The Muse Gang

Chapter nineteen

I got an expensive watch with my savings and wrapped in a gift box. It was supposed to impress Liza right. I mean I had to make the most of the friendships I had now.

In a sweat suit, I headed to her house and knocked on her door.

She opened up and grinned wildly, looking as beautiful as ever.

"Sorry I'm late, "I faked a smile.

She hugged me in response and looked up at me, "I knew you'd come."

I nodded and looked in. Everybody seemed to be having fun already. When we both stepped in and she closed the door, she pulled me to the dining room where the main party was. Without say or warning, she began dancing all over me. Only God knew I was not in the mood. It had just been a day and I was missing Marshall so much. His absence had started proving the impact he had in my life.

Suddenly, Liza snapped me out of my world of thoughts, "What's wrong with you?"

I rubbed my face, shaking my head in frustration, "Nothing.... I just... Lost something valuable yesterday."

She quit her smile and looked up at me worriedly, "What's that Eddy? What did you lose?"

I glanced down at her. She was part of me now, making me feel she needed to know what was wrong with me.

Sighing, I pulled her out of the party and up to her room where it was quiet.

"What's wrong," she pushed on.

I looked at her. Obviously, I wasn't going to reveal anything about the muse society, "A friend."

That was all I had.

Liza gave me a confused look, "She must really mean a lot to you huh."

"He," I corrected before she got the wrong information.

I shook my head again, looking straight into her mirror and frowning at the black rings around my eyes. I hadn't slept at all last night. It took the most important thing in my life to make me realise I was very vulnerable. "Why did you lose him Eddy?"She inquired.

Thinking of an excuse to cook up, I knew I shouldn't also lie to her, "My own rage. I made a crazy decision cos I was mad yesterday. It made him leave. I regret it..... Why did I do that?"

She hugged me, "I'm sorry love. But you should know this," she looked at me, "never let any feeling get the better of you. Talk to him, he will understand."

Funny how she thought he was a visible guy I could go to and reason things with. Like she was the reason for the feud yesterday and he was gone forever.

If this continued, I was going to cry before her. I shook my head and blinked my tears back, bringing the gift wrap from my pocket. I grinned at her, tearing the wrap open and taking the lid of the box off.

She parted her lips and gawked at probably the best watch she had ever seen, "Woah,... Thank. Thank you. It's very beautiful Eddy."

"A beautiful watch for a beautiful girl," I declared. That was a clichè no chick was going to get tired of.

She smiled and hugged me tight. I hugged back. To me, she was perfect. To Marshall, she was a con.

I was sure he said that carelessly. This Liza here was never going to leave me. It was just left for me to get over him. And that was going to take a while.

***

The next few days were hell for me. It seemed every single object left a bruise on my body. This proved a lot. Marshall was really doing a good job taking care of me when he was around.

Because now, I was falling, drastically. Slowly, slowly, I was depreciating to my old, nerdy, boring, stupid self again. My friendship circle lost its diameter bit by bit until it was left with Murphy again. My only hope was on Liza now. But then, as things went by, she seemed to get irritated by every little thing I did. If this was a punishment from my muse, it was a very heartless one. My grades in school had dropped badly and the vi Kings were back on my tail. And I really had the balls to throw Marshall away.... For freedom? Well at least this showed me how SWEET freedom really was.

I was wrong, foolish. But by God, what's the use. It was late now. He was gone already and there was no way to call him back. Like I was like every other kid who never knew there was a life after death where things got a whole lot crazier, and better. It seemed everybody started hating me again.

And right now, I was in the principal's office after being framed by Victor. I somehow began beefing with a teacher in school. Victor took the advantage, broke into the man's office and stole some items. Afterwards, the office keys were found in my backpack.

With the whole school knowing I had a problem with Mr Robinson, it was not difficult to believe I was behind it.

Days from now, I was supposed to be cleaning all lockers in school as a punishment. This was just the beginning. Like it was just one week and I was useless.

I could not even cry. I was even unable to give Sofie the support she needed from me. She had even started to see me as a pain in the ass.

I went back to being grounded by my parents who were now back from New York.

To be honest, I needed a friend, a real one. Marshall was that guy.

***

It was night again and I took a walk down the road, drenched in the rain, sad, angry, useless and alone.

Who cared if I made it home that night or not. I hated everyone. Was I going to go on like this for the rest of my life. I mean why was it now so difficult to adapt to the life I once was into?

I needed this loneliness right now. I think it made me think clearly.

The road seemed to be getting very busy now. Turning out of it, I made it up a bush path that led up to a hill. I sniffed, forcing my legs to push my body away from everyone down there.

On the hill, I looked up into the sky and gave the loudest scream I had ever given in my life. I mean imagine my muse was still here. We would have been kicking some asses and having casseroles by now.

"Marshall...!!" I shouted out and paused as I got the echo.

Now I began to whimper and sob, crumbling down on the grass and crying my heart out.

My shouts turned to small, honest whispers from the heart, "I'm sorry. Please. Come back. I messed up bro. I know I messed up."

I wiped my face, sniffing and trying my best to pull myself together, "Just forgive me and I promise to never pick anything over this, over us. I told you I wanted to be the boss of my own life but I ended up being a slave to everyone. I want to be your host again. If you want, boss me around all you want. Just come back."

I became silent, listening for the faintest sound of redemption from my muse. He was supposed to care a bit right? Or did he not hear me? Was this it?

I shook my head in refusal, adamant to let everything I had with him be just a memory. He had to hear me.

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Standing up, I shouted with all might down to the whole city, "Can you hear me?!"

I stood there for a minute but he didn't seem to hear. All I could get was a gush of wind drying the tears on my face. He was gone, and he was not coming back. What could I do....?

I turned back and realized how far I was from home. This was hard.

***

The family was having dinner when I arrived. My steps were almost staggers and my eyes seemed swollen.

Mom looked up from her food and said, "Yes there you are. We've been waiting. Could you feed the dog?"

I dragged my eyes to her sadly. I had to do it right. Yeah she felt Winny should have dinner even before she cared if I did. It was the dog. Afterwards, no one said a word to me, even when I figured Sofie was guilty about it. A knock on my room door made me pray that somehow it was Marshall.

Alfred however made it into my room. Either way, I was surprised.

He sat on my bed while he looked up at me, "As much as I love beating you up, I hate seeing you like this."

I sighed and leaned on my cupboard, "Why are you here?"

He replied with a question, "Where is Marshall?"

The big topic I wanted to avoid. End it and make him leave, "He left. Period."

Alfred frowned worriedly and snickered in astonishment, "He left?! Why?"

Was I supposed to tell him that. I mean he was the villain brother. But coming to think of it, he still had a connection with the muse society. Maybe he could help.

I walked to the bed and sat beside him, "I screwed up. I made him leave. Told him he was being bossy and all."

He chuckled and looked at me with a slight sign of anger mixed with humor, "Isn't that what this is about? They control your life and help you with anything you want. It's a fair trade if you ask me. Still, I still feel your muse was cool. At least he didn't plan to leave you in the end. Amaya helps me out. In that case, I am entitled to host her ghost whenever she wants to use me for her crazy trip to life. She plans to leave in the end. Marshall doesn't. That's the difference."

I turned to him and smiled lightly. That was the first time I was going to be proud of him. He made true sense, real sense that I hadn't used or thought of when I had a chance to do something.

I sighed and looked away, "I had to learn this the hard way huh? But still, he's gone now. Thanks for helping anyway."

Alfred got up and patted my shoulder, "I wish I could help bro. However," he said with a grin, "I can talk to Marshall for you when I see him again."

That was supposed to comfort me but it really hurt. Made me feel so left out of the whole muse society thing."

I nodded and watched him leave and pull the door close. I wasn't sure this was going to work.

***

It was Saturday and I felt like giving some of my rusty relationships a bit of some polish. Starting with Liza.

Her door was open when I got to her home. Strange...

Frowning, I tilted my head a bit and walked in. Only to meet more strange things as I went.

I found her clothes littered all over the place, from the biggest jackets to the smallest of underwear.

This brought a strange knot to my chest that made me start thinking stupid. I shook my head, shaking off the first thought that came in.

I stalked slowly towards her bedroom since the house seemed a bit empty. Some items were out of place. Like the flower vase on the floor and the couch a bit shifted. More frowning.

As I reached the door to her room, I found something that confirmed my stupid thoughts. I found male clothes right in front of it. The door was a bit open and I smiled in anger, knowing fully well that whatever I was going to see behind that door was going to break me into pieces and prove Marshall was right from the very beginning.

Quietly, I pushed the door open and stepped in to get the sight that ended everything in my life.

And of all people Liza chose to bang with, it had to be Victor.

I found them under her sheets, moving in the perfect rhythm I knew I couldn't give her. They seemed to be lost in ecstasy, not still aware I was in the room with them.

I nodded slowly. He was right.

And that ended everything I fought for. I mean she was worth nothing. And I lost the only person who was there to warn me against it.

Taking quiet backward steps, I still watched them reach fruition together. I just nodded some more. Gotta admit, it was a bit difficult to swallow.

I turned to leave them in privacy when I hit the door to my own displeasure. Now they looked up at me, getting the biggest shock of their lives. Liza seemed the most terrified.

I raised an arm helplessly, "Hi."

She shot herself up and pulled the blanket to her chest, "Eddy... It's not what it's looks like..."

Okay that was the dumbest thing I'd ever heard. So what was it? Some school project on sperms?

I held out my hand to her, "Just stop talking."

She urged closer, but the sight of her clutching the sheets to her chest like that when naked really drew more pictures of what they must have done before my arrival. And even Victor beside her just staring at me like that.

I was trying my best here to be calm, "Do not come near me."

But she wasn't helping, "I can explain Eddy."

I snapped out of control and broke her vase against the wall, picking up a threatening part of the shattered pieces and holding it up to her, "I swear if you make one more step towards me, I'll kill you." That seemed to calm her down. Sadly, she backed out and let me walk away.

I looked down on the floor again and found Victor's clothes. It made me turn back one more time at them, "Next time. Do well to close the door." Faking a smile, I walked away and began my stride back home.

When I was done pretending I had enough strength, I stopped on my way and panted slowly. This was bad. I mean my muse tried to warn me and all I did was ask him to leave. And now, she just proved him right. Bitch I lost my best friend because of you....

I was done trusting people. There was going to be a different me from now on.