The Jerk Next Door

Chapter 30: Just Along For The Ride

Asher

The smell of bacon and waffles woke me up around eight in the morning, and while my legs were yelling at me for being athletic and not wanting me to move, my stomach was screaming to run for food.

    I rolled over to face the window to find the red curtains still blocking my view of Maksean. Which either means she isn't up yet or she is still trying to get over last night's accident.

    I was already in my room, and changed before she had made it to her room. I was simply waiting for her to get in her room so I knew she was alright, then I would wave good night as she closed her curtains to change and sleep. But when she stumbled into her room almost similar to how she did when drunk, but less giggles more groaning, I was worried. I watched as she looked through her drawers, not once glancing at the window. I was in shock when she began to pull her shirt over her head and was about to turn away in respect when I saw the scars on her back. The night she sat on my bed telling me her story about the fire was only a month ago, and seeing the burn scars on her back made me remember just how close we've gotten over the short period of time. It wasn't until she began to slip her pants off that I realized what was happening and quickly turned around. My hands were immediately thrown over my face just in case.

    I stood there with my hands over my eyes and back facing the window for a while, not really sure how I'm going to know when she was done. After another few minutes, I slowly turned back around only shifting my fingers to peek through them in question. By that time the red curtains were closed and I was able to look again.

    Now however, I stand waiting for the red curtains to open. Wondering if Maks even noticed what happened last night, I shook my head and decided to take a shower to start my Saturday.

    As the warm water hits my back the memory of last night plays over and over. Maksean has scars from the fire. I don't know why I never thought about the possibility that she got hurt. She only talked about how she thought it was her fault and the death of her grandparents, never did she mention any injuries of her own. It also makes me concerned about how long it took her to allow anyone to know about the injuries. I'm sure the hospital was quick to treat the burns, but with the way her aunt acts, does she know that Maks was hurt in the fire? Surely with that important factor she wouldn't blame it all on a teenager.

    I reached for my paw patrol shampoo and squeezed some out onto my palm only to find it empty. Letting out a sigh, I throw it over the shower curtains and towards the general area the trash can is located. Upon hearing the  sound of the can being hit from the side, meaning I did not make the shot, I reluctantly grabbed the men's shampoo that my mother had gotten me.

    I liked smelling like a man, don't get me wrong, but I preferred the tear free scents from the kid shampoo. Kelly was actually the one to buy it for me. When my mom told her she had a son, she didn't say how old. And when Kelly met me for the first time two years ago, she bought a bunch of things for a small boy not a freshman in high school. I still used the kid shampoo when I ran out of the men's, and I found out how much I preferred the price and smell of it. So now every few months I have to go out and get some more shampoo. Kelly doesn't say it, but I know she finds it highly amusing that I still use it more than the manly shampoo my mother buys.

    After finishing up in the shower, I throw on a towel and make my way back out to my room. I close my curtains when I still see the red material across the windows. I picked out some jeans and a random flannel button down. Maksean is still planning on taking me out, and I want to make sure I look nice. I shake my head like a dog to rid my hair of the excess water, letting it air dry as I leave my room in pursuit of some breakfast.