Lola, May, June and Temi are leaving the day after tomorrow and they have everything packed and ready to go. I'm feeling a little depressed. Austin has been hanging around a lot and I'm grateful for that, I'm thinking he has a sense that I'm going to breakdown very soon.
Chase has been his normal self and Adam and Macy have been well, after I'd duct taped him to the wall in his sleep- he's a pretty deep sleeper- he begged for forgiveness and I let Macy remove him from the wall not so softly. He landed on the floor with a loud thud and bent his wrist, lucky he didn't dislocate it or something.
I decided to take a month's break from work and enjoy everything I can throughout this fall, then have an automatic break for Christmas! Brilliant right!
After Mia had kept our deal and helped me sell at a wondrous price to my latest fan, ten of my artworks. It's not what I usually get but for a person who's just collecting my work directly for the first time, he did a pretty great job. I guess, Mia keeps track of all of my sales and everything. That girl might be a goofball but she is sure as hell smarter than me.
I stuff another spoon of ice cream into my mouth, focusing on the blank TV, the light slow song playing in the background.
I'm very much aware of the fact that Austin is staring at me from the door frame, watching me with amusement in his eyes. His lips curve upwards and he shakes his head, walking up to me as I try to get deeper into the couch. The blanket wraps around me, keeping me warm and cozy. I don't know what the guys are up to, but I feel like it's going to be something big but still here, in the condo.
"April, stand up, everyone feels guilty that they're leaving and you're not helping." He says and I pout, looking down at the tub of ice cream.
He's been around for sometime and during that time, he's gotten really close with everyone. I won't be surprised if I catch them making bets on how he would practically be living here when they leave for the tour.
But Chase would still be here so I think that's going to be out. For a college kid, he seems pretty over protective of me, his older sister. He's over protective of all of us, including Kira and that is something that's really funny, considering she's way older than the four of us.
It used to be a funny sight whenever he'd get up in Kira's now husband's face, back when they were still dating. It was a good laugh and I never would have imagined the guy to be so terrified of such a little kid.
But let's admit it, Chase is a pretty creepy kid.
"I'm sorry, I just can't help it, I feel like I have to get used to the feeling of them being away now than to actually face it when they're really gone." I whisper and his eyes soften.
Call me clingy but I really love my family and I don't like sharing, unless it's to play Cupid. Then you can have them all you want.
"I understand that, but you really need to go have fun with them, May looks like she's about to cry, and you know how much Temi is going to swear at you if that happens, she practically called dibs on May with your mom after the birth, she'll kill you!" He shrieks and I find myself laughing at him. I look back at the blank TV and sigh.
"Fine, I'll come down in some minutes. Let me get out of my PJs." I say and he smirks, looking at the tooth fairy pajamas I'd been wearing all day. It's the tooth fairy from Teen Titans Go! You know that cartoon?
I have the exact tattoo on my left shoulder, I got it when Adam decided it was a good idea to get me high. I took him to get a lip piercing when he was sober, talk about great revenge am I right?
Adam's a total wimp, he acts all high and mighty and tough, but he's really just a six foot tall boy mistaken for a man who will probably bawl his eyes out from a paper cut.
That's my best friend y'all!
Okay, I'm just rambling. I turn back to Austin and give him a sheepish smile before rushing out to my room.
I don't know what scares me most, him seeing me in only my PJs or him seeing me in the outfits I chose when I'm down, I think both.
I get into the bathroom and eye myself in the mirror.
This is not an I-just-woke-up-I-need-to-shower, no! This is an I-have-to-take-a-bath-since-it's-already-two-in-the-afternoon kinda thing.
I peel off my pajamas and turn on the shower, letting the cold bite at my skin to snap me out of whatever daze I'm in.
I think I'm going to be here for a while, because I don't see myself having the energy to get out of this shower in ten minutes.
•°•°•°|°•°•°•
"No! You do not get to do that! You lying, cheating bastard! How dare you!" I gasp, pointing an accusing finger and Storm rolls his eyes, slapping down the cards.
"It's as easy as that, you sore loser." He mutter sand I narrow my eyes.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing ma'am." He rushes out, eyes widening in fear.
"Good, and what are you looking at?" I ask when I find Austin staring at me with his lips quivering from holding back a laugh.
"You look so funny and hot when you're intimidating."
I lunge at him.
•°•°|°•°•
Storm is practically bringing the house down with his loud whooping and Adam is throwing his fists in the air as we watch Austin walk around the house on his hands, his feet in the air.
We've been playing a lot of games and this one is about who can beat Storm's record of a headstand spin. The girls are out since they do not want to destroy their hard work on their hair. Wimps.
But not Macy, she's preggers.
"That was awesome dude!" Adam whoops and high-fives Austin, grinning like a fool.
"Yep, on planet boy land, you could have had all the blood rush to your head and possibly bleed to death from your nostrils!" I shriek and Storm passes me a creepy smile.
"You didn't care when I did the head stand, why are you complaining now to lover boy?"
"I see a balding spot in your nearest future." I sing and dramatically shake my head.
°•°•°|°•°•°
I throw my popcorn at Adam, yelling "Boo!" At the top of my voice. He rolls his eyes and smacks my face lightly with his jacket and I huff at him, glaring.
"I cannot believe I let you marry my sister, you are a disgrace to dance." Temi gasps and throws some chips at him. He dodges and pouts at her, causing Austin to chuckle.
"Alright lover boy, your turn." June says and I expect Strom to stand up but when I see Austin taking position, I know that this isn't going to be funny for the both of us anymore.
So we're playing a game where the judge, Macy gets to pick any random song and whoever is chosen has to dance to it.
Adam, Mia and May have gone, and now, Austin.
Gulp.
The song starts playing and I hide my face in my hands, scared to look up but when I hear the loud whooping from Adam beside me, I seperate my fingers and stare at him, which leads to gawking because, damn! He can dance!
Why the heck did he not go for dance?
Macy stops the song and stands up, looking into his eyes as she says, "Marry me!" Adam gasps beside me and is immediately flying off the couch.
"But babe, you said you loved me!" He whines.
"But you can't dance, he, my dear friend will waltz me off into the night, whisking me, and making that oh so perfect dip!" She sighs dreamily and I burst out laughing at the red tinge on Austin's ears.
"Oh, haha." He mutters and sits next to me, shoving my shoulder lightly. I pinch his cheeks just as Macy calls up Storm, the freakishly tall basketball player.
"Watch me sweep everyone off the floor Shelly." He winks at Lola and she blushes. Awn, cute!
The song starts playing and he starts doing a sexy dance, wiggling his butt in her face, she smacks him and he scoots out of the way before another makes contact with him. He starts gyrating, or I guess that's what he was going for. But in reality, be looks more like a worm dug up from the warmth of the earth. It's blinding.
"As much as I love you Storm, I don't think I want to scar my life anymore than this." Macy says and everyone laughs before she adds, "Only your baby here deserves to see that, right before the strip tease I know you're dying to give her."
I didn't think it was possible but Lola turns beer red.
°•°•°|°•°•°
We're all cramped on the floor of the living room space, Chase beside me looking as amused as Storm, as Lola thinks deeply of the next letter.
We're playing hangman, and Austin is so close to winning this game. After Lola, I'm next and I'm pretty sure what my letter is.
"I'll just crash and say X." She says and Austin smirks, adding another hand to the hangman.
"Aw come on!" Macy cries, she hasn't won a single round and I think she's starting to get pissed off. Lola May just be the unlucky person to receive it tonight.
"Sorry." She mutter, smiling nervously.
"April?" Austin asks, looking into my eyes.
Shoot, I've totally forgotten my letter.
"Uh, um, I think I'll go with Q?" I ask and he rolls his eyes, writing the letter once. Phew, that was a close one.
I feel like Superman! I didn't even have to crack my head to get that! I'm on cloud nine!
"Lucky on there, miss lover boy." Strom teases and Chase snorts from beside me.
Suddenly, Lola's phone starts blowing up so loud, I shriek and place my hand over my chest, breathing hard and feeling the tears pricking my eyes.
"Is- is she about to cry?" I hear Austin ask and Chase starts laughing while Storm nods, looking at me funny.
I look and find Adam asleep, hmm, he must've fallen asleep during the game.
I stand up and shake my head. "Anyone want anything? I'm going to the kitchen." I say and Temi nods.
"Just water, thanks." She says and looks back at Lola, her brows furrowed slightly.
"I'll have some orange juice, and water." Macy says and I look at the rest of them. They shake their head and I nod, walking into the kitchen. I pull open the fridge and grab two bottles of water for Temi and Macy and then some orange juice. I grab myself a granola bar and walk back to the living room, hanging the items to the people who requested them.
I take my position and look around.
"Where'd Chase go?" I ask and May looks at me from her bangs.
"He said he was feeling sleepy." She says and I nod. Chase has always had a bad habit of sleeping. If he doesn't sleep immediately he starts feeling sleepy, he won't sleep a wink at all throughout the night and end up being like a zombie on her period.
I lean my back against the couch and watch as Temi and Lola engaged in a silent conversation about something they'd probably tell us later.
Storm is arguing with Macy on why it's a good idea to tickle Adam's nose with a feather in his most vulnerable state.
He's such a goof.
"Hey, wanna share that granola bar?" I hear a voice ask and I look and see Austin eyeing the granola bar in my hands.
"Why should I?"
"Sharing is caring after all." He shrugs, moving closer to me.
"And who says I have to care?" I ask, looking into his eyes. He stared down at me before parting his lips.
"Maybe you shouldn't care at all and just hand over the granola bar, it'll be easier for the both of us." He says, his voice a little deeper than it usually is as he moves closer to me, his face barely inches away from mine.
"Oh, I'll make sure it won't be easy for you." I whisper and blink, still staring at his face.
Click.
And that's the sound of Macy's camera going off, the love I have for these people.