More Than Just Best Friends

04| NO SMOKING INSIDE.

•AMETHYST•

"THE PLACE LOOKS great, nice work guys!" Blay's mom calls, walking into the kitchen with a bottle of water in one hand and her phone in the other. "Thanks Mrs Hughes," Grayson smiles, setting the last of the Pepsi six-pack into the fridge and pushing it shut. I take a wary swig of my ginger ale and munch on a Dorito, refusing to meet his eyes. He's been acting weirder than usual since he returned from walking Betty home, and since my gut keeps telling that it has something to do with me, I'm also wisely staying out of his way.

"So I'm assuming you won't be here for the party then?" I ask, frowning at the realization that the Doritos are finished and tossing the empty wrapper into the trash can. "Oh, no dear," she laughs, taking a sip of her water and leaning against the island counter. "Leilani and I will be staying over at Lily's with her dad. You remember her, don't you?"

"How could I forget? She has the most adorable pout," I say, remembering the angel's way of getting everything she wants with her famous puppy dog face. "Indeed. So no reason to worry, you kids have all the fun you want." She takes a final swig of her water and screws the cap shut. "Mom, we're not kids," Blaze whines, striding shirtless into the kitchen with his wet hair sticking out and a towel draped over his shoulder.

"Oh hush. You may have turned 18, but you'll always be my little Blazey," she scoffs, pinching his cheeks, and I have to press my hands against my mouth to stifle my laugh. He shoots me a mock glare, which does nothing except draw my laughter out of me in insane torrents. "Oh my God, I am so sorry!" I hiccup, wiping the few tears that pool at the corners of my eyes and placing my head on the counter, trying to recover from my laughing fit.

I take a long chug of my drink when hiccups start escaping my throat, relishing in the bubbly flow of the cold liquid down my throat as it slowly relieves it from its soreness. I almost jump out of my seat when a warm hand slowly begins to rub smooth circles on my back, but relax when my eyes flit up to meet a pair of worried blue ones.

"Are you alright dear? You gave me quite a scare," Blay's mom asked, her brows creasing in confusion as I look behind her to glare at Blaze and Grayson, who are both snickering silently. God, how I'd love to kill both of them right now. "I'm fine Mrs Hughes, thank you." "Oh shush sweetie, what did I tell you? That name makes me feel old." I clear my throat and give a slight giggle at how hilarious she looks with her nose scrunched up in false repulsion at the name. "Sorry, Aunt Kathy," I say, and her face morphs into a smile. "Much better." Just then, Leilani appears in the doorway with a blue duffel bag slung over one shoulder and a jean jacket draped over the other.

"Mom, are we going or not?" she asks, setting the duffel bag on the ground and flinging open the fridge, taking out an apple juice and slamming it shut after. "Oh goodness, it's getting really late. We should be going," she says, pushing herself off the island and grabbing her phone. "Here, let me help you," I say to Lei, getting off my seat and taking the duffel from her. Looking over my shoulder, I frown when I see that Grayson has disappeared from the room. Huh.

"Thank you Amethyst, you really don't have to." She flashes me a heart-warming smile as I follow her to the car and toss the heavy bag into the backseat. "It's nothing." I wave it off and slam the door shut, just as Blay and his mom come through the open door. "And remember not to trash my house, no smoking inside." Blay raises an eyebrow at her and she shrugs, making me giggle silently. No matter how much of a 'bad boy' he's falsely branded to be, he knows his limits and will never go as far as to smoke;  something we all know and admire about him.

"What? You never know. Don't set my house on fire, and call me if you need anything." Blay rolls his eyes and picks at his nails, used to his mom's attitude. She scoffs at him and turns to me. "Amy, honey, keep an eye on him, will you?" I bat my lashes at him and send him a sweet smile in response to the glare he shoots me.