Hero was far gone into dreamland when I lugged my way into detention. The teacher, just the same at the front desk, didn't even stir upon my entry.
I gaped at the incredulous scene before me, wondering why in all my years of being a recurrent detention devotee had I never stumbled upon such a sight as this or a teacher as carefree as this woman.
My shock, after a few seconds of back and forth judgment at the two of them, wore off and I settled at a window seat, continuing the book I had borrowed from the library.
Not even ten minutes later, my eyelids began to feel like dumbbells had been attached to them, weighing them down one after the other and I ended up winking myself to sleep, forced to join the sleep marathon.
Hero shook me awake about an hour plus later, shrugging his bag on and nodding for the exit. The teacher was already gone.
"Nice nap?" He teased as I yawned and stretched into a standing position.
"I was only doing what the two of you were already doing." I mumbled distractedly, dragging my book off the desk and heading out.
I yawned again, nearly swallowing my fisted hand at my mouth in the process. From beside me, Hero laughed.
I jerked, cringing away as I realized he had followed me out. My cheeks flamed and I lowered my head, embarrassed that he had seen that.
"I'll drop you off." He said,paying no mind to my behavior as he twirled his car key on his finger. "My car finally left the shop and Donovan had to go somewhere with Melinda. Said I should take you home. Convenient, isn't it?"
I nodded, the correction of Melissa's name aching to be said and bothering me to no end.
Donovan ditching me for Melissa didn't bother me because, well, I know my best friend. This is probably just one of his schemes to get me alone with Hero.
He opened the front passenger door for me and I got in, the click of my seatbelt being locked in following soon after while I willed my mind not to think too hard on his kind gesture.
The ride home was as lively as our town's graveyard. I was glued to the door the entire time, ready to jump out the minute we got to my house or just in case he decided to bring up what Dream Hero had had no problem discussing. I clutched the door handle like it was a lifeline and prayed it wouldn't result in me jumping out of a moving car.
Hero didn't seem to notice.
It was clear that his mind was somewhere else. He didn't try to talk to me like he had done back in class which was good because all that I could think about was the fact that he had friendzoned me and that he had gotten Melissa's name wrong.
I wanted to correct him so bad that I justâ
"It's Melissa." I blurted out the minute I got out of the car. "The girl Donovan's with, her name is Melissa. Not Melinda."
"Okay? Potato Tomato." was his response. He looked at my hand that was still clutching the car door before looking back at me. "Can I go now?"
"It's actually," I chuckled nervously, letting go of the door. "It's, um, tomatoâPotato Potato and Tomato Tomato but I get your confusionâ"
"Harley."
"Hm?"
"Close the door." He muttered and I scrambled to do just that before rushing to get inside so that I could scream into my pillow at how ridiculous I had just been."Harley." He called out once more and I screeched to a halt like an unoiled robot, waiting for him to speak.
"Check your messages once in a while." He mumbled. "Otherwise exchanging numbers would be pointless, wouldn't it?"
He drove off, leaving me standing out on my lawn in shock and disbelief, a budding hope rising in my chest.
Slowly, as if someone would snatch it away if I wasn't careful, a smile bloomed onto my face, a new emotion swirling in my gut. It felt like anxiety except in a good way. Is there such a thing as good anxiety?
I squealed, running up to my bedroom to read over Hero's messages for as long as it would take me to grasp the fact that someone other than Donovan had willingly texted me. I wouldn't exactly call us friends but Hero and I were finally getting somewhere.
Donovan's going to love this.
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No!" I threw a pillow at my best friend's head which he effortlessly caught with one hand and threw back at me. It smacked into my face and I fell dramatically from the window nook and onto the floor with a thud.
Donovan had arrived about ten minutes ago and decided to point out all the Easter eggs I had missed today. The most obvious being Riley's multiple attempts at befriending me.
I cringed and curled into a ball.
Donovan was laying on my bed, with one hand hoisting his head up and the other reaching for another pillow to throw at me.
He hasn't brought up Melissa yet and, because of that, my confidence to share the good news about Hero reduced to just a burning flame in my chest. I didn't want to be the only one going on and on about a love interest.
I rolled about on the floor and squeezed the pillow onto my face to muffle my screams of displeasure. Donovan cupped one of his ears to block out my screams and shot another pillow my way.
I grabbed it and threw it back at him. He caught it again and tossed it onto the bed, resting his head on it.
I fell back into the other pillow, continuing to scream and toss around. It was too embarrassing to even think about.
"Harley, shut up!" Cash shouted from his room. "You're going to bring the house down with all your girly screeching!"
"Sorry!" I shouted back before turning to Donovan and whispering, "You're telling me she meant it as a joke? It was supposed to be a 'nickname moment'?"
Donovan nodded. His stomach grumbled in agreement too.
I got up, pacing about until I got all the cringe out of my system.
"I missed out on a nickname?" I sank to the floor again. "What have I done? What was I even supposed to do?"
"Maybe act normal instead of introducing yourself for the third time?"
"You're not helping."
"Can't help you on an empty stomach."
"You've got to be kidding me. Do you think I still have a chance? I don't mind being called Harley Quinn for the rest of my life."
Ding!
Donovan sat up on the bed, placing his feet on the light grey rug that covered my entire room floor. His phone kept dinging every five seconds. He closed his eyes in annoyance, taking a moment to relax himself before putting it on silent when an unfamiliar number popped up on his screen.
Just as I was about to ask him what that was about, he shut it off and pocketed it, continuing our conversation as if nothing had happened.
"I'm sure Riley isn't thinking of disowning you. She seems to like you for some reason. Now," He pulled my weak form off the floor. I wiggled like a worm and slumped onto him. "for the 100th time, I am starving. Fix me something,woman."
"Cooking is a basic life skill that everyone should learâwoah, Donovan!" I could feel my heart calmly tossing down a rope before proceeding to ignore said rope as it did a death jump down to my butt. Donovan had tossed me up and over his shoulder like a rag doll.
"Food tastes better when it's from you."
"That's awfully sweet." I allowed. "And low key manipulative. Now put me down."
"How about...no."
"Please?" We had already come down the attic and Donovan had suddenly come up with the brilliant idea to speed through the hallway.
"Person on your shoulder!" I screamed, hitting his back with every word. I still couldn't understand why he never got his own food when he came over. Heck, I couldn't even understand why I still had to make us food when I went over to his place.
I pounded on his back extra hard at that realization. I can't believe he's been using me as his private chef all this time. I'm so dumb.
We were making such a ruckus that the door to the underworld creaked open and a wave of dark aura spread out of my brother's room before said brother's dinosaur socks peeked out angrily.
Cash's left big toe looked extra vengeful.
"I'm going to kill you, Donovan!" He shouted and rushed out of his room.
"No, wait, wait ,wait." I held my hand up in surrender as his footsteps got louder, nearing the stairs. He teleported behind us, a twisted evil smirk plastered on his face. "Let him put me down first."
"Extra points." He grinned evilly, murder already set in his eyes. "I've always wondered what it would be like to be an only child."
I screamed bloody murder.
How I had managed to become the rope in a game of tug of war between Donovan and Cash would forever remain a mystery to me. They would've torn me to pieces if mom hadn't come in right then.
"Kids, I'm homeâ" she was met with the sight of Donovan pulling on my legs and Cash pulling on my hands while I struggled to wiggle out of both of their hold and her greeting got lost somewhere in the chaos before her.
"What's...going on?" She looked between the three of us before shrugging nonchalantly and holding up a medium-sized parcel, announcing the most melodious three words I'd ever heard in all my life.
"I brought food."
They dropped me.
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My goddess of a mother had brought home leftovers from one of her coworker's party so I didn't have to do a thing in the kitchen. She set the food on the counter and strolled up to bed after kissing the three hungry domes eating on the kitchen isle, stretching tiredly as she did so.
I could hear her flip the 'do not disturb or else...ðª¦' sign that she had made herself on her door before heading in and locking the door.
I smiled mischievously as I grabbed the last piece of mini pizza that Cash and Donovan had been trying to win through a game of rock-paper
-scissors and swallowed it whole.
They both paused and stared at me as I rubbed my belly and burped loudly.
"That hit the spot." My butt was still sore from them dropping me but that last bite of pizza eased it a bit.
Like the wise supervillain Megamind had stated,revenge really could be easily reheated in the microwave of evil. The microwave in question was my stomach and oh, how I enjoyed the change in their expressions from excitement to complete and utter disappointment and traumatic shock.
"Did she just...?"
"... inhale that entire thing?"
"She's a man." They both muttered for the gazilionth time.
I pursed my lips in embarrassment and walked to the couch. That was the fourth time now they had called me a man this week. "Jerks."
I reached for the PS controller.
"Wait."
Donovan got up and came to me, straightening his shirt as he did so. He took a piece of tissue off the small round table and wiped the oil off my hands. "Don't dirty the controller."
"Yes, sir." I muttered mockingly and Donovan's eyes shot up to mine. He looked absolutely speechless.
"What?" I asked him nervously and drew back. He looked down again, focusing on my hands.
"...nothing."
"Can you wipe my hands too, Don?" Cash mocked, pouting like a little kid.
"At your grown age..." I 'tsked' at him.
"We're all the same age." He turned to Donovan. "How come she gets the princess treatment?"
Donovan ignored him and grabbed the other controller.
"Let's play Fifa."
"But I don't like Fifa." Cash grumbled.
Yeah, you much prefer your best friend's girl, I thought sourly. How could he do that? What was he even thinking kissing Riley? Did he regret it? Does he even feel a bit of remorse for any of it?
I bit the inside of my cheek, analyzing my brother's expression for any signs of guilt.
"Well, I don't like you but you're still alive and breathing. Sometimes in life, you just have to compromise." Donovan retorted.
"You knowâ" Cash started.
"No, I don't know."
"I'll tell you then." He continued, not missing a beat. He slid into the chair adjacent the couch Donovan and I were on, propping his feet up on the coffee table. "Harley and I are basically the same so I guess that means you don't like Harley."
I gaped, turning to Donovan for answers and momentarily forgot that I was mad at Cash.
"Being twins does not make you two the same." Donovan shrugged. "I like her more. You're just collateral."
I hid my smile from Donovan. I didn't need him to know that he was an amazing person. His ego's already as big as the biggest yarn in the world.
The room fell into a comfortable silence for a moment until Cash had to go and ruin it.
"Everyone else would disagree." He mumbled, yanking the controller from my hands and roughly threw me behind him. I was smushed between him and the couch.
My face was smudged up on the couch but I still managed to grumble out, "Get off, you heavy bag of potatoes."
A fruitless attempt to shove him off me was made. As expected, he didn't even budge a little. I glanced at my big guns and watched as they deflated before my own two eyes like two balloons being popped in a weird early 2000's cartoon.
"Potato!" I groaned as I tried my best to wiggle out of his hold but he was as heavy as a panda. I wasn't going anywhere.
"You're the final boss, remember?" Cash grinned before turning to Donovan. "If you want to have a chance with her, you'll have to go through me first."
"He won't beat me anyway!" I reasoned. "Get off!"
Donovan stared at Cash for a moment, the room going completely quiet aside from my shuffles behind Cash. He nodded in response to Cash, completely ignoring my existence.
I was starting to wonder who he liked more.
"Are you ready to taste defeat, Harvey?"
"Don't hold your breath." Cash mumbled, pressing start on the controller. "Even if you defeat me, Harley's a whole other case entirely."
Donovan finally looked at me with a small smile before turning his attention back to the game with confidence.
"Yeah, I know."
Cash lost.
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Mom was up early the next morning making breakfast. She smiled when I slugged my way into the kitchen, my heavy yawn being the indicator that I was present.
"You're down early." She noticed, taking a moment to glance at the goblin that was waddling towards her in comfy hedgehog slippers.
I scratched my back with the now useful back scratcher I had gotten as a joke when I was twelve and glided over to my beautiful mother, giving her a peck on the cheek before sitting down for breakfast.
Cash had gone to bed.
We had stayed up all night after Donovan left playing 2k19. I kept winning and, despite losing to me multiple times, Cash had decided to keep playing until he could win.
He never did.
He had been sour about his loss to Donovan the entire night. I tried to comfort him by saying he wasn't even that good at the game anyways while Donovan was a pro and besides, I had beaten Donovan so that was a win for him too.
Somehow, that made him sulk even more. He kept on rambling about how he was the older twin and it's his job to be the provider and protector which annoyed me to some extent since I clearly am the older twin.
However, I managed to stuff my ego somewhere in Davy Jones' locker and tried to hoist him out of his exaggerationâehem, I mean depression.
I got the metaphorical rope around him by pretending to have had an off game but couldn't seem to hoist him into sunshineland since the weight of him being terrible at console games was too heavy for me to bear... alone.
So I got a wingman (ice cream) and had him talk a bit about his current situation with Justin.
For some reason, during our little midnight conversation,I had decided to take a peek out the window and came face to face with the early sunlight. The day had winked provocatively at me(such a flirt) to which I shut the blinds quickly and spun like a ballerina towards my brother, hitting him on the head while whisper-shouting, "It's morning!"
His eyes widened like saucers and he dropped our ice cream spoons in the sink and switched the console and TV off.
I quickly crammed the ice cream back in the fridge and we both rushed up stairs as quietly as we could.
I tiptoed up to my room just as Cash closed the door to his, leaving me out in the cold.
Just as I took the first step up, the door to mom's room creaked open slowly and a color brighter than neon socks, in crocs peeked out dangerously.
I covered my mouth in fear and slowly crept up to my room, miraculously making no sound.
I mean, I knew I could do it. I'm special agent Oso's right hand woman after all. I hopped down a minute later to make it appear like I had just woken up.
That's right. I'm a genius.
"...considering you just decided to head to bed." Mom finished her sentence as she set the eggs before me and my celebration came to a stop.
I gaped like a fish out of water at my mom in all her brighter-than-neon glory as she reached for the kettle and poured herself some coffee.
After absorbing the heat of the coffee,her magic mugâa gift from Donovan since mom had loved the ones he had gotten me so muchârevealed the words 'Mother Knows Best' as mom brought the mug to her lips and took a quick sip.
I gulped and trembled guiltily, my knees wobbling like expired jello and hitting against each other like bowling pins.
"I would have sworn you guys off maintenance duty but... "she sighed and turned to me with a wry smile. "I guess three weeks of house cleaning will have to do."
"H-how?" I asked, shaken up by mom's detective skills. I was certain I hadn't made a single sound earlier.
Mom chuckled in satisfaction, adjusting her imaginary glasses as she made a gesture to the sink with her other hand where our spoons had been tossed. My eyes traveled warily to it as she took another sip.
"They were still cold."
Darn it! And I would've gotten away with it too if it wasn't for those metallic ice cream spoons.
"Go wake your brother up." She ordered evilly. "Unless you've suddenly gotten the motivation to jog for half an hour."
"Yes, ma'amâI mean, mom." And I scurried off to wake my idiotic brother up.
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I got engulfed in a lavender-scented hug the minute I got out of the car. I immediately drew back and Riley's head popped into view, her blonde hair styled in a ponytail and a nervous smile gracing her lips.
"Sorry about yesterday, Harley... Smith." She said, twirling the ends of her ponytailâshyly?âwhile I tried to subdue my evident shock.
Riley just hugged me.
In what universe is that natural?
My tuned out ears almost missed the rest of her apology. "...I can get ahead of myself sometimes. No hard feelings?"
I barely even opened my mouth to direct her to the nearest psychiatrist to set her mind back on it's evil, bullying track before she whizzed past me and poked her hand into the car.
"Mrs. Smith, I've heard a lot about you from my mom." She smiled when mom took her hand, a bit confused. "I'm Riley, a friend of Harley's."
Friend? Friend. Yeah, she just introduced herself as my friend. To my mother. Since when did Riley and I become friends? She's still on the lookout for the girl with the black boots. I'm the girl with the black boots!
Mom audibly gasped, her eyes widening like saucers as she stared from my bamboozled expression to Riley's upbeat, cheery smile then back to my now anxious and more than suspicious frown.
Mom hadn't met Riley yet since they were never at the house at the same time. Not that she had a problem with any of Cash's flings. As long as he didn't ruin any poor girl's life with his terrible decisions, she didn't mind us bringing our love interests over. Cash had many and I had none.
Mom had set the both of us down one late evening and laid out the ground rules for a happy life and warned us to follow it if we wanted a long one as well. She didn't have to worry though. Cash had no plans to be a teen dadâ he was super carefulâand I hadn't had the pleasure of finding my first love just yet.
"Nice to meet you, Riley." Mom beamed, nearly blinding me in the process. Her eyes were shimmering with hope, completely draining every bit of courage I had gathered to expose Riley's lie. I could literally hear her overwhelming thoughts that I finally had a girl friend. "You can call me Bailey."
"Can I just call you Bay?" Mom would have nodded her head off if I hadn't stepped in between them. She still stared at me with a proud mom look on her face. I turned away, suddenly embarrassed.
It's just Riley. No need to get so emotional about it, mom.
"So you're the reason Harley's so effortlessly stunning." Riley's eyes travelled behind mom, where Cash was reaching for the handle. "Why does Cash look like a poorly made voodoo doll?"
"Haha... very funny, Bunny." He muttered drowsily as he towered over her. He turned to mom, reaching in to take the little paper bags she was holding out. He handed the bear one to me and kept the one that looked like an animated spotted potato.
Mom reached into the back for one more and handed it to Riley.
"That's so cute, Bay!" Riley stared cutely at the paper bag that was shaped like a strawberry. "Where'd you get these?"
"Well, uh, I actually make them." Mom said shyly.
"No way."
"Yes way." Cash and I said before giving each other disgusted looks. We had decided a long time ago to just stay quiet whenever we spoke the exact same words at the same time.
"Where can I purchase these?"
"I don't sell them." Mom replied sheepishly. "It's just a hobby of mine."
"Unfortunately." Cash and I sighed out. I folded my arms, looking away from Riley's amused gaze.
"You could totally make some hard cash from these. Ugh, I can't tell you how many times I've had to eat in the car or risk getting my handbag all messy."
"You care about what others think?" I asked curiously. I just eat whenever I want, wherever I want.
"I don't but I'm usually with Cathy when I'm out and she has to be careful about how people perceive her since her mom's a really big deal in the fashion world."
Mom looked thoughtful.
"Maybe I could..."
"Of course you should. In fact, I know just the websiteâ" The sound of the bell interrupted her rant and she pushed back from the car, tossing her head back with a groan. "Ugh, I hate school so much. I wish I could come with you alreadyâ"
"Nope. Not happening. Time to go,bunny." Cash took her hand and pulled her along with him from the parking lot.
Seriously, how has nobody caught on to them yet?!
"Harley!" Riley yelled from over her shoulder with a wave of her hands. "Do a girl a favor."
"Sure thing." I shouted back, not a clue what she was going on about but excitement evident in my voice. It wasn't everyday I got to shout in an empty parking lot with a friend.
A girl friend.
I smiled warmly. And then I realized I didn't have the most basic thing every friend was supposed to have and my smile dropped. I thought of an excuse.
"I would give you her number but my phone got taken by Principal Hemsher so..." I'm such a liar. "Maybe when I get it back which will be today."
I need to get Riley's number. That'll be a hard task but we're friends, right? Friends give each other their numbers all the time. It's how they communicate to stay as friends. I just have to ask for it without being too awkward. I smiled again as I built up the courage to ask her.
Yeah, it's as simple as asking. Not hard at all.
"That's a first." Mom said, catching my expression before I could hide it. "You should invite her over sometime."
"Knowing Riley, she'll probably be over today...and tomorrow...and the day after."
Mom laughed which made me laugh. Telling her that Riley coming over would have zero to do with me and all to do with her son would have killed the joke in an instant. That made me full on cackle and mom's laughter died out. She shot me a curious look which I avoided by clearing my throat and checking my imaginary watch.
"Would you look at the time? Algebra's calling my name already..."
"Right. Of course. Tell my other kid morning for me. And I'll be expecting him at the house this Sunday."
"I will, mom." I pecked her cheek quickly and rushed in, adding an urgency to my steps to seal the deal.
Once in the building, I let out a breath of relief. My emotions were all over the place and mom was one heck of a daughter reader. She'd sniff out my insincerity before I got the chance to cover it up.
I need mom to believe Riley and I are actually friends if it'll keep her smiling like that. I wonder how long I can keep up the tough girl facade before Riley sees through it and ditches me completely.
The halls were empty since classes had already started. I walked along the quiet corridor, not quite in a hurry to get to class.
I was just about to make the bend to maths when a flier on the bulletin board caught my eye and I found myself heading towards it instead. My breath caught in my throat and I felt an unsettling feeling in my stomach as I realized what it was.
As usual, there are motivational quotes, a list of clubs to join this yearâI was already a member of the drama clubâand a bunch of other useless information on things nobody truly cares about. And right there, in the middle of it all, was the thing I'd been dreading the most. The one thing I was hoping wouldn't repeat itself this year.
I called it the bent screw, being as useless as it was; a list of the top ten hotties to grace the halls of this school.
My face lit up at the sight of my best friend's name being at the top of the list just to immediately vanish when I turned to read another list that had just made an appearance in all my years of attending this school.
It was an ugly list; one that ranked the freaks and outcasts.
And I, in all my puking glory as I held onto the back of Riley's pick-up truck, had placed fifth on it.
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