"Favorite color?"
"Grey."
"Wow, that's convenient."
I roll my eyes.
"I've always liked grey. I think it's a very pretty color, contrary to what other people believe. When they think dreary and sad, I think mysterious and unexpected."
I say quietly, rolling onto my stomach.
"You sound like a college professor."
He teases.
"Haha, very funny. Okay, so what's your favorite song?"
I ask curiously.
"I don't have a favorite song."
"Well, who do you listen to the most?"
He doesn't miss a beat.
"Well at the moment, Twenty-One Pilots."
I almost choke again.
For the 3rd time tonight.
Yay, me.
"I love Twenty-One Pilots!"
I all but screech, almost falling off my bed due to my surprise.
I hear him laugh.
"Really? You?"
I pause at the surprise in his voice.
"What's wrong with me liking Twenty-One Pilots?"
I demand.
"Nothing, nothing. You just sound like you listen to cheesy pop music."
I don't tell him that I do listen to cheesy pop music.
I do not tell him how stupid he is for calling pop music cheesy.
"I'm hanging up."
I threaten.
"You've only been saying that for the past hour and a half, Tiara."
He reminds me.
I grit my teeth.
"I suppose I should let you get some sleep. It's pretty late."
He adds quietly.
"What? No."
I complain.
"Aww, you like talking to me?"
He teases.
I blush.
Pfft.
No.
"I didn't say that."
I say awkwardly.
"Ouch."
He grumbles.
"I was just playing, Quincy."
I say softly.
"Can you...Can you explain to me how you look?"
He asks suddenly.
My throat is suddenly dry.
"Um. No."
He sighs.
"I want to know, Tiara. I'm just a little curious, that's all."
He says softly.
I look down, dread gnawing at my heart.
"I'm ugly."
I whisper, holding my pillow to my chest.
At least compared to you.
"Don't say that, sweetheart. You're not ug-"
"You don't know that."
I snap.
He doesn't say anything for a moment.
"Tiara."
"I have to go, Quincy."
I say.
"No, wait-"
I hang up, immediately regretting it.
Welp.
There goes my chance at having an attractive friend.
Of course he'd want to know what I look like.
He probably can't be seen with ugly people.
My phone starts ringing.
Quincy.
"Ugh."
I say aloud, powering it off completely.
What was I thinking anyway?
That guy is too attractive to be friends with.
I sit there for the next 5 minutes.
I want someone to talk to who willingly accepts me.
Maybe I'm just not acceptable.
At all.
I scramble our of bed, more than a little upset.
I make my way to the kitchen for my single bottle of red wine.
Nobody knows what I'd give to share it with someone.
I pause as I reach for where I hid it a couple of days ago, deciding at the last minute not to open it.
I'll find someone one day.
I've seen enough romance movies to know that there's always someone for you.
I resort to drinking a glass of water.
It doesn't taste damn near as good, but the new feeling of hope I have is more satisfying.
Ruby answers my FaceTime call for the first time since we met.
She's always so busy.
I prop my phone up against the toaster as I spin around in my chair.
"Hey, girl. You look terrible."
She props her phone up too, resting her head on her pillow.
"You're one to talk. Where are you?"
I retort, playing with a straw.
I go to bed that night, worry gnawing at my heart.
What if I don't ever find someone who understands me?
Someone I want to spend the rest of my life with?
I don't want to die alone.
.
.
.
At the moment, Ollie considers me his best friend.
As soon as I walk into his room, he pauses his show and sits up.
"Hey, buddy. Listen, your parents are going out for dinner tonight so-"
"Can we watch Project X?"
His question takes me completely by surprise.
I frown, plopping down on his bed.
"What's a little kid like you know about Project X?"
I question.
He looks serious so I try not to show my amusement.
"Mama said I couldn't watch the movie with her and papa cuz I'm too young."
He folds his arms and glares.
"You are."
I insist lightly.
He doesn't seem to like my opinion.
"Everybody is so mean to me, I'm not a baby! I know everything, it's just a stupid movie."
He grumbles to himself.
"You're right, you're not a baby. But you're still too young for certain stuff. Project X is an adult movie."
I explain.
"So what? I'm tired of cartoons and Disney shows. They suck."
He turns off the tv dramatically.
I roll my eyes.
"Well there's other things you can do other than watch TV."
I say.
"Oh yeah? Like what?"
He folds his arms again.
All I can do is stare.
He's so cute.
We end up making cupcakes.
And by the time James and Liv get home, he's in a better mood.
Liv almost cries as he skips forward and hugs her.
"She's so good with kids."
She tells James.
He waves it off with a scowl.
"So what? All I know is you better not be planning on having one any time soon."
He grumbles, sitting down at the table with a newspaper.
I roll my eyes at him.
"Don't be ridiculous-"
"Why not? Ollie tells me that you've been hanging out with a guy at the park."
He raises an eyebrow.
I glare at Ollie, who sheepishly hides behind his mother.
"So what?"
I defend, folding my arms.
"You know the rules. I want to meet boyfriends."
He scolds, narrowing his eyes.
"He's not my boyfriend!"
I groan.
"Leave the girl alone, honey."
Liv scolds, sitting on the couch.
"Thank you. You're my favorite, you know that?"
I gloat, reaching for my purse.
This time Ollie glares at me.
"No, I'm your favorite!"
He huffs.
"Dont worry, boy. You'll always be my favorite little buddy."
James ruffles his hair affectionately.
I roll my eyes at him.
.
.
.
I pause, a shiver running down my spine when I reach to turn my doorknob and I realize that it's unlocked.
Did I really leave my apartment unlocked?
I push the door open slowly, scowling as it creeks loudly.
Great.
All we need now to make this the set of a
scary movie is suspenseful music.
I silently curse myself, fumbling around for my phone to call the cops just in case someone broke in.
I drop my purse on the island, warily looking around the living room.
Still as plain as ever.
My throat becomes incredibly dry as I turn towards my room door.
The TV is on.
I never leave the TV on.
Someone is here.
My fingers fumble to dial the 3 numbers, my heart racing.
I don't want to die yet.
Nobody would even come to my funeral.
The door opens suddenly.
And Quincy walks out.
Shirtless.
He stretches and yawns, scratching his left pec lazily.
Of course I just stand there like a dummy staring at him.
"What the fuck are you doing in my house?"
I demand, setting my phone down reluctantly.
Relief floods my system.
I definitely feel better that the person who broke into my house is someone I know.
A blind guy broke into my apartment.
I need better security.
"First of all, hi Tiara. What's it been, a week? I've missed you."
He smiles in my direction.
I blush furiously, angry at myself for not really being mad.
I guess I should have locked the door.
"Quincy, get the fuck out."
I snap.
I've been avoiding his calls for a reason.
"If you're wondering how I know where you live, why don't you go in the room and ask the little boy eating all your snacks?"
He ignores me completely, pointing behind him.
My eyes pop open.
What!?
"Oh my God, please tell me Ollie isn't here."
I grumble, hurrying past him.
When I open the door, my nephew is indeed lounging on my bed watching cartoons with Puck.
The little monkey looks up and screeches, jumping around excitedly.
"Quincy, he's supposed to be at home with his mama."
I complain, rubbing my tired eyes.
"Nuh uh. Mama left when we left to go get her nails done, auntie. Hey!"
Ollie complains as I march up and turn off the TV.
"How the hell are either one of you here?"
I exclaim, folding my arms.
Quincy walks back in slowly, tracing his hand against the wall.
"You really shouldn't leave your door open, Tiara. Thats very unsafe, you know. This is not a good neighborhood."
He says.
Puck hops off the bed and scrambles up the side of my leg.
I try not to look as freaked out as I am.
Hey, it's not every day where a monkey climbs up you like you're a tree or something.
"I can't believe this. How long have you been here?"
I glare at the gorgeous man, who is hovering in the doorway awkwardly.
"I just wanted to come check up on you. Is that such a bad thing?"
He questions.
My glare doesn't waver.
"Since this morning. He came over and picked me up."
Ollie answers me.
"Liv let you go with him?"
I ask incredulously.
"Yes."
Quincy answers.
"After I introduced myself of course. As soon as I mentioned that I'm a friend of yours and that I was bringing him over here, she let him go. What a nice woman."
He adds.
"Oh, so you planned to break into my house?"
I scowl, running a hand through my hair.
"I didn't know you had a job. I thought you would be here. I'm sorry, Tiara. Don't be mad at me."
He ducks his head and pouts.
My eye twitches.
Fuck his sexy ass.
"Whatever. Can you put on a shirt please?Like right now."
I manage to say, my eyes glued to his amazingly sculpted chest.
Jesus Christ, how is this man single?
"Naw, I'm pretty sure I can distract you from being angry by doing this."
My mouth opens, then closes quickly as he starts flexing.
Ollie stares at me.
I try not to drool.
"You stop this instance."
I demand, blushing furiously.
Ollie cracks up.
Puck screeches again, wrapping his fury arms around my head as I start walking.
"Quincy, I'm not playing."
I watch as he pats his bicep, my eye twitching again.
He smirks.
Right at me.
"Come along now, Tiara. You know you want to feel what a real man feels like."
Is it hot in here or is it just me?
When I don't move, he pauses.
"Did she leave? Aww, man."
He complains, his arm dropping.
"No, silly! She's right here."
Ollie laughs again.
Puck jumps off my shoulder.
Literally.
I watch as he lands in the bed, flipping and tumbling happily.
"He likes doing that."
Ollie informs me.
Quincy flexes again.
"I'm waiting, Tia. I have all day."
He drawls.
I bite my lip, my eyes scanning over his 6-pack again.
Fuck it.
I walk forward.
"Ah, there you are. Here, let me see your hand."
He says before I can even raise it.
"Wow."
I whisper as he gently presses it against his hard chest.
"Ah, I am forgiven."
He sighs.
I narrow my eyes.
"You are sorely mistaken, that's what you are."
I huff, yet my hand travels to his bicep.
He flexes again.
"Am I?"
He teases.
I sigh.
He slowly presses on my hand, stopping me.
"We need to talk."
He says softly, nodding towards Ollie.
I scowl.
"Talk about what?"
"You know what. Come on."
He growls, slowly touching the wall.
Here we go.