the girl in the green house » david dobrik au

seven

"I told you not to text me," I said as soon as David picked up the phone.

"I know. I'm sorry. I wasn't sure if I could just call or not. I don't know, people don't call these days. It seemed weird to do. I'm sorry," his nervous ranting could've gone on forever if I hadn't stopped him.

"I'm only kidding with you. It's okay!" I told him, moving to the furthest corner of my bedroom just in case my mother tried to listen in. "I've been waiting for you to call me. You should've just given me your number so I could call you. I didn't know you'd be scared."

"Well, I wasn't scared," I could practically hear his dramatic eye roll. "I just didn't want you to get in trouble with your parents."

"Mhm," I smiled into the phone, knowing that was only part of the truth. "Well, what's up? Haven't seen you in a couple days. Almost thought you died."

"Same with you," he completely ignored my first little diss, which only made me smile more. "I've just been helping my grandma. She's recently gotten into meal prepping."

"Fancy," I commented.

"Not as fancy as a private chef," he teased. "What about you? How's it been going?"

"The rain is the worst," I sighed, glancing out my window just in time to see a flash of lightning. "No way for me to leave. Plus, my mother asked me yesterday about you which stressed me out."

"Asked about me?" I imagined his confused frown. "How does she know me?"

"Apparently Jeff drove by yesterday and saw your car outside," I sighed. "Stalking me. He's stalking me. So I had to make up this dumb lie and now I'm scared to leave my house. Can't, anyways, since it's raining. I hope it dries up by tomorrow. I've been in this house for two days straight. I'm starting to get anxious."

"You can't leave when it rains?" he seemed intrigued.

"Well, I mean, I could, but I'd be soaking wet by the time I ever get anywhere," I laughed. "Plus, my daddy says it's dangerous to ride a bike in the rain, since it makes it harder for people driving to see you. I'm sure they'd see my yellow bike, but he isn't."

"Well... if I pick you up at nine thirty, can you leave?" he seemed like he wasn't sure of himself when he asked the question, and I had to hold back my giggles at his nervousness. You'd think he'd learn by now that I am the least intimidating person on this earth, but he was still a little clueless.

"Um..." I thought. Nine thirty was pushing it when it came to sneaking out, but as long as my parents were either in their bedroom or the living room by the time I made my escape, I could work with it. "Yeah, I can do that. But what are we gonna do? It's raining outside."

"I know you're from the middle of bumfuck nowhere and think the only thing you can do for fun is get dirt all over you, but I can assure you there's more fun to life than that," that was the only explanation he gave me. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay, I'll be ready," I smiled to myself, letting him hang up the phone. I changed out of my pajamas and into a pair of jean shorts and a nicer t-shirt, one I got from a restaurant by the beach on our last trip to the beach house. It was only considered nice because it was unstained and had no holes in it, but it was a pretty blue color and I really liked it.

I tied my hair up into a bun, something my mother would never let me leave the house in, and hoped they were long asleep by the time I had to creep down the stairs.

My mother was still sitting up in the sun room, drinking a glass of wine when I made my escape. I snuck right past her. The only thing that worried me was the sound of the door closing, but I hoped the record she had playing could cover that up. Once free from the confines of my home, I raced down the hill to David's awaiting car. He smiled when he saw me.

"You look funny running with your hair on top of your head," he told me, reaching across the center console to wipe a rain drop off my cheek. It was intimate, and I oddly found myself almost leaning into his touch. "Are you excited?"

"What are we gonna do?"

"What's your favorite fast food place?" he asked, and I thought for a moment.

"I don't know. We don't have fast food in Calhoun, you know. I've only ever been to McDonald's and Chickfila."

"Where do you want to go? Is there anything you've wanted to try?"

"Well... I've never been to Taco Bell," I said. "My mother said it's dog food, but everyone else loves it."

"I can't believe you've never had Taco Bell," he shook his head in disbelief. He began typing in the address on his phone. The nearest Taco Bell was a thirty five minute drive, just like the nearest Walmart. "That's a fucking crime against humanity. Someone should lock your parents up."

"Is it good?" I asked, twisting in my seat so I could talk to him more openly.

"It is the best-worst food you will ever have," he answered honestly. "Like... it's not good... but somehow, it's also amazing. It's better if you're drunk."

"I don't drink too often," I told him.

"Yeah, I noticed that. Thought it was a little weird that you smoke more than you drink. I thought it'd be the other way around."

"Well, smoking's easier to cover up," I explained. "I can get high outside so the smell doesn't stick to me, and within two hours, I'm completely fine again. I'd have to be at a sleepover or something to drink. I think alcohol never leaves my system."

"That makes sense."

We drove the rest of the way talking, joking, and singing along to the radio. Though David claimed he hated country music, he somehow knew the words to at least a few songs we heard. He couldn't have hated it that much.

Taco Bell was exactly how David described it. The meat did feel a bit like dog food, but it was edible and weirdly delicious. I now longed for a car solely so I could make the drive to the nearest city to go to Taco Bell and try every other fast food place I missed out on.

The Walmart down the street from Taco Bell was open twenty four hours, so David and I spent two hours perusing the aisles with no plan in mind. I ended up buying him a cowboy hat because I thought it was funny. We took our sweet time, and I didn't make it back home until past midnight.

I guess he was right. You really can have fun, even if it's raining.

Hi sorry i havent updated in forever i have not been on my grind tbh

Xoxo abby