Issue 11.2 Spring 2016

11.2 cover image

 

 

A Good Heart

 

Katie Morris

 


The forest was alive with sounds of the night, or at least I assumed it was as I looked out at the thick foliage that was lit by the ever-changing neon lights that spilled from my condo. Music pulsed through the sliding glass door that hummed from the vibrating bass, but I looked at the trees wishing that they would extend their branches to me and take me away. I smiled at the thought of taking off my heels to scale the wall down as I often did to walk the trail that wound through the forest preserve. My thoughts were interrupted by the blast of music and the presence of another.


“Kat? What are you doing out here?”

Recognizing Jade’s soft voice I turned to smile at her and said, “Oh I’m just a little overwhelmed with everyone who came. I wasn’t expecting such a great turnout.” It was a lie that came with such ease I almost felt sorry. 

 

“Really? Want to smoke?”

 

Without waiting for my answer she lit a blunt and passed it to me. I grinned as I tasted the flavor and passed it back to her.

 

“White grape, white owl?”

 

“Yep, how’d you know?”

 

We continued smoking until the roach burned our fingers, and then she threw it over the balcony without a second thought. I watched the little ember burn into the grass, and then extinguish.

 

“Let’s go inside.”

 

I made a silent apology to the forest for Jade as we returned to my party. The trap music that boomed through my new rig shook the entire condo, and the LED’s that accompanied the music made Jade pause and grab my hand. I pulled her along through the random people that my friends had invited, acknowledging the hands that touched me in recognition and thanks. I titled my chin in greeting to a few familiar faces as we made our way to the kitchen.

 

I spotted Matt in the dining room macking on some ratchet girl. I looked at Jade behind me, and scrunched my eyebrows up and down. We both laughed and Jade moved closer to me as we approached the couple.  
“Hey Blazecki, wanna introduce me to your lady of the night?”

 

Ratchet girl pulled away from Matt and gave me the up and down.  

 

“Relax Jess. This is Kat she lives here,” Matt said with an air of annoyance.

 

My eyes lit up to match the curl of my lips as I said, “Can I borrow him for a moment?”

 

Ratchet girl stalked past me and faded into the wild crowd we had just passed in the living room.  

 

“Matt this is Jade. She’s a new friend. I met her last weekend.”

 

Jade stepped forward a fraction of an inch and Matt took her hand and shook it rather formally.

 

“Pleased to meet you.”

 

I rolled my eyes at him and they followed me into the kitchen. A few people huddled around the cooler and I smiled at Ricky who was filling up cups rather generously.

 

“How’s the juice?”

 

“We can probably drag the other cooler out soon.”

 

“You have another one?” Jade asked.

 

I handed her a cup in response, and Ricky handed me my glass that I had left on the counter.

 

“It’s still cold, just for you Kat.”

 

“I was feeling generous tonight,” I lied to her. I didn’t feel generous at all.

 

“What’s in it? I don’t even taste the alcohol,” she said.

 

“The works. It’s Kat’s secret recipe,” Matt answered.

 

I gave him a look that could silence crows, and took a sip of my drink.

 

“We should take shots,” Ricky said.

 

We took a round of shots and laughed as we noticed a girl passed out halfway under the kitchen table. I walked over to her and nudged her bare ass that was no longer hidden by her tight black dress. She moved a little, and I skipped back to the group.

 

“She’s good, just taking a little nap.”

 

“Yeah. A real snooze.”

 

I watched Jade as she looked at the girl with concern, and I placed another shot in her hand.

 

“To new friends,” I said as we cheered.

 

After we talked for a while, and Jade excused herself to use the restroom. The kitchen grew crowded with a new wave of people, so Matt and I moved towards my room.

 

“So this is the girl then?”

 

“Yeah it’s her Matt. I think she’s the right fit. She’s quiet, but she has a good heart. She’s been honest with me so far. I have a good feeling, and you know she won’t be so resistant because of the codeine.”

 

We spotted Jade as she moved through a crowd of people, and we quickly dropped the conversation. She was still walking normally, and I was surprised to find that she seemed sober despite her small figure.

 

“So Jade, what do you think of the party?” Matt asked.

 

“Well I was actually a little nervous to come you know, but I’m glad I did.”

 

Jade was so earnest in the way she spoke she made me wish I had walked into the forest preserve earlier, but I knew she was the one. I had to do it.

 

“I’m so happy to hear that you feel welcome here. Not everyone does, and well you know.”

 

But she didn’t know. She really had no idea.

 

“I’m going to find my sister. She needs to meet you,” Matt said to Jade before he disappeared into the crowded living room.

 

“Kat, can I ask you something?”

 

I inclined my head.

 
“Your friends seem, loyal. Like they would do anything for you. How did you all meet?"

 

I paused before answering.

 

“Well to be honest it wasn’t always that way Jade. I always found myself surrounded by hundreds of people, but I had no close friends. I just had a lot of friends. It’s hard when you just know people by association, but when I met Matt he actually found me. He saved my life, you know. Ever since then we just clicked. All of us,” I told her.

 

She started to ask me something else, but she was interrupted by the arrival of Fred, Ali, and Matt.

 

“So this is the beautiful Jade I have heard so much about?” Fred asked.

 

Jade blushed but said, “Yep that would be me.”

 

Now that the group was together we drank for a while and then went to the living room to dance.

 

I found myself mystified by this girl. She was cut from the same cloth as us, but she had different stitching. I wondered if she would feel the same about us, and I wondered if she would still be the same after tonight. I knew I probably wouldn’t.

 

I left Jade with Matt and Fred, and Ali pulled me swiftly along back to the kitchen to get new drinks for everyone. Ricky had disappeared somewhere, and we were left alone at the cooler.

 

“Kat I’ve seen the way you have been looking at her all evening. I don’t feel it. I don’t feel her. I don’t understand what you see,” she said to me.

 

“It’s there Ali, but it’s buried. She’s not crying out for help, but the need is there.”

 

“She’s not going to react well.”

 

“It doesn’t matter Ali, she’ll make it through. She has to.”

 

“Don’t be upset Kat.”

 

“I’m not.”

 

“You might not be now, but don’t get your hopes up. We’re hard to come by, and not all of us are made for this path you know. The bloodlines are growing weaker.”

 

“I know,” I said and I slammed the cooler shut before leaving her in the kitchen.

 

I was walking back to where I had left them, and stopped dead in my tracks. The alcohol sloshed in both cups, wetting my hands. Fitch was there, and he was all over Jade. I fought the urge to scream in frustration, and took a deep breath as my blood boiled. I returned to Jade, and my face resumed its regular mask.

 

“Fitch. Outside. Now.”

 

Puzzled, Jade stopped dancing with him and looked at me with wide eyes.

 

“We’ll be back in just a moment,” I said as I took Fitch’s hand.

 

“Actually, I’d like to stay right here,” he said.

 

“Actually, I don’t care. Let’s go.”

 

Ali returned then and motioned for Jade to follow her. I was relieved and annoyed at the same time. Fitch relented and followed me out to the balcony. With the sliding door shut I turned on him.

 

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing here? Are you trying to get us all killed?”

 

“Relax babe, I came to see you. I’ve missed you,” he said thick with sarcasm.

 

“Don’t relax me anything. Get the fuck out. Now.”

 

“I’m not going anywhere. I found a seeker.”

 

“You didn’t find shit. I found her. I brought her. She is mine. Don’t touch her again.”

 

“Why the hostility? It’s not like she’s your one.”

 

My body grew hot with anger, and I looked into Fitch’s frosty blue eyes.

 

“She is my one,” I admitted.

 

“Her?” He seemed disappointed.

 

We both looked over the green sentinels that guarded our secrets. The trees were statues tonight. There was no wind.

 

“She’s so different than you. Delicate. Will she make it you think?”

 

“She will. She’s not as delicate as you think.”

 

“When you have to kill her just remember that no one will hear her screams but you. Convenient that you live practically alone in this building still, isn’t it? Such a shame that hardly anyone has moved in the building since the fire. Maybe you can drown everyone this time. It would make a more interesting story.”

 

 

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