As Lucas drove to my house, he decided that it would be absolutely hilarious to press every button known to man. When we finally arrived, I jump out of the car as fast as I could and walked toward the door.
"What's the rush", He asked as he grinned from ear to ear.
I gave a mean 'you know what you did' look. He laughed. I unlocked the door and walked inside. Lucas right behind me, he closes the door and we went to my room and waited for Alice and Jesse to show up.
"Where are they," I asked aloud while looking at Find A Friend as I lazily plopped down on my bed.
"Looks like they're at the store", he said with his phone already opened on the app as he sat in my hammock in the corner.
"Ooh, text them and tell them to get some ice cream".
"Ew, you want ice cream??? I want gummies".
"I swear you're a child", I said as I rolled my eyes.
"What can I say? I'm an original man", he said with a janky British accent, dramatically grabbing his chest and closing his eyes.
"Plus you literally just said you wanted ice cream, so technically that makes you a child too".
"I hate you".
I grabbed my speaker off the dresser and turned it on.
"Nope, no", Lucas said as he got up and snatched it from me.
"Dude!!!"
"No, you're taste in music is garbage".
"No it's not you ass", I said as I snatched it back.
I put the speaker back on the dresser and layed back down. When I connected my phone, I could see Lucas side-eyeing me as he sat back down.
"It better be good", he said looking back at his phone.
"Whatever".
I began to play Afternoon Daydream (an underrated alternative rock band) on shuffle.
Lucas looked at me
"Yes?"
"Nothing".
As I listened to the music, I wandered off into my thoughts. I thought about Adrain. I don't know why, but I did. I thought about the first time I saw him. I thought about the way he looked at me that day in class and about the way he held his hand out and reintroduced himself. I thought about it all. By the time I had realized what I had done, the words 'hey loser' were sent to a number I didn't recognize. However, I had happened to be very familiar with its owner. The sound of the front door opening helped me make a full recovery from my thoughts.
"We come bearing gifts", Alice said as she entered the room with Jesse.
Lucas: "Awesome! Jesse, toss 'em".
Jesse: "I got you big dog", he said while tossing the bag of gummies to Lucas.
Alice came and layed next to me handing me my ice cream and Jesse grabbed the chair at my desk and moved it so he could sit over by Lucas. As we began talking about our random topic of the night, my phone buzzed.
Hey Gorgeous, I didn't think you'd ever reach out.
I told you I was gonna text you.
Yeah, but you say a lot of things.
Point proven.
Well, what's up?
Nothing, I just wanted to make sure you actually had some form of communication.
What do you mean? I legit gave you my number.
First of all, you didn't 'give' me anything. You planted it on me like a terrorists. Second of all, that could've been a code to anything you heathen.
Yeah, yeah. So, what was all that 'next Saturday' talk about?
You said you wanted to get to know the neighborhood.
Yeah and.....
Well, I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you.
I'm in.
Wait, but you don't even know what it is yet.
Doesn't matter. I'll be with you, right?
Clearly.
Then that's all I need to know. 😃
You're disgustingly cheesy and cheesy makes me violent.
Good. 😏
Smh. 🤦♀️
So, what are you up to?
Nothing rn.
OOOO, ARE YOU AT HOME??????
Maybe…
Could you be a doll and come give me a hand with something, please? 🙏
No. 😀
Please? I wanna put this painting up before my dad gets home.
UGGGHHHHHHH fine, BUT only for the sake of your dad.
Yay, ok see you in a bit! 🤗
Mhm. 😒
I got up off of the bed, put my phone in my pocket, and set my ice cream on the dresser. As I was heading toward my room door, Alice looked up at me.
Alice: "Hey, where are you going?"
Vi: "Oh, um. I'll be right back".
The boys looked up at me in confusion. Alice locked eyes with me in wonder at where I was going. After a few more seconds of searching, she answered her question.
Alice: "Ohhhhhhh, wait why?"
Vi: "It's nothing. It's dumb. I'll be back".
I left the house and walk down the street. When I arrived at the door, there was loud music echoing through the house. I knocked on the door loudly and waited for Stripe to answer it. The music stopped and footsteps approached the door. When it opened, he stood there with that same black hat he wore backwards when we first locked eyes. He was in a black muscle tee and black basketball shorts to match. He had these odd looking tan slides on too. He towered over me, his biceps were perfectly defined. He looked extremely intimidating and dangerous. He was definitely a lot bigger than i had realized. It was truly something.
"Well look at what we have here", he said with a huge smile that stretched across his face.
"Can I come in or what", I said trying not to brake character.
"After you".
I walked inside and he shut the door behind me.
"Wow".
"What?"
"Your house is a lot larger on the inside".
"Yeah", he responded questionably while looking me up and down.
"Ew, where is said painting", I asked after catching him staring.
He smiled.
"It's in the kitchen".
We walked through the his living room and to his kitchen where boxes covered the floor of what looked like a dining area.
"You guys are still unpacking?"
"Yeah, with my dad in and out of work, it's taking us a little longer to get this stuff put up".
"I know the feeling".
"Your dad's a workaholic too?"
"You have no idea".
There was a painting on the floor by the fridge. Adrian walked over and picked it up.
"This is gonna go in the dining room".
"Ok, how can i help?"
He looked at me and grinned.
"I'm gonna put you on my shoulders and I need to put a nail right there and hang the painting up".
He pointed at a spot on the wall.
"Haha, your so funny".
He looked at me with a little bit of confusion and laughter. I figured that indicated he wasn't kidding.
"Wait, your serious?????"
"Yeah...".
"No, no. There's now way. Your like 7'5, why can't you do it yourself?"
"Because I'm 6'4 and I can't reach it", he said as he laughed.
"Well I don't why you think I'd make a difference. I'm 5'2!!! I'm sorry but I can't help you".
I began to walk toward the door when a hand grabbed mine. I turned back and looked at him.
"Wait, Just help me with this one thing, please".
I thought about it for a second. He looked me in my eyes and I could tell he was desperate. It was just a painting so I don't understand why it mattered so much, but I guess I'll help.
"You better not drop me or I promise you'll be sorry", I said as I snatched my hand back and walked toward the painting.
"Aye Aye Captain".
He stood in front of me.
"Turn around", he said sternly looking into what felt like my soul.
I didn't even think to question him. When I turned around, he took a step closer sliding his hands around my waist. I couldn't breath.
"Ready?"
"Huh", I said still in shock from his touch.
"1…2…..3!"
He lifted me up and set me on his shoulders.
I gasped.
"Hey, your ok, your ok. I got you. Your actually a lot light than what I thought you'd be, respectfully ofcourse", he said, holding onto my thighs.
It took me a minute to catch my breath but once I did, I slapped his hands.
"Hey, knock it off".
"What? I can't just not hold onto you. You'll fall".
"Well, quit trying to get hansey and move your hands down".
He slid his hands down toward my knees after handing me the nail and hammer.
"Ok, where did you want it", I asked while holding the nail to the wall.
"Lower".
"Here?"
"A little lower".
"Right here?"
"A little more and...…right there".
I began to hammer the nail into the spot. I noticed that the nail placement was a lot lower than what I thought it was going to be, but it could've been because I up so high. He handed me the painting and I put it on the wall. Then he helped me down and I stood back to get a better look at our effort.
"Hey, wait a second, go stand by the painting", I demanded.
He began to grin as he walked over and stood by it.
"You dirty little liar. You could've totally did this yourself".
"Haha, you caught me", he said as he awkwardly giggled and put his hands up.
I immediately went for the door but he beat me to it.
"OK, yeah I could've, but I wanted to see you today".
"Move".
"Just hear me out".
"No, I don't want hear anything you have to say right now you damn cockroach! You could've killed me".
"But I didn't, see. You still look just as good as when you got here. Maybe even better".
I shoved him out of the way and opened the door.
"I should kill you, but I'm gonna take a deep breath and plot my revenge instead", I said as I smirked and began to walk back to my house.
I made it about half way when I heard his dumb voice.
"We still on for Saturday", he questionably skrieched.
I turned around, flipped him off and began walking again. When I got back inside, I heard laughter.
"What's going on in here", I asked as I entered my room.
Alice: "Vi, you have to watch this", she pleaded as she wiped her tears.
She showed me a video of a cat that got a little too close to the ceiling fan.
Vi: "Alice, that is not funny", I said trying to hold back my laughter.
Jesse was on the floor holding his stomach he had laughed so hard.
Lucas: "Where have you been?"
His eyes dead set on me.
Vi: "I…..had to help a dumbass, why does it matter?"
Lucas: "It doesn't".
Vi: "Then mind your business", I said with a smile.
Lucas: "Whatever, well I'm gonna head out. It's already 12 and we have class tomorrow. Well, today, so night losers".
Lucas got up and left.
Alice: "Yeah, we better head out too".
Jesse: "Yeah, goodnight".
Jesse started heading toward the door. Alice got up and looked at me.
She whispered, "You better tell me everything, I am not playing".
"I will, just go", I smiled as I whispered back.
She followed Jesse and they left. Before I sat down, I threw away my melted ice cream and cleaned up the mess. I took my shoes off and layed back onto my bed. I then took a deep breath and before I knew it, I crashed out.