Mia
After our Nerf fight, James seemed normal. I on the other hand was not.
He had some work to finish so he went to his study. I picked up a book and sat on the couch to read it in silence.
This story was interesting. I could totally use it to distract myself.
I was so engrossed in my book that I didn't hear footsteps coming my way.
"Hey, listen my friends are coming for dinner tonight you don't mind right?"
I jumped a little. I turned towards him with a little frown on my face.
"Why would I mind? It's your house after all."
He shrugged, "I just felt like I needed to ask you this. After all, you are here to rest."
"I don't mind really, and that is very thoughtful of you." I smiled at him.
He smiled back, "You have a beautiful smile."
"James."
"No really! You look beautiful when you smile also while you are not. Wait I don't mean you don't need to smile, I'm blabbering I'll stop." He smiled sheepishly.
I giggled a bit and he looked up at me laughing too.
"Umm... So my friends Ryan Wilson and Naomi Carter, we all have been friends back from academy days. I and Ryan were childhood friends. Ryan and Naomi got married last year."
I nodded, I know that already but he doesn't need to know that.
"We go to each other's houses every weekend. Today is my turn. They'll be coming here by 8."
I nodded again.
"What will you cook?"
"I'll have to look in the kitchen first. I forgot to go shopping yesterday."
"Can I do anything to help you except for cooking, I don't really know how to cook." I looked down.
"You wanna accompany me to the store?"
"Yes."
I got to freshen up when I noticed what I was wearing. I can't go outside like this.
I stepped outside where James was standing with his keys in his hand.
"Oh, you are ready? Let's go."
"Wait."
He turned back to me. He nodded to me to continue.
Couldn't he see what was I wearing?
"James, I can't go outside like this."
"Like what?"
I looked at him wide-eyed, can't he see?
"Look at what I'm wearing."
"What? It's my T-shirt and my boxer shor...." He trailed off.
"My bad. I didn't notice. Wait."
He got inside and ruffled his closet I could hear him throwing things.
"I couldn't find anything that could fit you exactly so I think this might do."
He handed me a pair of sweats that had strings at least I could try to make them fit.
I smiled and went inside his bedroom to change.
These were large, his t-shirt and his sweats. I looked ridiculous.
"James!!!"
"What happened?"
"When I come outside you will not laugh. Am I clear?"
"Yes ma'am."
I stepped out glaring at him so that he wouldn't laugh but that was of no use.
He laughed.
He laughed so hard that he was wiping his tears of joy.
"You said you wouldn't laugh!"
"I... I'm sorry I couldn't help myself... You look so cute."
He said between his fits of laughter.
"I don't look cute. Stop laughing." I glared daggers at him but it was like he had an invisible shield around him.
"You do..... You just don't know it yet."
He stepped near me and put his hand around my shoulder.
"Hands off me mister." I shrugged out of his hold.
I punched him in his stomach before heading towards the door.
"Ow, wait for me!"
I didn't look behind.
"You punch good but you need much more than one punch to put me down."
I didn't reply and headed ahead towards the parking lot.
"I don't have my car right now so we have to take my bike."
"This dead bed?"
"It's not dead bed it's my sweet baby."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night."
"Come on, it's fun!" He handed me a helmet and put one on his head. When he was done he turned to look around me where I was struggling with the strap of the helmet.
"Here, let me help."
His fingers brushed my cheek as he locked the strap with a click of a button. I am pretty sure my face was heating up. His fingers lingered a bit on my cheek before his eyes widened a little and he removed his hand and turned around to sit on his motorcycle.
"Hop on."
I slid my leg across the side of the bike and adjusted my backside a bit to sit somewhat comfortably, this is going to be a nightmare. I supported myself with the help of his shoulders.
"You might wanna hold on tight."
I could sense the smugness in his voice.
"Why not." I hissed.
I put a hand on his shoulders and hold his shirt in a tight grip.
He started the engine and the dead bed roared. He sped outside the parking lot. The speed was too much for me. I squealed and turned my grip towards his waist. I slid my hands and locked them on his stomach. If I fell I would take him with me. I had no intentions to die today.
I could hear him laugh a bit but I could've been mistaking it as the roar of the dead bed.
"If I die, James, my ghost will haunt you in the dark," I growled at him.
"I'll just turn on the light, you'll be a beautiful ghost after all." He turned and gave me a smug look.
"Look ahead while driving." I smacked his head or actually his helmet, "Ow! Thickhead."
I could hear him laughing very clearly now.
After a deadly ride, I was sure our destination was hell, the dead bed finally stopped. I hadn't noticed this yet and my grip was still iron tight around his waist.
There were no vibrations of the bike that I could feel, no horns, no movement whatsoever, it meant that the bike stopped!
I looked up and saw we were in the parking lot and James just sat there scrolling through his phone.
"James!" I pinched him.
"Ow! Hey!"
"What hey? Why didn't you tell me we reached?"
He smirked, "I was just enjoying the moment, figured you would notice, and see you did notice! You are smart."
"Smartass. " I murmured.
"I heard that."
"It was meant to be heard."
I looked down and saw my hands were still around his waist. I quickly removed them and jumped out of the bike as if it had burnt me.
He climbed down gracefully and put his keys inside his pocket.
"Let's go," I said and he nodded and together we head inside the store.
"So, I need some veggies, some snacks to munch on later, some dairy and don't forget to get pop tarts."
"Okay, I'll get the snacks and your pop tarts and you get the other things I have no idea what to buy there. As for snacks, I'm a champ there."
"If you want you can join me we'll get the snacks later." He suggested.
"Nah, there's no use. I'll not understand anything there as I have no interest in the culinary area."
I took the shopping cart and headed towards the snacks section.
After 8 long minutes I was done with every mouthwatering snack I knew ever existed. The only thing left was his pop tarts.
The only problem was I couldn't reach it. I was not that small but this was placed really high. Who places snacks so high? Amateurs.
I tried to reach it but couldn't, then I saw James coming into the aisle.
"Need a hand?"
"I'm good."
"You are short, let me help."
"I don't need any help."
I hold the racks and pulled myself up in order to reach the top shelf.
"You'll hurt yourself." James sighed.
"I'm fine." I huffed.
I reached the top shelf and pulled one pack of pop tarts. I threw it in the cart and jumped down doing the iron man pose, I looked up and smirked at James.
He just shook his head but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "Come let's go."
He gave me his hand and I took it. He pulled me up and we headed to the billing counter.
He placed the shopping bags on the handle of his bike, gave me the helmet, put his helmet, got on the bike, and nodded his head telling me to climb behind him.
"I'd walk back home thank you very much."
"Come on you'll be alright here."
"Nope, it's totally fine."
"You do know it's a long walk from here right?"
"Ah, I'll manage."
"Mia, just hop on."
I contemplated for a minute then decided I was already tired enough, it didn't matter if I fell and die. I'll take James with me, he already irritated me so much.
I jumped behind him and gripped my arms around his waist like before.
"Ready?"
"Yes."
We reached his apartment and he told me to freshen up it was already 6:30 his friends would be here soon.
I came into the kitchen and saw he was busy cooking. I gave him a smile and sat on the kitchen stool.
"Can I help? I can't cook exactly but is there anything else I can do?"
"You can cut the tomatoes, the coriander, and the broccoli while I'll do the bell pepper, onions, and garlic."
"Broccoli?" I scrunched my nose.
"You don't like it?"
"Any sane person doesn't like broccoli."
"Ryan does, that means he's not sane." He grinned.
"What are you making by the way?"
"Ramen noodles, we all love it." He wet his lips with his tongue. Which didn't affect me, Nah not in the least. I mean who wants to kiss such a handsome Sergeant? Not me at least.
I chopped the veggies for him while he boiled the noodles.
He taught me how to make it while I concentrated on him and not the gas flames.
He heated the vegetable oil in a medium skillet and sauté onion, garlic, bell pepper, and broccoli.
"I'm doing this to make them soft."
"Hmm."
Then, he prepared the sauce by adding soy sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and garlic.
He drained the cooked ramen noodles and tossed them with sauce. Finally, he topped the noodles stir fry with chopped green onions.
It smelt so good that I wanted to eat it right then and there but I controlled myself.
"You wanna have a taste?"
"Yes, please. " I replied too quickly.
He handed me a spoonful and I felt the heavenly taste bursting in my taste buds.
"Mmm, your mama raised you right Miller." I moaned in delight.
He chuckled, "Glad you liked it."
I realized how weird my moan must have sounded and I turned red in embarrassment.
"What about dessert?" I changed the topic.
"Naomi will prepare something, she loves to bake."
"Okay."
I looked at the time it was 15 minutes till 8. They'll be here soon. Will I be able to face three cops without letting my emotions in hand? I was stressed out.
"I'll go get freshen up. " James said.
I nodded absentmindedly.
I hope that I don't mess up.