Page 55 of Pretty Thing

“Felix. He’s insane. He left a rat on my desk and put one in bed with Kyle. He’s been throwing up all morning.”

She’s hysterical. My side bites, but I manage to sit up in bed, mind racing.

“How do you know it’s Felix?”

I can’t even picture the guy who’s been taking care of me putting a rat in someone’s bed. It’s completely absurd.

There’s a long pause, but I can still hear Kris breathing.

“I don’t have any proof. I just know it was him.”

A headache is starting to form from her shrill tone and the insanity of this conversation so early in the morning. I pinch the bridge of my nose.

“That makes no sense. Why do you think Felix did this?”

“Because he’s nuts and he doesn’t like Kyle or me,” she says, and anger stirs inside of me.

“Stop right there. First, don’t call Felix nuts. You know nothing about him. Second…you’re accusing the person who practically saved my life, but you have no proof other than a feeling that he doesn’t like you. How about all the stupid pranks that Kyle’s friends are always playing on each other? Do I have to remind you of the fake tarantula left in your sink? You were screaming and jumping if so much as a hair touched you for days. Those guys are horrible, but you want to blame Felix? How would he even know where you live?”

“Um—”

“I don’t want to hear it, Kris,” I say, cutting her off. “I lost my family. I am barely holding it together. And now, you call me at six in the morning screaming like a lunatic. You have zero proof. Felix has been amazing to me, so unless you have concrete evidence, then don’t mention this to me again unless it’s to apologize.”

“Shit…Eden…I’m sorry. Really, I overreacted.”

“I’m going back to bed,” I say, not acknowledging her apology.

“Eden, please…”

“We’ll talk later.”

Hanging up, I check for a call or message from Felix, but there is nothing and my heart sinks.

Placing the phone back on the nightstand, I slide under the covers, roll onto my side, and let the tears silently fall.

Yes, what happened to them is certainly fucked up, but Kris never found anything linking Felix to what happened and I’m not going to jump on the train just because she’s wanting to be dramatic.

Why would Felix even do something like that? Is it just because she doesn’t want me near him? Could she actually be jealous of all the time we were spending together?

Now, here I am secretly terrified that I’ve pushed him away for good. Felix is…more than just my friend. He’s been someone to lean on, count on, talk to, and he understands what I’m going through. I let Kris and even Kyle talk me into pushing him aside. Guilt races through me, making me feel sick to my stomach.

“Fuck, I’m an awful person,” I whisper, making the slow walk to the kitchen.

Besides…despite me kicking him out, Felix came back and cleaned. Maybe that’s creepy, but who hasn’t asked for a magic maid at some point? He left a cute little note that is now stuck to my fridge.

I know you asked me to leave and give you space, so I’m sorry for coming back and cleaning. I just couldn’t leave your home in a huge mess for you to clean. Make sure to get lots of rest.

Felix

But I can’t exactly tell Kris it couldn’t have been Felix because he broke into my house to clean. She will definitely take that the wrong way.

A ghost of a smile pricks at the corner of my mouth. He just can’t seem to help himself, but I haven’t seen, heard, or felt him around since.

I pour myself some coffee and make a piece of toast with peanut butter, eating in silence before calling for a ride to the lawyer’s office. I don’t want to do this today, but if I don’t, then who will?

Stepping outside, the harsh wind whips around my neck and bites right through my jacket. It’s so strong that the snow is curling off the tops of the banks and making them look like massive waves. I grip the railing for dear life and use the cane to make it down the slippery stairs in one piece.

The car isn’t here yet, so I wait on the curb beside our large wooden mailbox that looks like a birdhouse. Dad was so proud that he’d made it himself.