Chapter 12
Soap
A few days later, Aidan comes over after school. I hear the hum of the television and pad downstairs to see what’s going on. I find Victoria in the kitchen preparing snacks, and I watch her set out cheese and crackers on a big red plate. Gretel paces and then sits very still, hoping that if she’s good she will receive a chunk of cheese thrown her way, which she does. Victoria joins Aidan on the couch, placing the food on the little table in the middle of the room. It looks like there is something on the TV they both want to see, something important.
When they’re done eating, Victoria snuggles closer to Aidan and rests her head on his shoulder. He supports her, a hand around her back, holding her close.
“Jeez. Another school shooting,” she murmurs, turning her head toward his chest. “It’s so sad.”
“Yeah,” he answers, although he doesn’t sound sad. Rather, he sounds frustrated. “Crazy people with guns.”
“It’s sad, isn’t it?” she asks, as if she might be wrong about it.
“Of course.” He sits up straighter. “It’s ridiculous. Ludicrous. People shooting and killing each other for stupid reasons. I don’t get it. I don’t know why your dad and brother are so hot on guns.”
My tail twitches. Is that what people do with guns?
Humans shoot and kill each other?
I had no idea. The very thought of it is shocking. I have never seen a human kill another human. Does it happen often?
I suppose it makes sense. I know that sometimes animals attack their own kind over food or a mate.
Humans must attack each other too sometimes, although I rarely see it. In my experience, humans talk things out. And sometimes yell. Or even throw things. But I’ve never seen two humans have a physical fight.
Is that why humans kill each other with guns, I wonder? Lack of food? Or to compete for a mate?
It boggles my mind.
Victoria reaches up and runs her fingers gently through Aidan’s hair, and he leans into it. She strokes his head over and over. His eyes flutter closed and he sits very still.
When he finally stirs and opens his eyes, they are wet. He takes Victoria’s open palm and presses it to his cheek, which is not the intimate kind of gesture I usually see him make.
She sits up. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” His voice is scratchy. “It’s just that no one ever . . .”
“What?”
He breathes out heavily, like he’s needed to exhale for a full minute. “That just feels really good. No one ever touches my hair like that. What I mean is, no one ever touches me at all. No one but you has touched me in probably . . .” He thinks about it. “Maybe a year.”
“What?” Victoria spits out. “Like, not even your mom? Doesn’t she run her fingers through your hair?”
Aidan chuckles. “My mom? No. Jesus.” He rolls his eyes, like this is the craziest thing he’s ever heard. “No, Vic.” His eyes are still moist, his heart silently pleading with her. “My mom doesn’t do that. That’s not her style.”
“I want to meet your mom,” Victoria suggests lightly.
Aidan winces. “No. You really don’t want to.” It doesn’t sound like the matter is up for discussion.
My whiskers stand at attention. What fantastical tale is Aidan weaving now? No one has touched him in a year? Surely he’s joking. I can hardly go a day without a human’s touch. I absolutely insist upon it. I will jump into any lap, rub against any ankle, and walk across any sleeping body to get the attention of my humans.
What he is saying has implications that are so astounding I cannot even fathom it. No wonder he is so cautious and desperate around Victoria. His heart is probably not sure if he should trust her or not.
Slowly, carefully, Victoria drags the palm of her hand across Aidan’s cheek. She breaks into a wide grin.
He raises an eyebrow. “What?”
“Do you mean to tell me . . .” She pauses, making him wait a beat. “Are you admitting to me that you’ve never kissed a girl? You just said no one but me has touched you in a year.”
He tilts his head, just a bit. He is amused by how excited she is to realize this, that he’s never kissed a girl. And the look that he gives her forces me to see it, to understand what she likes about him.
I don’t want to see it. Believe me. I don’t want her to like him. He’s a thief and a sneak and a manipulative human.
However.
What I see is this.
It’s not that Aidan smiles at Victoria. No, he rarely smiles.
The look that he gives her is guarded, but it’s also: Warm. Inclusive. A little naughty. As if they are in on a secret together.
“No. I actually haven’t.” He shrugs, like it’s no big deal. “No point in trying to fake it at this point, right?”
“Good.” Her face is very near his. “I’m going to kiss you right now.”
I see him almost flinch, fear crossing his face. But the next thing I know, Victoria leans forward and presses her mouth into his. He freezes for a moment. Finally his whole body relaxes, and he pushes back, eager to please her.
Their first kiss. And I am witness to it.
When they part, Victoria is all glorious smiles. Triumphant.
Aidan, to me, looks a bit dazed. I think I am witnessing him slowly coming into his own as a young man.
He must also be realizing his weaknesses. He is going to have to submit to Victoria’s whims if he wants to keep her as his mate.
“I suppose . . .” he falters. “I guess you’ve kissed a few guys before.”
Victoria reaches up and plays with her necklace, twirling it in her fingers. “Maybe. Just a few. It doesn’t matter. You’re a good kisser.” She turns back toward the TV.
Aidan puts his arm around her again and draws her close. He looks smug and proud of himself.
Well! Victoria has certainly made her feelings clear.
I don’t approve.
Victoria turns suddenly to face Aidan and make eye contact. “You know, you smell really good. Do you—?”
He looks down, watching her mouth. I can see he wants to kiss her again. “It’s just some soap my aunt bought me for Christmas.”
She laughs. “Are you sure you’re not wearing some kind of cologne or—?”
“No. Vicky, I told you. It’s just soap,” he repeats, interrupting her. But he’s not angry. He looks happy, about as happy as he ever gets.
I feel a little squeeze of satisfaction in my heart. I do love to see humans happy. Even bad creatures deserve love. I believe that.
But then I hear the big clock chiming in the hall. And Charlie’s footsteps on the floor above us. My ears flatten. I don’t feel so well all of a sudden, because I remember how Aidan is not nice to my Charlie.
How am I so easily swayed? The humans confound me. I have to remind myself that Aidan is not worthy of Victoria. He shouldn’t be taking up space in our house.
This partnering will not work in my favor. Victoria is getting close to a bully, and I must act with more urgency to expose him, before it’s too late. It is time to make plans. I slink away to think it over.