by CJ Adler
“You want me to drink?” I ask, puzzled by his teasing side. I didn't realize it even existed.
“Nuhduh,” he says, rolling his eyes at me, resorting to immaturity. “That's why I said so, you Looney Tune.”
“Pshaw. If I'm drunk and you're drunk, can you imagine what will go down here?” I state, referring to the house burning down or other chaotic events occurring.
“I can imagine. Very much so,” he insists, sending me a flirty wink.
Before I can do anything about the mischievous glint in his eyes, he's already backing me into a corner. “Now, Jay, let's think about this,” I say, placing my hands on his chest in a futile attempt to get him to move away.
“You like me. My closeness shouldn't be a problem,” he retorts bluntly, acknowledging my crush for the first time.
Before I can whip up a sarcastic retort, he's already leaning in closer and dropping his head so that we're eye level. My breath hitches at the proximity. He has no idea what kind of position he's putting me in.
I would have reacted by now had I not been caught off guard. When I open my mouth to reprimand him, he suddenly does the unexpected and lifts me up into his arms, bridal style, before I can even process what's happening.
I let out a yelp and quickly wrap my arms around his neck, knowing that he's unsteady on his feet at the moment. “Jay, come on,” I whine, “put me down.”
“Loosen up a little. You're no fun,” he mimics my words from earlier.
My mouth falls agape at his words. His audacity is astounding yet I can't help but feel that I deserve it. What I said really got to him. Still, the reason behind his drinking tonight runs deeper. I'm certain of that.
Jay sees my expression and winks down at me before carrying me out the front door and to his Gallardo.
I decide to toy with him in the hopes of winning this argument. “You can't change my mind, Jay. You're no fun. Deal with it.”
“I'll prove your theory wrong. I'll prove to you just how much fun I can be,” he says adamantly. “Challenge accepted.”
Before I can protest on anything, I'm practically stuffed into the passenger seat of his car. I immediately crawl over to the driver's seat, refusing to let him drive in this state. Much to my surprise, he merely shrugs, compliant, handing me the keys before taking the passenger seat.
He slyly took the keys back from me!
“Well, at least tell me where we're going,” I say as I reverse out the driveway.
“I need directions to Neptune.”
“The location of Neptune is a surprise,” he mumbles, distracted, as he glances out the car window as if unable to fathom that we're moving.
“Oooh, I love surprises!” I grin and clap my hands enthusiastically, completely forgetting the situation I'm in.
Jay takes his eyes off the scenery to send me a prideful smirk. “I know.”
I hate it when he does that, when he implies that he knows more about me than I'm aware of. It makes me feel out of place. “Just focus on your scenery.”
“How can I focus when you're in the car?” He openly hits on me, a boyish grin on his face as his gaze stays trained solely on me.
I keep my eyes on the road, ignoring the butterflies.
Sometime now…
Did that just happen?
Did he really just leap off the edge like that?
When I hear a splash from below seconds later, I can't help but think the worst. I get on my haunches and crawl toward the edge to peek over the cliff and into the dark waters below.
“Jay!” I shout freely, knowing that there's no civilization around to hear...or to help, for that matter. “Jay, are you still alive?! Jay! Jay, damn it! Jay, answer me!” I screech in panic when I receive nothing but silence in turn.
If he's dead, I will kill him.
I begin to panic all the more as the different endings begin to cross my mind. It's then, in that moment, when I vaguely hear some laughter from below, that I realize he's just messing with me.
“Jay!” I shout in fury. “You scared me!” I lecture him, placing a hand over my racing heart. I swear, my world just stopped spinning there for a second. “Don't ever do that to me again!”
“I've only jumped off this cliff like a billion times, Space Walker!” he shouts back, his outline now visible.
I feel the anger burning through my veins when I hear this. He could have mentioned that before!
“Don't call me that!” I snap at him, still feeling agitated by his stunt.
“Gravity Walker?” he calls up, taking his chances.
I shake my head, forgetting that he can't see me. “No!” I protest, carefully sliding away from the edge.
He swims further out from underneath the cliff so that he can see me. He motions to me to jump. “C'mon, Jumper Walker! You know you wanna!”
That nickname makes no sense.
“No!” I stick to my guns, adamant in my choice to not be swayed by his lousy persuasion skills. “There could be crocodiles in that lake!”
“The only thing in the lake you need to be scared of is me!” He hollers playfully.
“Exactly!” I exclaim knowingly. “That's even worse.”
“Please,” he pleads, drawing out the word, “please jump.” He picks up on my hesitation and decides to manipulate me with his next two words. “For me.”
I sigh, already knowing that I can't resist him when he's like this. It will be like kicking a puppy. For the life of me, or lack of life after this, I squeeze my eyes shut and suck in a deep breath before taking a run-up. I end up stopping the first time before having to do it again. Eventually, I take the literal leap of faith for him, bounding off the cliff while putting all fear out of mind and sight for the time being.
Splash!
My head breaks the surface and I inhale a sharp breath, surprised by my own actions. I glance around, my heart still pacing. I can't believe I just summoned the courage to do that. He really is a terrible influence on me.
Jay swims up to me with that same boyish grin still intact. “You did it,” he murmurs proudly before splashing water on my face.
I break out into laughter and begin splashing him back, finally enjoying the moment and letting loose. I feel alive. Jay and I can go the distance.
“Wooh!” I fist pump the air, the sound traveling for miles out in the remote area. “This is amazing, Jay!” I say to him, ecstatic, getting carried away with the adrenalin rush. “I could just kiss you right now!”
I'm going to take full advantage of this liberating feeling bubbling within me.
“No one is stopping you.” He laughs, a blissful sound that I could get used to hearing.
***
“She couldn't have prank called you so many times,” I hear a familiar voice say as I shift soundlessly in my sleep.
“She wouldn't stop! Seventeen times! She knew I was tired and this was her way of getting revenge for me leaving her stupid plan yesterday!”
Grey.
“Aqueela is just trying to bond with you. Lighten up.”
And that would be Jay.
After everything I've done, I'm surprised that he's actually defending me. He must have driven us home after sobering up.
“Well, she's got a strange way of showing it! I mean, seriously, Jay, there are millions of girls in the world and you just have to pick her. You pick the craziest from all of them,” Grey complains further like the grouch he is. “She's missing a few marbles.”
“I didn't pick her,” Jay clarifies quietly. “She picked me, and I'm kind of glad she did.”
The moment is ruined when I hear something clatter from the kitchen.
“Are you kidding me? You actually let that creature sleep here. You're so far gone, it's not even funny,” Grey insults Jay, unimpressed.
He better not be talking about me!
“His name is Oog,” Jay clarifies yet again, his patience wearing thin. “And I didn't let him stay because Aqueela asked, I let him stay because he needed it,” he replies back defe
nsively, causing my smile to widen. He's accepting Oog.
“He just broke your toaster and you're defending him?! This girl is changing you and you don't even see it,” Grey argues, wanting his old pal back, better known as his 'acquaintance'.
“I don't care. You should leave. You're really starting to annoy me,” Jay replies back in a cold, detached voice.
I almost feel sorry for Grey, almost.
I hear the door bang shut before a car revs its engine from somewhere outside. Grey has finally stormed off. That guy needs to stop taking life so seriously and lighten up a little. I once said that about Jay and now look how far we've come. He's turning into a giant marshmallow of warmth and fluff.
“You can stop pretending to sleep now. He's gone,” Jay retorts loudly.
I sit up, grinning from ear to ear. “You defended me,” I state the obvious, still trying to process it all.
Jay shrugs carelessly, averting his gaze. “Only I'm allowed to insult you.”
“Grey meanie are mean to Eela,” Oog speaks up as he comes to sit beside me on Jay's couch with his burnt toast as if it's the normal thing to do. You'd think he's been living here for years.
“Eela?” Jay questions, confused.
“Oog can't say 'Aqueela', so he just says 'Eela',” I explain and then glance back at Oog who seems especially happy this morning. “Want some toast with that butter?” I wink at him, referring to all the butter he smeared on.
“Aqueela,” Jay scratches his head, at a loss, “what exactly happened last night?” My eyes widen as the memory comes back to me and I automatically grin. “Why are you smiling like that?” he asks warily. “It makes me nervous.”
“You're incredibly flirty when you're drunk, but you're also completely insane. On the brighter side of things, I take it back, you're a lot of fun. That's all you're getting out of me.”
Bottom line, he made my night. He managed to take my mind off of Bells.
Jay narrows his gaze. “Figures,” he mutters, not surprised that I'm holding out on him. “You'll never see me drink again.”
“Challenge accepted!” I grin enthusiastically, in turn.
He sighs. “It's not a challenge, Aqueela.”
“It is now!” I say, already planning ahead.
Oog speaks up from out the blue. “Oog like here,” he motions to Jay's house as if it's natural for him. “Oog stay,” he says and then adds, “forever.”
I chuckle, not taking him seriously, as I glance at Jay to see a look of terror on his face. “He's not serious, is he?” Jay asks cautiously, genuinely afraid.
I'm about to answer but Oog takes up the initiative instead. “Oog seriously serious.”
Jay nods before pulling me aside, away from Oog's hearing range. “Aqueela, he can't stay here.”
“I know,” I reply in understanding.
“You do?” Jay asks as surprise flashes across his electric blue eyes.
I nod. “But I can't let him go back to living on the streets either,” I say gently, trying to make him understand my part in all of this.
“Then what do you suggest?” He asks, already aware that I have an idea up my sleeve.
I grin in victory upon hearing his words. He should never have asked.
***
“You're not serious, are you?” Jay asks, bewildered, as we stand outside in his backyard glancing up at the enormous oak tree. “Why bother asking? You obviously are.”
I laugh and reach up to pinch his cheeks. “Look at you getting to know me so well,” I mock tauntingly.
He slaps my prying hands away. “Fine. I'll do it. But only because I don't want him living in my house.”
“Yes!” I fist pump the air, excited. I turn to Oog with a wide smile. “You hear that, Oog? We're building you a tree house and you'll still be close to Jay,” I tell him.
“Oog like Jay. Jay no meanie is,” Oog says in earnest.
Jay will never admit it but he has a soft spot for Oog. He doesn't have the heart to send Oog back to the streets, hence Oog's sudden liking for Jay.
“I can't believe I'm actually agreeing to this,” Jay mutters, frustrated, as he frowns at me.
“Is 'cause Jay love Eela and Oog,” Oog insists, much to my amusement.
Jay sighs but doesn't deny it which only adds to my 'happy-go-lucky' mood this morning.
“I'll go buy the wood. You two get some helping hands and don't tell me you can't do it. I know you, Klutz, and your way of roping people in to do your bidding. See you in a few.” Jay salutes jokingly before leaving me alone with Oog.
Mhm…who to rope in…who to rope in.
Simo is working today. Dylan wasn't very happy that I stole him. Dylan, himself, is still angry at me. Bell needs time away from me. Troy's going through his first 'hate Aqueela' phase. Grey wants me dead. Mason is just too…'Masony'.
That leaves me with Benley, Max, and Blubber.
Benley agrees easily, saying he has nothing better to do. Blubber bribed me. Max said no because we ditched him. Fortunately for him, Bells felt terrible when she got back home from Jay's house and invited him in. He's decided to spend his day with her instead.
Who else do I know? Who else? Boss Man! He loves me, I think.
A tugging on my arm brings me out of my thoughts. “Eela, Oog have not meanies friend who can help.”
My face lightens up. “That's great, Oog! Go get them.”
The crazier, the merrier!
***
“Yo, babe, who are all these peeps I'm a looking at?” Blubber asks me, glancing at the three of Oog's friends and Boss Man.
“Yeah, I'd like to know too,” Benley agrees with Blubber, shockingly enough.
I glance at the freakishly tall, dark-skinned guy. He has heavy chains around his neck, sporting the typical gangsta look, ranging from pants that are almost slipping off of him to a baggy shirt and sleek sneakers. He's wearing so much bling that he makes the stars look dull.
“This is Gland,” I introduce the big guy to them. “He's a pal of Oog's, helped Oog out a ditch that Oog once fell into.”
“Gland?” Benley repeats, not believing me.
Gland juts his jaw out, towering over Benley in an intimidating position. “Yo, that's my name. You got a problem with that, B-dawg, or do I got to take this back to my posse and teach you a lesson on judging?”
Benley is quick to shake his head, afraid. “No, it's a wonderful name!” he lies, being extra polite, making me wonder where the angry Benley I first met went to.
“What do you do for a living?” Boss Man asks Gland, curious.
“I'm a professional gangster,” Gland answers casually, frightening everyone in the process as they all snap daggers at me accusingly. Gland sees this and rises to his own defense. “Relax yo selves, I'm one of them good ones.”
They all let out a breath of relief, not bothering to question it any further.
“Oh, and by the way, this is Boss Man, Jay's boss,” I introduce Boss Man to the colorful strangers before me, aware that they've only heard about Jay.
Boss Man glances my way with an amused grin. “You realize that you don't have to call me Boss Man, right? My name is Greg.”
“Whatever, Boss Man.” I wave it off before introducing the Jamaican, surfer dude with long dreadlocks, flip-flops, and neon clothing. “This here is—”
“Jam!” Jam, himself, cuts me off as he greets the others with a large smile.
Yeah…he's a little eccentric.
“This is so gnarly, dudes! I'm so psyched to meet you all,” he greets, over the top.
“You all have stupid names,” Blubber, ever so rudely, points out.
I frown at Blubs, not impressed by his attitude. “You're the one to talk, Blubber,” I emphasize his name, putting him in his place while the others all laugh at his expense.
“And what about Mamacita over here? Mhm?” Blubber grins flirtatiously, licking his lips, as he approaches the beautiful yet ditzy airhead of a blonde.
“I'm
FeeBee.” She giggles. “Oog stole my comb.” 'Nuff said. That's explanation enough. I don't need to know any more tolove her.
“Remind me why I agreed to this again?” Benley asks aloud, regretting his decision already.
I chuckle, ruffling his hair playfully. “You came because I saved your life, Ley Ley,” I remind him.
“No, you didn't,” he points out before scolding me. “And stop calling me Ley Ley!”
“Fine, Ben Ben. Since you're not keen on being here, you take Oog to his old home under the bridge to gather the rest of his supplies,” I say, pushing him into Oog and motioning to Oog to take him before he can protest.
“What supplies? He doesn't even own anything. He has no belongings,” Benley, as predicted, complains.
“B-dawg, don't ya go talking to my bud, Oog, like that or I'll have to mess your pretty boy band face up,” Gland threatens, overly defensive over his short-in- comparison friend.
“His cardboard box. Now shoo! Go!” I order, shoving Oog and Ben away so that we can begin working.
Jay finally pitches, unloading with all the resources required. He's thought of practically everything. He's even bought a few things to put into the tree house, like an elf-sized bed and a fridge . He really does have a heart of gold and you wouldn't know it if you didn't know him.
He enters the backyard, seemingly unsurprised at the number of people I've managed to gather. He nods at all of them, acknowledging them in his own respectful way, that is until his eyes land on his boss. “You brought my boss here?” he asks, turning to me.
Boss Man smirks in delight. “Pleasure to see you too, Taylor. C'mon, I'm practically your hero.”
“Great,” Jay mutters, “now I got to see you outside of work too,” he kids as he greets his boss in one of those bro hugs.
“Jay?” A small, bubbly voice questions as if uncertain.
Jay seems to recognize it almost immediately as he spins around, coming face-to-face with FeeBee. “FeeBee, what are you doing here?” he asks quietly, in shock, almost as if he's seeing a ghost. He doesn't ask anything further and immediately walks up to her and embraces her tightly. “How have you been?”
Her eyes fill with tears as she returns the hug as if having truly missed him.