My reflection slowly vanished in the small oval mirror as the steam filled the room. The shower was going to be the perfect time in the empty house to block out all thoughts. I was going to take advantage of the time to empty all thoughts from my head so that I wouldn't blow my cover when I saw one of my friends later. It was time to burn my body with the water.
"Dude, I'm seriously not liking this chick time going on at my house. It was bad enough with my mom and her friends, but with ones my own age in my so-called new home is making me feel trapped in a mental asylum waiting for my straight jacket and rubber room," Dill grumbled, rolling his eyes as he sat on our couch, bouncing his one leg. "It's bad enough I'm missing out on my mom's cooking."
"They're a couple of chicks what's the worst that could happen?" Mark asked, raising an eyebrow at Dill. "That reminds me, where's John?"
"He said him and his girl were talking," I responded, taking a handful of the cheerios and tossing them into my mouth.
Mark now raised his eyebrows at me, "Seriously?"
I shrugged before tossing more cheerios into my mouth. John wasn't doing anything except talking or staring at a wall, he wasn't Mark. That and he has had a crush on Cathy for a while now. The fact that the state has forced them into a marriage, I'm sure they are finally getting a chance to talk. To learn more about each other since they have nothing else to do, we couldn't leave the gated community for our own safety.
"Not everyone's like you, Mark and will hump everything that moves," Dill shot out dryly.
Mark chuckled. "I just call it a healthy appetite."
Dill laughed as I just grinned. Mark took girl hunting to another level.
"This is so dumb," Dill muttered, kicking the rug.
"Care to be more specific?" Mark questioned, watching Dill throw his fit.
"The damn marriages, what else could I be referring to?" Dill spat.
"With you it could be anything, the marriages, your shoes have a mark on them, the last cookie has been taken, you have an hour?" Mark rolled his eyes.
"Well, you know what, suck my balls," Dill barked, as he flipped off Mark.
"You're too small for me." Mark smirked.
"Yo, do you two want me to leave so you could have privacy?" I spoke up, my face scrunched up. I chucked a few cheerios at them.
"I can't believe, Nick, that you're wasting food." Dill laughed.
"Well they lost their lives for a noble cause."
"So, Nick, where's that little wife of yours?" Mark fished.
"Rachel? I think she said she was going to hang out with Bridget today, she mentioned possibly coming back here with Bridget I think."
"Yeah she's part of the chick time problem at my place, can't you keep yours so that I don't have to deal with the two of them?" Dill jabbed.
"They aren't bad," I responded, narrowing my eyes at him. "Rachel isn't bad."
"Yeah Dill, she doesn't seem like she's bothersome."
I raised an eyebrow at Mark. "You know Rachel?" I questioned.
Mark shrugged. "Well if you say she's okay than she must be."
"Yeah she's quiet and sweet," I responded with an even tone, watching Mark.
"Sweet? Girls aren't sweet; they're manipulative, crazy creatures," Dill grumbled.
"Dill, you really just need to learn the right wording and then girls are putty in your hands," Mark spoke. "Ask Nick, life is all about the wording."
I chuckled. "Very true, but if you get smart girls they're usually about to find the traps in words so you've got to be more on your guard because then they can really kill you," I commented, throwing more cheerios into my mouth.
"Care to share those?" Dill asked, pointing to the cheerios.
I handed over the box, which he put his arm into.
"Dude, that's not your box get your hand out of there! I don't know where your hand has been," I barked, snatching the box back from him.
"What's the big deal?"
"Not your box, you don't put your hand in it, you pour it into your hand," I informed him, scrunching my face. "Rachel and I have to eat out of that."
"My hands are clean," Dill snapped.
"I don't care, not your house, don't stick your hand into the box."
Mark shook his head. "Nick, just get him a bowl then."
"Too lazy," I mumbled.
"Nick, Rachel really has her work cut out with you." Mark chuckled, his lips forming a lopsided smile, a trademark for him.
I shrugged. "Probably."
The door knob, as if on cue, turned to reveal Rachel. She glanced up, her jade eyes scanning us before landing on me.
"Hey." Rachel grew a weak smile.
"Hey." I waved at her.
"Hey, Rachel." Mark grinned fully.
"Are you eating right out of the cheerios box?" Rachel inquired, raising an eyebrow and taking her coat off.
Her free hand went to the back of her hair, then pushing some behind her ear.
"Yeah, it's easier then getting a bowl apparently," Dill growled, his narrowed eyes on me.
"You got two legs," I pointed out to him.
"So do you," Dill kicked my leg.
"Do you really want to start that?" my voice came out dry, having no drive to have Rachel witness a fight, even if it was a fake one.
"Whatever, just make sure there's enough for breakfast tomorrow when we go to school."
Rachel walked by us towards her room. I heard her door shut.
"Why the hell did you get the quiet one," Dill complained, I turned around punched him in the shoulder.
"Ow, really yo, what the hell?" Dill yelled.
"Don't be such a sissy I didn't even try."
After Mark and Dill left I searched the kitchen for something to make for dinner. There were very strange odds and ends so I didn't know what to make.
"Rachel," I called out, ready to
