CHAPTER TWO - Not expecting the Unexpected

Quinn catches her breath as she recovers. Declan knocks on the bathroom door.

"Quinn! We've got a guest. He's our neighbor, a very funny and friendly man." Declan states.

Quinn's body tenses. "I'll be right out!" She stutters.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. I just fell asleep in the bathtub."

Declan rests his head on the door. "Damnit baby... I told you not to do that. Something bad could've happened to you." He frowns.

A sigh escapes out of Quinn's mouth. "Sorry... anyway. I'll be right out."

"Okay. We're waiting."

...

Declan rubs the palm of his hands against the fabric of his sweatpants before adjusting the blinds. Allowing the sun to brighten up the room. Declan walks over to the neighbor seated on the couch and joins him. The two men engages in conversation.

Quinn hears the laughter and chatter as she walks towards them. A basket wrapped in blue gift foil catches her eye. Declan notices Quinn's presence and introduces her to the neighbor.

"Oh.. Edward. This is my wife, Quinn Leto."

The neighbor now known as Edward stands up and holds out his hand. "I'm Edward Vegas. Nice to meet you Quinn. You're right Declan... she sure is beautiful." Edward pats Declan on the shoulder.

Quinn smiles. "Aww.. thank you Edward. I'm so very pleased to meet you." She points to the couch. "Please... have a seat."

Declan walks to the doorframe slitting the kitchen from the living room. "You two should get acquainted. Would you like something to drink, Edward?"

Edward nods his head briefly. "Sure, why not?"

Declan heads off to the kitchen as he laughs. Quinn notices his laughter and kindness. She wonders why she had that awful nightmare about him.

"What's wrong?" Edward asks. Interrupting her thoughts.

"I'm sorry. I just have a lot of things running through my mind. Please don't let me bother you with them."

"No worries."

Silence fills the air, but shortly gets interrupted by Quinn. "Soo... You've got a very interesting surname." She smiles. "Tell me about it."

Edward turns his body towards Quinn's direction. "Well... to be honest. I really don't know why my surname had to be 'Vegas', but I'm not complaining."

Quinn stifles a laugh and shakes her head. "I kinda like it. It's a cool surname."

Declan returns with a tray of three cups filled with black coffee and takes a quick glance at Quinn. Edward speaks up as Quinn hands him a cup of coffee. "Did you guys hear about the serial killer that escaped Parker Asylum?"

Both Declan and Quinn shake their heads

"No."

Edwards thanks them for the coffee cup and holds it close to his chest. "A group of kids found his uniform laying on the side of the road a couple of blocks away from the asylum."

"Which means he's on the run?" Quinn grabs the tray from Declan and sets it on the coffee table in front of Edward.

"Nobody was hurt... thank God. One guard almost lost his life." Edward states.

"Do you know where he is?" Quinn joins Edward on the couch.

"I don't know much. It happened two days ago at about 8:24 pm and the News doesn't know much either."

Declan whispers to himself. "Jesus... Sweety we will have to check the internet." He sets his cup on the coffee table.

Quinn sips her coffee. "Declan, wasn't that the same time you were out?"

Declan rubs his face and scowls at his wife. "Yeah... and?"

"Excuse me?" Quinn scoffs and secretly glances at Edward awkwardly shuffling in his seat.

Declan sighs. Realizing the tone that he used on his wife. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry." Due to embarrassment, Declan excuses himself and walks out the front door.

Edward notices the tears forming in Quinn's eyes and hesitates to comfort her. He finally rubs her back. "Don't worry."

"Not again.."

"What do you mean 'Not again'? I don't mean to be nosy, but has he yelled at you before?" Edward sets his cup on the coffee table next to Quinn's and hands her a handkerchief.

"Thank you.. Uhm. No I mean it's the second time today that I'm scared of him.."

"What are you talking about?"

Quinn wipes her eyes and let's out a long sigh. "I had this... I had a nightmare earlier this morning."

"A nightmare?"

"Yeah. I don't know if I will be able to tell you without being creeped out." A shiver travels through Quinn's body. She takes a deep breath

"You don't have to tell me.. it's o-"

"The dream was about Declan." Quinn blurts. Edward hands Quinn her coffee and takes a sip of his own. "How so?" He asks.

"I dreamt that Declan confessed that he killed his parents and that he was not in control of his body and it's actions."

Edward raises his eyebrows in shock. He then clears his throat. "So.. what do you know about his parents?.. It's just a dream."

"He's adopted."

She remains silent for a while before wiping her eyes once again and speaks up. "The thing that bothers me is the fact that I'm able to see what he sees in a dream."

Quinn lets out a chuckle. "We were best friends in high school... it happened in Junior year. We clicked and we had that bond ever since."

"Do you mind tellin-" The screeching of car tires stops Edward from speaking and startles Quinn.

"My son's home. Uhm... I will have to go." Edward apologizes. "He's a reckless teen. I can't leave him alone."

A smile spreads across Quinn's face. "It's okay. I understand." She holds her hand out to Edward. "Thank you so much for coming over. Thanks for the goodies."

Edward bids her goodbye as she watches him cross the road to the house on the opposite side.