. She hoped she was wrong.

“Eric, I would appreciate you not just walking into my apartment like that. You know how creepy that seems on my end?” she asked him, giving him a stern stare. “Why are you here anyways?”

“I wanted to see you. I didn’t mean any harm by it... just sometimes I forget I can’t do things like before.” Eric sighed heavily before looking up at her with hauntingly deep eyes. “I am here because I wanted to congratulate you. You are finally in an art gallery and left everyone in awe. I knew you could do it.” He took a hold of her hand. Again, he was showing signs of Joey like last time Eric was acting so strange. This perplexed her to no end. What did he mean he "...wanted to see her?" Did Eric suddenly have a thing for her? Can’t do things like before? Christen tried desperately to figure out what was he trying to say. Christen's head filled with enough questions to make her head spin.

“I thank you for coming to congratulate me, but you leave me for a loss. What do you mean that you can’t do things like before?” She stared at him. Her eyes were wide and confused. Eric sighed at her expression as he took a hold of both of her hands. He stared into her confused eyes. It felt as if he was digging around inside her soul.

“As much as I want to, there are things I can’t do anymore. It saddens me to have to watch you from a distance,” he whispered. Watch from a distance? He must be stalking her, she mused. Or was it that he was falling for her but couldn’t see her because of Roxie? She suddenly felt awful, but just as confused. She couldn’t have feelings for Eric, even if she were to heal from the wounds so deeply affecting her like this. She loved Joey way too much to ever forget about him or let him go away from her grasp.

“Eric.” She said with a delicate tone, pulling her hands out of his. “I’m sorry to say this to you, but I will never see you more than a friend. You should know that already. Plus you have Roxie. She is a beautiful woman. Don’t throw that away for a one-sided thing. I am sorry Eric, but we are friends. Please understand that,” Christen said rather hopefully.

 He watched her carefully with his eyes. There was a lot of hurt showing through them. Christen looked away. She couldn’t take the sad look he was sharing with her. It was so unlike Eric, but so like Joey. She didn’t know what to think. The confusion made her head pound with a headache.

“I get it now,” Eric sighed as he stood up. There was a realization in the body that Joey was in. Christen could only see him as Eric. Joey knew Christen would not kiss or touch Eric. Joey racked his brain to find a way to tell her who he was delicately. That’s when it hit him. “Well Christen, thank you. I will leave now, and let you get your beauty sleep, not that you aren’t already beautiful enough. Have a good night. Sleep well. I hope you and Mr.SnugglePaws have a good night.” He flashed her an absolutely priceless Joey childish smile before heading out of her apartment. Christen sat there in a surprised daze.

“W-wait!” she called but it was already too late. He was gone. She grabbed the stuffed animal and stared at it. She was so bewildered that it made her nearly want to cry. How did Eric know what the stuffed animal was named? He couldn’t have known that. The only one who knew that was Joey and herself. Nobody else! Not even Kat. The realization started to dawn on her. His sudden attitude change made sense. It was Joey! It had to be! But why? And How? Was he taking over Eric’s thoughts, or was she just thinking crazy, and Eric himself was also crazy?

She rushed to look out the window. She saw Eric walking to his car. He looked up, staring directly at Christen as he winked. Christen closed the curtain and placed a hand over her mouth. It couldn’t be, but then what else could explain the private knowledge he now knew of her? What was she to make of all the bizarre behavior? Christen slid down the wall cradling her head in her hands. "WHO ARE YOU?!" she screamed.

“Where were you?” Roxie questioned as Eric walked into their house. He seemed caught off guard, twisting his head in her direction. He felt groggy and bewildered. He vaguely remembered winding up at Christen's apartment. It was like he was watching himself acting in a movie. He didn't even remember the drive home. He looked at Roxie up and down, as if absorbing the reality of her standing there. She stood before him in shorts and a tank top. She had about given up waiting for Eric to return, but here he was, now.

“That’s none of your business,” he coldly replied. He wished she would just leave it at that. He really couldn't explain it. Even if he wanted to, he could not; not if he wanted to keep Roxie in his life, which he did.

“I believe it is my business!” Roxie yelped. The heavy chill of his tone crushed her. “We live together after all! We have been dating for so long! Stop pushing me away, and just let me in for once! Where were you!?” she exclaimed, her nails digging into her palm.

“I told you it’s none of your business!” he snapped. Roxie looked taken aback. He had said it with such anger and frustration, she was absolutely surprised. He looked away from her and muttered, “I am going outside. I need some air.” Roxie grabbed his hand and he just pulled it away. He opened the slider that showed the beautiful ocean and beach. He stormed out slamming the slider behind him.

“He had no right to be upset with her, did he? He was the one who was keeping things away from her. Still, she suddenly felt bad. She sighed loudly, before heading to bed. 

Eric wandered down the beach. He didn’t mean to take his frustration out on Roxie, but he just needed somewhere to send it. “What the fuck were you thinking Joey?” he hissed.

Joey voice rang back. “I was thinking of congratulating my baby for her amazing work,” he cooed. "Didn't help you sent me away either." Eric remembered taking the potion in the gallery bathroom that seemed to keep Joey at bay, at least for a little while.

“Mr.CuddlePaws? How the fuck would I know that? You know, for someone who is supposed to love Christen, you really like fucking with her head don’t you?” Eric snarled.

“It’s Mr.SnugglePaws, and how dare you say such a thing! If you were a real friend you would have understood this completely,” Joey scoffed.

“Real friend!?” Eric exclaimed. “Real friends don’t go taking over their best friend’s body.” he snapped. Joey burst out in laughter at Eric’s comment.

“No Eric!” Joey shouted back. “She belongs with me, stupid, don’t you get it? Only I can show her love and affection that she needs. She’s my lover. Would you deny lovers the chance to be together?” Eric went silent at that comment. What would he say? What could he say? Absolutely nothing. “Exactly what I thought Eric.”

 Eric felt both dread and regret. He tried calculating repeatedly how to get out of this mess. He really couldn’t. He sighed loudly. He was stuck with Joey. A small whisper inside of him muttered, “How long can you put up with this Eric? Can you stay stable with this going on?” He honestly couldn’t answer. He only had so much potion left to control Joey. He worried about what happened once it was gone.

A breeze blew in making her comfortable bed feel so cold. Roxie groaned gently, turning to her side, reaching for her purple covers. She couldn’t feel the silk sheets with her hands. She opened her watery eyes and glanced down for them. They weren’t there. She knew she must have kicked them off. Slowly she rose, rubbing her eyes with a soft yawn escaping her lips. It didn’t matter though. She could hardly relax, or even sleep tonight. She just couldn’t get into a deep slumber, no matter how hard she tried.

 Roxie swung her legs to the side of the bed and searched for the floor with her toes. She touched her silk sheets and shook her head. A small frown slipped onto her lips from how cold it felt. Reaching down, the balls of her feet hit the ground. She walked to the open window and took a deep breath as the howling wind blew. The fresh, salty air met her nose. She breathed it in with eyes closed. She found herself waist-deep in thought when her eyes opened. She felt so alone. She looked at the gloomy clouds in the night sky. Her hands gently traced the window frame. She closed the window, resting her forehead against it.

“You’re making it hard for me…all I want is just a little more emotion. Is that so much to ask for?” she muttered watching him outside in the low light.

 A couple…is that what you could call them? He walked down the bay along the shore. He was looking up with those beautiful sharp green eyes of his, staring at the stars. She found her hand resting against the glass as if reaching for him. The glass was so cold. He must have been freezing. He wouldn’t show it though. His stoic posture wouldn’t dare give it away. She knew him too well, however, to be tricked by his sturdy appearance. She walked to her chair, grabbed his jacket, and headed out the back door before realizing what she was doing.

He looked so cold as she drew nearer. The closer she got, the colder she ,curiously felt. Her steps grew slower as her body trembled violently. She pulled the jacket closer to her chest, closing her eyes for a moment.

“Time together is never quite good enough, is it?” his voice startled her making her eyes shoot open. He was glancing over his shoulder. His eyes locked on hers with an intensity that was always there. She felt as though she was suffocating under his gaze. He looked back at the stars while she gasped for words. He seemed annoyed. He wanted to be left alone, but she pushed forth anyway.

“I thought you looked... well, it seemed cold and... well, here!” She shoved the jacket out to him, her eyes shut tightly. The awkward silence made her wonder why she even bothered. He took it from her while she peeked with one eye. He just casually put it around her shoulders. She stared at him questioningly.

“I’m used to it.” Of course he was used to it…he was ice. He looked at her again and the intensity this time brought courage rolling into her veins. As he opened his mouth to talk, she beat him to the punch.

“You know I just want to make you happy and safe! What do I have to say for you to just let me in? I know you’re upset, but you’re only too happy to stand there and look down on me. Maybe it would be better for you to just forget me. All I see is you giving me barely any emotion, and I can’t keep going on…”

“Do you ever shut up?” he snapped. She felt her eyes sting and feel damp, but she refused to cry, yet. She plowed on under the heavy weight of his disapproval.

“I never felt more at home than I do with you. But if you don’t feel the same you should just…”

“Again, I repeat myself…do you ever shut up?” Her eyes widened in shock as she felt herself pulled into his cold arms. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She tried to look up, but couldn’t. He had pulled her so close that she could barely move. “You know I’m no good at that emotional crap.” She bit her lip hard trying to pull herself away. She squirmed trying to get out of his strong arms.

“You could at least…“

“Shut up.”

She growled. He was doing it to piss her off now.

“We need time,” he went on. She was confused.

“What the…”

“To make or break this relationship…just give it time.” She stubbornly clawed his arms trying to get free. He let her go, and she fell to the sand. She sat there dumbfounded as he just ran a hand through his black hair. She let what he said sink into her mind like an animal in quicksand.

“When you’re alone…what are you thinking of?” she demanded.

He just chuckled, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Why do you always do this?!” she yelped kicking sand up as she scrambled to her feet. “You’re always jerking around with my feelings! What do I look like…your play thing?!” she screamed. She felt so hurt and frustrated. She was sick of playing this sick, little game of his. She felt her chin get moved up, and was face to face with him. While looking straight into his steel green eyes, shivers rolled down her spine.