ChapterThree: House Guest

If possible, my second day was better than my first. Rima and I were sitting on my bedroom floor eating popcorn while questioning each other.

"So, who do you like?" Rima asked curiously.

"Um, I don't know," I shrugged "Who do you like?"

"You have to promise not to tell anyone," she held out her pinky, we shook pinkies "I like Erik Johnson" Her cheeks turned a rosy pink.

Just when Rima finished, Erik called. Great.

"Hello?" I answered breathlessly.

"Who is it?" Rima asked, her hazel eyes sparkling. Would I hurt her feelings if I told her the truth?

"Hey Lacy, it's Erik." His voice rang in my ears.

"It's Erik." I whispered to Rima.

Her eyes widened in shock "Oh" She almost sounded disapointed.

"Do you want me to hang up?" I asked gently.

"Put him on speaker" She kept her eyes on my phone.

"Okay...I'm gonna put you on speaker, okay, Erik?" I wrinkled my nose slightly.

"Yeah, that's cool" Erik said coolly.

I held my phone away from my ear as I put him on speaker phone.

"Hey Erik" Rima said happily.

"Hey, Rima, what's goin' on?" Erik seemed at ease.

"Spendin the night with Lace. What 'bout you?" asked Rima.

"Sounds fun, can I come over?"

"Ha-ha very funny Erik." Rima laughed.

I kept quiet not wanting to ruin the conversation Rima was blissfully enjoying.

"I was being serious" the tone in Erik's voice was serious, but he seemed as if he was smiling.

"I don't care it's up to Lacey, after all, it is her house." Rima looked at me hopefully.

I stared back dumbfounded and unsure what to do. "Um, I guess. It's fine with me, if my mom says it's okay..." I answered, getting up to find my mom.

My mom was in her room watching TV.

"Uh, mom is it okay if my friend Erik comes over for a little bit tonight?" I leaned against the door frame.

"As long as you girls behave" my mom nodded.

"Thanks mom" I said as I walked back into my bedroom.

"So?" Rima looked at me, anxiously waiting for my answer.

"It's the fourth house to the left on Clover Street" I rolled my eyes at my own stupidity.

"Oh my gosh! Really?" Rima shrieked

"Hurry up, Erik, I'm getting bored...bye" I hung up.

Just as Rima was about to open her mouth, the door bell rang. "That must be him!" she ran to get the door.

I was still sitting on my bedroom, still thinking about how fast thinks moved when I heard Rima shriek "Erik!"

ChapterFour: Sleepover

I heard Erik's voice and footsteps. Erik walked into my room wearing worn out jeans and a dark green t-shirt. Now I felt under dressed. I was wearing a blue tanktop and a pair of white short-shorts. My hair was in a messy bun. I could see Rima standing in the hallway trying to fix her hair.

"Hey Erik" I gave a small wave.

"Whats goin' on, Lacy" he greeted me and sat next to me leaning against my bed. You could see him better from this view. His facial features; his angled cheekbones, his lips curved into an easy smile, his steel gray eyes...staring right at me.

"Sorry" I apologized.

"It's cool" he laughed slightly.

"How'd you get here so fast?" Rima, who'd fixed her hair, sat down in front of us.

"I live in this neighborhood. Not on this street, the next one down." He leaned forward, grabbing a piece of popcorn. Rima's eyes wandered to his arms watching them flex. She was almost hyperventilating.

I couldn't help but laugh "Nice, Rima."

Erik had that look on his face amused, yet confused. "What's so funny?"

"It's nothing, Erik." Rima covered.

He thought a second, then said "Okay", shrugging.

By this time i composed myself, Rima had put her legs in my lap. Erik looked at us, eyebrows raised. "Sorry" I apologized again.

"No worries," he shook his head, his hair swinging slightly "What were you doin before I called?"

"Talking about guys" Rima answered truthfully.

"Interesting..." He laughed slightly

"It was" I stuffed some popcorn in my mouth "so, who do you like Erik?" I turned to face him.

"Haven't really been lookin' plus, why would I tell a couple of girls who I like?" he took a sip of my water, I reached for it and he handed it to me.

"Hmmm tough...well considering we're girls we could help you get a girl." I handed my water bottle to Rima, who immediately drank almost half of it. She took her legs off mine and sat Indian style.

"Are girls' sleepovers always this boring?" Erik looked at RIma, then looked at me.

"No, but girls like to talk about guys and you're a guy so...yeah..." I stretched my legs out crossing my ankles, leaning back onto my hands.