Exchange
Chapter 12 of 17
TheDeepEndI kept my eyes on his face as we entered my house, only to find it empty. I watched the slow smile form on Nixon’s lips as he looked at me. I rolled my eyes at him and went to the fridge, realizing I hadn’t eaten and it was late.
“Your mom will be home soon,” he assured me.
I looked back at him, started to ask how he knew that, but then just brushed the question away. There were most important things to worry about than his weird extra senses.
When I set a lot of food on the table, he examined it, and then looked at me.
“What?” I snapped.
He shook his head and lowered his feet from the table top. “Why so much?”
I had a piece of chocolate cake shoved in my mouth already so I glared. “I’m sorry, but when someone told me I’m not human, I got a little weird.”
“Weird?” he said, raising an eyebrow.
I watched his snake-bites move as he smirked. I shook my head and put my hand up. “Stop doing that!”
“I’m not doing anything,” he said, placing his hands behind his head. “I think that cake is the only thing going into your mouth the rest of the night anyway.”
When I swallowed, I stared at him, my temper building. I didn’t think it would be too long until I exploded, but I held myself together. I couldn’t yell at Nixon for fear he would leave, then I would be―
“You won’t be alone,” he said. His arms slid around my waist and he pulled me closer. “I won’t leave your side. I can’t. I have to protect you. It’s my job, Casey.” He lifted one of my hands and laced our fingers together.
I watched as his pupils dilated and he stared at something behind me. As I looked around, I could see things growing hazy, and I shook my head thinking it was a trick of the eye.
Suddenly, there was this intense pressure in my head. It pounded, blinding me, and bringing me halfway to my knees. I could hear a voice talking, but I didn’t know who it was.
“Fight it.”
I gripped where I thought the table leg was, but all I felt was cold air. Then, as quickly as the pain had come, it dispersed, leaving me to see small dots in front of my face when I opened my eyes.
“What―” I gasped.
“It hurts like hell the first time, I’m sorry.”
Everything around me was normal again, and as I straightened up, I saw Nixon’s worried face. When he reached for me I backed away.
“What did you just do?” I demanded.
“Touch me,” was all he said.
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
“No.”
“Fine!” he shouted. He grabbed my hand and held it tightly. When he refused to let go, I continued to fight him.
“Let me―” I started to say but something stopped me. I blinked a few times. “Oh, no way,” I whispered.
He dropped my hand.
“I wanted to prove that I wasn’t lying to you,” he said. “This was the only way to make you believe.”
“Your dad,” I said, my eyes swimming with tears. “Nixon, I’m sorry. Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugged. “You already lost your own father; I didn’t think it was important. At least not until you trusted me enough.”
“I trust you,” I whispered.
He smiled and I kissed him again. When I stepped back, I heard a car pull into the driveway.
___
We sat in the living room, waiting. Nixon was standing next to couch as I fidgeted on it. He looked at me, his eyes telling me to relax, and I obeyed. I stared at the TV, seeing us reflected in its screen.
When my mother walked in, she stared at us for a moment before addressing Nixon. “Is your last name Ford?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Your father was Charlie?”
“Yes.” He glanced at me, watching my expression. “Did you know him?” He looked at my mother. She hadn’t seen his eyes shift.
She smiled and then looked at me, frowning. Here it was. I was grounded forever.
“Why didn’t you tell me you knew your father’s friend’s son, Casey?”
“I didn’t know,” I said, glancing at Nixon.
“Nonsense,” my mother said, waving a hand dismissively. “You must have forgotten.” She looked at him again. “Tell me, is your father well?”
Nixon shook his head. “Didn’t you hear? My father died.”
“Oh,” my mother exclaimed. “I’m sorry. He was a nice man. How is your mother doing?”
“We have a strained relationship,” Nixon replied. “I haven’t talked to her for awhile.”
“That’s unfortunate.” She yawned and glanced at me. “It’s very late and I have to get up early tomorrow. Nixon, it was so good to see you. You should come by again.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll be seeing a lot of me,” he promised, smiling.
When she went upstairs, I turned to him. It was hard to be angry after what I’d found out he’s been through. Instead, I walked over and took his hand, leading him outside.
Story Actions
To follow, favorite, like, and more either log in or create an account.
Leave a Review
Log in to leave a review.
Latest 25 Reviews for Delude
17 Reviews | 9.35/10 Average
Anonymous
Nice. This is really getting interesting...
WRITE FASTER! Tiny snippets do not satify me!
Throw us a couple-a-thousand words!!
Author's Response: I have a lot more chapters done, it's just waiting for them to be submitted here that makes the wait longer.
Give me your email and I'll send the rest to you.
Anonymous
Interesting...
Casey is really handling this pretty good, which is surprising. But there is that hint that she has been 'prepared' for her coming-out party.
If only I could have played with my Mom's mind whenever I came home late, or brought a female friend home!
I sense some training coming on also!
Good work!
Author's Response: She does overreact a lot though. I would if this situation was presented. I don't think I would believe anything I was being told.
I hope you like the next few chapters. I'm introducing a new character soon :)
Anonymous
Beautiful.
This is going very well, and I'm really looking forward to the next chapter!
Great work!
Author's Response: Thanks very much.
I'm trying to not make this story too obvious, but it's already unraveling that way.
Anonymous
Nice.
Not cheap, uninteresting drabble, but a very emotionally deep, and realistic meeting of the minds by Nixon and Casey.
I like where this is going, and I'm glad it isn't obvious.
Good work!
Anonymous
Another good chapter!
One of my favorite lines:
“Don’t worry, I won’t ask for any weird sexual favors in return.”
Wasn't expecting that from Nixon. Actually, this story is starting to feel familiar...
Have you ever read a manga called 'Tag'?
Really intersted in what a 'Sweeper' is. Are you preparing to go down a supernatural sort of road?
Author's Response: I am going to go down that road :) Like it wasn't obvious.
No, I haven't. I've actually never heard of it. What is it about?
EdgeOfDark's response: Tag is about a girl who becomes best friends with mysterious girl, who makes her a target for humiliation, rape, and possible death. All of this revolves around cell phones, and the victims doing whatever the text tells them to do... otherwise they get killed.
One of the best I've ever read!
Author's Response: That sounds cool, aside from the rape part. Kind of reminds me of One Missed Call, only they get voicemails, they heard their voice, then they died.
It's weird. It's an Asian movie so yeah, lol
EdgeOfDark's response: Hey, how many more chapters do you have to go?
Author's Response: I don't know. I'm still hoping to not get Writer's Block like I have with other stories. Why do you ask? :D
EdgeOfDark's response: Very curious!
My stories are all outlined, and I know how many chapters there are, and how long they usually going to be. Yours feels 1/3 of the way done!
Author's Response: I just have to figure out things. I mean, I have the main plot, but I need more of a character development for some.
EdgeOfDark's response: Ah! So most of your work is tied up in character development! You do that very well by the way.
Have you peeked at one of mine?
Author's Response: Not yet. I'm sorry.
The next chapter will be up soon, and then you'll be all caught up :)
EdgeOfDark's response: *waits impatiently!* 
Anonymous
Okay, this is getting good, and you know, I'm hooked. I have a bad feeling Casey is in for trouble with this Nixon kid.
What are snake-bites?
Author's Response: Nixon's the good guy :)
Snake-bites: Two piercings just under the bottom lip: one on the left side and one on the right. They can be studs or rings, or even a combination of both.
Anonymous
Uh oh. This is not looking good.
At least she knows what kind of person Jade really is. Sucks how she found out however.
Great chapter! Where's the rest? ^_^
Author's Response: I should just get your email and send you the rest, considering you're the only one whose reading this story, haha.
EdgeOfDark's response:
Boy do I know THAT feeling!!
My jaw really hit the floor when one of my fics turned up as a 'Featured Fic' on TPP.
Originals hardly get the time they deserve anywhere, especially good ones like this. You're a pretty competent writer too, and I hope you keep at it.
I think Original Authors should really support each other. That being said, I'd really like to know what you think about some of my work too!
Author's Response: Oh, I've never had the thrill of knowing my stories were featured for anything.
There's only a few sites I'm apart of, like Mibba, which is a relatively good site as far as reviews and things go. You should try it out.
Anonymous
Wow. Very well done. I could see this so clearly in my mind's eye. You built the scene masterfully, and I found myself wanting more of this tale!
Excellent work!
Author's Response: :DD Thank you so much.
Anonymous
Oh no! Not another Mindwar: Marooned on Earth type of story!
Awww, gee. I was really hoping for something new and different.
That said, it was still writen well, and easy to read... and I liked it.
Author's Response: Casey's not an alien, if that's what you're getting at, lol. That would be too predictable.
EdgeOfDark's response: So what we've got here is a special sub-strain of Humans who play puppeteer with the Normals?
Author's Response: Somewhat. I don't want to give things away.
Finish it! I really like this and want to know where you go with it.
I like how the ticking clock upset her. That has come up in a lot of my stories and it was the basis of my first song. Very good writing!
“What?” I hissed, as I read the answer. “What the hell are you talking about?” I said to him, my voice a little louder than I intended.
Everyone turned in their seats to look at me.
“Miss Sullivan—”
Fuck.
------
That was hilarious. Makes me think of things I have written!
Anonymous
Wow.
One wants to get close to these characters but...
Poor Casey really doesn't give much thought to her future or much else it seems. Is Nixon going to be just as irreverent and aimless?
Author's Response: Nixon's probably the most important character, other than Casey, in this story.
EdgeOfDark's response: LOL!
No! Not irrelevant! irreverent!
Is Nixon going to be just as irreverent and aimless as Casey?
Author's Response: Oh, wow, lol, sorry.
He might be. I don't really have much of him thought of yet.
Anonymous
Very good: I like how Casey is tentatively sharing her thoughts and feelings with the reader. That’s something you do very well with your characters.
It’s a shame that she and her mother don’t have a better relationship. What heartache. They could really help one another if they both weren’t so emotionally selfish.
Nice chapter!
Author's Response: Things are just going to go downhill from here anyway, and Casey knows her mom wouldn't believe anything that's going to happen, so she kind of has no one to depend on.
Thank you for the review. The next chapter should be up soon.
Anonymous
Nice!
I like where you're going with this, and it feels totally authentic. Very good job of describing the environment and characters. It's getting interesting!
Author's Response: Thanks very much :)
Anonymous
Hmmm...
That is one crude, intolerant ("Who likes to sit in a small ass seat with some fat kid?"), smelly, lazy slob of a kid.
He seems like one of those people with two definitive sides; not Good or Evil, just Evil and Indifferent.
Needs a serious foot in the ass.
I can hardly wait to see him get torn to bits... He is going to get torn to bits, right?
Author's Response: Well, since the main character is a girl (I guess I should have specified and the name throws people off), I'd hope she's not tore to bits. But someone else gets torn, and they deserve it.
EdgeOfDark's response: Ah... So someone is responsible for the tourturous birth of Evil Casey and Indifferent Casey. Going to be interested in seeing what kind of Monster that is.
Author's Response: Oh, she's not really that bad. Just dislikes most people and is a bitch in the morning. There's far worse than her in this story :)