Exes and Oh's: Part 10

SERENA

I was looking forward to a quiet night at home, doing absolutely nothing but watching the horror movie marathons on TV. Until the trick or treaters began to run the halls of my condominium. When did people start having kids in this building? It used to be so quiet. Lucky for me, I ran out of candy an hour later, and I settled into my recliner in my living room, with a bucket of chocolate I had saved for myself.

I would've been at the farmhouse, overseeing the demolition, but since Daniel was giving me a hard time with the deed, everything was postponed, costing more money every second that was wasted doing nothing. The idiot was stubborn and sentimental and god, why did he get under my skin so bad? I was single. Well, not legally, but still. I was free, decent to look at, interesting to talk to. So why did I dread going out on dates with new men now?

Bad luck. That's all it was. I'd get back to my normal self in no time.

I focused on the horrible zombie movie in front of me and groaned in protest as I heard my doorbell ring again. I got up to answer the door and peaked into the peephole before I did. Michael? What was he doing here? How did he even know I lived here? Despite the endless number of questions I had running through my mind, I opened the door and stepped aside to let him in, locking the door after him. He removed his sunglasses and turned to look at me, raising an eyebrow at my choice of loungewear.

"Shut up. I wasn't expecting company and sweats are amazing," I defended and he laughed in response.

"Marley told me where you lived. I hope that's alright," Michael mentioned, answering at least one of my questions.

"Sure. Are you two talking again?" I blurted out and bit my inner cheek to keep from saying anything else that would compromise me.

"I've been slammed with double shifts all week. Don't worry, I wasn't avoiding her on purpose. I'm not you," he teased and I flipped him off as I offered him a seat on the loveseat and he took it as I sat on my recliner once again.

"Just...be careful. That's all I'm saying. Oh, and if you decide to break her heart again, I'll eat yours for dinner," I threatened, my grin widening with every word. He chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck before he continued.

"I came to talk about putting my house up for sale. I'm about to start my medical residency at Houston Gen and my days are going to be longer. I won't have time to maintain the land. I was hoping you could update it a bit and sell it quick," he suggested and while the offer sounded good, I wondered what else had encouraged him to sell his property. It was in a well sought out for neighborhood and the views of grassy hills and lakes were spectacular. I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to sell it.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" I asked, not willing to go into this deal blind. I needed to know all the facts before I agreed.

"I'm...just ready for a change. I'm looking to downgrade a bit. Maybe get into a nice condo like this."

"Okay. Let me do a walk-through with my contractor and inspector and see what we can do. I also have a new building being renovated not too far from Marley, if that's something you were interested in," I tempted, waiting for his reaction. His cheeks turned a nice shade of pink and I smirked. Got'cha.

"Whatever you need to do. My residency won't start for another month or so. If we can get this done before then, that'd be great," he finished, standing up from his seat to reach into my bucket of chocolates. I shooed him away and he pouted as he reached to help me out of my recliner.

"Hey, are you going to Danny's party later?" Michael asked as I escorted him towards the door and I ignored the way my pulse raced at the sound of his name.

"I wasn't invited," I declared, and he rolled his eyes as he lifted his chin up towards my hallway, which led to my bedroom.

"Go on. Get dressed. You can be my date tonight since Marley is playing hard to get," Michael offered, and while I was tempted to turn down his proposal, I wanted the chance to get into Daniel's place, and maybe find the deed he refused to give me.

"Give me thirty minutes."

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I chose to dress as a sexier version of Morticia Addams from the Addams Family, owning the curves I already had with a long black gown that hugged them perfectly. A convenient slit on the side made it that much more provocative, and the heart-shaped neckline boosted up my cup size by two letters and some red lipstick topped it all off. My long, dark hair had been straightened, my eyebrows were done. I was going to make Daniel wish he never started this war tonight.

"If you planned on killing my boy tonight, you're on the right track. Let's give it a good twirl," Michael complimented as I entered my living room when I was done and he held my hand to spin me around.

"You like?"

"A little more than I should. Let's go," Michael teased, turning my television off before we left my apartment.

We spent the next thirty minutes talking about Gabe, and the phone call I had received a week before he died. Freddy hadn't been any help, but maybe Michael had an idea about the cryptic message. So I told him every detail I had told Freddy.

"Magnolia trees huh? That kid was always a fucking weirdo. But anyway, don't you and Daniel have those trees at your old place?" Michael recalled as we entered the highway in his navy blue Dodge Charger and a light bulb lit up in my mind. Me and Daniel, magnolia trees. My scrambled thoughts came together in time to realize whatever the next clue was, it was at our old farmhouse, hidden somewhere near those damn magnolia trees. Which made sense since Gabe helped Daniel plant them.

"Michael, you're a genius."

"I knew that. But why?" he questioned as he hit the gas, definitely going above the speed limit.

"I think I know where we need to look next."

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Daniel's farm had been decorated with pretty much everything he was able to get his hands on at the local Halloween store in town. Fake spider webs hung from the gutters, along the side of the house, and also on the trees, where some ghost props and zombies were scattered all over the front yard. There was music coming from inside of the house, where the lights were tinted a blood red, the door wide open as people came in and out, drinks in hand.

Memories of all the Halloweens we had spent together flooded my mind and I smiled when I remembered just how special this day used to be for us. It wasn't just our favorite holiday. It was also the day we met. He'd been wearing a Superman costume, and I had just gotten into town for a visit the previous day, which didn't leave me enough time to get a costume to join Marley and her Halloween festivities. I'd gone out trick or treating as myself, no costume, no mask. I still managed to capture his attention. I had no idea why at the time. I wasn't the best version of myself at seventeen. I guess none of us were back then.

Daniel had taken one look at me and completely forgot the world around him as he stepped away from Michael, Freddy, and Gabe, letting Marley introduce us. He smiled that cheesy smile of his and I was a goner. Who would've known those two kids who loved each other so deeply, could end up hating each other in the end?

"Penny for your thoughts?" Michael interrupted as he helped me out of the passenger's side of his car and closed the door behind me, escorting me up towards Daniel's house.

"Just thinking about old memories."

"Maybe you'll make some new ones tonight," he suggested, and I narrowed my eyes at him as we stepped into the crowded house. The hallways and main living spaces were all occupied with people from the neighborhood in different costumes. Kids were running around everywhere as they tried to scare the adults with their masks. There was a time where I pictured ugly little rugrats running around our old house, little versions of Daniel and I causing mayhem in the world. That dream ended the moment he left me. Along with anything else we inspired in each other.

"I'll go get us some drinks," I informed Michael as his attention was already captured by Marley, who was in full cat mode in her latex catsuit, cat ears, and painted whiskers. He nodded as he gave me a reassuring smile and I made my way around the house until I found Daniel's bedroom on the second floor. Looking around before I entered the room, I quickly turned on the lights and entered the room, closing the door behind me.

If I was going to find that deed, I was going to have to put myself in Daniel's head and that alone was a scary idea. Where would he hide it? In a shoebox? No. Nothing was in there but old overdue utility bills. I raised an eyebrow when I noticed the wedding band we'd gotten each other in Vegas sitting on his nightstand. Did he still wear it? I hadn't noticed it on him. Then again, I didn't really spend enough time with him to notice those things. I walked towards the nightstand and picked up the band, and smiled, remembering the moment he placed that ring on my finger and promised to love me until the end of time.

Time was never the problem. Our dysfunctional version of love was.

I put all of those thoughts aside and began to tear his room apart. For someone with such a disorganized life, his room held no sign of it. Maybe he had hired a cleaning person or maybe his new girlfriend, if he had one, had cleaned up for him. Either way, I was going to find that damn deed, even if it took me all night.

With no luck in his room, I headed back downstairs, and looked around for Marley, hoping she'd help me. I found her flirting with Michael by the fireplace, while Freddy stood a couple feet away looking grim in his reaper costume as his new fiance whispered in his ear. Shaking my head at what could potentially break up this entire party, I headed towards the kitchen to get myself a drink and found Daniel, in his Superman costume, handing a blonde a red cup of the fruit punch that was sitting in a bowl in the middle of the island. She was trying hard to get his attention in her sexy cowgirl costume and straw hat. I scoffed, knowing him well enough she wasn't his type. He liked his women with a little spice and just enough sugar. This desperate girl was neither.

"What's on the menu for tonight, bartender?" I asked flirtatiously, stepping up to the island with an empty red cup I pulled from the counter. His eyes skimmed down my body, taking in my costume, admiring how amazing my breasts looked in this dress. I could tell he hadn't expected me to show up tonight. The irritation in his gaze was proof enough.

"Who did you come with?" Daniel asked, his tone edgy and sharp as he took my cup and filled it up halfway, waving away the blonde who pouted and left his side immediately when she caught sight of some guy in a Thor costume.

"Michael brought me. Waited till I got dressed and everything." I explained as I took a sip of the punch he had served me and savored the sweetness along my tongue.

"Well, where the fuck is he so I can kill him for letting you go out like that?" Daniel shot back angrily, leaving his position as the beverage giver but I managed to stop him midway. My hand was now just above the Superman symbol on his chest and he pulled me into him as someone behind him pushed him closer to me by accident. My back rested against the basement door and he opened it wide enough to lead me down the dark and dingy space. He pulled down the light switch and read my expression as we stood there, trying not to rip each other's clothes off again.

"I didn't come here to fight," I insisted, and his gaze lowered down to my lips then down the valley of my breasts. He didn't touch me, but I still felt like I was on fire.

"You came here for something. And if I know you like I know I do, you've already started looking for the deed around my house."

"I'm highly offended you would think that of me."

"And you planned on sending me to an early grave with that costume. I guess we're even," he countered, taking my hand in his as he led me down the staircase and into the finished basement. It resembled a sports fanatic's dream space with sports memorabilia hanging on the wooden walls and its own private bedroom and bathroom right next to it.

"I'm here to ask you one last time to reconsider this court situation."

"Can we just spend a few minutes talking? No fighting. No sex. Just talking. Can we do that?" he pleaded in exhaustion, catching me off guard as he sat on his small sofa and turned on the television, patting the seat next to him. He was trying to butter me up. For what, I didn't know. But it wasn't going to work.

"Daniel."

"Preciosa," he replied, using the pet name he used to call me just to get his way. It was amazing how much my hatred for him grew with every encounter we had. But only because it made me miss him in a way I hadn't counted on.

"Fine. One movie. And then we can talk. Just talk." I said, laying down the rules, pointing a finger towards him. He smiled, letting me know I probably shouldn't get my hopes up. And just for a moment, he had turned into the same superhero who had captured my heart all those years ago.