I am pulling a bag of gummy fruits from the vending machine. "Great game yesterday."
"Thanks, but it wasn't just me," I reply, turning to see who I knew it was. Trent is standing behind me with his arms loosely crossed over his chest.
"Speaking of which, you deserve something special for that amazing game you played," he continues. He tags along as I walk to my next class. He places a hand on my lower back which I promptly shrug off. "How would you like to go to the frozen yogurt shop after school?"
"Thanks, but my parents got victory pizza last night and I'm full of victory food for a while," I say. He plucks a strawberry from my fingers and pops it into his mouth.
"They have pistachio turtle, your favorite," he insists. I hesitate briefly; those are two of my favorite flavors combined with my favorite dessert.
"I have homework tonight and besides, my parents are dropping me off at the Davenports' tonight," I excuse myself.
As I step into English he adds, "Okay, that's fine. We can do it some other time, then." Please no, I think, waving over my shoulder. Bree comes in after and takes her seat behind me. "Distract me! I need to get Trent out of my head," I beg.
"Oookay. I am so excited you are staying with us for a whole week! We are going to have so much fun while your parents are in Seattle!" We make plans of what we are going to do until the class begins. I feel someone tap my shoulder and a note is slipped into my hand.
He'll be there.
I would sure hope so. He does live there, after all.
I wish they both lived in a cardboard box under a bridge and out of my hair.
Trolls who guard the bridge!
They could be haha.
The rest of the day passes as regular: classes, locker room to change, basketball practice, back to locker room for shower. When I get home I pack the rest of my overnight bag with everything I can think of that I would possibly need. In my duffel bag I put shorts, t-shirts, my carefully folded jersey and polished basketball shoes.
"Got everything you need?" Mom asks when I lug it all into the kitchen along with a stuffed backpack.
"I think so." We load my things into the car along with her and Dad's suitcases. "Wait, I forgot my lucky socks!" I cry and scramble out.
"They're just socks and the front door is already locked up," Dad groans. I give him a blank look, appalled he could say such a thing about my blue and orange basketball socks. In a few more minutes we are leaving with them, my windbreaker and favorite lip gloss clutched in my arms. I saw them on the way out and remembered I had forgotten to pack them.
We come up the driveway of an elegant house with floor-to-ceiling windows facing every direction. Pulling my things from the trunk we carry it to the front door and I ring the doorbell, hearing the echo from inside. Mrs. Davenport opens the door and invites us in. "How are you doing?" Before I can answer a crashing comes from the stairs and Bree pulls herself off the ground, sporting a delighted face. "We are going to have so much fun!" She tells me after a quick hug. She takes my basketball bag.
"Bye, honey, be respectful and listen to Mr. And Mrs. Davenport," my dad tells me.
"I love you. Be sure to call us each day and let us know how you're doing," my mom says with a kiss on my head.
"I will," I say, "have fun in Seattle." Gathering my backpack and overnight bag I follow Bree up the stairs to one of the guest rooms. On the landing we run into Leo.
He looks at my stuffed bags and points. "How much stuff do you need? You're not moving in!"
"What are you even talking about? When we went to your grandmother's house you brought two giant suitcases," Bree snaps.
"It takes a lot to look this good," he motions to his face. "And anyways, girls don't need all of that stuff."
"Something you and mankind will never understand is what a woman needs to take with her wherever she goes," I smile sadly and pat his shoulder.
"There had better not be anything spilling out into the hall and blocking my room," he warns.
Bree opens the door and points out the dresser in the room I can put my belongings in. She keeps me company while I unpack. When we renter the living room Mrs. Davenport is reading a book on the couch. Mr. Davenport is nowhere in sight.
"Thank you for letting me stay while my parents go out of town, Mrs. Davenport," I say.
"Oh, of course! And I told you before you can call me Tasha," she says with a pointed look. I grimace and say how I had forgotten. She waves it off and returns to her book after telling me to make myself at home.
"Where are your brothers and dad?" I ask as we lay on the bed doing homework.
"Downstairs in the basement, I think," she says casually, "that's where he does all of his inventing." Mr. Davenport had become a millionaire by his inventions. He was nice, just a bit too cocky about himself and his creations.
"Why are Leo, Chase and Adam down there?"
She pauses a moment. "Something about this or that. Leo and Chase help him with some things. Adam likes to point and say, 'oh, what's that? Can I touch it? What does it do? Will I get Electrocuted if I stick a fork in a socket?'" She deepens her voice to mimic Adam. I nod and turn back to the study sheet for history. I knew Bree well enough to detect her lies or mood changes. But this was her house and if she was holding back, it was none of my business. Once finished with homework we stay on the bed, talking about the latest gossip and listening to Taylor Swift.
"Kids, dinners ready!" Tasha calls about an hour later. I hop off the bed and follow Bree down the stairs. Leo is setting the table, Adam is helping Tasha fix up the plates with food, and Chase is trying to mute Eddy.
Oh, did I mention the Davenport House Security System is an annoying icon that pops up on screens throughout the house and insults you at every opportunity?
"Donald! If you want any dinner you need to come up here right now!" She calls into a microphone against the wall. Shortly after the elevator doors slide open and a medium build, black-haired man steps out.
"Audrey! I am so excited you are able to stay with us!" He beams while sitting down at the head of the table and rubbing his hands together. "I am starving. What is it?"
"I don't know but it smelled so bad my eyes watered and tears fell into it," Adam says while placing the final two plates on the table. I swallow and find the others' reactions are similar. Adam is a sweet person, just doesn't always say and do the brightest things. But this is dinner and I was raised to eat what is put before me without complaint, so I pick up my fork and take a bite. Surprisingly, Adam's tears are tasty.
Mr. Davenport and Tasha are at both ends of the glass table with Adam and Leo sitting on one side. I am between Bree and Chase opposite them, elbow occasionally brushing Chase's. When I cannot hold another bite I wipe my face with my napkin and place it on my plate. The conversations continue for a while after everyone finishes. When Tasha rises to clear plates I stand. "That was delicious, thank you," I say and help clear the table.
Chase gently takes the stack of plates in my arms with a trace of a smile and carries them into the kitchen. "You don't need to do anything; you are our guest," he says. I sigh and step back as they clean everything from dinner. When released from her chores Bree jerks her head and I follow her up the stairs back to the room. We talk until Tasha knocks at the door several hours later.
"Girls, its a school night and about time you got ready for bed!"
Bree rolls her eyes but calls, "Sure thing! I'll tell you goodnight now."
"Good night, then." She drags herself out if the reclining chair and out the room, closing the door behind her.