Troubled
Stefan had never been more confused in his life, in a multitude of ways. He sat in the semi-darkness of his bedroom, Indian-style on the bed, the only light coming from the lamp on his nightstand. He had a notepad in his lap on which he was trying to make a list. Thus far it was not going very well. On the pad he had written several phrases, each phrase on its own line: Heather-- 2 spells. Me + Jordan & Maddie for Taffy. Did H do this too?
He stared at the mostly blank paper until his vision blurred. This wasn't accomplishing anything. It didn't tell him why Heather had taken such a strong dislike to Taffy in the first place, or why Jordan's slip of the tongue concerning their indiscretion had been overheard by Taffy in her spirit form... or why Taffy had now done a complete turnaround, going from distraught over what had happened between her boyfriend and her best friend to trying to work out some kind of freaky sharing arrangement among the three of them.
"I don't understand," he said softly to himself. His words did not only apply to the current odd behavior of his best friend but also to his own confused feelings about the night he, Jordan and Heather had shared. He had to figure something out about all of it, but he didn't even know where to start. He needed to go back up to Taf's and talk to her some more, but he was afraid she'd start pushing her boyfriend at him again. He chewed on his lower lip, doodling aimlessly in the margin of the paper.
He felt very alone. It was a sensation that crept up on him sometimes, submerging him as surely as if he'd waded into the deep end of the ocean. It was easier not to think anymore, at least for a few minutes. The shadows lengthened as dusk grew closer, surrounding him. He had to help Taffy, had to help himself, but he didn't know how. So he sat, listening to silence.
He stared at the mostly blank paper until his vision blurred. This wasn't accomplishing anything. It didn't tell him why Heather had taken such a strong dislike to Taffy in the first place, or why Jordan's slip of the tongue concerning their indiscretion had been overheard by Taffy in her spirit form... or why Taffy had now done a complete turnaround, going from distraught over what had happened between her boyfriend and her best friend to trying to work out some kind of freaky sharing arrangement among the three of them.
"I don't understand," he said softly to himself. His words did not only apply to the current odd behavior of his best friend but also to his own confused feelings about the night he, Jordan and Heather had shared. He had to figure something out about all of it, but he didn't even know where to start. He needed to go back up to Taf's and talk to her some more, but he was afraid she'd start pushing her boyfriend at him again. He chewed on his lower lip, doodling aimlessly in the margin of the paper.
He felt very alone. It was a sensation that crept up on him sometimes, submerging him as surely as if he'd waded into the deep end of the ocean. It was easier not to think anymore, at least for a few minutes. The shadows lengthened as dusk grew closer, surrounding him. He had to help Taffy, had to help himself, but he didn't know how. So he sat, listening to silence.