I swing my legs back and forth, feet slightly hitting the cabinet every time I bring them back. “You probably get more than I ever will.” I tut with a comedic smile.
He finds this one funny. Loud and obnoxious laughter spills from him as his eyes squeeze shut so tight that little crinkles form at the sides. His dimples dip in so deep it looks as if anyone could take a nice swim in them.
Pride swells in my chest at the realization that I can still make him laugh like this.
After minutes, he finally calms down. He straightens up, wiping the corners of his eyes while looking at me. He coughs into his fist and grins as he shakes his head.
“I have to admit that was a good one.”
I hum in response. “I’ve always had better jokes than you, Hayden.”
At that, I know I’ve challenged him. His brows raise in disbelief, and he slyly dips his finger into the batter. I know what’s coming, so I hop down the counter and sprint off to the dining room. I halt behind the table to see him standing on the other side with pancake liquid running down his finger.
The wicked smile on his lips makes my heart skip a beat. He has me pinned. Hayden has always been faster than me with those long and lanky legs that make it easier for him to catch me on my short and stubby ones.
“I’ll make you a deal.” He drawls out slowly as if he’s already won. “You have to say that I’m funnier than you are, and then there will be no need for a mess.”
Clicking my tongue against the roof of my mouth, I ponder for a second before making my decision. “I’m funnier than you,” I repeat, using it against him.
He gives me a look of warning. “Elsie, that doesn’t count, and you know it.” The expression on his face is utter mischief as he gradually strolls in my direction, backing me up in a corner.
Hayden stops a few inches away, and I pinch my eyes shut, waiting for impact. “Okay, okay, okay!” The words tumble out as I glance up at him to see the batter-covered finger only a centimeter away. “You are funnier than I am, but your puns suck.”
Ducking under his arm, I bolt past him, laughing like a maniac as he chases after me while he mutters a string of cuss words under his breath.
Hastily, I snatch a spoon up from the counter and scoop up a glob of batter. As soon as he skids into the kitchen, he stops right in his tracks with surprise swirling in his rises, and also, a small twinge of fright.
“We can talk about this…” He takes a step back and raises hands as I smirk. “I’ll wipe off my finger, and you put down the spoon that could quite possibly damage my ego.”
“You’re so dramatic.” I roll my eyes. “Wipe off your finger first, and then I’ll put this down.”
With slow steps, he grabs a napkin, and I watch him carefully. He cleans the batter off, throwing the cloth in the trashcan. I sigh and drop the spoon back into the large bowl.
“Good boy!” I coo, standing on my tippy-toes to pat his head. He scowls and shoves my hand away, but I see the happiness radiating from him.
“You won that one, Archer.” He grimaces, his voice deep and raspy. “But I will seek my vengeance.” Hayden attempts to intimidate me as he leans in close, but I just chuckle, sticking my tongue out to kitten-lick his nose. “You’re disgusting,” he says, but he doesn’t move back an inch.
“And you’re aggravating.”
“Good!” He smiles triumphantly.
The sizzling of the penis-shaped pancakes behind us—on the verge of burning—causes us to pull back. He picks up the spatula, an elated grin stretching on his lips, and I can’t help but mirror his expression.
We haven’t had this much fun together in so long.
I lean my head against his arm, watching him flip the pancakes as if I’m mesmerized. I wish things can stay like this, and our problems will just disappear, but I have no idea what I’m in for.
Chapter 6
Elsie
It’s almost refreshing to spend carefree time with Hayden. Every time we are on bad terms, or I feel like he doesn’t want me in his life anymore, it’s as if I’ve lost a piece of myself every second. Melodramatic, I know.
Sometimes I put us in that weird limbo, but I can’t let him think it’s okay to treat me the way he does, even though most of the time I do let him.
A few hours ago, I slyly reminded Hayden of the dinner plans tonight. I did want him to stick around longer, but I can’t continuously push everything to the back burner for him. He said it slipped his mind, but I could see that it hadn’t just by his facial expression.
It isn’t like me to beat around the bush with him, so I can understand his confusion and sadness from the lack of an invitation. I keep myself cheerful and oblivious so he would think the dinner was for my parents and not me.
Truthfully, I don’t know if Nick and Hayden got along. I’ve only seen them nod in each other’s direction a handful of times. The last thing I want is to make Nick uncomfortable by asking Hayden to stay when he obviously knows my family better.
Hayden reluctantly leaves my house with a deep frown and questions swirling around him. I bolt upstairs to shower and make myself look slightly presentable. I don’t want Nick to think I’m a total wreck who blubbers over her best friend all the time, then forgives him like it’s nothing. Which is exactly what I do.
I offer to make a trip to the store so all of the stress of preparing the meal isn’t on my mom.
My dark coffee-colored irises scan the shelves of fresh vegetables, and I shiver slightly when the cold air wraps around me. I end up sighing in defeat and jutting my hip out to the side in a more comfortable position. For the life of me, I can’t remember if I’m supposed to get baby carrots or normal-sized ones.
Nearly fifteen minutes of debating later, I phone my mother to ask her instead. I had been correct; baby carrots is the choice of the night. She scolds me for having such a spacey mind, going on about how she should have written it down, and I, of course, block all of that out. After putting the orange vegetable in the basket, I tell her that I have to go, ending the call with a chuckle.
On a regular basis, I don’t cut her off mid-rant due to the hormones that are through the roof because of the pregnancy, but sometimes I can’t take it. Gabe and I have mastered the art of treading lightly around her. One wrong move and we both knew we’d be in for an hour-long lecture about leaving one spoon in the sink when the dishwasher is clearly dirty.
I ring up the items in self-checkout leisurely, enjoying the time alone. The drive back is relatively short. I climb out of my car and unlock the front door. The sweet aroma of food cooking greets me.
“Hey, Mama!” I smile sweetly when I enter the kitchen, placing the bags on the counter to ease the tension in my wrists. Her back is to me as she stands over the stove, mixing something in a pot.
“How was the store, sweet pea?” She twists around on her fuzzy sock-covered feet, a warm grin on her face.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve admired my mom for her elegant beauty. Her dark, almost black hair falls right to the top of her bulging belly, and she is in a loose, cream blouse. Her cocoa eyes shine even at the worst of times. Her olive skin glows from her pregnancy, and her rosy cheeks are almost always squished up from a smile.
“Not as busy as I thought it was going to be,” I answer while digging around in the plastic bags to pull out the items.
“Glad you didn’t have any problems.” She hums, pressing a quick kiss to the side of my head before ripping open the package of vegetables to dump them in the pan.
“Are these your last pair of jeans that fit?” I wonder, tugging on the blue material that hugs her legs.
She swats my hand away playfully, huffing. “Yes…”
“I’ll get you some new ones for Christmas or something.” I lean back against the counter to watch her bustle around the kitchen.
She tuts, rolling her eyes. “I won’t need maternity clothing then, you nitwit.”
“You never know…” I trial off in an airy voice, su
ggesting that she may need them again. “You and Gabe are still fairly young. Not that I care to know that you two get it on, but I am always happy to have more siblings.”
I duck away and jog to the other side of the kitchen when she swiftly picks up a towel to flick at me.
“Would you not talk about me having another child until I’ve pushed this one out?” She groans, but there is a ghost of a smile. “Now, go set the table, please.”
The clock hits six thirty faster than I realize, and there are a couple of knocks at the front door. Exactly on time, I thought impressed.
Nick looks like the same charming guy I’ve always known, except this time, he has thick black-rimmed glasses. He smiles at me as he kicks his shoes off in the foyer and pulls the sleeves of his gray sweater over his hands.
My mom greets him with a tight hug. Nick immediately asks her how she’s feeling and questions about her pregnancy that always makes her light up.
Gabe emerges from the stairs, welcoming Nick with a firm handshake.
After all the pleasantries, we sit around the dark wood table. Nick and I are sat next to one another with my mother and Gabe across us and Wylie bouncing in his booster seat at the head of the table.
Our light conversation jumps from one thing to the other as we dig into the delicious food.
“Do you know what you want to do after high school, Nick?” Gabe investigates, raising a brow as he stabs at the chicken.
Nick pats at his mouth with a napkin, waiting until it’s clear of food before answering. “I’d like to go to Princeton and play football for them.”
I grunt while taking a sip of my water, letting the cool liquid run down my throat. “Nick is being coy. He got a full ride to Princeton and an offer to play on their team.” I nudge my foot against his shin, giving him an encouraging smile.
A firetruck-red tint rises to his cheeks as his blue eyes fall on the plate in front of him. “It’s not really that big of a deal…”
“That’s a huge deal, sweetie!” My mom praises him joyfully. “You should be so proud of yourself! I’d be shouting it from the rooftops.”
“Don’t worry, my parents have already done that for me.” He snorts, plopping a piece of broccoli in his mouth. I feel Nick’s gaze on me, and I turn to look at him with raised brows. “Do you have any idea what you want to do?”
My shoulders visibly slump when I sigh. “No, I have absolutely no idea. I’m thinking that I might just take a gap year to figure it all out.”
He nods. “Loads of people do that, and it really helps.”
Nick, being the one person in my life who knows exactly what they’re doing, saying that makes me feel oddly better about being clueless. My family fully supports my decision, but talking about it with someone your age is so much easier.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Wylie pick up an entire baked potato. Before I even have a chance to stop him, it’s whirling in the air towards Gabe, smacking right into the side of his cheek. My little brother doubles over in laughter, and I find myself chuckling slightly. Nick covers the bottom half of his face with his hand to hide his amusement.
My mother is ready to reprimand Wylie, but Gabe has already chucked a spoonful of vegetables at him. The food splatters all over his chubby face, causing his laughter to halt and a pout to replace it.
“Great.” My mom huffs, a small smile curling at her lips. “Not only is there one toddler, but two I have to raise.”
Gabe leans over to kiss her cheek. “It’s okay, Lori. The cat will pick it up.”
“We don’t have a cat.” I point out, continuing to eat my meal.
“Damn.”
Laughter is shared between everyone as I share a look with Nick that says things like this happen all the time. He smiles widely at me as our conversation returns to slightly normal things.
“How’s your sister?” I ask Nick, meaning to have asked him sooner, but it slipped my mind.
“Phoebe is good. You know how little siblings can be sometimes, but she’s not all that bad.” He teases, taking a sip from his glass before continuing. “Her being eleven has suddenly made her grow up by a ton, and now she’s interested in boys.”
“I wouldn’t be too worried until you hear her say boyfriend.” I think back to that age, but all I see his Hayden. All I ever see is Hayden.
The rest of dinner flies by without another food fight breaking out, thankfully. Nick praises my mother for dinner, and I offer to walk him out, opening the front door once he’s slipped his shoes back on.
“Thank you for tonight. It was really nice.” He shoots me a boyish smile that causes his eye to squint at the sides, and I can’t help but mirror him.
“It really was! I missed hanging out with you. We’ll have to do it again sometime.” I wrap my arms around my waist to shield my body from the chilly fall air.
“We will.” He nods, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “There’s a game this Friday, and I was hoping that you could make it?”
“I always go to the games, Nick.” I tilt my head to the side, brows furrowed.
“It would just be nice to know that a friend is there rooting for me.”
“I wouldn’t miss it then.”
He grins, leaning against the door frame. “Also, after there’s going to be a party at my place, and you’re more than welcome!”
“Sure! Can Anthea come?” I know I’m not going to bother with Hayden. If he’ll be there, then he’ll be there with his girlfriend, and I know I can have drama-free fun with Anthea.
“Absolutely!”
I narrow my eyes, a habit I’ve picked up over the years. “Do you need me to bring anything?”
“Just yourself.” He beams, slowly walking backward towards the front porch. “I’ll see you at school!” Nick waves, and I return it, watching to make sure he’s in his car safely before retreating to my warm home.
Chapter 7
Elsie
The halls are full of hustle and bustle like they normally are in the early morning. Kids rush down the corridors to make it to their classes on time while others lag behind, talking with their friends. Then you have the most irritating of them all: couples taking up precious space to make out, and clingy adolescents who squeal and embrace others even though they saw each other yesterday.
I should be rushing to my first period like most, but I’m standing off to the side, observing while lost in my own thoughts. People-watching is what I do best ever since I was a little girl. I enjoy being engaged in my surroundings. It’s mesmerizing how some people are so confident in themselves and what they do.
I wish I were like that. I wish I actually have the guts to tell my best friend how I feel, but I don’t. I don’t want to risk losing him in that way, even though sometimes I feel like I already have.
A gust of warm air flows over the side of my neck. I gasp loudly, whipping around to press my back against the lockers. Hayden stands awfully close to me with a satisfied smirk on his lips; his arm rests above my head to trap me between his body.
“Necessary?” I question with raised brows, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart.
His cocky expression morphs into one of triumph. “It was absolutely necessary.” Hayden’s eyes flick down the corridor before gazing back at me with a small frown. “Were you observing?”
“Maybe.”
“One day, someone is going to catch you watching them like a creep.” He teases, grinning widely. “Are you ready for a day with your favorite person?”
I mirror his excitement, peering up at him with so much admiration I feel like I’m going to explode. “I have mentally prepared myself for your annoying voice.” It’s easier to lighten the situation rather than to dwell on my feelings.
“That’s mean.” He pokes my side, and I squeal lowly, trying to move away, but he has me stuck. Hayden chuckles, his body towering completely over mine. “Happy to hear you’re so enthusiastic about it because I’m going to be talking your ear off, love.”
If anyone were looking from the outside, we might just look like one of those overly loved up couples that flaunt their perfect relationship in the hallways. If only they knew…
It’s the truth. This boy can talk more than a seven-year-old that found the hidden cookie jar and ate everything inside. I feel the buzz of elation at his words, wanting him to talk my ear off.
“Can’t wait.” I smile genuinely while clutching my books closer to my chest to create a barrier between our bodies that seem to be drifting closer.
He takes notice of my uncomfortable shift, pushing himself back and nearly running into other students.
He mutters apologies to them, a pink tint rising to his cheeks before looking back to me. “Good, because you’re stuck with me.” He points, nearly tripping over his size eleven shoes. Giggles spill from my lips while he attempts to pretend it didn’t happen. “You’re in for a day of fun, Archer,” he hollers from halfway down the hall.
Embarrassment claws at the attention we’ve gathered, and I realize I do have that friend. I merely wave and nod. Hayden grins childishly before spinning around to continue safely to his class.
***
It’s irritating and provoking, to say the least, and as the seconds tick by, the more I want to chuck something at his head.
Hayden drums his fingers against the granite tabletop of the booth where we remain in the pizza parlor. I have already begged him to stop a solid three times by now, the tapping distracting me from the menu.
I groan loud enough for him to hear while his tapping matches up to the beat of a rock song playing softly in the background. I glare at him, but he doesn’t notice, so instead, I roll my eyes, slamming the menu down on the table.
“Hayden?” I scold tightly. He stops, the whistling coming to an end as he gazes up at me innocently. “If you don’t chill out, I’ll chop off your balls. It’s annoying.”
The Best Friend: A Young Adult Romance Story Page 4