Lionblaze Lost the Lightning

Chapter 2: I Need a Distraction

"So explain to me again why Hollyleafs getting a job," Scourge said, eyes narrowed in confusion.

"Haven't I explained this to you, like, eight times?" Jayfeather asked, taking a sip of his wine. I swear he asks me this at least once a day. "She gets bored way too easy, that's what she told me."

"Fair enough," Scourge said thoughtfully, sipping at his own glass of red wine. "But why cooking of all things? She can't even make a box of macaroni and cheese."

"She's mastered the art of making macaroni and cheese," Jayfeather smiled. "She's got this trick where she can make it taste burnt and undercooked at the same time."

They both laughed at this, and Jayfeather felt even more at ease than he already was. He couldn't help thinking of Cloudtail, and how every single moment with him was filled with stress and anxiety. Scourge makes it so easy to be comfortable around him, Jayfeather thought to himself. I'm never anxious around him… it's strange. I never knew it was meant to be this way.

Cloudtail had me believing all the wrong things.

"So what are you going to do with all your money?" Scourge asked. "Well, I guess it's your brother's money. But I'm assuming he's gonna share with you."

"It's actually split seven ways," Jayfeather explained. He thought back to the night when Firestar had brought over the scratch tickets, and how they promised to split the money if by chance one of them won it. "Me, Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, Firestar, Brambleclaw, Longtail and Graystripe are dividing it."

"That sounds so much less cool," Scourge mumbled. "You're only getting just over a hundred thousand each."

"It's still a hundred thousand that I didn't have to work for," Jayfeather said, wondering where Scourges sadness was coming from. Not very cool my ass. It's really freaking cool.

"Well, spend it wisely," Scourge said, smiling slightly. "I can only imagine what the others are gonna spend their share on."

"Longtails gonna buy weed, Lionblaze is gonna buy video games and stuff for his baby and Firestar… hmm…" Jayfeather pretended to think about it.

"Firestars gonna buy every kind of drug under the sun," Scourge laughed.

"You got it," Jayfeather muttered. Which will either go one way or the other. You can never really tell with Firestar.

"Well, it's getting pretty late," Scourge said sadly, looking down at his phone. "I should probably go. I have to work early tomorrow."

"It's not late," Jayfeather scoffed, looking down at his phone too. "It's only-oh, two in the morning."

"Exactly," Scourge said, standing up. "Goodnight Jayfeather."

"Goodnight," Jayfeather replied, leaning over and hugging him. "Text me tomorrow."

"Bye," Scourge kissed him quickly and then pulled away, walking over to the door as he pulled on his coat. All of Jayfeathers old anxiety came sputtering back as Scourge kissed him, and he felt his face go red instantly.

I guess old habits die hard

Lionblaze shoved a handful of chips into his mouth, chewing loudly. After several seconds he shoved his hand back in the back, making a loud crackling sound.

"Can you stop?" Hollyleaf snapped. "I can't even hear the movie from all your noise."

"Almost done," Lionblaze mumbled, shoving all the chips into his already full mouth. He took the bag and shook the rest of the chips onto his shirt.

"What are you doing?" Hollyleaf sighed, clicking the pause button on the TV. "I can't even concentrate on the movie, I hope you know."

"I won't make any more noise with the chip bag," Lionblaze said defensively, pointing to the chips that were sitting in a pile on his shirt. The sudden movement from his arm made the chips slide off onto the couch and floor. Hollyleaf sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Well it was a good idea for a second," Lionblaze grumbled, leaning down to pick them up.

"You better throw those in the garbage," Hollyleaf said sternly. "They've been on the floor, don't you dare put them in your mouth- aw, Lionblaze. That's disgusting."

"They're still good," Lionblaze grumbled as he shoved them in his mouth.

"I don't want to watch the movie anymore," Hollyleaf said, turning off the TV. "I'm too distracted now."

"Wanna go get some slurpees?" Lionblaze asked excitedly.

"I wanna do something more fun than that," Hollyleaf sighed. "It feels like we haven't gone out in years."

"We went out last week," Lionblaze protested loudly. "Remember when we went out for hamburgers and-"

"I'm not talking going out for hamburgers," Hollyleaf interrupted. "I mean like, when was the last time we went and partied? Wasn't the last time that house party we had when we won the lottery?"

"Yes," Lionblaze said after he thought it over. "Yeah, I remember that being the last time."

"So let's go do something!" Hollyleaf cried, jumping off the couch. "Let's go grab Jayfeather and go out tonight! Screw watching movies! We do that all the time!"

"I don't want Dovewing to get mad," Lionblaze said sadly. "Trust me, I want to party just as much as you do but I don't want her to get upset because she can't join in."

"Oh, she won't get mad," Hollyleaf scoffed. "She's chill, Lionblaze. Don't worry about it."

"Are you sure?" Lionblaze asked.

"Positive," Hollyleaf promised. "Now get up and put something that's not sweat pants on."

"Why are you so keen to go party?" Lionblaze asked, narrowing his eyes as he got off the couch. "Usually it's Jayfeather and I who have to convince you, not the other way around."

"I just want to get my mind off work," Hollyleaf said quickly.

"How did it go, by the way?" Lionblaze asked. "Sorry, I forgot to ask. Was today your first day or second?"

"Second," Hollyleaf replied. "They've got me doing all the cleaning since I can't cook. Ashfur told me that he'd teach me one on one when there's no one around so I can learn and not slow down the show."

"Hmm," Lionblaze said, giving her a weird look.

"What?" Hollyleaf said at once, looking stressed out.

"Nothing," Lionblaze said simply. I wonder if that's the same Ashfur who married Squirrelflight from high school.

"Why do you look so weird?" Hollyleaf cried.

"I was just thinking to myself," Lionblaze said, wondering why she was getting so defensive. "I knew a girl named Squirrelflight from high school, and she married a guy named Ashfur. I saw it on Facebook. He's like, double her age or something."

"He's not that old," Hollyleaf whispered.

"Well, Squirrelflights our age… so that probably makes him 39 or 40-"

"I'm gonna call Firestar," Hollyleaf interrupted. "He'll be down for hanging out too."

"I like Firestar," Lionblaze said, getting completely distracted. "I better go make some grilled cheese sandwiches for him."

"Okay, go do that," Hollyleaf shooed him away with her hand as she dialed his number. "Hey, Firestar. It's Hollyleaf."

BEEP BEEP BEEP!

"Firestar must be here," Hollyleaf said, looking out the window. "Who else would make that much noise?"

"I'M READY!" Lionblaze hollered, running into the living room. Hollyleaf sighed as she realized he was wearing red jeans and one of her Christmas patterned sweaters.

"The outfit is terrible," she snapped. "And how many times do I have to tell you not to take shit out of my closet?"

"Oh come on, I love this sweater," Lionblaze whined. "And you never wear it."

"It's a girls sweater," Hollyleaf sighed, pointing to the Roxy logo. "Sometimes I wonder-"

BEEP!

"Firestar needs to stop freaking honking," Hollyleaf rolled her eyes. "He's gonna annoy everyone in the neighborhood-"

"Firestars waiting, no time to talk," Lionblaze huffed, charging past her with a zip-lock bag that contained a grilled cheese sandwich. He ripped the door open and waved.

"He's got the whole crew with him," Lionblaze said happily as Hollyleaf followed him outside. "I see Graystripe in the front seat… and Brambleclaw and Longtail in the back! WOOHOO!"

Hollyleaf squinted her eyes at Firestars car, noticing that Firestar did have a lot of people in it. Her hands grew clammy, and her heart sped up a little bit as anxiety began to crawl through her. Firestar is never up to any good.

Why am I so eager to hang out with him then?

Hollyleaf already knew why, but she didn't want to admit it to herself.

I need to get work off my mind.

I need to get Ashfur, off my mind.

I need to forget about the whole stupid situation

"HEY HOLLYLEAF! HI LIONBLAZE!" Firestar called out his window, throwing his cigarette butt on her lawn. "Get in the car. We've got quite the night planned."