Chapter 4
The following day I sleep in late, and when I wake up I have two texts, and one miss call from Emily.
What's with Aiden?
Do you like him?
I just ignore the text. I don't want to talk about it anymore.
I go to the kitchen, and there's already cereal sitting out, so I get some milk and sit down at the island and make my breakfast. Dad is at the desk and his glasses are tipped on the end of his nose looking intensely at his laptop.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"I'm buying bedding, and dorm supplies for Conner."
"Oh. Is mom not helping you?" I ask him.
"Yes, she's already given me some money." he replies, and I just nod. I have a bad habit of jumping to conclusions when it comes to my mom. I know I shouldn't be like that, but I can't help it. I guess I'm more unforgiving than I would like.
Conner walks up behind me and snatches the bowl out from under my hand as I finish pouring the milk in it. "Hey!" I blurt out as he starts eating it. He can be so annoying sometimes. "Don't you have plans with Scarlett or something?" I go to the cabinet to grab another bowl.
"Nope, just with my sis." he answers, still stuffing his mouth with my cereal. I smile. I'm glad he's taking a day away from her. I could really use a Conner-Mora day.
"What are we doing?" I ask him.
"I'm thinking we will go to the Woodlands mall because I need to get some more gym clothes for practice, and we can grab lunch after."
"Okay." I agree, scarfing down my breakfast to run upstairs and get ready.
Once I put my hair up in a messy bun I throw on an Islanders T-shirt, and worn out skinny jeans.
We're in the middle of Homegoods when he picks out an ugly grey and green plaid bedding. "No." I say. "Anyway, I think dad already ordered you one."
"Oh, really?." He says putting the comforter back on the shelf.
I follow him putting a couple picture frames in the buggy. "What's those for?" he ask, and I look at him like he's stupid.
"Umm... pictures." I answer with sarcasm.
"No shit, but what am I supposed to do with them."
My face remains dumbfounded. "Put a picture in your dorm." I answer slowly, then add "of you and Scarlett because we don't need girls thinking you're single bub."
He hesitates for a second then sighs loudly "Mora, what am I going to do all year without Scarlett. I just don't know if I can make long distance work." he cries, and I stop him from pushing the buggy.
"Sure you can Con." I answer with confidence.
"I don't know. It's a known fact that I like attention. I wish I wasn't like that, but I'm being real. I just need that affection, and not only will I not see her during the week, but I'm going to be so busy with games, and practice. It's going to be tough being able to hold down a relationship."
I never thought about that... how he must be feeling about leaving her.
"Conner, all you can do is try. If it doesn't work, at least you can say you tried." I repeat myself and he looks down at the floor. "Listen, I don't think you want to break up with her, and I would hate for you to make that decision right now if in the long run you two can make this relationship work. This is all new, and honestly you just don't know yet..." I preach with certainty. "I wouldn't assume that it's going to go one way, when it could go the complete other way. You know?" I reassure him, and he sighs with a little relief.
"Yeah... you're right." he says. Of course I'm right.
After our talk about Scarlett, Conner and I shop for another couple hours finishing up at a shoe store that we both love. We start to walk out of the sliding doors with our hands full of shopping bags when suddenly I see Aiden with Sophie, and they see us too. "Um hey." I say quickly.
I stare at them remembering Aiden telling me they weren't dating when Sophie steps in close to him. "Hey guys." she says to both Conner and I. She is really pretty. She has long red hair, with green eyes, and her skin is tan. She's in a skimpy tank, and skirt with wedge heels.
Who shops in something like that I think and instantly regret my outfit. I guess those are the type of girls Aiden likes.
"Hey girl!." Conner says lightly to her, and then nods his head to Aiden. "Hey man. Long time no see." He says sarcastically, and Aiden reaches out for his hand doing the guy hug they all do.
"Hey man." Aiden says, as we all stand there awkwardly. "What are you guys up to?" He asks us, but stares at me. Suddenly it's like all the answers came falling on me. I know right then that I have a crush on him because I can't control my heart rate. Every time he eyes me I lose a little control of my feelings and emotions.
"Just a little shopping for school." Conner answers to end the uncomfortable silence.
Sophie replies "How fun. Are you excited? I hear you got accepted to A&M." she ask him. I can still feel Aiden's eyes on me while I look at Sophie.
"Hell yeah I'm excited." Conner tells her. "I only have three weeks here, and I'm out for good" This subject breaks my concentration and I look at Conner with a sad face.
"Can we please not talk about this right now." I give a pouty face, and all three of them smile.
"Sis, you'll be okay." Conner pipes up.
"I know, I know, but we still have three weeks, so let's not talk about it right now."
Aiden suddenly says. "Well I guess we'll let you two hangout. I have to look for some new cleats for baseball." I feel a little sting that our run in is over.
"Oh, Okay. Well it was good seeing you again." I admit, without thinking of how Sophie would respond.
"You too." is all he says before he finally breaks his glance from me and moves it to my brother. "Conner, maybe I'll see ya again before you leave."
"I'm sure you will." Conner says, and after saying bye to Sophie, we start to walk out of the store.
Conner looks at me once we're outside. "Breath Mora."
I look at him confused. "What are you talking about?"
"You can't tell me you don't like him because it was written all over your face in there, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one that could sense it."
I'm instantly mortified when he says that. "Whatever!" I push him, and he giggles a little, but then gets serious again.
"Listen, I'm not dad. I don't care if you like him or not..." I cut him off
"Dad cares?" I ask him.
"No..." he shakes his head. "I don't know. I'm just saying I don't care if you like him, but you need to be prepared to have your heart broken. Shit, he might not even break your heart, but you need to be prepared anyway."
I take a deep breath before admitting to him how I feel. "I'll be careful. Anyway, It's just a crush Con. I'm sure he doesn't even like me like that." I finally say the words out loud. "I just think he's cute."
"I don't care as long as you're cautious of him."
"Yes Dad." I spit at him, and he laughs.
After eating, we go back home and Conner calls Scarlett over, and dad is looking through VOD to see if there's a good movie to rent, when Conner walks into the living room. "Maybe I should text Ross to see if he wants to come watch a movie with us?" He asks us, but only looks at me. Why would I care. I respond annoyingly, "Why are you asking me?"
"I don't know" he answers "I just wanted to make sure you didn't care." Since when would I care. Ross is always over here. Nothing has changed between us, not that I knew of anyway.
Scarlett finally walks in the house and peeps up while Conner is texting Ross "Can Mora and I pick out the movie this time Mr. Andrews?" Yes! I think, what a good idea Scarlett. "I second that." I say as she sits down next to me on the sofa.
Conner jumps up. "No way!" he is serious. "You two can't pick out a good movie to save your life. Dad, don't give them the remote!"
We both laugh, and I do a sneak attack and take it from dad tossing it to Scarlett, and now we're all wrestling for the remote. Suddenly my dad grabs it, yelling "Heads up Ross" and he throws it quickly at Ross who's in the doorway behind our couch.
"Does this mean I get to pick the movie?" Ross asks.
"Darn it" Scarlett growls.
"We're defeated Scarlett." I say to her.
"Damn Ross you got here fast." Conner say's.
"Yeah, I was already headed out when you text me."
They end up picking Aliens. I swear they always pick Aliens. It sucks being outnumbered.
Ross sits down by me and elbows me. "Hey Mora." I guess he's not mad at me. Thank goodness. "Hey." I smile at him. "Glad you came tonight."
"Me too."
In the middle of the movie Dad finally gets bored and distracted on his tablet, and Conner is annoyingly throwing popcorn at all of us. "Can you stop?" I ask "You're making a mess."
"Nope" he takes a handful this time, and throws it right in my face.
"I hate you"
"No you don't" He smiles wide.
The movie finally ends. "Let's order pizza!" Ross suggest.
"Dad?" Conner and I both chime at the same time looking at him with begging eyes.
"Okay. Just two though, and you need to order the specials."
Conner calls in the order. I hear him say "Carry out." Why is he not asking for delivery? That's weird because we always just have it delivered.
After he finishes ordering, he looks at Ross, then me. "Do you two mind picking up the pizza? Scarlett and I will search for a new movie while you get it.
I just give him a suspicious look and answer "Fine." What is he up to I wonder.
I look at Ross "Do you want to drive since you're parked behind me?" I ask him.
"Sure no problem." He smiles.
I'm putting on my seat-belt when his radio starts to play, and I give him a sad face, and he just motions to the radio, letting me have all control. I put it on Birdy, and he just sighs "I knew it. You never surprise me Mora." It's true. I never do surprise him, because he knows everything about me. When you grow up with someone, your little secrets, qualities, and traits grow up with them too.
"And you always let me have to radio. You know I love you for that." I say in a friendly way. I could easily say he's my best friend behind Scarlett. He is my best guy friend anyway and I just know we'll always be friends.
"So how long have you've been crushing on Aiden." He asks me out of nowhere. I just sit for a second, when I finally answer "I don't know, a couple of days."
He keeps his eyes on the road. "Why do you like someone like him?" his voice is low.
"I just think he's cute. I don't even know him that well honestly. He's just a nice guy."
We finally make it to the pizza place, and I hand Ross my dad's debit card as we sit in the drive through waiting.
"Do you want to grab dinner sometime this week after work?" He asks changing the subject.
"Sure. I think Emily and Zoe are going to that new steak house on Thursday night when it opens. We should go with them." I respond, and he looks at me for a quick second, and by the time I look back at him his eyes are back on the line ahead of us. "Yeah sounds good." He answers, and the rest of the time waiting and driving back home he's quiet.
Conner opens up the door before we even have a chance to, and he snatches the pizza boxes out of Ross' hand.
"Geeze" I say. "Don't gulp it all down at once." He's stuffing his mouth.
I go and sit on the couch with Scarlett. "What are we watching?" I ask. "She's All That" she answers. Yes! Finally something decent. "I'm so glad you get me Scar." we both laugh "I'm so glad you get me Mor." I knew she was my best friend for a reason.
We dim the lights and after we finish watching the movie, I ask dad if I can go and stay the night with Scarlett. "Sure, but you need to be at the office by one tomorrow afternoon." I roll my eyes "Dad it's summer."
"I don't care. Either you want the job or you don't" he says.
Funny thing is I don't even remember asking for the job, but the money is nice. I answer back "Fine."
I finally get my bag packed, and Ross leaves right ahead of us. "Girls night!" Scarlett and I both screech.
After Scarlett and Conner started dating, she wasn't allowed to stay the night with me anymore. This was a rule made by my dad, as well as her parents. It made sense, and we never argued about it. Of course it was a little annoying that I had to always have to go stay with her, but I sort of liked them two together too. I got to hangout with both of them all the time. It's pretty cool.