Elena's P.O.V.
"Okay, I'm asking you one last time - and you better give me an answer, Missy." The great interrogator, Hazel, said with a stern and irritated tone laced in her voice. "Where. The heck. Have you been?"
I tried to give her my most annoyed look through the dark kitchen - but it was all in vain. There was barely any light to burn through our shadowed surroundings.
One of these days, I will make sure to get a brain transplant for my friend.
"For Christ's sake, Hazel, you've watched too many detective movies. Instead of acting out a scene you once saw in an old movie, you could actually just ask me where I have been like a normal person."
The hazel-eyed girl glared daggers. "Great, you just ruined everything," she muttered angrily and turned on the light in the room. "Such a killjoy. . ."
"At least I'm not the crazy one anymore," I crossed my arms, causing Hazel to snort like a horse.
"Please, we all know that you are, and will always be, crazy," she looked me up and down, her raised eyebrow formed into a brilliant line. "You can't escape your true identity, Elena."
"You're lucky that murder is illegal." I threatened, causing her lips to crack into a smile.
"Why am I still friends with you?" She chuckled and walked towards the refrigerator. "Okay, but for real though, where were you yesterday and just today?" She took out a children's juice box and raised her eyebrow.
If kids can drink it, then so can I.
I sighed. "At the stable, school, home, and just generally on planet earth, what about you? Did you finally find your home planet yet?"
"Shut up," she threw an apple at me, which I barely caught. "You should be grateful that I care enough about you to come here in the middle of the night - on a school day."
If some certain people could care half as much as Hazel, that would've been great too.
"It's only seven, dumbass, it's barely night." My words seemed to have been a code word for her to throw another apple at me, and this time, I wasn't as lucky as the last time. "Ow!"
Her face broke into an amused smile. "Now, that's what I call karma."
I snorted, "The joke is on you, stupid, because karma will strike right back at you for hurting-" Hazel shrugged her shoulders before she threw a third apple at my face, cutting me off from my sentence. "For Buddha's sake! I will get my soccer shoes and kick that ass you call a face."
My friend rolled her eyes, "Consider yourself lucky that I'm too tired to kill you right now."
"Yeah, I'm sure that's the reason why," I arched an eyebrow with a smirk playing on my lips, resulting in Hazel groaning and rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"I'm going home, I can't handle all this-" She gestured her hands towards me. "-Elena."
"Jeez, thank you."
Swinging her purse over her shoulder and throwing the empty juice box in the trashcan, she walked out of the kitchen and towards the hall. "Goodnight, Elly. Don't let strangers inside or invite any idiot except for yourself in this house - bye!" The insult I had on the tip of my tongue was silenced by Hazel who purposely slammed the door to dodge my comment.
Damn you, Hazel! I rolled my eyes and put the two apples back to its place, leaving the last one for me to eat. What? Just because it hit my face doesn't mean it's inedible.
I was about to take a bite of the red fruit when the doorbell rang, stagnating the meeting between the apple and my teeth.
Typical Hazel. . . What did she forget this time? A lip balm? Her dignity?
Opening the door in a swift move, I spoke before she could have the chance to say anything. "You won't find your self-respect here, Hazel, I'm pretty sure you lost that a long time ago-" I stopped myself from continuing the insult when I realized that it wasn't my crazy friend by the door. "What are you doing here?"
It was my stupid friend.
Carl - my neighbor - rolled his eyes. "Well, hello to you too, Marie, it's so great to see you again. Yeah, I'm fine, by the way, thanks for not asking."
This time, it was my turn to roll my orbs, "Okay, let me try this again." I cleared my throat, looking into his diamond blue eyes. "Hello, Carl, what the heck are you doing here?" The tall college boy sighed in annoyance, slipping himself into the house while ignoring me. "Well, just invite yourself in, no problem. Do you need me to tell you to feel yourself at home, or are you going to do it by yourself as well?"
"Oh, shut up now," his voice spoke from the kitchen, which I quickly followed. "I need your help," before I could ask what it was, he suddenly held up multiple shirts, heck, his entire closet was in his arms.
I furrowed my eyebrows, "Wait, how did you-"
"I don't know what to wear!" He exclaimed and threw every clothing he had brought in all directions. "I'm going to a party, but it looks like the universe is against me. . ."
What? The universe? No way!
Rolling my eyes, I averted my attention from the disturbing underwear hanging over the sink and at him. "First of all, the universe is against me, not you," even he nodded in agreement. "Secondly, why are you so stressed? I mean, it's just another college party you go to, let me see. . . Oh, yeah; every freaking day."
"Ugh, you children don't understand this tough college life."
Children? Excuse you, just last week you cried over a SpongeBob episode you missed.
"It's not just another party, Ms. Know-it-all," the idiot continued before I could protest against his insult. "By choosing the wrong shirt, my entire life can collapse, doomsday will begin, and Adidas will go bankrupt! You hear me? Adidas will go bankrupt!"
I blinked for a couple of seconds, confused about his weird - well, weirder than usual - behavior. "So, what you're saying is. . . by choosing the wrong shirt for a party, everything will end up in a catastrophe?" My blond-haired friend thought about it for a split second before nodding. "Yeah, so, Carl. How much have you been drinking today?"
He rolled his eyes, "I haven't been drinking anything since this morning."
"God, do I feel sorry for your liver," I shook my head, and received a silent glare in return. "Don't give me that look, I'm just curious about how you're still alive."
"This is why you're not allowed to start conversations with people." He pointed his finger at me before diving into the sea of clothes. "Ugh, I should just drown in here and not go."
I shrugged my shoulders, looking at the idiot who was covered in the ocean of dirty and smelly fabrics. "Yeah, I don't see the problem with that."
"No!" He suddenly jumped upright, almost like a dead body would do in a horror movie. "Of course, there is a problem with that! Have you even been at a par- oh, wait, I forgot that I'm talking to Elena Marie Campbell."
Rolling my eyes at the full name he used, I walked passed him to pick up a black, simple t-shirt. "Here, stupid, it matches your shoes and soul."
He gave me a dirty look, but took the shirt from my hands. "Okay, that last one was unnecessary, but I agree, it does match," he held it up to his chest, looking at his smiling reflection through the window.
Before I could tell him to stop acting like he was on a catwalk, the doorbell rang once again. "For the love of a potato, when can I get a break?" I mumbled, walking to the door for the hundredth time this day. "An idiot invited himself inside my house, Hazel, so you can't blame me for- Adam?"
When I end up in hell, I'll make sure to send a postcard to God.
"Hey, Elena." The team captain said, showing off the white pearls in his mouth.
Snapping out of it, I gave him a skeptical look. "How did you know that I lived here?"
Now that I think of it, maybe Carl was right about me and conversations; I shouldn't start them.
Adam smiled uneasily, chuckling nervously at the small glare I was sending his way. "I saw you throw your bag in here the day you were almost hit by a car," he answered, and made me realize how big of an idiot I really am.
Dammit, this is why I shouldn't talk to people.
"Oh. . ." Can someone tell me what I did to the universe for it to hate me so much? "So, ehh. . . what are you doing here then? It's quite late now, so if it's drugs you're after, then there is a dude three houses down the road who can get you some."
Kids, listen good, and listen well; when you try to joke the awkwardness away, it can either touch the skies or fall down to hell where you will burn in the flames of embarrassment forever. And let's just say that in this moment, I could practically hear the echoes of Annie's crackling voice.
However, the tall boy sent me a small smile instead of a physiologist. "No, my car broke down and my phone died, so, I was just wondering if I could borrow your phone for a minute or two?"
Offering a fake smile to cover up my embarrassment, I nodded. "Of course, come in!" I believe God is enjoying this along with Jesus and Buddha.
A bucket of relief washed over me when I didn't see my blond-haired friend anymore. He must have gone to the party, I concluded and shrugged the sight of my kitchen off.
But Adam, on the other hand, had a look that was beyond confused. "Why are there so many-" He picked up a shirt from the floor, and I butted in before he could finish his sentence.
"Don't question it," my warning tone caused him to drop the clothing instantly. "It's for the best. . ." Giving me one last look, he shook his head, either in confusion or fear. Or both.
"Hey, are you going to the game on Friday?" He asked, changing the subject.
I shook my head and picked up my phone from the kitchen counter. "Nah."
"Why not?"
Thinking of a reason that wouldn't put me in a crazy house, I shrugged my shoulders. "Because I have others things to do."
"Like what?"
Oh, you know, just some time traveling where I'll be having a serious talk with a certain monk.
"Just something." This is why I can never become a lawyer, well, unless I can use the Monopoly's 'get out of jail free'-card.
Adam gave me a long look, and I handed him my phone before he could think of any other questions to ask. "Here," I said, and avoided eye-contact by kicking the clothing out of my way as a distraction.
Stupid idiot named Carl. This is the last time I invite- heck, I didn't even invite him in the first place! Ugh, he needs to get back here and get his clothes, or else I will. . . have my revenge, of course! My ramble of thoughts suddenly began to piece up an evil plan.
He's going to regret that he barged into my house.
"Thanks," the dark-haired boy handed me my phone back, already finished with the phone call in a Flash speed. "My mom is picking me up, is it okay if I stay here for a while?"
Or you could just take the house and I'll leave.
"Yeah, no problem," I nodded, trying not to sound awkward. "Do you want some. . . water? Or a drink perhaps?"
This is why I don't like talking to people, especially when they are the boyfriend of a big enemy of mine.
If Annie only knew, I swear, she would pay a reaper to take my soul Downstairs.
Adam smiled, "No, thanks, I'm heading to the three houses down the road for some alcohol." He joked, but I was just too stupid to catch it.
That one time I couldn't catch sarcasm just had to happen today.
"No, Pearl doesn't sell that, it's Earl you're talking about." I was about to give him directions when I realized that he wasn't serious. "Oh, you were joking. . ."
When I die, I want to have my tombstone engraved with 'died of awkwardness'. It's pretty much the accurate death I'm waiting for. Well, either that or stupidity, which also has the best odds, considering this past month I almost ended up dead every day.
"Wait, what?" Adam asked with a loud confusion on his face. "Pearl and Earl?"
"They're hardcored competitors. If you ever meet them, don't mention the other. It's an unwritten rule that could kill you if you break it." At this point, it was too late to take my words back. I couldn't read the tall boy's emotions anymore, he was just too dumbstruck and confused that his entire face became blank as an empty paper.
"You're kidding, right?" He finally asked, summoning an uneasy smile on my face.
"Sure." Was my reply before a car horn closed our awkward conversation. Thank Lord, I've never been this happy before. "Looks like your mother is here." I followed him to the door, wanting nothing more than to kiss his mom for saving me.
"Yeah," he turned his attention back to me again. "Thank you for letting me borrow your phone, I don't know what I would've done if I did meet Pearl and Earl." He laughed dryly.
"Well, I don't think you should worry about them. They're under investigation, so I'm sure they could compromise with words instead of their fists." The older boy playfully rolled his eyes at me.
"Okay, now you're joking." He pointed his finger at me, not believing what I was saying anymore, which made an amused smile grow on my face.
To freak him out, I pulled out a little bag with white powder from my jacket. "Why do you think I know all about Pearl and Earl?" I held the plastic bag up, making Adam's eyes widen. "I'm just messing with you, it's just flour."
A heavy sigh of relief poured out of his mouth while a laughter escaped my lips.
Maybe I'm not that bad at keeping a conversation up? I thought, shaking Carl's barging voice out of my head.
"Wait, why do you even have a plastic bag filled with flour in your jacket?"
Opening and closing my mouth a couple of times, I finally stuttered out an answer. "It's. . . ehh. . . I. . . can't really explain it."
To be honest, I don't remember why I have a bag filled with flour in my jacket in the first place. Sometimes, explanations can't cut it.
Adam's shoulders slumped up and down in laughter, and before he could respond, a car horn interrupted his forming words. "Okay, I really need to go now before-" His words were killed off by the sirens that interrupted his sentence.
Both of us watched the scene of fast-speeding police cars outside of my window.
"Wait, I thought you said you were joking?" The captain of the football team looked between me and the racing cars.
Damn, they're heading towards Pearl's house.
I shrugged my shoulders, tearing my eyes from the window. "No, I was joking about this," I held up the little plastic bag. "But everything I said about the investigation is true."
"Seriously?"
The car horn screamed again, and only made the loud night wilder.
"Yeah, I think you need to go before your mother drives without you," I pushed him out of the door, waving a goodbye through the darkness that hugged his body. "Goodnight!" And then I slammed the door shut, sighing in relief.
Jeez, why did I tell him that? Now he probably thinks I'm a drug-dealer. Ugh, I wouldn't be surprised if he thought that I knew of a third guy who's a hit-man. . .
After a bit of mumbling and cursing myself out in gibberish, I finally went back to the kitchen. The mere sight of the clothes covering my floor made me tired, and instead of picking them up, I jumped over the sea of clothing, almost like Carl's closet was lava that I couldn't touch.
However, my game was cut shortly off by the doorbell ringing for the third time this day.
"Seriously!?" I threw my hands in the air, and tramped my way back to the door. This time though, I wasn't going to repeat my mistakes, so for the first time in a long time; I opened the door calmly. "Hello, great citizen, is there anything I can help- oh, for Christ's sake!"
Hazel raised her eyebrow, her lips twitching up in an amused smile. "Since when did you become so polite?" My eyes were already dead when I glared at her, and as she was about to continue her teasing, her mouth quickly reformed her words, almost like she had remembered something more important to say. "Oh, have you heard about Earl?"
And this is why you don't befriend criminals. They will always leave you when they get arrested.