Chapter 10 - If I Could See You, I'd Hit You

I sigh heavily, sitting up in my bed. I look down at my Trigonometry book in distaste before closing it, deciding that I’ll finish the homework later. Maybe. Actually, I’ll probably procrastinate it until tomorrow at lunch. I pick up my cell phone, unlocking it and look down at the time. This is the fourth time I’ve checked it in ten minutes, and it’s only now 4:15. Sighing again, I put the phone down and look down at my newly inked wrist. I got my tattoo two days ago which was Tuesday. I actually think it looks really amazing, and I’ve yet to tell my mother about it. I just know she’ll freak out about it and ground me or something. So until she suddenly brings it up - and I’m guessing she won’t do that unless my dad calls her, which he definitely won’t - then I’m keeping my mouth shut.

I check my phone again, and nearly throw it at the wall when I see that it’s still 4:15. No, I’m not usually this timid, it’s just that I’m really happy today. Why am I really happy? Because today Bradley’s coming back home! He’s been gone since Sunday and it’s now Thursday. I’ve been dead bored since Tuesday afternoon when Drew brought me, Poncho and my brother back home. Well I take that back, I haven’t been extremely bored;  I’ve been hanging out with Tanner for the most part. Alison is still sick so Walker’s been taking care of her, Mikey got in trouble at school and he’s got the next three weeks of after school detention, and Drew’s been busy with basketball since Tuesday. Apparently there’s like a big game or something coming up, and their coach is working them like hell.

“Sydney, are you here?” I hear Arianna’s voice call as the front door closes.

I debate being silent and leading her to believe I’m not home, but I sigh and call back, “Yeah, I’m in my room, Arianna!”

I hear her walking up the stairs and seconds later, she appears at my door. She walks in - uninvited - and sits down on my desk chair. “Hey baby sister.” She says, smiling.

“Hello,” I reply politely.

“How are you?”

“Fine,” I say curtly. “How  are you?”

She sighs, and shrugs, “Okay, I guess.”

When I don’t ask her to elaborate she does it on her own, “Jared and I got into an argument.”

“Yeah? What about this time?”

“Well, he wants to move out of the dorm and have the baby and me along with him to his parents’ house.”

See, Arianna and Jared go to the same college. Obviously. Jared stays on campus in a dorm room and Arianna stays here at home. From what Arianna has told me, she’s never gotten along all that well the McMillian’s - Jared’s parents.

“Well, why don’t the two of you just get an apartment together or something?” I propose.

“Because, we don’t have any money.” She explicates.

“You know that mom and dad will probably drop a good thousand each if you ask them to.”

"Well yeah,” She says, sighing heavily. “But, I don’t want to ask them for help. We’re trying to be independent.”

"Then get a job.” I say, getting annoyed at this conversation.

She scoffs, “Sydney, who’s going to hire a pregnant girl?”

“I bet McDonalds will.”

“I don’t wanna work at McDonalds!” She says, giggling.

I chuckle too before saying, “Hey, I bet you get a discount on the food if you work there.”

“True, but Jared and I have decided to have me go on an organic diet for the baby while I’m pregnant.”

I think that’s really stupid, but hey, I’m not the one who’s pregnant. “I’m sure that’ll work out perfectly.” 

“I can do it.” She assures me.

“I know,” I say, nodding.

“Anyway, enough of my problems. Tell me how school and stuff has been going. Are you dating anyone yet?”

I shake my head, “No, still single.”

“What about that Reese guy?”

I look up at her, my face going red, “How do you know about Reese?”

“His brother and I have a few classes together.” She says dismissively. “So do you like him?”

As much as I don’t like divulging my love life - or lack thereof - to my sister, she’s the only girl I have that I can talk to about boys. Sure, I can talk to the guys about them, but they don’t particularly enjoy those conversations. I have a few other girl friends from school, but we’re just school friends. You know what I mean, the kinda friends that you talk to if you’ve got a class with them or something, but you don’t have their number or hang out with them outside of school or anything.

I shrug, “He’s alright.”

Of course I like him, who wouldn’t? We’ve talked a few times since that day in the parking lot Monday, via text, but about nothing in particular. Being that he’s on the basketball team along with Drew, he’s been rather busy, so I don’t really expect I’ll be seeing much of him.

“Have you two kissed?” She shrieks.

Rolling my eyes, I say, “You act like a twelve year old girl at a Justin Bieber concert, Arianna.”

Laughing she says, “He’s an amazing person, Sydney. Justin Bieber, I mean. I hear Reese is kinda a jerk.”

“I don’t doubt it. I just don’t like him.” I reply. “And Reese is kinda provocative, but he’s a really nice guy. From what I know.”

“You didn’t answer my question, have you guys kissed?”

I nod sheepishly, “Maybe a few times.”

Arianna’s about to reply when her phone belts out from her pocket, singing some song by that band The Wanted, or whatever it is they’re called. She pulls it from her pocket, and looks down at this display, hitting the answer button and putting it to her ear. She holds up her index finger, signaling for me to wait, even though she’s the one who was about to talk. My eyes involuntarily travel down to her stomach, which is still flat. I guess she’s not very far along into her pregnancy. I can’t believe my sister is having a baby. She’s only nineteen years old, for crying out loud. She’s irresponsible as heck, and occasionally she and I hang out in my or her room during summer when we’re out of school and college and watch stupid RomCom - Romantic Comedy, you know in case you didn’t know - movies while pigging out on ice cream, cookies, and pretty much every other unhealthy food you can think of.

Looking back down at my own phone, I find that time is still slowly ticking by. It’s now 4:22. Where is Bradley? I haven’t talked to him since yesterday but he did say he’d be back today. Poncho darts into my room, running from somewhere and runs over to the window. He jumps up on the panel, barking as he paws his way through my sheer curtains.

“What is it, boy?” I ask, standing up and going over to the window.

Poncho barks in response and I pull the curtain open slightly, seeing Bradley’s house. I see that his dad’s shiny black Yukon has just pulled into the driveway. Poncho barks again and his tail begins wagging as the back door behind the driver’s seat opens and Bradley gets out. I shriek in happiness, letting the curtain ago and hurriedly pulling on my black Uggs that were idly lying on the floor. Then I pull on my white Northface - it’s not really that cold outside, probably only about fifty something degrees - but I’m wearing a tank top, and I’m not just gonna run across my yard to Bradley’s house in just that.

“Arianna, I gotta go, I’ll talk to you later.” I tell her, bolting out of my room even though she’s still on the phone with - by the sound of it - Jared.

I go down the stairs, taking them two at a time, and I hear Poncho running behind me. Well, gosh, I suppose he missed his keepers. And Bradley claims he doesn’t like him. Lies. Lies. I throw the front door open, closing it behind Poncho and me, and jog across my lawn making a beeline for Bradley. His back is to me, as he’s leaning against the car, looking bored. He’s the only person I know who could go to Texas, complain of how bored he is while he’s there and then come back still bored.

When I reach him, I jump on his back, screeching, “Bradley!” As I wrap my legs around his waist so that I don’t fall. After holding him in a death grip for a second, I drop down and go up on my tip-toes, giving him a proper hug. “I missed you so much.” I tell him, truthfully.

“I was only gone for five days,” He reminds me. “You couldn’t have missed me that much.”

“I did, honest.” I swear, pulling away from him. Inspecting him, I say, “You look different.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Do I?”

I nod, “You’re tan; you look like a cinnamon stick.”

He finds that funny and laughs. I mean, he does look like a cinnamon stick; okay, probably not as brown as a cinnamon stick, but he’s pretty close to it, if only he were a few shades darker.

"A cinnamon stick? I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.”

I shrug, and then remember my tattoo which I want to show him, “Look!” I say, pulling the sleeve of my jacket up.

Bradley looks at that tattoo and says, “I’m gone for five days and you get a tattoo.”

“But do you like it?”

He nods, “It looks nice; even if I don’t know what it means.”

“It means that’s life, now come on you have to tell me all about Texas.”

-------

“So did you hook up with anyone?” Mikey blurts.

Bradley shakes his head, “No, I was surrounded by my stupid overbearing family the whole time.”

All of the guys and I are currently in my basement discussing the details of Bradley’s short trip. Well, sorta. Walker and Tanner are pretty much excluded from the conversation because they’re playing another one of their weird video games on the huge television. Mikey, Drew, Bradley and I are sitting on the couch talking aimlessly, which is pretty much all we ever do, now that I think about it.

“So,” Mikey says dumbfounded, “You left Michigan and went to Texas for five whole days and you didn’t have sex not once?”

This is definitely not a conversation I enjoy being in the middle of. It’s very awkward; for me that is. And to make matters worse, Bradley’s sitting on my left and Mikey’s sitting on my right and they’ve talking right over me as if I’m not there. I mean, it’s not that I care who any of them sleep with, except for Walker because he’s dating Alison, so I assume that she’s the only one he’s having sex with, it’s just that I don’t particularly want to hear about when they do do it. Or, in Bradley’s case, don’t do it.

“Why is that so hard to believe?” Bradley wonders. “I think you should check yourself into some kinda rehabilitation place.”

Mikey scoffs, “I’m not addicted; it’s just been a while since I’ve had mono the past few weeks.”

"Right, I’m sure that’s why. Nothing to do with the fact that you can’t commit.” Walker calls over his shoulder.

“Hey, that’s Sydney’s problem. I can commit, I just choose not to.”

“It’s not a problem.” I defend, rolling my eyes.

“Sure it isn’t, sweetheart. It’s completely normal.” Drew retorts in a condescending tone.

"Shut up,” I say, reaching my hand into the large bowl of popcorn sitting on my lap and tossing a few pieces at him.

Drew quickly shifts his position, catching all four piece of popcorn in his mouth. Stupid basketball player with his stupid cat-like reflexes. I shake my head, picking up another handful of popcorn and stuffing my mouth. My phone rings in my pocket, and I raise myself up, pulling it out of my back pocket, and seeing that it’s a text. Because all five of my best friends are in here, I have no idea who it is texting me. I put in my passcode and click the unread message. When I see who it is, I nearly shriek from the happiness bubbling in me. Not to sound desperate or anything. You know, since I’m totally not.

Hey.

Sure it’s only one word and a period, but it’s not about the context. It’s about who it’s from. And that happens to be Reese. I mean, sure we haven’t actually talked person to person in a while, but we’ve texted a bit. My fingers quickly fly over the screen, replying to his message.

Hi Reese.

His reply comes about five seconds later, and I eagerly open it.

You busy?

I’ve noticed that Reese is very blunt, not a very wordy guy. It’s nearly 8 o’clock now, as we’ve all been here talking for a while, but I’m not necessarily busy, I guess.

No, why?

“Are you texting Logan?” Mikey wonders, leaning over my shoulder.

“Yes, I am, now stop looking.” I tell him, sinking back into the couch to hide my phone from his view.

“I just don’t understand why you like him so much,” Tanner calls from where he’s sitting.

“Because, I just do.” I murmur, as my phone vibrates in my hand.

I look down at it and my eyes widen when I see that Reese is calling. I spring up off of the couch, climbing over Bradley and leaving the bowl of popcorn in his lap. I walk out up the stairs and out of the basement so that my friends can’t hear me.

“Hello?”

“Hey,” Reese says, his voice low.

“Hi.” I say cheerfully.

“How are you?”

"Um, I’m good. How are you?”

“Better now that I’m talking to you. So you’re not busy?”

“My friends are over, but no, not really. Why?” We’re basically repeating exactly we said over text, but I mean, that’s cool.

“I just wanted to see you, that’s all.” He says in a voice feigning innocence.

“Really?”

“Yeah, it’s been a while. So I’m coming over.”

“You know where I live?” I ask, surprised at his straightforwardness.

“I do.” If he wasn’t him, I’d be freaked out by that.

“I really don’t think you wanna come over here; not while my friends are here.”

Reese chuckles, “I’m sure I can handle them; besides I’m already outside, so open the door.”

“You’re already here?”

“I am.” He replies.

“Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I say in a sing-song voice before hanging up.

I make my way through the living room - which is empty, because I don’t think that anyone else is here. My mom’s at work, Arianna’s having dinner with Jared and his parents and Josh is next door at his friend’s house. I grasp the door handle, twisting it to the left and pulling it open. I see Reese standing there and leaning against the doorpost with a lazy smile on his face. Behind him, I notice that it’s raining heavily. I hate rain; it depresses and saddens me. I smile at Reese lightly and gesture for him to come in, closing the door behind him.

“So, where’s The Mystery Gang?” Reese wonders, jokingly. At least, I think it jokingly.

"The guys are in the basement,” I tell him, plopping down on the couch and picking the remote up.

Reese sits down beside me, “So is Edwards back?”

I nod, “Yeah, Bradley came back today. I will never understand why you boys feel the need to refer to each other by last name.”

“I don’t refer to all boys by last names. Just ones I don’t like.”

“Why don’t you like my friends?” I wonder, a bit offended. I mean, who wouldn’t like my boys? They’re amazing people.

“I didn’t say that I don’t like your friends. I don’t like Edwards. I don’t know the others, and Drew’s cool, I guess, but that’s because we’re on the basketball team together.”

“Well, if I thought they could be mature about it; I’d let you meet them properly.”

He shrugs, “That’s okay. It’s not your friends I’m interested in.” He says smoothly.

Reese is such a player. I mean, it’s really cute, the way his lines just roll off of his tongue like it’s nothing. And if I were a smart girl, I’d run for the hills away from him, but I’m not smart. Obviously. “Hey, you wanna see something?” I ask, subtly changing the subject.

“That depends, what are you showing?”

I flip my arm over, holding it out in front of him so that he can see my tattoo. I really love it, and I’m actually very impressed by it, that’s why I’m showing everyone. Well, I’ve only shown the guys and him, but still. I probably won’t let Arianna in on it because she can’t keep a secret to save her own life, and I definitely won’t tell Josh. He’d be all confused and randomly bring it up at the breakfast table or something like that.

“I didn’t know you had a tattoo.”

"I just go it,” I explain, then shake my head, “Well I didn’t just get it; I got it a few days ago, actually. Obviously I didn’t just get it because I’m…here.”

Reese laughs at that. I’ve noticed that he does that a lot. Laughs at my expense, I mean. I don’t really care, it’s just something I’ve observed. Ad thankfully, I haven’t managed to allow myself to look too dumb in front of him.

“It looks good,” He complements.

I thank him, before putting my arm back in my lap. I’m about to muster up something random when I hear the door that leads down to the basement open. I hear footsteps coming up the stairs, but since the guys are all roughly the same weight, I guess, I can’t distinguish who it is coming up.

“Sydney, I’m hungry, feed me.” Tanner’s voice calls but stops short when he enters the room.

“I’m not your little maid.” I remind him.

“But I can’t cook. I burn water.” He whines, then eyes Reese suspiciously. “I didn’t know he was coming over.”

“Neither did, and since you two haven’t been properly introduced; Reese this is Tanner, Tanner this Reese.”

Tanner nods, acknowledging him and then says to me, “About this food situation.” He says, rubbing his stomach.

“Well, I can’t cook either. I can make you some Ramen Noodles, if that’s what you want. But other than that, you’re outta luck.”

He seems to ponder that for a second before saying, “Do you have the chicken kind?”

“We have the chicken kind.” I confirm, nodding. “You better come and fix them yourself when they’re done though.”

“Have I ever told you how much I love you?” Tanner says with a sly smile. “Why are you guys up here? Come downstairs. I don’t trust you two alone up here.” And then with that, he turns, going back down to the basement.

“Wait here.” I tell Reese as I go into the kitchen, find a pot and put on Tanner’s noodles.

Seriously though, I really can’t cook. I mean, maybe if I really tried to, I could, but I don’t see the need to try to. My mom usually makes dinner and when she doesn’t, I order a pizza or raid Bradley’s house for food. When I go back to the living room, I find that Reese is actually capable of not refusing order, as he’s still sitting there on the couch.

“Are we going to the basement?”

“Unless you want them to all come up here and start teasing us, I think we better.” I tell him.

“I’ve never noticed how much you exaggerate.”

I scoff, “That’s because I’m not exaggerating. It’s just because you don’t know them, they’re actually horrible people.” I tell Reese, twisting the knob on the basement door and pulling it open.

Reese and I walk in and sit down on the couch, which catches the attention of all of the guys except for Mikey and Walker. They’re playing the same video game that he and Tanner were playing moments ago.

"Um, Reese came to visit.” I say awkwardly. And this is why I didn’t wanna bring him down here.

They grunt hellos, except for Bradley who glares at Reese before looking back down at his phone. The lights flicker again, a few times actually before they completely die out, leaving all seven of us in complete darkness.

“God dammit, I was this close!” Walker screeches in frustration.

I hear Poncho run into the room and he hops into my lap, his little heart beating fast. Aw, he must be scared. Reese sneezes - it’s a funny sound, I think - and I say bless you to him, cuddling him in my arms. By him I mean Poncho, that’s who I’m cuddling. Not Reese, of course.  Reese sneeze again twice - which for some reason, seems to tick Drew off. But then again, he’s kinda a germaphobe. Not really, but he hates being around sick people.

“Dude, come on, control yourself.” He murmurs.

“It’s not my fault,” He snaps. “Is there a dog in here?”

“Poncho’s here.” I say, cheerfully. Poncho perks up at the sound of his name and then starts barking. Probably because he doesn’t recognize Reese’s scent.

“Unfortunately.” Bradley calls.

“Shut up,” I say. “If I could see you, I’d hit you.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you can’t see me then, right?”

“I am starving.” Tanner groans.

“You can’t be that hungry, and if you are, then go get your raw noodles off of the stove.”

Walker’s ringtone blares through the room. Well, his ringtone for Alison, I should say. I just cannot get over the fact that they’ve been together for so long. It’s kinda beautiful, but really weird. Sure, two years isn’t a lot of time for some people, but to me? It’s like a freaking life-time. Two of them, at that!

“Hey baby,” He answers, his voice completely different from how it was just a second ago when the power went off and he yelled. They talk for a few minutes and then he ends the conversation by saying, “Are you sure? Okay, yeah I’ll be there in a few minutes. No, I’m coming if you’re still not feeling well. Alright, see you then. I love you too. Okay, bye.”

“Is Alison okay?” I ask him into the darkness.

“She says she just threw up, and she’s scared - because of the rain - so I’m gonna go over there.”

“Awww, look at you being a considerate boyfriend,” I say, standing up and walking over to the closet of the basement, suddenly remembering that there’s some flashlights. I only find three though, so I take them out, keeping one for myself and randomly tossing the other towards the couch.

“Ow!” Bradley cries.  

“Sorry,” I chuckle, flicking the light on and illuminating the room.

I shine it on Walker as I hear him walking towards the door. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow at school.” He says.

I walk towards him, opening my arms and hugging him. “See you later. And tell Alison that I said get well.”

He nods, pulling away, “I will.”

“And be careful!” I call after him as he walks up the stairs.

“Always am!” He shouts back seconds before I hear the front door open and close. Then I hear his car start and pull off.

I sit back down on the couch, handing Reese the other flashlight. “This kinda sucks, sorry.” I murmur.

He shrugs, “That’s alright, it could be worse. I guess.”

Lightning strikes outside, and then there’s a huge clap of thunder, making me jump. I pull my legs up on the couch, folding my arms over them. Mikey, who’s sitting on my left rubs my shoulder and Reese sorta pats my leg in a way that I suppose is supposed to be comforting. Have I mentioned the fact that I hate thunderstorms? Because I really, really do. 

Author's Note: I know the ending's kinda abrupt, but I hope you liked it! Sydney's tattoo font thingy over there! And P.S. Losing Grip readers, the new chapter will be up tomorrow or Friday for sure!