Liar, liar, pants on fire.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Slowly breathe in again and slowly—"
Argh, fuck that!"
You growled as you threw your bag down the small concrete steps leading at the main entrance of your school out of irritation. You sighed sharply and sat down on the last step, lazily leaning your head on your right hand. You took out your cellphone from your pocket and took a peek at the screen displaying the current time. 16h40. School usually ended at 16h00, which means it has been over thirty minutes you were waiting for your cousin to pick you up. That is, if he was actually going to come and pick you up… You never were so sure with him since he was such a klutz sometimes. You sighed again, hopeless. "I can't believe he forgot me. AGAIN."
Well you see, it actually wasn't the first time the blond forgot to pick you up from school. Maybe it was the fifth, or sixth? You stopped counting it after the second time, thinking it wasn't going to happen again, since he promised you. Oh, how wrong you were! The first time it happened, you forgave him since he wasn't at all used to go out and retrieve you: you just moved in his house! But after living with him for at least, let's says, 3 weeks, he should have been aware that each Wednesdays and Fridays he were to pick you up from school! Apparently, no. Really, nothing seemed to go through that head of his, unfortunately for you right now. At least, you had a friend who drove you to and back from school each morning and evening the rest of the time, so you didn't have to worry about being in a similar situation theses other days.
You took a hold of your cellphone once again, trying to dial Prompto's number, but the only thing you heard was the robotic voice saying that you couldn't join him at the moment. Great, he probably turned off his phone… Really, why having a cellphone when you're always keeping it turned off? You didn't seem to understand him sometimes, but you surely weren't the only one, since Prompto was an odd character in itself.
You put your device back in your pocket and rose up, stretching your arms in the air and yawning a bit while doing so. Your walked down the steps and picked up your bag from the ground, stuffing everything that had previously fell from it inside. You put the bag against your right shoulder and began to walk back and forth the front of your school, not wanting to stay put another second while waiting for your beloved cousin. You looked at the sky, muttering slightly. "I swear, when I see him, I'll totally kick his sorry ass."
"Oh, oh! Dodge it… Aaaaand take that! And that again! BAM, right in the face! One final blow and you'll be dead Glad hahaha! Here I co—"
"Oups. Ring out."
"…WHAT? How is it even possible?! You're cheating! You have no right to push me down the ring! What is that crap?"
Gladiolus was slyly grinning, holding a Playstation controller in his hands while looking at his friend throwing a fit for a silly game he's just lost. Let's simply say that the blond was a sore loser and his tantrum was actually something really funny to look at. The older man just laughed as he watched his friend now standing beside him on the couch beginning to jump angrily on it, a controller in his left hand. Prompto was glaring and pointing at the screen before him, shouting at it like it was its fault if he lost the game. 1 He kept shouting things like "shitty game", or "useless purchase". The young man finally threw the controller at his friend and dropped down on the couch, folding his arms and sulking. Yeah, he was that much of a sore loser.
"Man, don't be like that. It's only a game hahaha!" The browned-haired man patted his shoulder lightly, still laughing a bit.
"Go to Hell! I was the one supposed to win! I had that kick-ass move ready to instant-kill you, but nooooo! Mister decided to play it unfair and THROW ME OUT OF THE FREAKING RING."
Gladiolus' grin grew on his face, mockingly. "Hey, it's not my fault if you let your guard down because you were so sure about winning this match, hehehe. You gave me an opportunity and I took it."
"I hate you, you're stupid!" Prompto was now glaring at his friend, who was laughing at him even more.
"Hahaha! Now I'm the one who's stupid? Not the game anymore..?" He laughed once more.
The blonde one glared at him even more. "I want a rematch!"
Glad stood up, brushing invisible dirt from his dark jeans. "Maybe later, I still need to bake something for dinner." He walked toward the kitchen of his own apartment, followed by the loser.
"Hey, let me help at least! I'm not a bad cook you know!" He said, closing his eyes and pointing his thumb toward his smiling face, proud.
"Hmm, I don't know if I should trust your skills…" Pondered the man, teasing his friend.
"I won't burn down your kitchen, you know! At least, not like someone I know…" He mumbled the last part, like he was talking to himself.
Gladiolus actually ignored what the blond said, thinking about something totally different. "Hey didn't you say you had something important to do earlier?"
"Are you trying to get rid of m—" But the guy didn't finish his sentence as he stopped dead in his track to look at the other, seemingly thinking hard about the question he just heard. "Err… Maybe, maybe not? If I did tell you something like that, I don't remember"
He scratched the back of his head, not so sure about his answer, while the other only shrugged his shoulders. "If you say so. Then it mustn't have been really
important I guess."
They both returned to their previous action, which was gathering ingredients to bake something eligible to eat. Prompto got some vegetables and put them down on the counter, along with a cutting board and a long and sharp kitchen knife, while Gladiolus was dealing with the meat. After a while, they put it in the oven for about thirty minutes.
"It's currently 16h40, which means we'll need to get it out at 17h10." Gladiolus informed his friend.
The blond suddenly turned around, seemingly panicked a bit. He silently said, but loud enough for the other to hear. "16h40, you said..?"
"Err, yeah. What is it? You seem pale all of sudden…" He looked at the blond oddly.
The latter suddenly blanched, losing all the colors from his face. "I… I now remember what I forgot earlier…"
Glad only looked at him, raising one of his brows as his friend continued. "I needed to pick up [Name] at school at 16h00 and I'm nearly an hour late! Oh shit, she's going to kill me."
The blond didn't say anything else and stormed out of his friend's house shouting a quick "I'll be back!" after him. The brown-haired man smiled a bit and scratched his light beard. "Well, good luck to you, Prompt. Hahahaha."
"Yeah, again."
"You should've called me earlier, I would've came and get you! Now wait for m—"
"Err, Zack. You don't need to, he just arrived. I'll see you, bye."
"Oh? Okay, yeah, bye."
You hung up, put your cellphone in your pocket and turned in the direction of the approaching car. You took quick steps toward it, as your cousin got out of it, nearly running in the direction of your approaching form as he did so. He stopped six feet away from you and began to shout some excuses. "[Name], [Name]! I'm sorry I forgo—"
He didn't have the chance to finish his apologies as you closed the remaining space between the both of you and hit him right on the jaw with your firmly closed fist. Prompto fell on the ground as your blow touched him and out of shock too. You stood a bit over him, a murderous look in your eyes as you hissed between teeth. "Again…"
With shock written all over his features, the blond brought his hand to his jaw, pressing a bit against it, apparently to feel how bad it was. He removed his hand and looked at it. At least, there was no blood. He then turned his surprised gaze to you and fixed you, agape. "Man, what WAS that for?!" He shouted, still on the ground.
"I'll give you three guesses, you stupid."
"Hmm, I… I…" He rose from the ground and stood up, brushing the dirt on his jeans and arms. "I forgot to buy you sea-salt ice cream..?"
"Are you stupid? You forgot me, again! Do you know how fucking long I waited for you?" You rushed to him and tried to hit him once again, but Prompto was faster in his moves as he held both of your wrists within his hands. Since you couldn't move your hands, you tried to kick him on the leg with your right foot, but in vain. The young man weirdly wrapped one of his legs around yours, holding you still. You struggled a bit, wanting to free yourself from his grip but the blonde's hold only tightened around you. After a while, you stopped all attempt to escape from your cousin, only staying in this odd embrace. You sighed, defeated.
"You've calmed down, now?" He whispered just beside your right ear as he released his hold a bit, but still not letting you go.
"Why do you keep forgetting me? You promised me, didn't you?" You silently said, a bit hurt.
"I… It's just that…" He clearly didn't know what to say. "Payback is a bitch, isn't it?" The tone of his voice changed a bit, from unsure to cocky.
You moved your head up, looking at him right in the blue of his eyes, confused. "What for?!"
"You nearly destroyed my apartment a couple of days ago, remember?" He totally let you go, looking in your [eyes color] eyes.
"Hey, that was an accident!" You looked away, a bit embarrassed.
His left brow raised a bit, incredulous. "Well, forgetting you, too, was an accident."
"Yeah, as if." You folded your arms and looked at him.
"Anyway, let's go. I don't want to stay here for the night." He took your left arm and dragged you to the car.
"Well, thanks to you, I nearly did." You smirked.
"Ah shut it…" He sighed and entered the car, you doing the same.
The drive home was quite silent, until you broke it by asking Prompto a question. "When will I have my room back..?"
The man kept his eyes focused on the road and answered, shrugging his shoulder a bit. "I dunno, not before a while that's for sure. I still need to completely restore
it…"
You only sighed and your cousin continued. "Talking about that… It can't go on like this forever."
"What do you mean?" You curiously looked at him from the corner of your eyes.
"You sleeping in my bed… with me." He made an awkward face, still looking forward.
"Go and sleep on the couch if you're not okay with that." You raised one of your brows.
"No, why don't you go? It's MY room." He slightly turned his head in your direction, but his eyes were still fixed in front of him.
"I can't sleep on the couch, I'm a woman!" You argued.
"Pfft. Woman, yeah my ass. You're more like a fucked up little boy, always picking up fights and all with that potty mouth of yours!" He mocked.
"Hey, fuck you!"
"What I said…" He sighed.
You crossed your arms over your chest and stuck your tongue out at him. "Anyway, I don't want to sleep on the couch. It's not comfy at all."
"And? I don't see what your point is. I'm not a woman and it's as uncomfortable for me as it is for you!"
"That's still discussable. Theeeeen, is it okay if I keep sleeping with you?"
"No!"
"Why not, I don't see what's so wrong with that!"
"You're my cousin!"
"And? I don't see what your point is." You said, imitating him. "It's not like we're doing anything, you pervert."
He blushed a bit at your statement. "It's still wrong!"
"It's the same as sleeping with a brother!"
"But I'm not your brother!"
"Anyway, it's not like you're sleeping naked! Come on!"
"I usually do!"
"That's too bad for you then!"
"Tonight, I will! And maybe that'll make you get out."
"Now THAT is wrong. And if you do that, I'll kick your ass!"
"I know you will…" He ended the conversation and smiled a bit, now entirely focusing on the road, the silence once again dominating the atmosphere. After a couple
of minutes, you finally arrived at Prompto's apartment. You were about to exit the car, but looked curiously at your cousin, since he was making no move to get out. You frowned a bit, ready to ask what was wrong but he beat you to it as he turned around, a devious smile appearing on his young face. He just had an idea and that was no good for you, you were sure of it.
"What is it, Prompt..?" You asked, carefully.
He hesitated a bit, not sure if he should tell you now or later. He decided to do the latter as he only said a vague instruction to you. "Stay in the car."
"Prompto, what do you—" You began to ask but the blond interrupted you.
"Stay in the car, I'll be right back!" He repeated and got out of his car, heading toward his apartment. You waited for him as he asked you to.
"What does he have in mind..? I wonder." You whispered to yourself. "I totally don't trust whatever plan he has." A good ten minutes passed and he still didn't come out. "What's taking him so long?!" You complained and decided to get out of the car to get him. Just as you were walking out, Prompto appeared in the doorway, a big bag in his hand and a couple of other stuff. Your stuff.
You looked at him oddly, wondering what he was doing. He approached you and threw the bag at you. You caught the rather heavy but soft bag. Clothes. The blond put your other belongings in the backseat of his car and closed the door, before entering the driver seat. Breaking out of your shocked state, you entered the passenger seat and fixed him. "Prompto, what the fuck is that?"
"Well… you're moving out!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air, grinning at you.
"WHAT?! Are you saying that… That you're freaking throwing me out!?" You raised you voice a bit near the end, angered at your stupid cousin.
"Yeah, err, no! It's just temporary, while I restore your room, y'know!" He scratched the back of his head.
"Why can't I just stay with you?" You didn't believe it, your cousin was really kicking you out…
"Well, since neither of us want to sleep on the couch… Plus, I'll restore your room faster if you're not here. You won't be in my way." He tried to convince you and smiled a bit.
"Admit it, you just don't want me around…" You looked the other way, angered and pained.
"It's not it at all. [Name], it's the only solution I found." His voice was gentler than before, he didn't like to see you hurt.
You sighed, giving this argument up. "Where will I stay then?"
The blue-eyed guy started his car once again and got out of the driveway heading toward god knows where. "I have this friend of mine… You'll see, he's really kind, I'm sure you won't mind staying with him."
You turned your head in his direction, curious. "Is it your friend Gladiolus that you keep talking about?"
"No. He lives in an apartment too and he only has one room. I won't make you stay with him…"
"Who is it then?"
"You'll see."
After a couple of minutes, Prompto turned off the car in front of a nice small house and got out. He picked up a couple of your things and walked toward the front door. He waited for you as you brought your clothes. Your cousin took out a key, unlocked the door and entered his friend's house. You followed him, unsure. "Hmm… Prompto?"
"What is it?" He didn't turn around and walked in the hallway.
"How come you have a spare key of his house..?"
"In case of an emergency."
"I see… but, isn't he here?" You said, looking around nervously.
"Err… it doesn't seem like it." His answer just confirmed what you were thinking, but you asked, just to be sure.
"Prompto." Your voice was dead-serious and dangerously low. "Does he even KNOW I'm supposed to be here?"
There was a minute of silence before he began to explain. "Well, you see…" He scratched his neck, uncomfortable. "I didn't have time to ask him, I just got the idea…"
"PROMPTO!"
You glared at him and he raised his hands in the air, defensively. "But don't worry! I'll ask him when he'll be home. I'm sure he'll gladly accept!" He stretched his neck and looked over your head and toward the front door, murmuring. "It shouldn't be too long before he gets here…"
"Are you saying that you threw a stranger in his house, without asking him!? You're seriously sick in the head! If I were him, I'd totally kill you!" You stomped and turned around, ready to exit the house.
"Hey, where're you going?" He grabbed your right arm and spun you to face him. "You can't go back!"
You sighed and glared at him again. "How will I explain this to your friend? I don't even know him, or his name! And it's the same way around! You're putting me in a totally embarrassing situation right now…"
The blond got behind your back and put his hands on your shoulder, pushing you toward what seemed to be the living room. He sat you down on the nice couch and disappeared in the kitchen. He came back with a bag of chips and gave it to you. "Make yourself at home! Be yourself and everything will be alright [Name]!" He smiled happily and turned away, heading back in the hallway.
Be yourself, yeah right… You shrugged and opened the bag of chips and began to eat it while looking at the blank screen of the television. "I'm already intruding, so I guess it won't hurt if I turn it on…" You grabbed the remote and turned it on. You watched the television, absentmindedly deposing your feet on the table before you. You were so absorbed in whatever program you were watching that you didn't even hear the front door open as someone walked in. You snapped out of your trance after a while and heard Prompto's voice before the sound of a door opening and closing. He's gone..? He didn't even say goodbye! That twit, I hate him! You growled a bit, but immediately stopped as you heard footstep coming your way and then an irritated voice.
"When will that freaking brat be here anyway?" Did he just… insult me? What the heck, he doesn't even know me yet! Whoever that supposedly 'nice' friend was, he had nerves.
"I'm right here, dumbass!" You said, without even turning in his direction, still eating your, more like his, bag of chips, dropping one accidentally and not feeling a bit sorry because of what he just said about you.
The young man didn't respond to you as he just stayed still, shocked. You turned around a bit, revealing the side of your face as you looked at his standing form. He really looks stupid with his mouth wide opened like that…
"Eeerr…" Was the only thing he said as he looked at you.
You stood up and walked toward him, studying him a bit. The man didn't seem really older than your cousin, maybe a year or so. He had blond hair and really deep and striking blue eyes. He was quite tall, like half a head more than you and about the same height as your cousin. He wore a black t-shirt with a white no-sleeve jacket on top and dark gray jeans. After your quick check up, you approached him and waved a hand in his face, seeing him still standing still. "Hey, hey. Is your brain still working?"
The blue-eyed guy frowned a bit at your action and looked at you in the eyes. You raised your brows as a cocky grin finding its place in your face and you extended your hand a bit. "Hi. [Name]'s the name."
The blond looked at your hand dumbly before asking you something even dumber. "Err, what are you doing in my house?"
Seriously, now? You dropped your hand and looked at him weirdly. "What? Prompto didn't tell you?!"
Your cousin's friend gulped and blinked a couple of times before answering you. "Actually, he did but I… He… I…err." He looked away, feeling stupid.
"You know, you really look stupid right now." You told him, not even caring.
The young man looked your way once again, insulted. "It's called shocked, brat. And it's not everyday someone throw a kid in my house out of the blue like that." He himself seemed a bit shock by his harsh tone when he answered you.
You were taken aback by his tone and it was now your turn to stumble a bit over your words. "H-hey! I'm not a kid! Well, I-I… Now you know that I'm stuck here with you, whether you like it or not." You fondled your arms and looked away.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm Ventus."
You only nodded as he continued. "The bathroom is that way" He pointed behind him, to his right. "The rooms are upstairs. Don't enter mine. Don't touch anything. If you make a mess, you clean it. If you eat something, you wash the dishes. Understood?" He raised his brows.
"Soooo strict. Wait, I need to wash the dishes?" You whimpered.
"Obviously, you need to eat. I'm not mean, I won't let you starve." He coughed a bit, clearing his throat.
"No. What I meant was… I need to WASH the dishes..?" You made a face.
"Well, yeah. Don't expect me to clean after you…"
"It's just that… I've never washed the dishes before." You looked away, feeling his stare on you.
"You're kidding right?"
"My parents had a dishwasher and Prompto, well… Prompto bought paper plates and plastics forks and all."
He face palmed. "I should've known… Anyway, it doesn't change the fact that you'll do it."
"Come ooooon…." You whined, brushed it off and walked toward the couch, trying to get rid of him, but in vain. It was kind of hard since you were at his place.
Ventus followed you, but stayed up behind the couch. "Can I know why he threw you out?"
"He didn't throw me out! I just… need to stay elsewhere from the time being until he restores my room…" You flustered at your statement.
"And why is that?" Ventus leaned a bit on the back of the couch and looked at you, waiting for an answer.
"It's none of your business, get lost!" You gritted your teeth together.
"Actually, it is since it's the reason why you're now staying here."
"I already hate you."
"I'm waiting."
"With that, I'll be sure to get my revenge, hehehe." You laughed as you baked something unidentified on the stove. You took another random ingredient and threw it in there, mixing it with the rest, resulting in a non-edible recipe.
Prompto did something really unforgivable to you. He ate your last sea-salt ice cream, saying there wasn't anything else to eat at the moment. It was yours and yours only. No one touches your ice cream, no one! Anyway, you were going to get your revenge by exchanging his dinner with that… shit you were currently baking. You didn't even know what it was, but the brownish-gray color wasn't appetizing at all. Not like he was going to notice anyway, he's just so stupid. You couldn't wait to see his face when he was going to taste your masterpiece!
You suddenly jumped when you heard the front door opening and Prompto shouting he was back. "Fuck, why so soon?" You whispered to yourself as you heard him approach the kitchen. You totally panicked, not knowing what to do for your plan not to fail and him to notice what you were doing, you took the burning hot pan and threw it in your room, closing the door rapidly after. Why the fuck did I do that? Now I'll have to clean everything in there! I'm stupid.
"Hey, [Name]!" Prompto greeted you, entering the kitchen.
You smiled awkwardly, greeting him back. "You're here soon…"
"I know right. My boss gave me off today at the store, so here I am!" He grinned, happy about the good news.
"Yeah… Anyway, if you don't mind, I'll go and—" He cut you off.
"What's that smell?" The blond sniffed a bit around you before moving farther in the kitchen. "It kinda sells like…" He sniffed again, going in the direction of your room. "[Name], did you bake something?"
"Err, me? No, no… Why do you ask?" You smiled nervously, your hands behind your back.
"It really smells like something's burning." He began to open the door leading to your room. "It comes from here."
You stepped back a bit, fearing the mess in there. "I swear it's not—"
"HOLY FUCK. YOUR ROOM IS BURNING!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, panicking a lot.
"Is what!?" You ran in his direction, taking a look at your room. It was, in fact, half in fire. "Oh my god, oh my god! Do something!" You jumped up and down and shouted at him.
"I don't know what to do!" He looked at you, panicked.
"I don't know either, blow on it!" You answered stupidly and he turned, looking at you.
He stared at you like you had grown two heads. "…are you serious [Name]?"
"I dunno, I don't care! But extinguish it!" You panicked as you pushed him in your burning room.
You glanced a bit at Ventus as you finished explaining to him what happened to Prompto's apartment. "That's it, I guess…"
"That… really was stupid." He said, looking at you oddly.
"Stop looking at me like that!" You glared at him.
He totally ignored your request as he continued to look at you the exact same way. "Finally, I won't let you touch any food. I'll cook, but you still have to do the dishes."
"Hey! I can actually cook. I only was surprised is all!" You fondled your arms and gritted your teeth.
"I really, don't wish to find out." He sighed, looking away from you, seemingly disinterested.
You turned away from him, now ignoring his presence and resumed your previous action, which was watching the television while eating your—Where is it? You looked around, looking for your bag of chips and found it on the ground, scattered everywhere. Great… You turned around slightly, trying to see if Blondie was watching you. When you saw that he wasn't, you pushed the chips under sofa, but unfortunately, that's when he decided to turn toward you.
"[Name]!"
You jumped as he called your name and looked behind you from the corner of your left eye. "…yes?"
Ventus only turned his back to you and began to disappear toward an unknown room, not before answering you. "Clean it."
You sighed severely. "I don't even know where the freaking broom is." This is totally going to be a pain in the ass, I swear…
A/N: Aaaaaand tada~ The second chapter! Rea-chan is fully in it now! And we've got a better glimpse of her relationship with his cousin... Well, I hope you liked it! Please rate and review so I can know what you guys think! :3
¹-I lost the game. Goddamnit.
