chapter thirty five

l e a d e r o f t h e c a t m a f i a

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Picture: Nova

Video: my favourite song in the world omfg listen to it you will not regret it

HOLY POOP YES ITS ME. I AM ALIVE. I am so so so so sorry for the three month wait for this chapter, and I hope this is enough for you guys to not want to stab me to death! Missed you all so much, so don't forget to drop me a comment and a vote xx

Sorry if its a little shorter than usual, I've just started writing again!

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(not edited)

The camp out ended in a blur. It was if the whole weekend flew by before we could even grasp onto what was happening. For the rest of the weekend, we hung out, played games and swam in the lake – well, all except for James. He refused to stop brooding for one second so we just left him be. As in, we ditched him any chance we could get.

Before we knew it, we were driving home. The ride wasn't insufferable, mainly because Nate and Emily hadn't decided to torture Tyler and me with the sound of One Direction blasting through the speakers. I'd had enough of "You and I" after Emily wouldn't stop humming it all god damn day.

"We have school tomorrow," Nate groaned from the driver's seat, reminding us of the hell hole that we have to attend five days a week. "We graduate pretty soon, you know? College applications are being sent it."

I hummed in response. I was looking to attend the nearby college that was only half an hour away, where I would study to be a Spanish teacher. It was convenient to have such a great college just around the corner, meaning I didn't lose contact of my brother and my friends. Oh, and Tyler. Can't forget my hunk.

"Are you still going to go to college," I asked Tyler and Nate. I know that they were offered an apprenticeship at Nate's dads work, but they've got to have a backup plan or else they're screwed.

"Yeah," Tyler nodded, "Same college as you, but I'll be studying to be an architect." I raised an eyebrow at that. Tyler hadn't told me about that before. He shrugs at my curious expression. "I love building and designing things. It's not for sure yet, but it's either being a mechanic, builder or architect."

"Make your mind up," I joked, nudging his shoulder with my own.

"I don't care what I'm doing, as long as I'm with you," he looks me in the eyes and smiles slightly. His face shows no evidence of sarcasm and his blue-green eyes look brighter than ever, his thick lashes casting a shadow over them. I feel the blush rise to my cheeks as I take in what he says, forever grateful that I have such an amazing boyfriend.

"Ugh, can you please stop eye-raping each other?' Austin groans from beside me. I forgot Austin was even there, Tyler and I bursting out laughing as we sit back in our seats and out of each other's embrace. "Come on, it's not even funny," he groans, "I hate couples."

"Love you too Austin," I smoosh myself up to his side and force myself onto him to hug him.

"Get off me you buttfart," he screams, "Este es el abuso. Abuso!" (This is abuse. Abuse!) He continues to wiggle himself out of my vice grip, but I start tickling his armpit to pull down his defence. It works, because the next second he's giggling like a schoolgirl on crack.

"Cuyas el coño ahora (whose the pussy now)," I smirk victoriously then stop tickling my poor defenceless brother, getting back into my original position which is in the middle of Tyler and him.

"What have I told you about speaking Spanish when you're with me," Nate whines, veering the car into the next lane. "It's like giving a dog a treat but not letting him eat it. That's pretty much abuse."

"Yeah, that's what Austin was screaming a minute ago," Tyler mutters, but loud enough for everyone to hear and burst out laughing. "Abuse! Abuse!" Tyler moans dramatically, making everyone laugh yet again.

We continue to torment Austin for the rest of the drive. That is, up until Nate parked outside his house and Austin sprinted out of the car completely and utterly furious. Nate, Emily, Tyler and I stood around the car for a bit, chatting and getting our bags out when Austin stormed out of the house with a golf club.

We pissed ourselves laughing yet again as Austin starts to hit the tree at the side of our house with the golf club. I cannot take my brother seriously when he's angry. He's just too funny either way.

"I hate you all," he screams, hitting the tree harder with each word. Then, for the last final move, he grabs an overhanging branch and stretches it to his limit. Except, it flings back and hits him in the face so hard that he falls back from the impact.

By now, I'm wiping tears off my face from laughing so hard, but when he doesn't get up I start to get a bit worried. I race over to him, only to find him lying on the grass with his eyes closed. "Austin?' I ask, yet he doesn't respond. "Guys," I look back at everyone, "I think my brother just knocked himself out. Get the duct tape."

Fifteen minutes later, two rolls of duct tape, a heap of heavy lifting and colourful permanent markers and Austin was taped to the tree. His head lolled to the side, an ounce of drool rolling down his chin and his arm taped high with the golf club taped into his palm as if he is holding it up like he just conquered the world.

Needless to say, we had all done a pretty epic job. I wonder what the neighbours would think seeing an unconscious teenager duct taped to a tree with a golf club in his hand and drawings of penises and ponies all over his face. I think they would look at the Lockheart residence and think "oh, it's the crazy house again, nothing out of the ordinary".

"I'm starving," my stomach growls on cue. We're all around Austin admiring our masterpiece as the sun started to set. We will have to get him down when it starts to get cold and he gains consciousness, but for now it's damn hilarious. Heck, I will even feed him dinner while he's taped to the tree if I can.

"Same," Nate agrees, "Okay, get to the kitchen, bitches."

"You sexist pig," I gasp at my best friend. I faintly here Emily mutter insults under her breathe but I'm too focused on beating Nate up.

He rolls his eyes, "Sorry, mom. What's for dinner?"

'I don't know," I shrug, "I thought you were cooking, cocina perra."

"She's calling you a kitchen bitch by the way," Tyler tries to hide his amusement but his expression is full of laughter. "I'm pretty hungry too, Nova. Hurry up and cook dinner."

Nate grumbles for the next five minutes, but sets off to the kitchen like the true bitch he is.

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Tyler staying the night at my house has become a regular occurrence. I don't think my mom cares; either that or she's stepping on eggshells around Austin and me. I think it's the latter, because she's letting us get away with practically anything and everything. She even gave us her credit card to get groceries for her one time, and when Austin and I came home with five boxes of tacos and pop tarts, she didn't even get angry at us.

It was weird, and I don't think I like it. I'm used to roaming free around the house without rules, but when there is someone there who should set rules and watches Austin and I break them, it just doesn't seem right. I guess I've always just dreamed that my mother (or father) would be more protective and not let us do what we please knowing fully well of the consequences.

"What are you thinking about?" Tyler brushes a strand of hair behind me ear. We are lying on the covers on my bed together. Nate and Emily had left a few hours ago, so we had to get Austin down from the tree. Then, we played some video games and here we are now.

"Mom," I take a deep breath. "I wish she was more protective. I know she cares for Austin and me, but when she lets us off with whatever we want, it just doesn't feel right."

"So you wish your mum would go crazy satanic rage on you like my mother does?" He laughs, but states the truth. "I think it's because she just got you two back, and she doesn't want to lose you two. At some point of her life, she lost touch of her own children, and now that she's getting it back she's too scared that she can lose you so easily."

I hum in response, letting Tyler's words sink into my thoughts. "Should I talk to her? About what's going on, and how I wish she would be more..."

"Crazy soccer mom-ish?"

"I was thinking of something more along the lines of solicitous, but whatever floats your goat," I shrug with a small chuckle.

"Big words now?' Tyler raises his eyebrows, "I'm very proud of you, babe."

No matter how many times he has said it, I still love it more than ever when he calls me babe. Tyler had just come out of the shower, so his hair was still wet but it smelt of strawberries and coconut. I would know, he's been stealing my shampoo and conditioner after all. His strong masculine scent was still there though, so he didn't smell completely like a girl.

"Do I smell good?' Tyler smiles cheekily, running his finger over my bottom lip. I hum in response, he really does. We both lean in, capturing each other's lips. It was a slow kiss, tender and full of passion. He tasted like the cake batter ice cream we had for dessert, my favourite flavour in the entire world. I moaned lightly when he bit down onto my lip, our tongues mingling together. There was one thing that ran through my head the whole entire time though.

Cake batter ice cream.

Okay, maybe there were other thoughts like "shit my boyfriend is an amazing kisser" or "I would take him right here and right now" but that's not important. Ha, jokes. I still don't know how I managed to snag the Tyler Bradford.

Just as Tyler rolled me onto my back, his legs either side of my waist and his hand resting on my hip, a loud scream/squeal broke us apart.

"What the?" Tyler mumbles, looking around to see if anyone was in the room – which there wasn't.

His hair was tousled from my hands running through it, lips red and slightly swollen from our make out session. I bet my bottom dollar that my hair would look like a birds nest right now, Tyler really likes messing it up.

He walks over to the window sill, squinting his eyes to look at the backyard since it was dark. "Uh, you may want to come and check this out, Nova."

I raise my eyebrows. What could be out there? I get off my bed and walk over to where he is. "Over there," he points. My eyes follow down his arm to where his finger is pointed.

In my backyard, right in the middle, are approximately twenty cats. Twenty different coloured cats all in a circle. "What the shit," I mumble, "Are they summoning Satan?"

"Look in the middle of the circle," Tyler snorts with laughter.

Right in the middle of the circle is my fat cat, sitting proud and tall with her fat rolls splayed out all around her. All the cats were looking at Meownce.

"I think Meownce is the leader of the cat mafia," I bite my lip, before pissing myself laughing.

Who would have thought?

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Again, I am very truly sorry for the long wait. I hope you liked this chapter, and I can't wait to start writing the next!

Unfortunately for you all, Playing Matchmaker is very near the end :( I think it will be finished at Chapter 40, I want it to be even xD

1. What did you think of the prank on Austin?

2. Can you believe that fatcat Meownce is the leader of the cat mafia?

3. What's one scene you want before Playing Matchmaker finishes?

Thanks again everyone, love you all <3