CometBaby says:
Ah, such bribe material.
Mtn85 says:
May your Koosh rest in pieces.
I covered my eyes, not believing I had told her that. Nobody knew that story but me.
CometBaby says:
Oh, so was that what the bulge was last week?
Mtn85 says:
No, I was just happy to see you. And why were you looking there anyway?
Oh god, I am being corrupted.
CometBaby says:
Well you hide the other bulges with large clothes, what was I supposed to be looking at?
I gulped.
Mtn85 says:
Bite me.
CometBaby says:
And again, I ask where? Is there some biting fetish you have along with hiking boots?
Mtn85 says:
You’re a nut, Haley. But, I need to get this stuff done. See you at school?
CometBaby says:
Yeah, that works. I’ve been a very bad girl, not doing my homework.
Mtn85 says:
Spank you, child.
CometBaby says:
Oh, hurt me, daddy. Hurt me.
Mtn85 says:
LMAO! Goodbye, freak.
CometBaby says:
Lol Bye.
I logged off, still staring at the computer screen, shaking my head.
I grabbed a knife from the drawer, and began to cut into the fresh pan of brownies mom had made last night at my request. It was Tuesday, and I figured I’d give Haley a birthday brownie.
Sliding it into a baggie, I grabbed my backpack, and hurried out the door when I heard the familiar honking.
'Hey, you.' Haley said with a smile as I climbed into her car.
'Hi.' I looked at her, held up a finger, and turned away from her. I dug the brownie out, took it from the bag, then dug the single candle out of my coat pocket, along with a lighter.
'What are you doing, Andi?
'Hang on, oh impatient one.' I lit the tiny wick, then turned around, the brownie in my palm with the one birthday candle. Haley looked at it, her eyes opening wide in surprise. 'Happy birthday.'
'Oh, Andi.' She breathed. She looked at me. 'How did you know?' I shrugged, not daring to tell her I was looking her up on the internet. What kind of a dork would that make me look like? Not to mention a stalker.
'A little birdy told me.'
'Thank you.' She took the brownie, and pulled me into a hug. I closed my eyes, enjoying her reaction, as well as the hug. Yup, I done good. She pulled away from me, and blew out the candle.
'Did you make a wish?' I asked, grabbing my backpack off the floor of the car.
'Sure did.' She took the candle out, and began to munch on the brownie. 'God, I love these things.'
'I know you do. Here.' I handed her the two wrapped gifts. She looked at them, then up at me, more shock on her face.
'Oh, Andi. You shouldn’t have.'
'Of course not, but I did.' She took them from me, smiling at the blue and green wrapping paper with little fish swimming, happy birthday written in their bubbles. She tore into the paper, and laughed when she saw the Koosh.
'This is so great! This thing is huge.'
'I know. I wanted to get you a bigger one than your current bedmate.' She grinned, running the soft spines across her cheek.
'I always loved the way these felt.' Setting it aside, she turned to the other gift, and opened it with as much vigor and excitement as the first. 'Oh, Andi. He’s adorable. What’s his name?' She looked at me, the Beanie Bear held to her chest.
'Kicks.'
'Kicks. I know where he’s going.' She hugged the bear to her again, then looked at me. 'I can’t thank you enough for all this.'
'Not a problem. Why didn’t you tell me?'
'Well,' Haley set Kicks and the Koosh aside, and started up the car. We were already late for school. 'Birthdays have never been real big in my family, and my friends have just learned over the years to not really do much. Generally we just end up going out, or something. Kelly and Heather are taking me out Friday night.' She pulled onto the street, and drove, a bit fast, toward Winston High. 'So I don’t want you to think that I was intentionally keeping this from you, or anything, Andi. I guess I just really didn’t think about it.'
'Okay. Fair enough. How old are you?'
'Eighteen.'
'Wow. You’re old.'
'Bite me.'
'Where?'
'See? You’re learning.'
'Crap.' I had lost my second game in a row of Literati. I knew I could beat this chick, I had before. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY AGAIN? 'Damn straight, I do.' I hit yes, and off we went. It was Friday night, and I was totally energized from the week, cheesed about getting an A on my psych project, and another week down before school was out. It was nearly midnight, and I had been at this for three hours already.
Tap, tap.
I looked up from the screen, listening. Nothing.
I looked at the letters I had been given, and tucked my lower lip in the chew on it as I thought.
Tap, tap, tap.
'What the hell is that?' I looked in the direction of where I’d heard the noise, and it was my window. I stood, walked over to it.
Tap.
I pushed the window open, BAM!
'Ah!' I brought my hands to my forehead, a fierce stinging there. Shaking my head, I looked out to see Haley standing in the front yard, her hands covering her mouth.
'I’m sorry,' she yelled up, as quietly as she could.
'Do you try to get me hurt on purpose?' She shook her head, I rubbed mine.
'Come out,' she hissed, trying to not wake the entire neighborhood, beckoning me with her hand.
'What?'
'Come on.' She pointed to her car parked at the curb. Feeling like a derelict, as I had never snuck out before, I quickly closed the window, and scurried around for some clothes, throwing off the sweats and tank I was in, and pulling on a pair of jeans and sweatshirt, tugging on my new boots without even lacing them. I heard the distant rumble of Haley’s car starting up, and made my way downstairs, grabbing my wallet and house keys along the way.
