Hello lovely readers. HAPPY NEW YEAR! so here's chapter 6!
Chapter 6
In girl world, a girl really has two best friends during or after a breakup, Junk and Food. Even though they hadn't broken up, Amber was still miserable claiming 'he's going to break it anytime now'. Her attitude had lasted a week or two, causing ZigZag to even avoid her at all costs. I couldn't handle the female issues. Now, being the loving best friend I was, I comforted her. Mostly after school she would sit around eating ice cream out of a gallon or downing a liter of soda. Of course her mother didn't approve, being the stick figure ex-model she was. Amber didn't give a hoot though. One day after school though, everything changed.
"Amber come on, get off the couch, it's a beautiful October day!" I said, grabbing her arm, trying to detach her from the couch.
"I'm too depressed to go outside!" She snapped back.
"Amber you guys are still together!" I said, giving up and sitting on the couch next to her. She snarled at me.
"What do you know, for all you know he could be texting with Janine Orster and making plans with her to hook up tonight?" My phone buzzed in my pocket.
"Er, hold on." I said, opening my phone, checking the text messages.
"Oh sure, just ignore your best friend and check your messages." Amber whined. It was from Squid. Hey FYI zigs not gonna break it. Nice timing. I beamed and Amber looked at me questionably.
"What?" She eyed me suspiciously.
"Let's just say from a little inside source that I know for a fact Zig isn't gonna break up with you." She sat up.
"Do tell." She said eagerly.
"Well that's all I know really." I said laughing. She sighed, out of relief of course. Just then the doorbell rang. Amber jumped up and ran to the door, oblivious to how awful she really looked. Her hair was all messy and her eyes were red. Her face was blotchy and her clothes…don't even get me started. I peeked around the corner out of the room to see who was at the door. Not to my surprise it was Zig, talking with Amber. They talked for about 15 minutes, hugged and then he left.
"Well….details!" I said, hitting her knee as she sat back down in the family room.
"He apologized for acting weird and separated lately. He said that something was going on in his family and that it was taking his focus away from everything else." She shrugged as I let out a little 'aw'. Amber's mom came into the room, picking up the food on their coffee table.
"Hun, if you're gonna eat junk; eat the Slim Cow ice cream sandwiches at least." Her mother sighed and left us alone.
"My mother can be so picky sometimes. Did you know the first time Ricky came over, she practically hit on him!" She nodded over exaggeratedly.
"No way, that doesn't sound like your mom!" I replied, doubting her.
"Yeah, he came in and the first thing my mother say's is 'Hi, I'm Amber's mom, but you can call me Lisa', then she shook his hand and said 'oh big hands. You know what they say about big hands'. Do you know how embarrassing it was? Then she, like, felt his muscles. I mean, sure his arms are amazing, and so are Alan's because of all the digging, but I mean come on. You don't feel up your daughter's boyfriend." We both shuddered at the thought.
"Well now that you're all set, I better head home. Lots of homework to do." I decided that walking home would be best; she didn't live that far away. I would pass Squid and ZigZag's houses anyways, since they live like two houses apart.
Walking around town really brought back memories. Like the first time Kevin stuck up for me was at the corner of Underhill and Main. Then I remember my dad attempting to kidnap me once when I was fifteen, right after the court ruled that I couldn't stay at his house, over by Goodwill Park. I sighed remembering the good days. As I walked down the street, passing houses, I heard a door open in back of me and then I heard someone jump off their steps. I cold hand on my shoulder made me jump.
"Chill out, it's me." ZigZag's voice calmed me down.
"Sorry, I thought you might be…" Zig nodded.
"Kevin." I nodded in reply.
"Yeah he lives around these parts, recon he doesn't know where you live though." He looked at me warningly. "Does he?"
"Well, he might know the general area…" Zig interrupted me.
"You've shown him your house, have you?" I nodded again. "Geeze Shorty." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Are me and Squid gonna have to do like a block watch like police do around here?" I laughed.
"Like you guys did with Flash?" I asked, remembering when they pulled me aside after a fight.
"Exactly." Someone else's footprints were coming close behind me.
"What's this I hear about Flash?" Squid asked.
"Nothing." We both said.
"What are you doing over here Shorty? Are you cheating on me with your best friend's boyfriend who is my best friend?" he asked, though I knew he was joking.
"No, silly. I was on my way home from Ambers when your amigo over there scared the crap out of me." I laughed as Zig looked around nervously.
"You scared the crap out of my girlfriend buddy?" Squid said, pretending to be mad at him." Zig sarcastically yelled for help.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Don't hurt me!" He said over dramatically, his words dripping with sarcasm. We all laughed.
"Now if you two children are done, I was on my way home." I started off.
"We'll go with you!" Squid hollered, practically in me ear.
"Ow and sure. You guy's like hot dogs and beans, that's what's for dinner?" They both looked at each other then nodded excitingly. "Well c'mon then!" I ran down the street and they followed, Squid grabbing my arm halfway there and pulling me into a kiss.
"Get a room!" Zig yelled at us, once he finally realized we had stopped running.
"Please, if you think we need a room then you and Amber need a motel." Zig blushed.
"Zig, ugh, don't tell us about it please." I mock-shuddered. Zig nodded slightly embarrassed.
"Will do." Squid and I jogged up to him as he waited for us. "I'm only joking; we haven't gone to a motel, hotel or a trailer park." I sighed and thanked God he was kidding. Picturing my friend and him doing…ugh gross.
We all walked in the door, only to face my brother, drumming his fingers on the wall.
"Where have you been young lady?" I rolled my eyes and pushed by him.
"Mom, can Alan and Ricky stay for dinner?" I called to my mom in the kitchen. She hurried out and embraced Alan in a hug.
"Alan it's so good to see you! How have been doing?" She released him, his face causing both Zig and I laughed quietly.
"I've been alright." Squid replied, giving me his 'help me' look.
"Oh right. Mom this is ZigZag. He was another one of my tent mates at Camp. He's also Amber's boyfriend and Squids best friend. He enjoys shrimp cocktails and picking flowers on lovely spring days." He smiled at me sarcastically as my mom shook his hand. She went back into the kitchen. I started down the hall to my room with the guys when my brother stopped me. I groaned.
"What now doofus?" I asked. He eyed Zig and Squid.
"Are you going to your room? With them?" He pointed to Squid and ZigZag. I nodded and tried to push by him but he didn't budge.
"Greg, I'm a big girl, and besides, I wouldn't do anything with Zig, he's Amber's boyfriend." My brother rubbed his lips together.
"Hey Shorty, want us to get him out of the way?" Squid asked as they both cracked their knuckles. My brother let out a tiny yelp.
"No, that's quite alright." He said, his voice cracking as he said 'that's'. He moved out of the way and we all smiled at him as we passed.
In my room, the boys settled on the bed and I turned on the radio softly as we waited for dinner to get ready.
"So." I said, clapping my hands together. They looked around. "What would you guys think if I held a reunion party, you know for D-tent?" I asked.
"That'd be pretty sweet!" Squid said, looking at my cell phone.
"Yeah, Amber would be able to meet all the people you talked about in letters." I nodded.
"Guy's am I pretty?" I blurted out, checking my reflection in my wall mirror. They exchanged glances. "No I'm serious." I said, turning around to look at my butt.
"Well yeah, you're pretty." ZigZag said, nervously looking at Squid.
"You're gorgeous. Why are you asking us this?" Squid asked, looking at me like I had 3 heads.
"See, here's a lesson for you two. Girl's like to know they are pretty. Our self esteem goes 'plop' if we don't feel pretty. So if we don't feel pretty, someone telling us we are makes us feel better." The boys looked as if they'd seen the light.
"That's why Amber gets mad when I tell her I don't like her pants." Zig said.
"You told her that! Shame on you!" I said, hitting him lightly.
"You know, I did like you for a while at camp. Even when we found out Squid kissed you, I liked you." I smiled.
"I think that's because you hadn't seen a girl in months." Squid looked at Zig; it was obvious he never heard this from him before.
"No, I thought you were so pretty. We all did really. I think we were the only one's who weren't gonna try and rape you at night." My eyes got wide and looked at Squid who nodded.
"Yeah but you guys made me run around in my undies!" I yelled quietly.
"Hey, that was purely entertainment, besides you got us back." Squid pointed out.
"True." I agreed with him.
"Trust us; you are the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world." Squid said.
"You're just saying that because you're my boyfriend." I teased.
"Yeah, partially. And because I kissed the most beautiful girl at camp, who slightly resembles you." I thought I was going to cry. Seriously. What he said was so sweet. I smiled at the two.
"I might have to tell Amber what you said Zig." I said, sitting on the bed with them.
"Oh she knows I had a huge crush on you at camp, I told her." I let out a faint 'oh'.
"Guys and Girl, dinner!" My mom called. The boys darted out of the room, ruining the moment in a heartbeat.
In the kitchen the boys were chowing down in hot dogs. I swear they were on their third by the time I got into the kitchen.
"Save some for me!" I looked in the pot noticing only 2 left. I picked out one and dumped it on my plate then took a spoonful of baked beans.
"Honey, I learned this when I was with your father. Always make quadruple to how many people you've got. 'Specially with boys." Squid, Greg and Zig all looked up, mouthful of food. My mother and I laughed.
"What are we talking about?" Squid asked, once he swallowed.
"Nothing." I replied shaking me head and laughing. About 5 minutes later the doorbell rang. My mother rushed to it.
"Oh god." I heard her mutter when she opened it. "Honey, I think it's for you."
Dun dun dun...who is it? Don't you loveee the suspence :)