As Garroth and I head upstairs I can hear Ziana continue to mispronounce quesadillas, I've heard qwesadilas and macarena so far and at this point, I think she's doing it on purpose.
"I can't believe my mom is being so embarrassing," says Garroth as we had upstairs.
"At least you're not at school," I placate him. "Were you there when my mom picked me up from school and yelled at me from across the courtyard?" (episode 5)
"I don't think so, I might have been at baseball practice."
"It doesn't really matter," I brush it off. If I'm forced to remember again I might cry. "Right now I want to check out your house," we've been standing on the stairs for longer than necessary.
"Alright then," he leads me to a door right near the staircase. "This is Zane's room." he opens the door and Zane hasn't realized we've entered. His room represents him perfectly. It's dark with grey and black. It isn't decorated with anything and is pretty neat which I expected because he seems like a control freak. "HEY BABY BROTHER!" I think Garroth scared Zane on purpose.
"Garroth!" he screams. He's playing a game but I can't tell which one because I'm too far away. "Can't you see I'm in the middle of something?!" he turns around almost ripping his headphones off. Which gives me a chance to look at his outfit. He's either going really casual compared to the rest of his family or he isn't ready yet because he's still in is park clothes.
"Are you playing that DUMB game again? You know we have company over! -Just pause it and come downstairs!" I feel unintentionally insulted.
"GET OUT GARROTH!" Zane demands "I'm in the middle of a dungeon! I'll come down when I feel like it! Now shut the door and LEAVE!" so we do.
"Sheesh! Sorry about Zane," he apologizes, closing the door. "He likes to isolate himself a lot!"
"It's no problem!" I'm almost the exact same way when I'm in a bad mood. "But you know he's right, you can't pause MMOs."
"I wouldn't know. I'm not that into gaming like he is."
"Eh? Really?" do you guys have nothing in common.
"Well, I am! But I only play console games every now and again."
"Oh! I see."
"Okay," we walk a few doors down to the opposite side of the hallway, "and over here is Vylad's room!" Vylad's room is also dark but he has hints of color everywhere. I'm assuming it's only dark because of the meditating I'm assuming he's doing. He could be summoning a demon but I don't think he's dumb enough to risk unleashing an ancient power. I'm also assuming that Garroth is the only one of his brothers who got dressed prior to me arriving because Vylad is still wearing the clothing he had on earlier today. "Hey, Vylad!"
"Garroth...Brother..." he's speaking his words slowly as if he's in a trance so let's hope he is meditating. You really have this problem with doors and knocking..." he takes a deep breath. "Don't you?"
"Heh-heh. Sorry baby brother." he rubs the back of his head sheepishly. "I'll try to remember next time."
"It's..." he pauses to sigh. "Fine. I was just finishing some new meditation thing I saw..." he glances at me as if I just entered the room. I'm not that small. "Hey not alone buddy!" he takes another deep breath. "I'll be with you soon..." and then exhales "...I want to finish this or I won't be at peace with my inner self..." he pauses for dramatic effect. "Or something..."
"Wow, not alone buddy" I snicker. " I didn't realize you were so deep."
"We'll leave you alone baby bro," Garroth and I start to head out.
"And Garroth, I swear if you don't fix this knocking problem you'll probably be breaking down doors left and right when you're older."
"Heh, that'll never happen. That's just plain rude. Good luck with your meditating," we head back into the hallway, closing his door on the way out. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to put you on the spot with those two."
"It's okay."
"This is the last room," He says leading me to another room. "It's mine."
"Woah Garroth, inviting an innocent young lady into your room," I gasped putting my hand over my mouth. "Scandalous."
"If I've learned anything in the few months I've known you it's that you're not innocent or a lady," he replies heading into his room.
"Hey!" I smack his arm, following after him.
I take a look around. Garroth's room is a typical guys' room. The main color is blue, his room is pretty neat which I did not expect so I'm assuming his mom made him clean up because his locker is not this nice. He also cleaned up his outfit because instead of the jock clothes he had on earlier a casual suit on which I would absolutely drool over if it wasn't Garroth. Looking around his room I can see a computer with a console attached, a study desk, a pile of baseball equipment because he's a jock and A Legend Of ZELDA POSTER!
"You have A Legend of Zelda Poster!?" I've always wanted to play this game but I've never had enough time to sit down and enjoy it.
"Yeah, it's my favorite videogame series."
"So is this the console game you were talking about?"
"Yup, I just don't get to play as much now that I'm the captain of the baseball team,"
"Congrats Garroth," I give him a slow clap because he sounds so smug. "You are now a step above us normal humans."
"Yeah and not to gloat but," he's definitely going to gloat. "I'm also the star player."
"Tow that is absolutely gloating right there bud."
"What? it can't be gloating if it's true."
"No, it is still definitely gloating," I pat him mockingly on his back. "For example," I point to myself. "Just because I am perfection exemplified doesn't mean I have to make you mortals feel bad by bragging."
"Oh really, perfection? Because I remember playing t-ball with you when we were kids and you were really bad"
"Hey, we can't all be captain of a baseball team." I do remember that and I also remember hating sports. My mom forced me into soccer so I wouldn't become a potato and I refused to admit I liked it for almost a year so she'd let me skip the occasional practice.
"You would get scared by snails and lizard you saw while at the bases," he laughs.
"I couldn't help it. Snails and lizards are gross," bugs and creepy crawlies bothered me so much I remember refusing to play the game unless I got so into it I forgot they were there, which rarely happened.
"I remember you being a princess in a cute red dress."
"I'm still a princess," I shove him jokingly. "I just developed this thing called attitude that I wish I could tone down sometimes."
"Garroth this is gross," Zane interrupts our conversation. He's changed into nicer pants and a sweater which looks absolutely adorable on him. But his horrible attitude ruins it.
"Hey, baby brother!"
"Why don't you just kiss her already? It's making me sick listening to you try to flirt."
"Flirt?" were we flirting?
"Calm down baby brother," yeah! Flirt? We're just having a conversation about the good old times."
"You mean the times we don't remember that well? Oh yeah, those are good times," I relish in his sarcasm, but he still needs to chill out.
"Come on Zane, you must have some good memories of aphmau."
"I don't, and honestly I'd prefer it to stay that way."
"Zane that's not nice."
"I kind of remember Zane being a bigger crybaby than me back then," I interrupt the impending argument.
"Hey!"
Vylad (where did he come from?) reminisces with us. He's changed into a nicer sweater and jeans that are lighter than Zane's and Garroth's. "And then Garroth would try to tease the both of you but Aphmau would come and push him down, remember?" I do. I hated jerks more back then than I do now. Also seriously, when did he get here? What happened to knocking?
"Huh?" Garroth does not seem to remember that bit of information.
"What the! Where'd you come from Vylad?" and Zane has an issue with Vylad's ninja act.
"Right across the hall," as if that explains anything. "You know half brothers exist too Zane."
"Whatever."
"I don't remember ever teasing Zane," really? Because that's all I remember. "I remember being a good big brother."
"Nope," Vylad corrects him. "You are a sweet big brother now, but back then you teased us a lot and Aphmau stood up to you."
"I did?"
"Yes, it's coming back to me!" I'm getting really excited at the thought of getting my childhood best friends back.
"Huh, I actually do kind of remember that," Garroth looks shocked.
"Aphmau was always looking out for Zane."
"And you are always eating dirt Vylad," Zane finally decides to contribute to the conversation. I think he's tired of us talking about him as if he's not here.
"Hey!" Vylad's kind of embarrassed. "What can I say I love nature." a little too much apparently.
"And glue," Zane adds.
"And I still got into O'Khasis Prep!"
"Whatever!" and Zane is upset again. "I don't even care anymore! I'm going back to my room until dinner!" I'm getting the feeling that that was a sore subject.
"Oh come on baby brother don't be like that." Garroth tries and fails, to bring back the good feels.
"I'll be however I want to be! You go and try to flirt with that girl, woman, thing," I refuse to be called a girl. I am a lady. "I'll be playing my online games because I obviously have more game with online babes than you ever will have with a real one!" Zane storms out slamming the door.
"Woah, Garroth just got roasted," I giggle slightly to myself.
"Yeah that escalated quickly," Vylad says.
"Well, since Zane brought it up, who is babe you're trying to get with?" I glance at Garroth curiously. Is she hot?
Vylad snickers to himself and Garroth just gave me the most dismayed look.
"What?" what did I do? "Am I missing something obvious here?" Vylad laughs harder and Garroth is starting to look a little exasperated. "Come on, as Garroth's new best friend I have to evaluate this girl before he can date her! What if she's an idiot?" and Vylad is losing it.
"Just forget it Aphmau Zane's going through a phase, he has no idea what he's talking about." Garroth lies, trying to end this topic of conversation.
"Kids! Dinner's ready!" Ziana calls us from downstairs before can continue to badger him.
"Looks like I made it home just in time then!" do I know this guy?
"Dad!" apparently they do.
"Look at you Aphmau you've grown so much!" So, Garroth's dad came home from work a little bit earlier in order to reconnect with me and my mom. He looks like an older Garroth with Zane's eyes, so he's taller and broader than Garroth is which intimidates me for reasons I can't explain.
"Hi, Mr. Ro'Meave."
"Please, call me *Garte*, I bet you have all the boys chasing you at school." Mr. Ro'Meave talks like a rich white guy, from the way he emphasizes his consonants, to his laugh.
"No way Mr. Ro'Meave. I think my mom might go to jail for murder if I even thought about bringing a boy home."
"Yeah!" My mom adds. "So do not give her any ideas! She is not boy crazy at all and I'd like it to stay that way."
"Right! Stay away for those boys that aren't mine!" Ziana and my mom are both insane.
"Right! Ziana's boys know better than to get all kissy lovey-dovey goo-goo eyes."
"Tell that to Garroth," Zane mumbles under his breath.
"What?" I'm immensely confused.
"Ziana is there anything to drink I'm thirsty," Garte asks. So are we just going to ignore the impending conflict?
"Not as thirsty as Gareth is apparently."
"Zane," Garroth growls warningly.
"I forgot the water I'll be right back," she gets up. "Well, I'm off. Does anyone else want something to drink? I got this red drank that's totes the rage!" Can they not feel the same tension I'm feeling?
"I don't but I'll help you get the rest of the food out of the oven gurlfrand!" Why is this my life?
"I bet Garroth would want a red drink in a small glass," Zane is trying to die tonight.
"Zane, stop it," and Garroth looks willing to help.
"Stop what Garroth?" do all siblings hate each other or is the Ro'Meave family an insane exception? "I'm just trying to help you out with your game."
"I know what you're doing Zane," can you explain it to me because I'm slightly lost. "It's getting annoying," but that is true.
"Hey, dad? Maybe you should tell Garroth and Zane to stop fighting."
"Huh?" he looks up from his food. "They're fighting?" How can you not notice? "Well, Garroth Zane stop-" his phone rings. "Shoot! This is about the beach house." I feel so poor right now. "One second. I need to take this call upstairs. Hopefully, I can close this deal," he leaves the table rushing upstairs.
And now that the adult supervision is gone, Zane starts to really let loose. "All I'm saying Garroth, is that you have this horrible habit of flirting with girls and then not following through. How do we know this isn't any different?"
"Zane, stop. Now " he growls.
"Temper temper, fine I'll stop," he sighs mockingly. "But before I do, maybe you'd like some of these mashed potatoes? They're small and cute, just like you like them."
"Zane," Garroth finally loses his temper, forcefully getting up from the table and storming outside.
Zane bursts into laughter and Vylad shakes his head disappointedly. "Not cool Zane."
"I'm going to go check on him," I rush out after him to see him near the edge of his yard staring at the bushes lost in thought. "Garroth? are you okay?"
It takes a few moments but he eventually turns and faces me. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"You don't look fine," you look like an angry puppy. "You look like what Zane said really bothered you."
"Yes but that's because he knows something I don't want you to know."
"What is it?" there's nothing that bad right? He's not even 16 yet.
"That I like you."
"Aw," that's cute! "I like you too Garroth," that can't be it, we're friends, of course we like each other.
"No not like that. I mean I like, like you," and then he kisses me.
I've never liked the thought of kissing. In books, the perfect kiss is described as fireworks and all these amazing things but as Garroth kisses me, I only feel awkward so I push him away.
"I'm so sorry," he backs off. "I have no idea what came over me."
"Yeah, I can tell," I wipe my mouth. "that was my first kiss you know?" I'm not upset, because I'm not one to but a lot of meaning into things like that, but I would've liked a better first kiss.
"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to-"
"Garroth," I cut him off before he can finish apologizing. "You're a great guy, but I'm only fourteen. Even if I did like you as more than a friend, I really want to focus on my studies, maybe if you were 'the one' I'd reconsider but you're not so..." I look down at my shuffling feet. This is so awkward.
"Wait," he grabs my wrist, forcing me to look up at him. "I know we don't know each other very, well but I've felt this way since you left the park. I remember when you ran into me on the first day of school and instantly feeling a connection. I couldn't describe it, and then I found out that you were the girl from my childhood," he let's go of me running his hand through his hair. "I couldn't get you out of my head."
"Garroth, I can admit that you are incredibly attractive," because I have no shame. "But I don't feel that way about you, and I'd feel terrible if I misled you like that."
"Oh," please don't look so sad, "I'm sorry about stealing your first kiss from you," he rubs his head sheepishly. "And, um, can you not tell Laurance about this?"
"Why not?" I'm getting a bad feeling.
"He really likes you too," oh no.
"He does?"
"Yes, wait," he looks incredibly frustrated. " I wasn't supposed to tell you that either."
"Wow," I giggle. "Good job Garroth, you steal a girl's first kiss, then you oust your best friend," I tease him, lifting the mood. "Don't worry, I won't tell Lawrence anything. I will just forget this happened and we'll be best friends forever to make up for you stealing my first kiss."
"Sounds like a plan."
Well, this is awkward. " I'm hungry." I clap my hands together startling him.
"We should go in and eat."
We head inside and the night progresses without anymore embarrassment that didn't come from my mom and Ziana. But I have a feeling that Monday is going to be a whole other adventure.
*AN: OK so I try to never link the episode anywhere because I don't want people to bash me for inaccuracies. If you're going to hate on my story please let it be for grammatical or consistency errors and then explain why you're upset so I can attempt to fix it. But that's not the point. This is my favorite scene in Episode 10 because the way he says Garte always makes me laugh hysterically. It's at 9:56 minutes in and it makes me smile.*