We returned to the Palm Woods, me exclaiming in joy the whole way home, and went separate ways. Logan and I went back to my place, Sawyer was called to set, and the others went back to 2J. Logan sat next to me at the dining table, my algebra books and notes spread out across it. Every few minutes that passed I would look over to me non-standard contract, on the corner of the table, and smiled widely.
He paused in the middle of explaining the equation we were on, I could see him through my peripheral vision, "Congratulations." He smiled.
"Thanks." I replied breaking my gaze on the contract to meet Logan's eyes.
"What does the contract actually say?" He asked nodding his head in the direction of the contract.
"Pretty much what Gustavo said it does; I'm just going to have my Dad look over it before I sign it." I replied through a sigh.
My emotions about it were all mixed up. I was thrilled that I was in reach of what I had come here to do. I was close to giving up before my meeting with Gustavo, before Sawyer talked me into giving one last shot, but it's Sawyer. I would probably let him convince me into fighting a bear if I thought he thought it was a good idea. I was just grateful this was looking up.
I was worried, though. I wouldn't be able to do anything until I had my not even started song finished. I was running empty on inspiration and had a lot of new found things in my life stopping me in little ways. One new constant that seemed to be in the back of my mind at all times was my Dad. I know what he's doing. Stevie Wonder could see what he's doing. I couldn't talk to Mom about it; it wasn't my place and I wouldn't even know where to start.
With that aside, I had been catching myself thinking of Carlos since Logan and I got here. There were a few moments between Carlos and I that were stuck in my mind. The bon fire, swirly, the movie marathon, and just a while ago at the studio seemed to be on repeat. It didn't bother me in a bad way, though it was another distraction I needed to work around.
Logan has been talking this entire time and I haven't the slightest of what he's just said…
I let my eyes go wide and shifted them in his direction. He was still talking, but he was looking down at my homework. I leaned forward on the table looking to my paper, trying to catch up with what he was saying.
He glanced up to me while he spoke to make sure I understood what he was saying and did a double take. I froze like a dear in head lights with an obvious look that told him I wasn't listening, "You didn't hear a word I just said, did you?" He asked, not emotion either way in his voice.
My face cringed as if I was hit with a tennis racket, "I'm sorry! I'll make you cookies!" I laughed burying my face in my hands.
I peeked through the cracks of my fingers and saw that Logan was smiling and chuckling silently, "Yes, yes you are." He said as we returned to the work.
An hour and a batch of cookies later, Logan and I said our goodbyes and he left with a plate of cookies; munching on one as he closed the door behind him. I sighed with a smile on my face as I turned to face the apartment, "And now…" I shifted my eyes, knowing nobody was home but walked to each room just to make sure.
I quickly grabbed my iPod and hooked it up in the living room and played the song that had my exact feelings. I turned the volume up and danced my way over to my contract that was still sitting on the table. I picked it up and danced with it held out in front of me. I pulled out a chair at the dining table and climbed up to the table top right as the chorus hit, "WE'RE HALFWAY THERE!" I shouted to the music as I took a trip in my glory boat.
Half way through my celebration a loud knock on the door startled me out of my world and back into reality. It was probably one of the neighbors wanting me to turn down my level of obnoxious. I jumped down from the table and turned off the music before walking over to the door. I peered out the peep hole to see my favorite raven haired boy.
A smiled crept across my face as I opened the door, "Hey Carlos," I greeted him trying to catch my breath.
He looked at me with narrow eyes and a confused look on his face, "Were you just…?"
"Nope." I cut him off. I was not about to admit that I was jumping around and dancing with a piece of paper to music of a band he just so happened to be a member of.
"Oh. Well, how come Logan gets cookies!" He shouted.
I let out a laugh and stepped aside to let him in, "Because I was thinking about stuff when I should have been listening to him explain a problem." I closed the door behind him.
"Thinking about what?" He asked turning to face me.
You…
"A bunch of stuff…" I discarded my thought, "What's up?" I asked as we sat down on the couch.
"Logan wouldn't share his cookies, do you have any more?" He asked with that look Katie had taught me.
Just how many people has she taught that to? It was enough that Carlos was asking for cookies, he didn't really need to hit me with those eyes.
"There actually aren't anymore, but I can make some more if you want some." I said looking over my shoulder to the kitchen area.
"Sweet!" He shouted excitedly, "Want any help?" He offered.
"Sure, come on." I smiled as we both hopped up from the couch and walked into the kitchen.
I set the oven to pre heat before getting all the ingredients back out. Carlos took off his jacket and tossed it back to the couch, "I've been told my cookies taste like hockey pucks." He said with a twisted confession look on his face.
"Then it's a good thing that these will be our cookies, right?" I smiled trying to put the memory of that terrible girl he had told me about before.
He lips turned to a small smile as I placed a bowl in front of him and began making fresh cookies. It went well, putting aside the small flour fight that was accidentally started; soon we had the cookie batter lumps in the oven and were waiting for the timer to go off. Carlos lifted himself to sit on the peninsula, his legs hanging off the side as I tried to get some of the flour off of me. Flour has got to be one of the hardest things to try to get off of clothes; I clapped my hands down my arms and down my pant legs, small puffs of power clouded off of me.
"Elizabeth, you got some in your hair." Carlos spoke.
"Great. I think I'll keep it there, GaGa ain't got anything on me" I laughed as I pulled myself up next to him.
He smiled as I settled. A silence fell over us, it wasn't an awkward one, but it did feel like neither of us could come up with anything to say. My mind was still wandering around in the land of the unwritten song. I thought I saw Carlos look to me, and open his mouth only to close it and look back away.
"Elizabeth," Carlos finally spoke making turn my head to him, "I was wondering…would you…want to…" He stopped when the front door opened and closed.
"Elizabeth, could you help me please? Oh hello, Carlos." My Mom said as she walked in closing the door behind her.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE! Reviews? It would be a great gift! :D Thank you to the two readers who reviewed the last chapter! It means a lot!
