All Smiles

Chapter 9

"Hey guys! Glad you could make it!" Rosie says, leaning against her car. Nate is next to her. Milo's car is parked next to hers and he and Blaze are making out inside it. I shake my head at the two of them.

"Hey Rosie, Nate. How long have they been?" I ask, slapping a hand on the roof of the car. She laughs.

"A minute or so." I nod. A second later Milo and Blaze climb out of the car, Milo coming around to stand with the rest of us. 

We talk for a bit. Then the announcer tells everyone to get off the road and for racers to get ready.

"Good luck you guys!" I call as I link arms with Tyler and Nate. Blaze goes on the other side of Nate. We are some of the last few off the road so we get a spot right on the edge of the crowd. We watch as a drone keeps up with the cars, showing us the race. Its not super intense, Milo and Rosie mostly in the lead. The tension starts when people place bets on who will win, Gold or Pink, Milo or Rosie. 

The crowd is jostling us a lot, but our arms don't slip. I couple times I felt like I was gonna die of heat stroke, or that I might loose my grip on Nate or Tyler. I don't but the feeling was still there. 

Rosie and Milo tied for first, then a red car takes third and a blue takes fourth. The crowd rushes to the cars. Our group stays back, there really isn't any point rushing up there since we will see the two winners later. 

After money is exchanged, people leave. We walk up to Milo and Rosie, who are talking to the guy from the blue car.

"Y'all drive sweet! That was some good shit right there." He says. I notice his front teeth are missing. He looks kinda familer. But I can't place him. I feel myself glare in frustration. Why do I know him? Have I seen him at a race before? Probably. But why would he stick out? When he sees me his eyes go wide. 

"Heya kid! I'm not botheren no body. I ain't even near 'em see?" He waves his hand to show the wide space between him and the others.

"Okay?" He is acting weird. 

"You don't have to tell me nothen'. I'ma leaven." Then he gets in his car and drives off. I look to the others.

"He was acting weird, right?" I ask, because surely that was really weird.

Milo runs a hand through his hair- feathers. "I've seen him at a few of these. He probably saw you..." He doesn't have to say anything. I was hoping no one would recognize me from the night I killed those guys. I cut my hair and dyed it pink. I was hoping that would be enough. 

But I guess seeing someone kill someone can imprint their face in your memory.

"Its whatever. Are you guys heading home?" I don't want Tyler to know yet. I want this little... relationship thing to last for as long as it can.

----

Everyone went home after. Milo and Rosie were tired from the race and wanted some alone time with their boyfriends.

"Want food?" I find myself asking. Its almost midnight and I know a lot of places won't be open. But I want to hang out with him a bit longer.

"Sure. Mickey D's good again?" He asks. I nod and then we are going through drive through.

"Just a 40 piece chicken nugget please and 2 orange fantas." And then we are pulling up to the window. An old man hands us our food with a smile.

"Have a goodnight, sir." I tell him with a smile. Then we go park to eat.

"I had fun tonight. I was kinda worried when you started laying down all those rules that something bad would happen. I'm glad nothing did. I had fun." Tyler says.

"Yeah, they are pretty fun. As long as you stay safe." He nods. 

We talk for what felt like hours. We got home at 1:03 a.m. I lead him to the guest room.

"Get your pjs." I whisper. He nods and digs through his bag until he pulls out a pair of plaid bottoms.

"No shirt." He says. I shrug. We go back to my room and change. Then we are under the covers and we are snuggling. I have my head in the crook of his arm, our bodies running parallel to each other. I take a deep breath in, almost like a yawn without opening my mouth.

Tyler yawns. 

I laugh.

We must have fell asleep at some point during our mindless mumbling, honestly mindless. I think monkeys with 4 tails came up at one point. 

We wake up tangled together to the sound of a shutter going off. I narrow my eyes.

"Maggie, if you just took a picture I will tickle you." I hear her giggle as she runs out the door. I go to get up and chase her, but Tylers arm holds me to his side.

"Tyler let go I have to go tickle my sister." I shake him until he wakes up a bit.

"Tyyyyyllleeer! I have to go mercilessly tickle my sister! Let gooooo!" He doesn't.

"Mmm. Sleep." Then he shuts his eyes again. Ugh. But I let accept my fate and wrap my arm over his chest and one leg with his and lay my head against his chest. He hums a bit, it could have been a purr, honestly. 

After an hour of just relaxing, we get up. 

"You should go pack up. We have to leave at lunch." He nods and heads out. I shower and change and re pack my bag. I see the rainbow suspenders Blaze got me and put them on. They look dorky and happy under my dull blue and gray school uniform. I grin. 

I head down to the kitchen and leave my bag by the door. 

"Hey baby." Mom says. She hugs me tightly. Dad gets up from his chair and hugs me too.

"Thank you again, son, for saving your sister that day. I wish you didn't have to go through this because of what happend. We love you." Dad says quietly.

I spend the next few hours mostly with my parents. Tyler was in his room still, he only came down to tell me he was just gonna relax by himself for a few hours. I nodded and squeezed his hand. He smiles. 

After a lunch of yummy sandwiches Tyler and I load our stuff into a taxi and wave bye to my parents and friends, who came to join us for lunch.

When the car turns from view I sag. Like I said, sometimes I wish this whole thing could have been avoided so I didn't have to leave my family.