"Oh yeah, right. Tanner? A gentleman? Please." Cameron scoffed.
"Let her fangirl." Hayley said to him. She averted her gaze as soon as she said it- she obviously still wasn't brave enough to talk to the, 'populars' yet. Unless they were drunk and incapable of shooting insults at her.
"Fangirl? He's not...he's not...Justin Bieber." Cameron cringed. "Though why any girl likes him, I don't know."
"You think he's gay, don't you?" I asked.
"Who Tanner?"
"No, JB." I replied in a 'duh' tone.
"JB?" Cameron snickered.
"Shu'up. But you do- and you're secretly glad."
"What? No I'm not! He's like a girl."
"Not since he voice broke!" Hayley argued, looking more to me than Cameron.
"If he's like a girl, I think you do like him. Because you'll go for him because you're a man-"
"Hey guys." Someone interrupted. It was Tanner. Naww.
"Hi." I waved slightly. "Thanks for clearing up downstairs, that was so sweet."
"That's okay." He smiled warmly. I melted like butter into my socks. "We also put Jason in the bathub..."
Both guys laughed and Tanner gave Cameron a high-five. What happened to the bitterness? Jerk-wad.
"Oh my God no!" I panicked. "Mom will go in there before she goes to bed, dammit!"
"We have to move that lump again?" Cameron groaned.
"That lump is supposed to be your best friend!" I poked him.
"Yeah and?"
I heard a car engine turn off and raced to my window. Mom was back!
"Quick, one of you go to the bathroom, and pretend you're brushing your teeth or something. I'll distract Mom, and you guys get him outta there!" I ordered.
"He weighs-"
"Be a man!" I barked, before racing down the stairs. I heard a tumbling behind me and saw Rolo racing to get through my legs. We both reached the last step and just as I was about to open the front door, it swung open and knocked me to the floor.
"Oh my God, Farrah! I'm so sorry!" Riley's voice cried in horror.
"It was her fault for standing behind the door." Troy told him, dropping the keys into the bowl by the door. "Ugh, why am I sticking up for you? Farrah get up, you're in the way."
"You guys just hit me with a door!" I fumed. I stood up shakily, dragging myself up by the wall rather than taking Riley's arm. I was not going to go there again.
"So where is everyone?" Troy asked, ignoring my pain completely.
"Upstairs." I grumbled, dodging Riley's arm darting out to help me. "Jason's in the bathub. The guys are trying to move him."
"Haha haha!" Troy cackled. It sounded like when he sleep-laughed. I hoped he was getting tired so we could just leave him in the bathtub overnight. That's what he'd get for not caring about my pain. "Classic!"
We got upstairs and Hayley was nervously fiddling with her hair, standing outside the bathroom.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Ahh!" She yelped, jumping. "Oh it's you. I thought you were your Mom. Where is she?"
"Not here, it was a mix-up. It was Riley and Troy, who hit me with a door." I frowned.
"I am so sorry!" Riley pleaded.
"It's fine, I'm trying to make Troy feel guilty, not you." I told Riles.
"Not gonna happen. So what's up?" Troy replied, once again ignoring my pain. Ass.
"Well they can't get Jason out of the tub. He's got his hair caught in the faucet." Hayley explained. I couldn't keep it in. I laughed my head off, and when I saw Jason, tears were pouring out of my eyes.
"Nuuungh, I'm awake." Jason slurred, waking up. He tried to sit, up, but his hair was genuinely caught in the faucet, and he was trapped. "Ow!"
He fell back, and hit his head on both faucets, before falling back into a drunken, painful slumber.
"Now, that is classic."
"Would you guys just help us get him out?" Tanner panted. Troy stepped forward and ripped Jason's head from the faucet, some of his black hair floating in the air, before slowly falling to the bottom of the tub. He tried to lift him, but Cameron and Tanner couldn't work with Troy- I didn't think anyone could. My brother thought he was the best at everything and did everything his way.
"I'll help you." Riley told Troy. Troy snorted in laughter, but together with Riley they managed to move Jason so his legs dangled over the side. But Riley was out of breath and none of the guys wanted to do anymore work.
"We'll have to do it then." I told Hayley. The guys laughed, but stood back and watched us.
"How to start..." I mused. I climbed over the side, and into the (thankfully dry!) tub next to Jason. I picked up his head by his hair, and sat behind him. It would've been extremely awkward if he woke up just then with his head in my lap. I heaved until Jason's upper body was straight, and he flung forwards, doing a front flip onto the bathroom floor.
The guys started clapping and I bowed. Hayley hadn't helped me in anyway, but she gave a small curtsey.
"Thank you, thank you." I smirked. "And that, boys, is how you get one, Jason Evans out of the...AHHH!"
I fell forwards, my face landing right onto Jason's crotch. "Ow."
It was way more awkward when he woke up and saw that.
***
Jason was now laying on top of a sleeping bag in Troy's room, along with Troy himself, Tanner and Cameron. Cameron had taken a picture of me and Jason, vowing to put it on Facebook as revenge for all the pictures Jason took. My life was the best.
For some unknown reason, Mom was still not home. After I had got her text, twenty minutes had passed. I had started to worry, but Troy reminded me she was the worst for time-keeping. I was nearly asleep when I heard the front door open. My eyes snapped open, and I sat up slowly. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time. Twelve thirty. Hm.
I got out of bed and padded out of my room, over Hayley's sleeping body, and Riley's too. Troy refused to have, and I quote, 'that annoying nerdy kid' sleeping in his room. I opened my bedroom door, and saw Mom was on the landing. I tried to shut my door, but Mom, her ears sharp, caught me.
"Farrah, what are you doing?" She whispered.
"Uh...what are you doing?" I replied, unsure what to say.
"I was just sneaking out of bed to see why you had taken so long getting home, Mom." Didn't seem like the right thing to say.
"I'm off to bed. Sorry I was so late. Is everybody asleep?" Mom answered.
"That's fine, and yeah." I hissed along the hallway.
"Good, good. Fun night?" She winked at me again and I cringed.
"Please be a normal Mom." I begged her quietly. She laughed at me, and waved goodnight as she wondered into her room, humming 'Va Va Voom' by Nicki Minaj. Weird woman.
***
"Hey, hey Farrah!" Someone jumped on me, making me nearly fall out of bed.
"What?" I groaned, annoyed. My alarm on my phone was supposed to wake me up- not my brother.
"Get up, Mom's making waffles!" Troy cried.
"Whaa?" I couldn't believe my ears. Mom hated the smell of waffle for some reason, and hardly ever made them. Maybe I should invite loads of friends over more often.
I scrambled out of bed, rushing down the stairs. Troy was right behind me, pushing me along. We both loved waffles for breakfast- it was something Dad never let Mom cook for us. It was almost a celebratory breakfast for his leaving.
"Good to see you're finally with us." Mom chuckled as I collapsed next to Hayley. I noticed not everyone was there.
"Where's the others?" I asked no one in particular, eating one of Troy's waffles because I couldn't be bothered to wait for my own. Tanner, Jason and Cameron weren't at the table.
"Tanner and Jason went home this morning. Their parents didn't know they'd be out all night. Cameron just went home to get some stuff and he'll be back." Mom informed me.
"Why is he coming back and not the others?" I asked, reaching for another of my brother's waffles.
"Hey!" He stabbed my hand with a fork.
"
Ow! Mom! He stabbed me with a fork!" I cried.
"Troy, be nice."
"She's eating my waffles!"
"Farrah!" Mom gasped dramatically. "That's a penalty. You have to give two of your waffles to your brother."
"A penalty?" All us kids laughed. My Mother was really strange. I added, "Besides, I only ate one. Now answer my question."
"Cheeky." Mom poked my nose with a waffle, before putting it on my plate. "Cameron only lives down the road, Tanner and Jason live on the other side of town. I thought you guys could have a fun day out or something."
"Doing what?" I asked.
"I'm not staying with you." Troy told me through his breakfast. "Me and some of the guys are going surfing."
"Surfing?"
"Surfing." Troy nodded.
"I wanna go surfing!"
"Well, you can't. I am. Go...go...shopping or something." Troy prodded me.
"That's a lovely idea!" Mom cried.
"I actually can't, Lucia." Riley said sadly. "I have to visit my Grandparents today."
Lucky him.
"Oh no, what a shame. Want me to drive you home?" Mom asked kindly.
"Yes please." Riley nodded, finishing his breakfast. I saw everyone was dressed but me.
"I'll get the car." Mom told him. "I'll see you in a bit, kids."
"Bye." We all said together.
"Go have a shower and get dressed and we can totally have a shopping day!" Hayley squealed.
"With Cameron?" I asked sarcastically. "'Cause I bet he'd just love that!"
"He'll ditch."
"True! Okay, gimme half an hour."
"You girls take so long getting ready." Troy groaned.
"Puh-lease, I take half the time you do." I rolled my eyes.
And that, is how I ended up with a waffle dropped down the back of t-shirt.
***
I was sat in Cameron's car, in the back with Hayley. It was a great day, really sunny, so I was playing with the windows. They were electric, unlike our cars.
"What's with you, weirdo?" Cameron laughed.
"I like the windows. Jesus it's hot." I replied simply.
"Hm." Hayley agreed. She had her head stuck out of the window, like a dog. Speaking of dogs, we also had Rolo with us. He was sat in the front with Cameron, mimicking Hayley. Or maybe she was mimicking him?
"Nah, it's just me." Cameron winked at me in his rearview mirror.
"Ass."
"Yeah, I guess you could say my ass is fine too." Cameron chuckled.
"Gack." I replied. The engine shut off, and Cameron announced we were at the mall. I was surprised he had come at all, but it turned out his Mom's birthday was coming up, and he needed something to get her.
I clipped Rolo to his leash, he was awful at wondering off. And sniffing babies. And peeing on plants. We walked around the centre of the mall, when I saw a new shop to my left.
"Hey look, how long has that been there?" I wondered aloud.
"Like two months!" Hayley laughed. "Let's go inside anyway."
We all went inside, but Cameron left as soon as he saw it was a clothes shop. He went off to find his Mom's present instead.
"Oooh this is cute!" Hayley picked up a long sleeved pink top, complete with purple patterns all over ther back of it.
"Yeah." I nodded. "Try it on!"
She agreed and went off to the changing rooms, while I found some clothes for myself. I wasn't one for shopping, but there was just an amazing blue dress and some awesome pink flip flops I just had to have. I tried them on, and paid for them, but Hayley still wasn't back. I decided to wait outside her changing cubicle. But when an old woman came out, croaking at me to give her some personal space, I panicked. I had lost Hayley!
WHERE ARE YOU?! I texted her. I waited about five minutes before I got a reply.
YIKES FORGOT 2 TELL U. MOM PICKED ME UP GOTTA GO 2 SOME RECITAL THING. SORRY! X
I sighed and slumped against the chair I was sat on. I decided to go and find Cameron. I had left Rolo outside the shop, tied to a post of some sort. I untied him and felt the urge to pee. I quickly tied him up again, barely knotting the leash because I needed to pee so bad. I got inside and peed, feeling relieved. I washed my hands and realised I had left my bags inside the cubicle, where someone else was now. I waited patiently for them to come out, and was happy to find the ginormous woman hadn't eaten my clothes. Okay, that was a mean thought, but she looked a mean woman. I picked up my bags and hurried outside- but Rolo wasn't there. Oh sweet Jesus, no.
"Rolo?" I called. "Rolllo!"
He was no where to be seen. Holy shit on toast. Where was he?
"Rolo!" I called again. I heard a faint bark, but saw a stupid little hotdog looking thing barking at me instead. I tried calling him again, but I heard nothing, and couldn't see him anywhere. This mall was huge! I had to find him- and fast.
Chapter 17
I was panicking badly. I kept hopping from foot to foot, nibbling my nails, completely at loss. I didn't have Cameron's number, so I was stuck. I must have looked like a weirdo- one that needed to pee. Although I had just gone, I suddenly needed to go again. But seeing as that was how I lost Rolo in the first place, I wasn't going to go.
"Rolo!" I cried again. I ran anywhere, everywhere, on the first and second floor. He was no where. I checked the bathrooms, the shops, the plantpots set everywhere, and every baby I saw with a dog near them I screamed, "Rolo!"
Where was Cameron? For once, I actually needed him. And I would admit it, post it on Facebook and stand on top of a roof singing that I needed Cameron Carter to help me find my dog, if it would make Rolo come back.
"Rolllo!" I called, desperately searching the area where a KFC and McDonalds stood. Rolo loved the smell of chicken. If he would be anywhere, he'd be here. "Rolo!"
"Farrah!" I heard someone yell. Rolo! I spun around, expecting to see my dog bounding at me, his usual goofy look his his face, his soft brown fur bouncing as he ran to me. Why he would be yelling my name, able for me to understand it I didn't know, but maybe I was hearing things. It was a sign, Rolo was back, I knew it was him- maybe I was a dog whisperer!
"Ro-Cameron?" I sighed, disappointed. He was eating a chicken wing from KFC, carrying the red and white box in his arms like it was his most precious belonging.
"Hey, what's with all the yelling?" Cameron asked, wiping his chicken-grease-stained mouth.
"You...you...where the hell have you been?" I raged.
"Um, I left you and your friend in a clothes shop to go find my Mom a present." Cameron told me. As I already knew that, I got irritated and smacked his arm.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"Hayley had to go home for some family recital or something and Rolo is missing! I thought you were him!" I slapped him again, my anger fuelling towards him instead of myself for loosing Rolo in the first place.
"Hey, quit hitting me!" Cameron shielded himself. I saw he was half laughing at me and seethed. "Why did you think I was your dog? Unless he can speak-"
"Arrrg!" I yelled, hitting his chicken box from the bottom, so it flew up in the air before landing on the mall floor, chicken pieces and fries spilling everywhere. "Take this seriously! My dog is missing!"
"My food!" Cameron whined, looking upset. Taking a look at his depressed face made me start to cry. I hated to see people upset, and I was already feeling angry and upset at the fact I had lost my own dog because I needed to pee.
"I...c-can't find Rolo!" I bawled. "Help me find him!"
Cameron looked worried now, not sure how to deal with me like this. "Calm down, Farrah, calm down! Farrah Chambers, I command you to calm down." He frowned at me, looking like a stubborn child. I hit him again.
"Ow!"
"Sorry." I sniffed. "Just help me find him would you?"
Cameron nodded. "Yeah, of course. Okay...right. Where did you last see him?"
"I was peeing-"
"Too much information." Cameron wrinkled his nose. "Ow! Stop hitting me!"
I rolled my eyes at him. "Okay I was in the bathroom and I tied him up and I obviously didn't tie him up properly..."
"Which bathrooms?" Cameron asked, taking me by the shoulders and shaking me a little. I looked at his hands on my arms and felt a little shock run through my spine. What the hell was that?
"The ones opposite the shop we were in- by the entrance." I explained. Cameron let go and sighed.
"That's two floors down. Okay, we'll get the elevator."
We got into the elevator, and had to squish right into the corner, because a woman with a stroller took up most of the room, along with like four other children. Cameron's back was flat against the wall at the side, and my back was pressed into his chest. It was very awkward, and the Mother of five saw that.
"Sorry, it's the only stroller we have that carries all of this stuff for the kids." She apologised.
"No problem." Cameron nodded. His chin hit my head, and I scowled to myself at how short I was. I hated it.
"Excuse me, have you seen my dog? He's called Rolo and he's a light brown chow chow. Like a little bear?" I asked the woman and her children.
"No sweetie, sorry. Kids, have you seen this poor girl's dog?" She asked her children. They all shook their heads and I slumped against Cameron. He was stiff, so I realised it wasn't the best move. I straightened up again, my cheeks burning.
"I have, Mommy!" The youngest, or at least shortest, piped up.
"You have?" I asked desperately.
"He- he was by the poopies." The little boy said.
"The poopies? You mean the bathrooms?" Cameron asked, cringing a little at how the small boy phrased it.
"No, the poopies! It's a shop!" The little boy cried.
"Now Elliot, are you telling the truth?" The Mom asked. She turned to us. "He gets confused sometimes."
"I am! I am!"
"The poopies." I repeated. I had been in every shop in the mall, courtesy of Hayley, and had never seen such a shop. "Thanks, kid."
Cameron felt me droop (literally) and whispered into my ear. "He'll be here somewhere."
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