'Dog Pile'
*

*
*

"BLAKE! HAND OVER MY phone." I yelled, chasing my brother down the stairs. He had come into my room with the intention of 'just talking' but sneakily stole my phone and started reading out the messages me and Shawn exchanged last night after I came back from his place.

"Come get it, kitty." He ran towards the dining table.

He did not just call me that. I chased after him and we ran in circles around the table until Blake saw it fit to run towards the kitchen Mom was emerging from with a tray of cookies, he was unable to stop himself and crashed into mom. The tray landed on the floor and the cookies were ruined.

"Oops." I cringed at the nasty frown on my mother's face.

"Shit!" Blake swore.

"What happened here?" Dad said, walking over to us in his sports gear. He looked like he just returned from a  run.

"You three, kitchen." Mom pointed her finger forcefully in the direction of the kitchen.

Dad's face paled. "But-"

"Would you rather go shopping with me?" There was an evil smile adorning her face.

Dad grinned timidly and right away hurried to the kitchen, leaving us laughing our heads off.

To dad, going out shopping with my mom and her friend, Shawn's mom was the worst possible punishment because he would suffer carrying so their shopping bags, that wasn't even the case, sometimes, he would also be forced to dress up in some clothes which were...not so...appropriate.

There was one time, someone took a picture and leaked out out to the tabloids probably for a piece of change. Dad didn't find it a bit funny even if others did, so they took the pictures down after Dad threatened to ruin their business.

"What are you waiting for, kitchen, now!" My mom had this ridiculous facial expression and I couldn't help but snicker as I bypassed her. She whacked me upside my head and pulled Blake by the collar of his shirt to our temporary jailhouse.

"Child abuse." I mumbled.

Mom's eyes  snapped to me. "What did you say?"

"Nothing." I replied.

She gave me the signature 'I've got an eyes on you' gesture before leaving us in the kitchen.

Dad had already tired an apron on and was pouring out some flour into a bowl when he noticed us walk in. He flung two white aprons at me and Blake.

"Let's get to work before she comes back please."

Blake chuckled. I remembered his offence and prodded him with my elbow.

"This was your fault."

Blake laughed and messed with my hair. Before I could hit his head with a frying pan, mom strolled back in and hovered over us while we worked our behinds out to replace her cookies.

*
*
*

"We're going on vacation with the Stuarts." Mom announced casually after bringing out the brownish cookies from the oven.

"What!" I chorused alongside Blake who was just reentering the kitchen. He went up to his room to change his T-shirt, he said he smelt like food and it was irritating.

"Why the shock? It's tradition." Mom swiped away my hand as I tried to steal a cookie regardless of its hotness.

I shrugged, watching Blake stealthily reach under mom's arm. "Maybe it's the way you said it."

True, going with Shawn's family on our yearly vacation was not new but the way mom let it roll off her tongue was the problem.

"How was I supposed to say it? We're having a vacation with the family of your best friend?" Mom eyed me.

This was a lame argument but the thoughts of the yummy cookies Blake was trying to snatch outweighed everything.

"Or maybe, we're going with the family of your biggest crush." My brother waggled his brows after successfully hiding the cookies in the side pocket of his ash sweatpants.

So much for covering for him.

Mom laughed when I charged at him with a spatula. Maybe she thought it was only because of his confession but I included the fact that my swerving mom's attention was futile.

Blake laughed loudly as I began chasing him around the kitchen island. Mom seized her opportunity and fled with the cookies.

"How could you blurt out my secret?"

"You look like a serial killer right now." Blake stopped to catch his breath and continued running as I raised the spatula up again.

"Arrgh! Come here you donkey!"

Blake halted abruptly. "I'm kinda sorry, okay?"

Narrowing my eyes, I ceased running and discarded the spatula.

"Kinda? I'm definitely getting your allowance for two weeks."

I was glad I made him swear to secrecy by his weekly allowance that day in his room when I admitted to having a thing for my best friend three weeks ago. Who knew that bet would come in handy?

Blake's face drained out of colour. "Anything but that."

I grinned. "What do you say?"

He stared at my greedy outstretched hand. "That's way too much, could we come to a compromise."

I snorted. "How about ninety-nine five percent then?"

"Not good enough."

"Why are you acting this way, it's not like you don't have more than enough cash in your bank account."

This was a renowned writer we're talking 'bout here.

Blake sighed. "There's a difference between spending your parent's cash and your own cash."

I rolled my eyes. "Very well then, all of your allowance it is. Pay up by eight this evening." I glided out of the kitchen with a bright smile.

The smile cleared away when Shawn ran into me.

Where was he going in such hurry?

"What!" I snapped.

Shawn's eyes widened. "Woah...woah, chill your titties lady."

I narrowed my eyes at my best friend and moved to the living room with him.

"I've got a date on Friday?"

My eyebrows lifted. "Okay? Why are you telling me?"

Shawn glanced upwards for some time and when he looked at me again, there was this suspicious smile on his face.

"I need you to go out with me."

"What!"

"-to the mall I mean." Shawn inserted hurriedly. I had to breathe in deeply. He nearly got me there.

"I'll have to think...wait, where are you taking me to?" Shawn already started pulling me towards the door.

"When did you start asking too many questions?" My best friend held open the door to his car and forced me in.

"When did you start kidnapping your best friend?" He started the engine and gazed at me.

"Touché, but shut up and enjoy the ride."

***

"Try these on."

I scowled as some pieces of fabric landed on my face.

"Don't be grumpy, go on." My best friend smiled and gestured at the changing area.

"If only you know how much I want to hit your head with a pole..." I muttered and entered the changing area, pulling the black cotton curtain across a pole.

After trying on the first dress, I poked my head out of the changing area hoping to get Shawn's attention. Unfortunately, it was glued to his phone.

"Psst..."

Shawn stared at me as I moved to him. It was difficult to tell what he was thinking as his eyes raked up and down my frame.

But when he shook his head in disapproval, every fuzzy feeling vanished.

"You could have just brought your date along you know? That would save me the stress of wearing this-" I tugged the lower end of the peach dress in annoyance.

I couldn't really be mad at my best friend but-

"Here's my offer. You try all the clothes I wish and you get to eat free food." He spoke again.

Food? Was he trying to tie me down with food? Seriously?

"I know you can't pass off an offer of eating free food." Shawn teased, hanging his arms leisurely on the back of the sofa beneath him.

"I'll ignore that insult."

He extended his right hand. "Deal?"

"Deal."

We linked our little fingers in agreement.

The day passed painfully slow, and after uncomfortable hours of wearing and discarding countless bags and shoes, I finally got home drained of every energy I had. My brother carried me to my room muttering something about giving Shawn a thorough beating the next day which I was certain he wouldn't do.

A familiar tune rang out from my phone. There were a ton of messages from The group chat. Remember that crazy group Charlie created? So yeah, I haven't been online any social media platform for awhile now.

Do you know what Charlie named the group? He called it The Weirdos. Like seriously?

hAze: charlie could you please change the group name if not, I'm outta here forever. (10:09p.m)

Chad typed out his response. Damn, that guy was always online. Didn't he have a life or something?

Detective Bradley: Seriously haze? You've been AWOL and the first message you send is this. (10:10pm)

I rolled my eyes and hovered my fingers above the keypad when a horde of messages tumbled in. Seems like Chad opened a portal for the rest of my friends.

Ilovebrownies: Haz, how could you treat us like that? (10:12p.m)

Totally not the reply I expected from Gemma, the queen of sass.

A ton of angry emojis from all my dear friends floated down my screen. Well, apart from Levi, he was weirdly silent. Even though he was this reserved person, at least a message would have surfaced.

Winston: expect a bunch of soldier ants in your bed this night. (10:30p.m)

I cringed at the thought of those lousy insects crawling up my body. Even if it was just a weightless threat, I don't doubt the mischief Winston was capable of.

hAze: look, I'm sorry guys, i really am. Just been occupied with family stuff. BTW we're going on a vacation tomorrow.

When I sent my message, I immediately regretted doing that. A cascade of words flooded the group chat, must I add, they were far from polite.

*
*
*

"She looks so cute when she's sleeping."

"Shh... You're gonna wake her up."

"Let's pour tomato sauce all over her."

"How about cold water."

"We should wake her up."

"That's the point, stupid."

I didn't have difficulties guessing who the last two sentences were from, Chad and Winston, I mean those two were basically at each others head most of the time.

"What the heck are you people doing here?" I wiped my sleepy eyes and checked the time. 5:30a.m.

God why?

Chad snatched my blanket."Is that anyway to talk to your family?"

Winston chuckled at a corner. Gemma poked my ribs. "Get out of bed now, we have a trip to prepare for."

Did I hear that right?

"No, you guys are definitely not coming along-"

"Dog pile!" Charlie yelled and they all jumped on top of me and I died.

Not literally.

*
*
*

I had an idea for my book through a dream,IDK it looks ridiculous but that shows how much I love this book 😂😂😂

You may check out my other works as well.

Thanks for reading.