Chapter nine: Boys, we're going in. - chandler bing
"you know I still can't get it. You're Young, hot and have a whole lot of dick options a head of you. Why are you never in a relationship and why the hell are you still a virgin?"
I sighed, pausing my attempt to fit Into a skinny jean so it was just hanging mid way up my legs. " Zoe for the love of god don't say dick or discuss my lack of sex life while my father's in the house! " I said. I was exaseprated with the whole trying to skin my legs alive with the jeans and it didn't help that zoe choose this particular moment to barge Into my room and engage me in pointless argument." don't you have college to go to anyway? "
She turned her head so she was Looking at me instead of her phone, her wide blonde curls fell over her eyes and she reached over to prush them back. " Nope, don't have lectures on wednesdays."
" well, I do have school on wednesdays so What are you doing here?"
She adjusted herself Into a setting position and shrugged " watching you struggle to pull your jeans on, of course. By the way, if I were a boy, I would have absolutely had A boner by now just by the sight of your boobs bouncing. What size are you, anyway? D cups?"
" jesus! " I cried turning the other way so that my 'bouncing boobs' were no longer in her vision, and finally managed to pull the jeans all the way.
" turning around doesn't help when wearing that jean with that ass. " she started to cackle when I turned around and tried my best to give her a glare, even though I was the tiniest pit flattered.
" The only reason I'm not kicking your ass right now is because you're half complementing me." I told her walking to the closet to search for a top.
It was two days after I recieved that Letter. I haven't gone anywhere near the beach house and I was not planning to. Something about it deeply unsettled me. Something about how sad I sounded, made me truly miserable and curious all in one very unflattering mix. And even though Elias has been surprisingly decent the few times We've seen each other, keeping the smartass comments to himself, and actually made himself helpful by giving me his chemistry notes, that Letter actually made me regret agreeing to help. It's gotta be a mistake if the future warned me about it right? Too fuckinhlg bad I didn't actually think about that when I agreed. Elias didn't mention the 'quest' in the past few days though. But even though some part of me was relieved, the other wanted to find out what was the reason.
And while I made a solid plan to figure things out today, Zoe kinda stepped all over it when she decided I was going to be the source of her entertainment for the day and just showed up at six in the morning because she was 'bored'. The reason why she was awake at six when she didn't even have college was beyond me.
" that, and my ass is just too sexy to get kicked. Out of bed that is. Or_" a knock on the door cut out whatever she had to say next and I sighed in relief. Reaching for the nearest top to cover myself up I yelled a 'come in'.
Dad popped his head in Looking around until his eyes settled on Zoe and understanding dawned on his face. " Zoe. Thought I heard some really inappropriate talk. Figures. " I looked down at the door where a furry creature made its way past dad's legs. Three days later and no one asked for the kitten, there was no posters, and after a very long argument, I agreed to keep it, and by that I mean he used every dad card out there and guilt tripped me into agreeing. I still despised the little thing, With it's stupid round face and wide beautiful eyes. Who was even that cute?
" Mark! Thought I smelled some really delicious pancakes. Would you be a true gentleman and feed a starved kid?"
Dad smiled opening the door farther and gesturing outside with a nod " guess I can deal with some pancakes gone. Just please refrain from pointing out any kind of anatomies, while eating. "
She stood up so fast I would HAVE messed it if I had blinked." you got your self a deal. See you downstairs, Elle!" she walked by him and I heard her running down the stairs.
Dad looked back at me, amused." you should probably hurry or there won't be anything left. " was his departing words as he followed Zoe to probably try and save some of the pancakes. Lucky bastard _the name I had come up with to the little creature_ stared after dad depating whether to follow him or to stay here. He eventually decided on the latter climping over my bed and making himself comfortable on my covers.
I sighed taking off the random top I had put on earlier and switched it with an orange crop top that said ' bow to me You useless mortals'. " I'm only letting you stay because I'm in a hurry. Don't get used to it, bastard." I informed him, staring him down until he meowed then satisfied, I quickly slipped on some white vans, grabbed my bag and ran after the both of them.
School wasn't until an hour and a half, but Elias let it slip yesterday that his car was in repair, and even though I'm sure the last thing he'd want is me picking him up, MY curiousity was just too big to let my he's-hiding-something guess remain a guess. So I was planning to show up unannounced, offer to drive him to school and fish for information the whole twenty minutes ride from his house to school. I would usually be a Little reserved about the whole spending time with him especially because of the last stupid Letter kept flashing in my mind every minute of the day, but I was stupid enough to ignore everything telling me I should back down. Plus twenty minutes ride with me when I want to know something would be more of a torture than a simple hanging out, so it was settled.
If I was going to catch him before he left though I needed to hurry.
I grabbed my phone and ran down the stairs taking two steps at a time and headed to the kitchen where dad and zoe sat there chatting about god knows what. The fact that they had anything in common to strike up a conversation was really intriguing.
" Hey, guys." I said setting down on a stool and instantly grabbed a fork at the sight of chocolate pancakes " wow, Zoe. There's pancakes left, color me impressed. " I said.
" well, I've been working on my self-restrain. Thank you for noticing."
Dad's lips quirked up in amusement and reached over handing me a mug of coffee. " More like I had to wrestle the rest out of her reach."
I took the coffee and gave him an apprectiative smile." That's more like it. And oh by the way, I gotta pick some one up so I gotta run earlier today. "
" dude no. I wanted a ride!" zoe exclaimed the real reason she was here and I couldn't help but smile.
" Zoe, you HAVE your own car. You know, one where you could get behind the wheels yourself with out having to trick people into giving you rides. " I explained slowly taking a big sip out of the coffee.
She sighed taking her plate to the sink. " you are no real friend. Now I actually have to go if I'm gonna make it in time. See you later guys. " and She didn't wait for our response before hurrying out, grapping a pancake on the way and flashing us a quick sheepish grin.
" have I ever mentioned that your choice of friends really impress me? "
" you didn't have to, I know it does. " I replied giving him a smile. His friends weren't much better. Weird is awesome, though, and I wouldn't change any of my friends for the world. Maybe for a beaten down ugly brown truck though. Just saying.
Dad sat down after pouring his own cup of coffee. "so who are you picking up?"
And here I thought I had gotten away with that. "Elias."
He raised his eyebrows clearly not expecting this response. " doesn't he have a car?"
I avoided any eye contacts as I chewed. " in repair."
" and you're picking him up out of the goodness of your heart?" he sounded so suspicious, I was almost hurt.
" gee dad, what do you think of me? Of course not. I just want to elicit an information out of him."
He chuckled " Thought as much. Just go easy on the guy."
That got my attention, and I snapped my head up to look at him. Dad never liked any guy I hang out with. Yeah, He gets used to them, tolerate them, but actually defend 'em? Never. It got on my nerves sometimes, since he's kind of the same way with Austin, but I learned to live with it. On the other hand he only met Elias once, And I never even said anything Good regarding the guy. To him he was, my worst nightmare, so the fact he didn't blatantly show he doesn't really like him, struck me really odd.
I squinted at him. " what's up with that? "
" up with what?"
" your weird liking for the guy when you've only met him once."
He shrugged " I just do. He's a good guy. " he said, fishing his phone from his pockets and tapped the screen. " and You better get going if you don't want to be late. "
" are you trying to get rid of me? Because_ " I stopped when I took a look at my watch "_shoot, I'm gonna be late. See you later dad!"
If he replied, I didn't hear. I just ran to my car, swung the door open and drove even more faster than I usually do. I was proud to call myself a fast driver. Not the I-think-i-have-extra-lives kind of fast (cough*Zoe*cough) but the reasonable fast, where I know that I'm a good enough driver to step on it a bit, and step on it was exactly what I did and the thirty minutes ride took me just fifteen.
I stopped the car right infront of that small gate that lead to his house and contemplated whether to go and ring the bill or just text him. I didn't want to run Into his mother though. Because even though the only exchanged words between us was her very prolonged nice, the woman creeped me out. So I settled for Picking my phone up and opening up a chat with him.
Erielle: Elias.
I was testing the water, because if he wasn't there and had already made his way to school, there's no way in hell I would let him know I came to pick him up.
Unsurprisingly, his reply came just a few seconds later.
Mr. Intense eyes contact: Ellie.
I rolled my eyes at the nickname, and the way he repeated the start of our last texts.
Erielle: seriously. Try waiting three minutes or something whenever a text come, then reply. You're starting to creep me out.
I hit sent and waited. Nothing appeard on the screen. At least three minute has passed and nothing came. I squinted at the screen and wondered if I had hurt his ego or something.
A shrill scream escaped my lips when a knock came from my window and I swear I almost peed my pants until I saw a very amused Elias standing there. "Holy Mother of crap!" I placed my hand on my heart trying to catch my breath as I watched him typing something on his phone. A second later my phone vibrated and I picked it up.
Mr. Intense eye contact : Good enough for ya?
I sneered at him, unimpressed " very funny."
He smiled showing off a deep left dimple that instantly caught my attention, and I couldn't help but wonder why hadn't I noticed it before. It made him look kind of.. Cute. Which was an adjective, I would not usually use to describe Elias Dunbirk.
He gestured for me to roll down the window and with a glare still on my face I did. " to what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked once it was fully down.
" why don't you get in and I can tell you on the way to school." I said unlocking the passenger.
He raised his eyebrows. Which kind of made him look even more handsome and I cursed myself for noticing every damn thing about him today. I was supposed to be a woman on a mission." why don't you come out and tell me the real reason why you are supposedly picking me up."
Damn him. Damn him. And damn me for ever thinking this was a Good idea. Of course he'll see right through me.
" you know what? Forget it." I locked the passenger door and made a move to start the car again when he moved in front of it.
" woah, woman. I never said I won't ride with you. Open the damn door."
I studied him for a moment wondering if he actually means that. When he didn't move I unlocked the door and he got in. His cologne immediatly filled the car and it took all of my mental restraint to keep me from inhaling sharpily. He smelled of sandlewood and cinnamon and I was instantly in love. Maybe driving him to school wasn't a bad idea after all.
" how did you know I was out here?" I asked as I drove out of the place I had parked my car.
He turned to me with a smile. " you aren't exactly the most subtle person out there."
I was going to protest but then again it was partly true, so I just shrugged " yeah, well. "
He continued to smile. Some one was in a Good mood. " I actually dropped the hint last night, half expecting you'll show up today. "
I gasped, Looking at him in shock. " oh my god, you manipulative piece of crap!" then for Good imphasis, I reached over sideways and slapped his shoulder. I had clearly made the mistake of underestimating him. Genius son of a bitch. He and Zoe should really be friends.
He laughed hard leaning towards the window to avoid my hits. " okay. Okay. You're mad, I get it. eyes on the road, Stevens. "
I wanted to keep Looking at him just to spite him but I didn't feel like having a car crash today. " you could have just asked for a ride you sneaky little shit."
He chuckled again. " actually I didn't need a ride. Seth offered one. I wanted to talk to you about the same thing you decided to drive me for."
My interest was peaked, and I wasnt' as mad as before. I deliberatly slowed down the car so we would have enough time to talk. " okay. So talk."
" you know when I talked to Tessa? "
" sure if talk is the new make out." He threw me a glare and I closed my mouth." okay, sorry. Please proceed."
" she said something odd that Night. She mentioned your dad's name."
I glanced his way, shocked.
"what? Why? What did she say? "
He sighed" I don't know, she was talking nonesense and just happened to mention something about how leah would have rathered taking advice from the almighty Mark stevens than from her."
" wait what? What does that even mean? " I had thought plenty of whatever it is he had to hide. I've gone over a lot of possibilities. Heck, I even thought he might be gay (and I don't even know What's that has to do with anything but it just crossed my mind). this, though. this I had not imagined. Why would dad know Leah Dunbirk? Is that why he likes Elias? Because he knew his sister? He knew she ran away?
Elias's sigh broke me out of my review. " I have no clue. I thought I'll hold off telling you until I'm sure but I don't even know where to start."
" Do I ask him?" I wasn't sure if I should. I wasn't sure if I'm gonna like the answers.
He studied me for a while making me squirm a bit. " what are you doing today? " that's what he settled on after atleast two minutes of silence?
It was a weird question. And my answer was even weirder
" Nothing. What do you have in mind?"
" I think its time we searched her room."