by D. K Lake
"Haha. I'll be fine on my skates."
"Good, I'll go get my skateboard and we can go."
Mitchel reappears holding his skateboard as he pulls on a maroon sweatshirt over his head.
"Where's your hoodie?" he asks.
"I don't know, I couldn't find it."
"It must still be in JT's car. Just take one of mine." Mitchel says, lifting the same hoodie I have worn before off a coat hook in the hallway.
My face lights up and he gives me a funny look.
"What?"
"Nothing." I smile as I pull on his hoodie, sniffing it as I lower it over my head.
"Ok, why are you doing that?"
"Doing what?"
"Sniffing my hoodie?" he says with a smirk.
"No idea what you're talking about."
"You were doing it last night. You wouldn't stop sniffing me after I got out of the shower."
"I like the way you smell, alright?" I say, opening the front door.
"Gee, thanks. I think." He smiles to himself as he picks up his wallet and keys off the side table.
"Ready?" he asks.
"Yup. Do you think you'll be able to keep up on that thing?" I point to his skateboard.
"Do you think you'll be able to keep up with those wheel things?"
"I'm pretty fast. Try and catch me!" I laugh and skate down the path, leaving Mitchel to lock the door.
"You better run!" he shouts.
"I think you mean skate!" I shout back and I can hear him laughing as he follows me.
We decide to have breakfast at the 60s style diner on the edge of town. We make it to the diner in one piece, it's busy for a Saturday morning, full of people all sitting around, on laptops, in groups, and there a lot of teenagers. We find a booth near the window and Mitchel orders pancakes and I order a fry-up. We chat about all sorts of things. His favorite color is blue, his middle name is Ezra, he can play the piano, his favorite animal is the gecko, he loves drawing but never shows his work to anyone, he's dyslexic and has trouble with some of his spellings, he's a Sci-Fi nerd at heart and has a thing for The X-Files and reading Sci-Fi fiction, bananas make him sick, he's addicted to Coke (as in the soda), he smokes although he shouldn't because he has asthma and it makes it ten times worse, and he's failing a lot of his classes.
We eat breakfast and I offer to help him with his homework that he's having trouble with.
We head back to Mitchel's and when we get back, JT's Mustang and Willa's black Jeep are in the drive so we let ourselves in quietly. Willa is already in bed sleeping off her late night, and JT has gone back to bed, and Boston must have gone home. Mitchel suggests we go back to mine because we won't have to keep the noise down and we won't get yelled at, 'cause apparently, JT gets in a right grump when he doesn't get his sleep. I collect my stuff and Mitchel packs his school bag up and he hands it to me while he sneaks into his brother's room. I wonder what he's doing in there. I hear JT mumbling, his voice is so deep I can hear him down the hallway.
Mitchel pulls JT's door shut and walks toward me, holding a set of keys in the air, jingling them.
"No way." I say, grinning, pleased I don't have to skate all the way home. My legs are already tired after this morning's little trip out to the diner.
"Let's go." Mitchel takes his bag and holds the door open for me.
We arrive back at mine and sit in the living room because I don't have a TV in my bedroom. I put music videos on in the background and help Mitchel with his homework while I work on my history assignment, then we take turns reading out loud our set reading for English. Mitchel lets himself out for a smoke while I make us some drinks. I find one can of Coke in the fridge but not much else. I don't know what I'm going to eat for dinner. There is half a loaf of bread left and some peanut butter so sandwiches it is then.
My phone rings as I place the can on the coffee table. I dig it out of my pocket and see Nessie's name flashing on the screen.
"Hi." I answer.
"Are you still drunk?" she asks, but I can tell she's in good mood by her tone.
"No. Alcohol-free. I've been drinking water since breakfast."
"I've never heard you so drunk on the phone before...it's kinda funny, you get your words muddled and say 'fuck' a lot. You have a bad mouth, young lady."
"Ugh. Please don't remind me. I'm sorry if I said anything to offend you."
"Well, you openly expressed your opinions about Cole last night."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"It's cool, I already knew you didn't like him. But maybe best not to call him a rapist at school, though."
I run my fingers through my ponytail thinking it will help in some way to erase last night from my memory.
"You still with him?" she asks.
"We're just hanging out at mine, finishing off homework and our English reading."
"Like a study date?"
"Kinda, I guess."
"So what are you like, his weekend girl and Phoebe is his school girl?"
"No, it's not like that."
"That's what it looks like to me, come Monday morning he'll be back on Phoebe like an STD rash on some skank's pus-"
"Alright!" I laugh. "And you say I have a bad mouth."
"So are you with him tomorrow?"
"I don't know we haven't talked about it. I think he'll probably go home tonight and I'll see him at school on Monday."
"Hmm...like I believe that. You're just lucky your mom is away. Have you heard anything from her?"
"Nope. But Paige messaged me this afternoon to see if I was still alive. Her text read: Are you still alive or passed out in a field dying from alcohol poisoning? If so do I need to call for help? I messaged her a few too many times last night to inform her I was really drunk and that I think she needs to pull her pencil out of her ass and come and have some fun."
Nessie laughs. "I bet that went down well?"
"She said something along the lines of I hope you get lost in a field and get eaten by cows."
"What the...?"
"I know, I think I pissed her off last night. But she's the one that messaged me first thing today to check up on me so I know she cares really."
"You two have such a dysfunctional relationship."
"Tell me about it. So what are your plans for the rest of the weekend?"
"Stephen is repainting his bedroom and I said I'd help 'cause I have nothing else to do."
"Where's Cole?"
"Cole is with his family doing family stuff."
"So are you and him getting serious?"
"Err...just the usually heavy make-out sessions and a little light petting. When we're at his, his mom won't leave us alone and she makes him keep his door open."
"Probably for the best. You're not thinking about, you know?"
"Maybe...not yet, though."
"Good, don't rush into anything, once your V-card is gone it's gone for good."
"The same goes for you. Are you two sharing a bed?"
"Yes but it's not like that. I mean, it is like that, but we've only been sleeping together not...having sex." I whisper.
"Have you done anything else yet? Come on, I need details!"
"No." I hear the back door open and I quickly end the call. "Look, I have to go. I'll see you on Monday."
"Oh, yay! Back to school. Can't we just get expelled and stay off permanently?"
"Nooo, I can't get expelled. So no fights on Monday."
"Fine by me, but if that orange tart so much as looks at us in a funny way I will..."
"Yeah, ok." Mitchel says, talking on the phone as he walks into the living room.
"Hanging up now." I end the call and turn to look at Mitchel. He ends his own call and falls onto the couch next to me, rubbing his eyes.
"You tired?" I ask.
"I didn't get much sleep last night. I kept waking up to check on you. I was worried you were going to throw up and choke in your sleep."
"Oh, sorry."
"It's ok, I just can't wait to go
to bed tonight."
I pop open the Coke and change the TV channel. I only get a few sips before Mitchel lifts it out of my hand and drains most of it before handing it back to me.
"Who were you talking to?" he asks.
"Nessie."
"Are you two still good?"
"Uh-huh. Whatever I said last night didn't bother her too much, she was fine with me. Who were you on the phone to?"
Mitchel leans forward and rests his elbow on his knees.
"JT wants me with him tonight to make a few runs."
I lean closer and rest my chin on his shoulder.
"You leaving soon?"
"Yes, is that alright?"
"I think I can survive without you."
"I was thinking I could pick up some dinner for us both while I'm out."
"You're coming back?" I say, trying to hide my excitement.
"Is that a problem?" He turns to look at me and lightly kisses the side of my face.
"No. I just thought you would have had enough of me after last night?"
He shakes his head and brushes another kiss over my lips.
"So what time will you be back?" I run my hand over his back and hug him around his waist.
"I don't know, could be late. Have you got anything you can eat now?"
"I was going to make peanut butter sandwiches."
"Do you have any jam?"
"Yes, why?"
"Don't suppose you could make me one before JT gets here?"
"I think I can do that if you're buying me dinner. How is JT getting here if his car is here?"
"Mom is dropping him off."
"Ok, two sandwiches coming up."
I get up off the couch and he grabs my hand as I walk by and follows me into the kitchen and watches me as I make us both a sandwich.
"Any preference on what you want later?" he asks.
"Nope, whatever you want I'll have the same. I'm not fussy when it comes to food."
"I can see why. There's hardly anything to eat in this place."
"Mom usually does the grocery shopping or Paige sometimes picks up a few things, but Paige is staying with Emily until Tuesday and I don't think Mom is back until Tuesday either."
"And what will you eat until then, dog biscuits?" Mitchel picks up a box of dog treats off the counter. "Why do you even have these? You don't have a dog."
"They're for Charlie."
"Who?"
"The dog next door. My sister feels sorry for him and is always feeding him treats through the fence. I think she likes that dog more than me."
I cut the sandwiches in half and hand him two pieces just as there is a knock on the front door.
"That will be JT. I'll see you later" He leans over and kisses me on the cheek and then pops a sandwich in his mouth. I follow him to the front door where he lets himself out and Boston is waiting on the other side. JT is waiting in the driveway, leaning against his Mustang. Boston gives me a small smile before following Mitchel down the path. I watch them pull away and then I close the door, already feeling a little lonely. I wasn't used to being in the house on my own, usually, Paige is somewhere close by, even if she doesn't talk to me.
I clean up my mess in the kitchen and then tidy my school books and homework away. Mitchel has left his bag here so I put all of his stuff away for him. I settle down on the couch and watch some more Teen Wolf...ok, I'm borderline obsessed with the show.
Afterward, I check on the neighbor's dog before it gets too dark, just to make sure he has enough food and water, and I feed him a few extra treats and notice he's looking a little chunky from all the extra treats.
I run a bath using Mom's special bubble bath that is reserved only for her and soak in the tub for an hour reading bad boy stories on Wattpad.
I know, I already have enough drama in my life, but what can I say...I love a bad boy story.
After my bath, I change into a pair of comfy PJs because I'm not one of those girls that dress up all fancy to stay indoors just to impress a boy. I'd rather lounge around the house in PJs than jeans. I also tidy my room. If Mitchel is bringing food back here I guess he's going to sleep over as well. I don't mind, but I only have a single bed, not that I'm complaining. The idea of being pressed up against Mitchel all night makes my cheeks flush red and my erratic heart to skip a beat.
I quietly laugh to myself as I tidy my room. Am I being stupid for letting him into my life? Can I trust him?
I think back to last night and the way he took care of me, and there aren't many boys that would have done that. He isn't so bad. Maybe we can really make a go of this, whatever this is. Are we together? I have no idea. I had overheard him telling JT that he's with me now, so does that mean I'm his girlfriend now?
The thought of it has me smiling like that Cheshire cat out of Alice in Wonderland. And does it make me a terrible person if I say I'm actually looking forward to next week and seeing the look on Phoebe's face when she sees me with Mitchel?
I go back downstairs around 9 o'clock and turn on all the lights and flick through the movie channels. As I'm looking through the programs my eyes start to feel heavy so I lay down on the couch and the next thing I know I can hear someone letting themselves in the back door.
I panic, remembering I hadn't locked the back door. I grab the nearest thing I can which happens to be a cushion off the couch and chuck it as soon as I see a dark figure appear in the doorway.
"Whoa." Mitchel laughs, dodging the cushion and pulling his hood down so I can see him better.
I sit up and rub my eyes. "Sorry. I forgot you were coming back. I thought you were an intruder."
"Well, this intruder bought you dinner." He holds up a bag. "You still hungry?" he asks, placing the bag on the coffee table.
"Starving! I'll get some plates." I smile, waking up next to Mitchel and take-out is probably the highlight of my miserable week.
We eat dinner and after Mitchel falls asleep on the couch. I collect my bedding from upstairs and come back down and stay with him and curl up next to him under my covers.
40
I can hear a phone ringing but I'm so tired I ignore it and doze in and out of sleep. But the noise won't stop and I eventually open my eyes. I fell asleep at the end of the couch and my neck now has a major knot in it. Mitchel is curled up at the other end fast asleep, I can feel our legs are tangled together and we're sharing the covers between us. I sit up and search around for the annoying noise. I know it's not my phone so it must be Mitchel's. I climb over him and search for the phone. I finally locate it in his pocket.
"Mitchel...your phone!" I say, shaking him.
How does he not hear it?
"What? What happened?" Mitchel mumbles.
"Your phone is ringing!" He looks around confused. "In your pocket." I giggle.
He flashes me a smile and pulls out his phone.
"Yello. Hey, man....Nah, just woke up. Why, what time is it?"
I glance at the wall and am shocked to see that it is already 11.30 am.
"Uh...yeah, I don't see why not, I'll just ask her." Mitchel says, looking up at me.
He lifts the phone away from his ear.
"My mom's doing a roast do you want to go?"
"Roast?" I say. I've only just woken up but I'm already ravenous.
"Yes...chicken, roasties, stuffing, and veg. The full works." He smiles.
I try not to drool all over him and nod my head.
"Come and get us." Mitchel says and hangs up the phone. "Get dressed." Mitchel taps my leg and I climb off of the couch and hurry upstairs to change. I quickly use the bathroom and brush my teeth, and pull my messy bun out and let my hair fall around my shoulders, it doesn't look too bad so I leave it loose and hurry downstairs, grabbing Mitchel's hoodie off the back of the couch.
"Ready?" Mitchel asks, picking up his bag.
"Yup." I grab my house keys and phone.
"I hope you're hungry. Mom sort of goes all out on Sunday."
"You have a roast every Su
nday?"
"Yup, for as long as I can remember."
"Not fair. When can I move in?" I joke.
"How 'bout next week." He replies with a little twinkle in his eyes and a smile on his lips, opening the front door for me.
I think he's joking but his eyes look serious.
"You'd be bored of me by the end of the week and your snoring would drive me mad."
"My snoring?" he smirks.
"Hey! I don't snore." I playfully smack him as I lock the front door.
"Much." Mitchel pulls me over to him and hooks his arm around my shoulders and kisses the side of my head and I slide my arm around his waist. We walk down the path together and I love how we fit so well together. He's taller but just the right height to drape his arm over my shoulders and I fit snugly under his chin as he wraps his arms around me to keep me warm while we wait for JT.
Five minutes later JT pulls up and we hop into the back together and drive back to Mitchel's.
When we arrive Willa has a full spread laid out on the kitchen countertops. I offer to help but Willa shoos me away and I wait with Boston on the couch watching TV, while JT and Mitchel do everything she asks.
I switch seats and sit in the armchair, Boston sits on a beanbag, Willa and Mitchel sit on the couch, and JT sits at the counter on a stool behind us.
I listen to Willa as she talks about JT and Mitchel and what they got up to as youngsters. Mitchel gets embarrassed, JT groans a lot and Boston can't stop laughing.
There is a lot of food left over and I help myself to seconds because I don't know where my next meal is going to come from.
Mitchel takes a shower while I'm still picking at leftovers. JT and Boston load the dishwasher and I settle down on the couch and before I know it, Mitchel is waking me up and it's seven in the evening.
Willa has made snacks and by snacks I mean, she's made chocolate chip and blueberry muffins. I thank Willa for feeding me and she wraps up a bunch of muffins for me to take home and JT gives Mitchel and I a ride back to mine.
When we get back to mine Mitchel comes with me over to next door to check on Charlie, and we take him for a walk around the block and spend twenty minutes in the park playing fetch with him until it starts to get dark and we head back.
I feed Charlie and top up his water and then I unlock my door and turn on all the lights. The house feels chilly but I'm forbidden from putting the heating on unless there is snow.