He better be coming. He better be coming. He better be coming.
Aubrey bent over the table. Fuck. FUCK. It felt like her stomach was digesting a kidney. Kel didn't say how long of a walk it was. Or how easy it was to get lost and how you would end up having to walk back the whole other way. They could have put the freeway sign a little closer.
At least Swanton's gave her a free water cup. No amount of Fanta was replacing solid food, though. Not gonna lie those napkins are looking real tasty.
Is he really not coming? Yeah it outta have taken a while, but it's getting close to over an hour and a half since she got here, and again, that walk was not short.
Then she saw Kel's Dad's truck swinging in the parking lot. If you didn't look twice you'd assume the car was brand new and not the same one that used to drive her to this very joint all those years ago. When she hung around Kel and Hero, she often saw him working on it. He always had enchiladas ready as a reward for the kids washing down the car. There were so many hose fights on that lawn.
She breathed a sigh of relief. At least Kel was here and...Kel? The fuck what was he wearing? A violet polo shirt and jeans? Why was he dressing better to get something to eat than for actual school?
He looked back as the truck sped off, then walked in seemingly puzzled his damn self.
Aubrey got up. This should be amusing. "What was that about?"
"I have no idea. I told them we were going to get something to eat, and they had me put all this on." Kel held out his wallet, a basketball-themed faded mess of orange and black. "Dad even gave me his card instead of, the cash."
"Ooh nice. By the way, you're paying for everything." The two of them walked to the register.
"That's what dad said!" Kel shook his head. What the heck was going on around here?
"Really?" That was easier than I thought it would be. A little disappointed that she didn't get to see him squirm at the sight of the weight she was hiding. Oh well. Free meal.
"Wait," What was that weird shit in the air? She turned her head and realized she was sniffing his shoulder. "Why do you smell like a fresh pencil?"
"Oh that's some of the cologne Dad gave me."
"He gave you cologne? He's being so weird. What's he up to?" Nah. Aubrey shook her head. She was way too hungry to care. Deal with it later.
She turned to the dude at the cash register, who had seemingly been waiting there for several moments. "Hey, I'll take two Swanton Bomb Burgers, large fries, and a large drink. Actually, super-size those fries."
"Wha-what?" Kel knows he didn't just hear what he heard. One Swanton Bomb Burger and some fries were enough for him. "You cannot be that hun-"
Aubrey looked at him and white-knuckled the counter.
"You know what? Leftovers work too." He looked back at the clerk. "I'll two Swanton Double Burgers, medium fries, and a chocolate shake."
Kel paid for it on the card and stuffed the receipt in his pocket. Aubrey threw out the water cup and got another drink. She looked over a Kel, who was struggling to not drink his shake before eating. Man, he really did look just like Hero a few years back, albeit a little more sun-kissed and with a shittier haircut. Still, he actually didn't look too bad when someone cleaned him up.
After getting their trays and slid into a booth. Kel dipped a fry in ketchup. "So Aubs, what's been going on with-"
"RAAANGH!" She barely got the wrapper off before ravaging the burger that was seemingly three times the size of her mouth. Oh my God. Mushrooms. Bacon. Whatever this Xtreme sauce was. Forgot you could even put all of this on a burger. More. More.
Kel could only sit back and watch in horror. And his parents said he ate like a vagrant? Oh if only he had a camcorder.
Aubrey finished the first burger and just...she had to sit back. Catch her breath. The two free meals at school barely got her through dismissal. Stealing all the candy in the world with Kim and Vance couldn't touch what she just sandwiches. Syrup sandwhiches. TV Dinners. Frozen veggies. Store-bought pizza. Chicken fingers. Hamburger Helper. Hell, the burgers she tried to cook for herself. None of it. None of it compared to that goddamn burger. She hadn't felt like this since...since...
"Your dad makes better burgers." Her fingers drummed the table. "But these are bigger. So it evens out."
"I'll be sure to tell him." Kel said a quick prayer for that other Swanton Bomb Burger. "So...how's life?"
She was looking at the ceiling, watching the fan above them spin round and round. This place had a pretty tepid and uninspired design to it, but at least it was cool in here and there was a TV in the center of the joint.
"Life's shit, Kel. Always has been." She looked back at him. She could see that he was about to ask further, as soon as he swallowed the glob of food in his mouth. "You know, I don't get how people look at a burger and fries, and go 'You know what would go great with this? Chocolate milk.' But I guess I shouldn't be surprised at you, Kel. You are the Orange Joe guy after all."
"First of all," Kel finished swallowing. "Orange Joe is great. You're just a pleb that can't get the ratio right. Second of all; the milkshake is the premium way to finish a meal. No better way to polish off your palette."
"Tell that to your intestines. I bet it's like getting whiplash to them." She started tearing into her fries. "So what's been new with you?"
"Well, other than joining the football team, I've been helping Mom and Dad get ready for the baby." He sighed. "It's been a lot."
"Oh, that's cool. Congratulations." She held some fries to her mouth. WAIT. She almost choked 'em two seconds later. "Baby?!" She leaned in. "Dude, did you get a girl pregnant?! Did Hero-"
"What? No. Our parents. They're having another baby."
"Oh, thank God." Aubrey breathed a sigh of relief, until she realized something else. "Wait, aren't they a little too old for that?"
Kel slammed his shake down. "Why does everybody say that? They're not that old! Mom's barely past 50. Oh my God, Aubrey, when the doctor said that, you should have seen the look on Mom's face! I wanted to punch the doctor so bad! They were just stressing Mom out!"
Seeing Kel lose his shit was certainly...an experience. "Look, I know how bad that sounds, but you know it's harder for women to have children as they—as time goes on, right?"
Hero's going to be 20 years older than your other sibling, that's insane. That's not normal. I can tell even you know that. He's old enough to be his sibling's dad. Wait, fuck Hero.
YOU'RE old enough to be your sibling's dad, Kel.
They're going to have a completely different childhood than what you and Hero had. And as for you're parents, they're starting over again. By the time she's an adult, they're going to be...
Oh shit.
"Well, yeah. But Mom's fine!" Fuck, Kel's already thought this through. Sleepless nights alone in a bedroom made for two. "Dad's been going to work early and bringing what he can home so he can be around her more. I've been taking care of her when I can. We've got the ultrasound in a few weeks to see if it's a boy or a girl. Once we have that, we can start planning for their arrival, and everything will be great! We're trying to come up with names. Hero suggested Hiki. What do you think about that?"
"That's an interesting name." Aubrey weighed it around in her head. "Do you have a preference? About if it's a boy or a girl?"
"Wha-" He stared at her. What a weird question. Actually, now that he thought about it, Mom did say she'd like another girl in the house. "I mean, I don't really care. I just want them to be okay. Like I guess I'm used to having a brother, but I wouldn't hate having a sister at all."
"Oh, cool." It's not that the question really mattered to either of them, but...it was nice to see where Kel's headspace was at. "How's Hero taking it?"
"Oh, he was ecstatic! And...a little worried. He really wanted to stay and watch over Mom, but they pushed him out." Kel gave a little chuckle. It was weak. Hearing it kinda made Aubrey's heart tick up. "I gotta be honest, I really wish he'd stayed. He'd be so much better at this than I would, and there's no way I can...be as good an older brother as he is."
Fuck.
A silence passed over the booth. Kel was looking at her for a response. She just sat there with that guilty look. Instinct told her to say it. That Kel was just as good as Hero. But...fuck man. They both knew that was a lie. Hero was fucking amazing. Kel was just...around. What they had. But...saying nothing...nothing...
That's what Mom would do.
"If you need help, I can stop by. Anytime." The conviction in her voice surprised both of them.
"...Thanks Aubrey. That means a lot."
Fuck. This heavy convo was ruining her appetite. Need to get back to something more light-hearted. "So, you said you made the football team." She started unwrapping her second burger.
"Oh!" The tilt of his head. The inflection in his voice. He was back to that booger-eater she knew and...knew. "Well, there are a bunch of roster spots open and if I'm big enough, maybe I can start."
"Offense or defense?"
"Well they said I can't really handle balls, so-"
Aubrey snickered.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing. Keep going."
"I can't really handle balls, so probably defense." He unwrapped his second burger. "Are you really not going to join the softball team?" He'd seen her in school strong-arm people for the free tickets. It'd honestly be a lot better for her if she actually played.
"I don't have any money for it, okay? Registration. Equipment. Busing. I can't do it."
"Oh, wow. That sucks." Kel held his burger in mid-air for a second. Now that he thought about it, Aubrey never seemed to play any league baseball except that one summer. He knew she lived with her mom but...eh, don't ask about their money. Both Mom and Dad said that was super insensitive. Still...he should try to give some kind of advice. Uhhhhhhhhhhhh...
"Just get a job." I mean, Mom and Dad did say he was at that age to start looking for work. Kel actually offered to work for his Dad's construction company. He and Mom shut that down real quick.
"I-" The Xtreme sauce dribbled down Aubrey's chin. What the fuck, man? That's it? Just get a job? As if that magically solves all her problems? "I don't want a job."
"But you need money don't you?"
She did. But she wasn't stupid. She watched TV. There were so many bosses out there who would yell at their employees, degrade them, take advantage of them, and treat them like trash. Fuck. That. No one was going to do that to her over some pocket change. "I don't want to have to deal with people."
"Basil has a job. You know how shy he can be."
"Good for him. Besides, it's not like you have a job."
"Well," Kel paused, considering something in his head. "I've been thinking about it. For a while now. A little extra money to take care of the baby wouldn't hurt. Honestly, Aubrey, I don't know if I really like football enough to hang around. I...feel guilty for not being around Mom. But funny enough, she and Dad both are really pushing me to make the team instead of getting a job. I think I really would have looked into getting a job or, or honestly, just being at home."
"Yeah, I guess that's fair." Aubrey knew exactly what was going on. Kel didn't exactly come off as a guy who was ready for any kind of job. His parents just didn't want to say it out loud. Football might be really good for him to learn responsibility and teamwork. Like what softball did for her. "Look, I'm going to get a job eventually, Kel. Don't worry. I'm just, not in a rush to do it. I'm still in high school, and that's enough of a soul-sucking job already. I know you have a lot of things on your plate, but we're not adults yet! Live a little, dude! While we still can."
Weird to think she was saying this to Kel, of all people. Never imagined him actually taking something important seriously.
They were finishing up their meals when SportsCenter came on with a few baseball highlights. Aubrey got real excited. "Wow! Kel, did you see that catch?!" The way her face lit up was so...nice. It was just nice. He missed it. He missed her.
"Hey, Aubrey?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm...really sorry about what went down between us. I never should have hit you. I miss our friendship. And I wanna hang out with you again. Can you...forgive me?"
She just...looked at him. Surely there was a reason to keep hating his guts. He was annoying, he was smelly. He was an idiot.
Fuck me, those aren't good enough.
He was maturing. He was considerate. He had a sense of humility. He was...kinda a fun time? Like yeah, he punched her. Honestly, big whoop. As if she hadn't been punched before. At least Kel apologized. At least it was only a cut cheek. At least she could leave him whenever she wanted.
No, no, no. This wasn't about her. It was about Kel.
And seeing Kel smile was...nice. It was just nice.
And plus, those were some really good burgers.
She held her fingers up. "A few conditions."
"Eeeeeeee." Kel felt he was gonna regret this. "Such as?"
"Number 1: Let my gang do whatever they want."
"What?! Aubrey, you know they are gonna get themselves into big trouble sooner or later."
"We'll deal with that when it comes. Number 2: You have to let Mikhael beat you in a race. In front of everyone."
"WHAAAAT?!" Kel slammed his hands on the table. "He's the biggest goober you have!"
"But he is one of my goobers. Let him have this. You're the heartthrob of the school and he hates that. Let him beat you."
"Ugh, fine." Kel seemed to shrink in his seat. "Wait, what do you mean I'm the heartthrob of the school?"
"Dude, are you serious? You're like, one of the most crushed-on guys. You've never had a girl tell you they like you?"
"Well I have! Plenty of times! I just say thanks and give hi-5s back."
"OH MY GOD." Aubrey covered her face and looked away. I can't even blame Mikhael. Kel was walking around as the Mayor of Sploosh City and this is what he was doing. "Kel, I am embarrassed for you."
"What?! I'm just returning the good vibes."
Good vibes he says. Aubrey could not contain her laughter. How could she ever hate someone so purely stupid?
"Hey Aubrey, if we're gonna be friends again, could you and the peanut gallery lay off of Basil?"
Her expression changed instantly. "Hell no. You and my being friends again does NOT change what Basil's done."
"Aubrey, look. Basil's been going through a lot recently. I've been spending a lot of time with him, and you have to believe me Aubs, whatever you think Basil did, he didn't do."
"Okay. I'll bite: what's so wrong in poor little Basil's world? Is there a bunny infestation in the backyard? Are his petunias getting a little chilly with the change of season? Brrrrrrr." She shivered her shoulders up.
Kel's glare made her freeze up. God, he really did look just like Hero. Coming into to break up one of their million childhood fights, but this one actually went too dar.
He reached out and snatched her hand. Aubrey barely had time to react. That grip was not breaking. "Aubrey, what I'm about to tell you stays between us. Okay? Do not tell anybody. Seriously. Do not fucking tell anybody."
Oh no. This was actually serious. Aubrey felt her heart race. "Got it." As meek as anything else she'd said in her life. Please let go Kel. I'm sorry. Please.
"Aubrey," He took a deep breath. "Basil's grandma is dying."
