â CHRISâ
"Maaa!!!" I shouted into the house the second I stepped inside, "You beautiful woman, where are you!" I drop my bag by the door and kicked it shut while shrugging off my coat, before stepping into the back of my shoes to get them off, "I know you're here! Are you ignoring me!?" I shouted, snickering as I made my way to the kitchen.
My phone started vibrating in my pocket and I paused briefly to get it, unable to stop my smile at seeing who it is.
It's two weeks into the second semester and it's going good so far. By the grace of God, Ariana and I had two classes together now, and we came to the conclusion that it's because I'm taking solely academic classes this year. Not gonna lie, it's been a lot better for me time wise. I get to do a lot more than I used to. I don't have as many assignments or projects like I once did, and it's been benefiting me in studying a lot more for my SATs that I took a couple weeks ago. I'm still waiting for the results for those and even though I feel good about my scores, I'm still nervous about it.
I already told Ariana I'm gonna be calling her crying if I get anything less that 1400. She believes me and I'm happy she's not taking this for a joke.
So now I'm just focusing more on getting my community service hours done. I already started some time last year in late November at an animal shelter. Which I found was on Ari's side of town, a couple minutes away from where she lives. I asked my boss if I could get Thursday evenings off and work later on the weekend so I could get it done and he didn't have a problem, so I'm already more than halfway through with the 60 hours that they need. And I also sent in college applications, so my life's on the right track and going pretty great right now.
On another note, after the... incident with Ari on Thanksgiving, we've been... closer you could say. A lot more flirting, I'll tell you that, but it never went beyond that. Also, a lot of fights, both arguments and physical ones. Our physical fights are always playful though even though it can get a bit... rough sometimes. It's always my fault, cause I touch her hair and she hates when I do that, but come on, seeing her with different hair every couple of weeks does stuff to me.
Smirking, I dialed the number instead of texting back and put my phone on speaker while trying to pull my hoodie over my head. It was pretty hot in here and I briefly wondered why my mom had the heat on so high.
Ariana answered on the third ring and I knew she'd been staring at her phone the entire time, contemplating answering.
"Why are you calling my phone?" Is her rude greeting.
I got my top off, grinning anyway, "Just letting you know I got home safely as you inquired," I replied teasingly, and I could see her rolling her eyes just then, so I said, "Don't roll your eyes at me."
"Okay, sir, do something about it," she said with a lot of attitude and if I could strangle her through the phone I would.
"I don't enjoy your sass, little girl."
"And I don't enjoy you calling my phone at 10 o'clock at night, some of us have mothers who'll come in and take the damn thing."
"First of all, it's 9, and second, why'd you text me?" I retorted as I entered the kitchen.
I came to an abrupt stop at seeing unfamiliar faces sitting around the island in my kitchen when Ari said, "To make sure you got home and didn't run off the road, you scum. It's called being a good person."
"Hello," I drawled slowly, taking in the faces of the strangers, then caught my mother's stare.
"Umm... Hi..." Ariana trailed off from the phone, and my lips twitched in amusement.
I brought the phone closer to my face, "Not you, babe."
I saw the way my mother's eyebrows raised and her head tilted, making me curse internally because I know I'm in for it later.
"What's going on?" I asked, making my way over to the fridge to get some water. Who are these people?
"Christian these are our new neighbors, who'd appreciate if you put your shirt back on," she replies.
I choked on my water, wiping away some of it that spilled on my chin, "Sorry."
"Ouuu, you naked? I'm tellin." Ari said, unaware of just how loud she is in the quiet kitchen.
I wasn't naked. I was in a black tank top, but my mom obviously thinks that's too revealing.
I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing, replying lowly, "You're on speaker."
It went quiet after that and I was about to apologize and put my shirt on when she chirped, "Well umm... I'll see you tomorrow, Christa," I rolled my eyes, "Night, Charlotte!" She said and I caught my mom's smile.
"Okay, get off my phone."
She started to say something but cut herself off with a, "Ugh!" Then the line went dead. I struggled not to smile because she wanted so badly to insult me and I knew it.
"My bad," I said, turning to set my phone on the counter and pulling my hoodie back on quickly.
"What happened to your arm?" I heard my mom ask when I turned back to them.
I looked at it even though I couldn't see it with my hoodie on, "Oh, I um..." I shrugged, taking up my water, and making my way over to her, "Pulled Ari's hair."
She shook her head, "She's seriously going to hurt you one day if you keep doing that."
I grinned, "I know."
She stared at me blankly for a moment before she pointed, "I'm getting your head checked," There was a series of small laughs and that pulled me back to the group of people.
"So," my mom started gesturing to them, "These are the Cadens. John and Ashley Caden and their kids, Iseah, Amie, and Jeseah," she explained, then gestures to me, "This is my son - Christian."
She pointed out everyone, and I nodded. The first thing I noticed was that Iseah and Jeseah were definitely twins. They weren't exactly identical, but they had some similar physical traits, and their names gave it away. The other daughter looked a little younger than them, but both girls had the same mess of brown curls as their dad. The guy had more his mother's brown wavy hair, only a shade darker.
I nodded with a smile, "Nice to meet you guys," I met each of their eyes briefly, pausing on the female twin for a second because she was looking at me weird and I wanted to ask if she was okay.
"They'll be starting your school on Monday." Mom continues and I turn my gaze to her, "The twins are in your grade, but Amie's, sophomore is it?"
She nodded and I followed, shrugging, "Cool."
"How do you like it there?" The momâAshleyâasked.
"It's a good school," I told her with a small grin, thinking that if Ari was here she would've said the exact opposite. I turn to the others as I added, "Super easy to make friends, and the teachers are cool- for me anyway."
"Probably because you're a jock or something." Jeseah voiced playfully.
I shook my head, "No," I said slowly, "They treat all the kids the same pretty much. Teachers don't actually favor jocks. As long as you do your work and let them do their jobs, you're on their good side," I smiled, hearing a some low chuckles.
"And you're a part of that group I'm guessing?" John kidded.
"Definitely. He's an honors student," my mom chipped in proudly and I smiled even though my face warmed, "Straight A's every semester."
I reached up, rubbing the back of my neck with a sheepish smile and trying to tone down the heat enveloping my face, "Yeah, I'm kind of a nerd from what I've been told." The temperature started going back to normal as I remembered Ari telling me that with an amused smile.
"Wow," Ashley voiced, looking impressed, "Maybe you could give Iseah here a good tutoring."
My eyes went to Iseah whose head fell back as he lets out a loud breath.
I smirked, amused, as his sisters giggled, the younger one reaching up to pat his shoulder.
"Christian, you don't mind showing them around do you?"
I turned to my mother, "Is there really that much to show- okay," I agreed seeing as she was giving me a look.
I made my way around the counter as they got up. I gestured to the kitchen, "As you can see, this is the eating quarters," I pointed out in a very 'tourguide' way, smiling at my mom when she shook her head at the sound of laughs, "This way," I waved them after me, "Everyone stay together."
"Would you just get out," Mom said and I laughed, leading the small group out of the kitchen and toward the dining room.
"So you guys moved in today?" I asked as I led them down the short hallway.
"Yeah, this is a really nice neighborhood." Jeseah replied.
"Yeah, it's quiet most of the time," I turned, walking backward, "The worst part is you can't really walk anywhere. The nearest town to shop or anything is like half an hour walking distance. I mean it's up to you if that's something you'd do. I've done it multiple times when I'm up for it."
"Jeseah might. She has time," Amie said and I smiled.
"Don't come for me," her sister replies with a laugh, "I like walking," she met my gaze with a smile, "Maybe next time when you're up for it we could walk together."
I shrugged, "That might be a while from now, since I've been busy and it's pretty cold out this time of year." I turned back around, hearing a low snicker behind me.
I didn't really think anything of it as I presented the dining room, "So this is where we eat most of the time."
"Wow. You guys have really nice decor."
I let out a laugh because I hear the same thing every time someone comes here, "Thank my mom."
Seconds later we were moving on and Iseah asked me, "How far is the school from here?"
"Fifteen minutes the least. That's if you drive," I told him, "And it's not huge. It's fairly small so it's not like you'll be getting lost or anything," we exited the dining room and into the main hall where I pointed out the guest bathroom, my mom's office that we didn't go in, and a spare bedroom.
"What's that door?" Amie asked, pointing to the door at the end of the hall.
I turned to her, shaking my head, "That's the last place you wanna know about." I said creepily.
She blinked, "Okay," she said lowly.
I chuckled, "I'm kidding, that leads to the basement. And it's not creepy down there as you may think. My mom and I fixed it up and I used it for... personal reasons."
"Sex?" Jeseah asked.
I drew back, blinking rapidly, "What? No!"
"Really, Jay?" Iseah retorted.
"Sorry!" She exclaimed, "It sounded very sexual."
"It's not," I emphasized, running a hand down my face. I was blushing like a fool and I need to get myself together, "I'm into photography. That's where I print out my photos. Majority of them anyway."
"Really?" Amie asked.
I saw the way her eyes lit up and that made my embarrassment simmer. I didn't usually take people down there. I think Nate was the only person other than my mom and some of my other family members who've been down there. But seeing her obvious love for photography and me being a good person and all...
I nodded, "Wanna see?" I nodded toward the door.
"If that's okay..." she trailed off hesitantly.
I nodded, making my way over, hearing them follow me. I turned the lock and pulled open the door.
My basement wasn't like the ones in movies that were overly creepy with creaky stairs and floorboards like I'd said. My mom and I made sure of that.
I flicked the light switch on the wall and the white lights on the concrete steps came on. It was a dull light at first that gradually get brighter. And each step that I took made the small lights that were engraved in the wall come on. I heard a dramatic gasp behind me and I shook my head, pressing my lips together against a smile.
At the bottom of the stairs, I flipped on the three other light switches and watched the whole basement light up in a low, white glow.
These are one of the perks of it just being me and my mom now. I get the whole attic and mostâif not allâof the basement for myself. We didn't harbor a lot of junk so it was easy for us to clean out down here and fix it up so I could use it for a studio, and my mom kept her office which was really open with ceiling to floor windows and overlooks the backyard.
She was willing to give the room to me when I found my love for photography and needed more space for all my stuff. She's said it'd be nice for me to have the view, for 'inspiration'. I knew how much she was attached to that room so I asked her if I could have the basement instead. Besides, she needs inspiration as much as I do. We both have our artistic pleasures.
I stepped out of the way and let them pass me, watching their gaping faces as they took in all the photos on different panels with their significant themes, and on the walls. Iseah was the only one controlling his expression but I could see that he was impressed.
My phone vibrated in my pocket again and I took it out.
'Did you do your math homework?'
I smiled and did what I always do; I called her.
She picked up, "Stop calling my phone." She whispered aggressively.
"No, I did not do my math homework yet," I grinned, making my way over to the leather couch in the middle of the floor and sat, watching the other three walk around.
"I was just reminding you," she said and I heard shuffling.
I hummed, "You miss me don't you?" I teased, reaching for the remote laying on the couch that I use to adjust the lighting in here, and switched the setting to a warmer color.
I ignored the looks of the three tourists as they eyed the adjusting lights over their heads.
She groaned, "Why are you so annoying?"
"We both know you miss me. That's why you keep picking up. You miss hearing my smooth, sexy voice." I teased, playing around with the settings some more.
"What if I do?" she retorts lowly.
I stopped fiddling around with the control, my finger stopping on top of a button but not pressing it, "Do you?"
"Maybe I'm jealous that you have new neighbors over and they get to hear your voice and I don't, who knows." I could practically see her shrugging with a smile.
I threw the remote on the couch, my eyes catching Jeseah as she reached out to one of my pieces, "Can you please not touch anything," I said loud enough to her so that all of them heard and knew not to.
I could tell she was blushing just by the look on her face as she drew her hand back, "Sorry."
"What are they touching? That's why you don't invite people to your house. Especially yours. Your place is like royalty, only smaller." Ariana said matter of factly.
I couldn't help but grin as I slid down on the couch, stretching my legs out, "Mom forced me to give them a tour of the house. You'll meet them soon, they're starting school next week."
"School? Them? You mean teenagers are there? How many?"
I chuckled, "Three; two girls and a guy."
"Is the guy hot?"
That shouldn't have annoyed me to the extent it did, but I tried to push the feeling down as I replied. "I dunno, Ari. You'll get your answer when you see for yourself."
She was quiet for a moment before she lets out a low laugh that sounded more than forced, "Okay... Well, I'll... see you tomorrow then."
Maybe I didn't push away enough of my irritation.
I let out a breath, feeling guilty, "But I miss you. Talk to me, it's not like you have anything better to do."
"Unlike you, my mom drops me off early in the morning at school, so I have to go to bed early." Her voice was low, and I hated how small and hesitant she sounded and I knew it's because of how I spoke to her a second ago.
"I told you I can pick you up," I reminded her.
She refuses that I pick her up in the mornings and I hate it. She says it's unnecessary for me to waste gas to drive half an hour and pick her up when I already drop her home everyday and she never gives me gas money. She's dramatic.
"And we spoke about why that's a stupid idea, so I'll see you tomorrow."
The ugliest sound erupted out of my chest before I could stop it, and I ignored the looks the three siblings were throwing me.
"It's not a stupid idea, you're being stubborn."
She sighed heavily, "Christian, I love you, but fuck off and get off my phone."
It wasn't the first time she's told me she loved me and I've returned the phrase plenty of times. I also wasn't the only one of our friends she's said that to, and that tells me that it's nothing I should take too personally. But even with that in mind and that it wasn't in a romantic way, I can't deny it stirs something in me.
I hummed, tilting my head back against the couch, "Babe," I said lowly, my lips pulling up when I heard her breath hitch, "Wear something hot for me tomorrow, yeah?"
She lets out a breathless, "Chris," that made me bite my lip and breathe deeply to stop myself from getting excited. "Stop." She got out a moment later, letting out a shaky breath.
I grinned lazily, "I just turned you on, didn't I?"
She lets out another breath, unaware of how loud it was, "No. Shut up." But I wasn't convinced. She definitely has the hots for my voice over the phone.
I chuckled, getting up and walking over to my work desk that was pushed against the wall. I had multiple other desks pushed against the wall all around, but this was probably where I was most. There were two desks pushed together. One with my apple PC, the other has one of my main printers. I noticed that my computer was still on from yesterday so I turned it off.
"Who's this?"
I turned and saw that all three of them were staring at one of the biggest collages I've ever made. It was already framed and leaning against the wallâwaiting.
"Night, babe," I said into the phone as I made my way over slowly.
"I'm not your 'babe'," she said, putting emphasis on the word and I couldn't help but roll my eyes, "It's shit like that that makes people think we're together."
"You like it," I said firmly, hearing her groan, "which is why the last thing I'll do is give a shit what people think."
"Ugh! I wish you'd stop saying stuff like that, it makes it so much harder to hate you."
I smiled before I could help it, "I love you," I almost sang.
"I know you do, get off my phone," she retorted before hanging up.
I chuckled, but cleared my throat when I saw them looking at me and slipped my phone into my pocket.
"She's... cute." I heard when I looked back at the piece they were all looking at now.
I found myself tilting my head a little, unknowingly, as I took in the collage of photos put together. They ranged from the first time I took her picture with her hiding her face, to ones where she got so close to the lense that all I got were close-ups of her teeth or lips or both.
The photos came in different sizes because I wanted variety and it had a gradient in the background on the surface I glued them on. The color went diagonally from a soft yellow, to orange, then brown just to tie everything in, from the theme of the photo to what she's wearing in each of them.
She's stunning.
"Really pretty."
"Does she go to school with us?"
The last one was Iseah and what stood out more was the word 'us'.
My eyebrows raised as I responded, "She goes to school with me, yeah. And you once you start. I'm sure she'll be flattered by all your compliments, but I think we should go ba-"
"She seeing anyone?"
I looked over at Iseah the same time his sister said, "I don't think Mikayla would like that, Issy."
"Mikayla?" I inquired, looking over at Amie.
She gave a forced smile and turned to her brother, "His girlfriend back home."
"It was just a question," he said exasperatedly.
"A personal question," the older sister cut in, "That I'm sure she'd find disrespectful." Then she turns to me, "But does she?" She eyed me weirdly before elaborating, "Is she seeing anyone?" Her head tilted toward the framed collection.
I heard the underlying meaning, and I knew she was trying to figure out if I was dating her. Why? I have no clue, and as tempted as I was to tell them she was my wife, I didn't.
I let out a breathless, nervous laugh, "No offense, but it's really none of your business, seeing as you don't even know-" I gestured to the piece incredulously, "-who she is."
"But it's her right?" Amie said knowingly, giving me a look.
"Who?" I said without thinking.
"The girl on the phone that called you twice tonight. In the last," she peered at the small watch on her wrist, "Fifteen- thirty minutes, tops?"
"O-okay!" I held my hands up, seeing smug looks on their faces at the sound of my voice cracking pathetically, and no doubt my red face, "First of all, I called her both those times," I pointed at Amie as if that's helping my case.
She just tilted her head at me, unbothered. "And..." I held my breath as I contemplated what should come out of my mouth next, but couldn't hold back what eventually did, "Fine, it's her, whatever! Why does it matter to you guys, you don't know me," I voiced, unable to understand why these strangers are so worried about who me or my friend is dating.
"You like her."
"Are you guys like secretly dating or something?"
Both sisters voiced their thoughts at the same time.
I let out a breath, "Okay, I think it's time we go back upstairs."
There was a dramatic gasp, "You didn't deny it."
"Because I don't have to answer to a bunch of teens I just met. Now-" I gesture toward the stairs.
"That hurt a lot more than it should've," Jeseah said then spun around and started to leave. I had no clue if I was supposed to take her serious.
"And do you think," I started, making her stop and turn back, "That you guys could keep quiet about what you saw down here," I waved my hand.
I saw Jeseah cross her arms, "You're acting like this is some sex room. You know you don't have to live up to your first name," she said playfully and I stared at her blankly as her twin chuckled lowly.
"I'm serious. I don't bring people down here. This is my safe space. Even some of my friends don't know about it and the ones that do have only been down here one or two times. And..." I almost rolled my eyes as I said this because I was contemplating telling them, "It's a gift," I gesture to the collage again, drawing their attention to it, "So I'd appreciate if we kept this to ourselves. Please."
"Chill, man," Iseah held his hands up with a low laugh, "We'll keep our mouths shut. Right, girls?"
Amie nodded, while Iseah's twin scoffed, "You are not my pimp," she turns to me then and adds, "But I'll keep it to myself because I understand wanting privacy."
I nodded, smiling, "Thanks."
Soon after we were all making our way toward the stairs and I got the lights at the bottom when Iseah leaned over to speak lowly to me.
"They're right though, you do have it bad for her."
I laughed to play off the way my heart started pounding and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, "We're just really close friends, is all."
He snickered, "Haven't heard that one before," he retorts sarcastically, "But if that's what you tell yourself you're gonna have to find a better way to hide what you feel for her if you don't want people seeing it. And you feel a lot."
No, I don't.