Page 76 of Heartless Heathens

I took a deep breath and focused on the diagram again. Putting one foot on the toilet bowl and shoving the plastic tube inside of me. I grimaced at the odd feeling but it didn’t hurt the way I had expected it to. I pushed the plastic and once I’d felt it click I pulled it out to my surprise to find that it was empty this time.

“I did it!” I screamed out in success.

I re-wrapped myself in the towel and came out of the bathroom screaming happily, Reesa hugged me like she was actually proud of my accomplishment. A strange kind of satisfaction I didn’t know before.

“This is totally a win,” she yelled.

“Thank fuck, that was getting weird,” Corvin mumbled coming out of his room, scratching the side of his head without making eye contact.

“Blood is the essence of your life little boy. You can’t handle the blood, you can’t handle the puss,” Reesa chimed out and he rolled his eyes at her while continuing to walk towards the living room.

“Thanks for your help, you can get the fuck out now.” Sonny glared knives at Reesa, and she frowned at him.

“Um, excuse me? She’s on her period, she should be with other menstruators, doing menstruating things. Not hanging around with you half-demon freaks.” She crossed her arms over her chest like she wasn’t afraid of Sonny.

“Like what?” Felix asked her.

“Um, like eating chocolate till she throws up, watchingThe Notebookuntil she has to drink a gallon of water to rehydrate. Masturbate till her cramps stop.” She pressed her fingers to her lips like she was thinking of what else to add to her list.

“Well, that all sounds like things we can handle.” Felix began to push her out of the hallway like he was guiding her out of the chapel.

“You’re fuckin’ dicks, you know that? Don’t call me just to use me.” She pushed Felix’s hands off of her before walking the rest of the way to the door.

“Thank you Reesa,” Corvin called out from the fridge with a wave and cocky grin.

She looked over at me, her lips pressed to a flat line as if she was annoyed and I waved as well, a soft smile on my face that she returned with a giant grin of her own.

“So you’re all taking the day off because she got her period then?” she asked but no one answered. “Okay. Cool. Just checking.” She shut the door, taking an aura of annoyance with her.

“It’s Monday,” I gasped and they all shrugged, not seeming to care at all.

“I’m sorry about your bed,” I said to Felix again once I’d dressed.

Most of the clothes that they’d gotten for me were either dresses, tight, or full of holes but one thing they had in common was that they were all mostly black. I was starting to feel oddly comforted in the protective barrier they provided. I rummaged through the drawer where Felix had put my things into and eventually found a pair of pants that were comfortably loose and made of a soft fabric. I slipped on one of Felix’s t-shirts and made my way out to where the boys had already gathered.

“The NotebookorBig Fish?” Felix asked the minute I stepped into view.

“Those are words.” I agreed.

“They’re movies, take your pick. One is unrealistic in one way, and the other is improbable. But they’re both guaranteed to make you cry.” Felix shrugged.

“Do I have to cry?” I asked.

“The Gods demand your teary sacrifice. Didn’t you hear your friend?” Corvin said with a laugh that brought a smile to my own lips.

“Maybe the fish then,” I said with a shrug before sitting on the couch.

Sonny didn’t humor either choice but sat by my side throughout the entire movie. Though his eyes didn’t wander from the television, he looked less than interested in the story. I had never watched a movie like that in my entire life, and even though I had to stop to ask too many questions, I found that by the end I was crying, just as promised.

“I’m not sure I understand what happened.” I wiped a rogue tear from my eye.

“Or where the last two hours of my life went.” Sonny grumbled with crossed arms and I deflated.

“You didn’t have to watch it if you didn’t want to.” Corvin taunted him.

Sonny shot him a look that was sharper than knives, but Corvin just curled his lip up in a smile like he knew he had succeeded in getting under his nerves. Sonny huffed under his breath before getting off the couch and disappearing into the hallway.

“Don’t mind him, he’s worse than a Catholic about enjoying himself.” Corvin teased again, loud enough for Sonny to hear and slam his door shut.