CHAPTER EIGHT
I lay in bed thinking for a while that night. My brain kept coming up with the same conclusion: I was one sad, sick little bastard.
Why? Well for one I was hanging out with a killer. Said killer had also tried to kill me... a couple times.
So why was I laying there longing to see him again?
'Dammit Sky, you like him,' my subconscious started banging her head against the wall.
"No," I said out loud. "I swear I don't."
'Oh, but you do. And your gonna end up screwed, hurt, and maybe even dead for it. Good job.'
I groaned and rolled over. Another reason I was a sad, sick little bastard: I kept freakin' talking to myself.
This whole deal with Slender man was really messing with my head. My friends at school were starting to notice.
"Hey Sky, are you okay?" my best friend Drew finally asked me Wednesday. Her big brown eyes were full of worry.
"Yeah, I've just got a lot on my mind," I told her, looking down.
"Wanna talk about it?" For a moment a seriously considered telling her everything, but I stopped myself. Drew was sweet and understanding, but I wasn't sure even she could keep from looking at me like a looney after I told her a story like mine.
"Naw," I said. "It's not important."
"Okay." She leaned across the lunch table and gave me a hug. "I'm here if you need me girl, kay?" She smiled at me warmly.
"I know Drew," I smiled back. "So how are you and Richard doing?" I changed the subject. Instantly my friend launched into detail about everything they'd said and did on their last date.
Inwardly I sighed, jealous of how carefree her life was. I remembered when my life had been like that. Had it really only be a few weeks ago?
I felt watched everywhere I went. I couldn't focus in school, at work I kept screwing up orders, at home... well, I guess my family didn't notice much of a difference. They were caught up in their own stuff.
I dreamt about him almost every night. Sometimes the dreams were good... and other times I would wake up screaming.
Friday night I decided to go for a walk again.
"You're really screwing with my head," I accused him the moment I saw him.
He looked amused. "It's called 'Slender sickness' I do believe," he said.
"Yeah, well, I don't like it," I grumbled. "Is there any cure for it?"
"Not for you." He chuckled.
"Why not!" I said, exasperated.
"Because the best way to get rid of it is for me to leave you alone, and that's not going to happen."
I rolled my eyes. "You're such a stalker."
I shivered at that wolfish grin. Again. "I know." He brushed a strand of hair out of my face.
"How come you can touch me, but you don't like it when I touch you?" I wondered aloud.
Slendy gave me a strange look. "When did I ever say that?"
"You didn't. I figured it out," I told him, perhaps a little bit smug.
"I never really thought about it, honestly." He said looking off into the woods. "I guess I'm just not used to humans purposefully making contact with me," he mused.
"Sounds like you just need practice," I said, and probably in the boldest move I'd ever made in my life, I wound my arm through Slendy's.
He looked at me in shock for a moment, his whole body ridged. Then very, very slowly, I felt him relax.
"See?" I said. "It's not so bad."
Slender man chuckled softly, "You never fail to surprise me little one."
We walked like that in silence for a while, arm in arm. It felt a little awkward, seeing as how he was so much taller than me, even though he was only just over six feet tonight. I didn't dare remove my arm though. I was helping Slendy, I kept telling myself.
"Your birthday is next week," Slendy said after a while.
"Mhm, sure is. You gonna stop calling me 'little one' once I'm an adult?" I asked.
"Of course not."
I sighed. "Figures." He chuckled at that.
"Would you like anything for your birthday?" That surprised me.
"Oh, uh, you don't have to get me anything," I mumbled.
"What if I want to?"
"Well I guess I would't stop you," I said.
"I'd like to see you try and stop me," he challenged playfully.
"Oh yeah? I'll have you know, sir, I have my black belt in Tae-kwon-do," I challenged back, grinning.
"You think you could take me, human?" Slendy grinned.
"I'd give it my best shot."
He released my arm and stepped in front of me. "Let's see then."
I stopped cold. "Wait. You're serious?"
"Don't worry, I'll play nice," he promised.
"Uhh..." I wasn't sure what to do.
"Your move Sky," he prompted me again.
"Well, you know, I wouldn't wanna hurt you or nothing," I bluffed.
"You wouldn't, trust me."
"Slendy..." I whined.
"If you don't hurry, I'll get you first," he warned.
I grasped at an idea. "But fighting you would involve me touching you! I wouldn't wanna make you uncomforatable."
"Didn't you say all I needed was practice?" He was really getting a kick out if this, I could tell.
Damn him. I sighed. Guess I'll give it my best go and pray I don't end up dead in a ditch somewhere. Stealing myself up, I tensed my muscles and sprang at him - only he wasn't there anymore.
"Oh, you can do better than that," he teased from behind me. I spun and let loose a turning crescent kick. By the time my foot reached him he wasn't there anymore. "You've got to be faster than that," he teased. I growled and threw a hook punch. A tentacle grabbed my arm and knocked it aside. An upper cut - blocked that too. He wasn't even breaking a sweat! He made it look too easy.
'He's not human,' I had to remind myself.
"Man, tentacles of my own would sure come in handy right about now," I said. He chuckled.
"Indeed, they are quite useful," he said as he dodged another kick, grinning.
Inspiration! If this didn't work, then I was out of tricks. I faked a right round, knowing that to dodge it he would have to step over to my right side. As soon as he did, I dove at him, tackling him around his middle and sending us both crashing to the ground.
There was a stunned pause and then we both started laughing.
"Not bad little one," he complemented me approvingly.
I rolled my eyes. "Please, you weren't even trying," I said.
"I know." He was still grinning - or at least he was until he realized that I was on top of him, laying on his chest. I realized it too about the same time he did. I felt my face get hot and I ducked my head. When I dared a look up at him through my lashes I could have sworn his cheeks had a slight pink tinge to them. I giggled nervously, my face darkening even more upon seeing his own blush.
"You're very pretty when you blush," he whispered softly. His hand found its way to my cheek and he slowly ran his thumb along my jaw line. This of course, made me blush even harder. I didn't know that was even possible!
My brain was going nuts. This was bad, this was wrong. I shouldn't be here. I needed to leave this instant, or I was going to do something so insanely stupid, I deserved to be killed.
Quickly I scrambled to my feet and took a step back. "It's getting late. I should go," I said.
Slender man was still on the ground, looking up at me bewildered. "If you wish," he said, leaning up in his elbows. "Are you sure you can't stay longer?" Did he sound a little hopeful? No, surely not.
"No, my parents will be wondering where I am," I lied. They wouldn't even notice till the morning if I didn't come back.
He stood up and dusted his suit off. "Shall I take you home then?" He asked, holding out his arm for me to grab hold of.
I smiled shyly. "Thanks," I mumbled, taking it. In an instant we were in my front porch.
"Till tomorrow then, little one," he bid me farewell and then vanished. I stared at the spot where he'd just been for a long time before I finally went inside.
As I was drifting of to sleep a little while later, I dreamt he appeared in my room. Silently the Tall One bent over my bed and gently brushed his lips against my forehead. "Sleep well, my little Sky," he murmured. I lay there smiling after he left again. But it was just a dream, wasn't it?