Earth On Its Axis

Chapter 34; Make A Move

Elio

"Babe, can you grab me another custard slice please?"

I watch as Colton pouts at Slader, receiving an eye roll and annoyed huff as she gets up, already eying the ten dollar bill in his hand.

Snatching the note she turns, gesturing for me to slide out of the booth.

We'd met at some Cafe in the city. Originally, Way and Val were supposed to come with us, but a last minute text with no explanation told me that the two weren't on the best of terms.

And definitely wouldn't be coming.

I slide out, watching as she walks off with her strange stomp-y walk.

Colton cups his hands around his mouth and  shouts, "Thanks Babe!"

I watch as Slader, without even turning back, flips him the bird, "I'm keeping the change"

I slide back into my seat to see him grinning, the expression less cheeky and more warm.

My chest still got scratchy at the sound of that nickname, but my dislike towards the blonde had lessened considerably after the events of that night.

After the rooftop, she'd let me keep my arm around her the whole time, whispering secrets and laughing through quiet streets.

I can imagine how stupid we would've looked, especially towards the end of the night— I hadn't dropped her off until two in the morning.

And it was strange

Often, you hear stories of teens returning home early in the morning drunk or after running away from home due to some traumatic event

Or both

And you always hear that it's these circumstances that give the greatest emotional benefits.

Sometimes, I wondered if I'd have ended up that way after Lee had left. If I would have resorted to such circumstance had Slader not been walking that night.

It was strange

Because I hadn't realised how tightly wound up Slader was until I'd seen her relax on the rooftop.

Hadn't realised exactly how great she smelt until I'd gotten home and found myself shifting around in bed to get a small wisp of her scent that'd clung to my jersey.

Clung to my jersey because I'd been holding her all night— because she let me hold her.

It was strange, because we weren't drunk or drinking, nor were we running from the events of a traumatic experience and still, that night felt significant.

Like a turning point in the ever fluctuating graph of my life— and I couldn't get it out of my head.

Colton leans over the table, speaking behind the back of his hand, "they're all out of slices. She'll have to wait for them to cut up a new tray"

I raise a brow, watching as he leans back in his seat and crosses his arms over his chest.

Colton Collins was like a duck. Male Ducks had the most colourful feathers in order to attract females. A structural adaptation in order to preserve energy and ensure the survival of the duck species.

And Colton was the most colourful duck of them all, attracting all females with his honey blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

Eyes that right now, look like they could freeze me to my seat forever.

"You made a move yet?"

"A what?"

The boy rolls his eyes, "A move. You know," he makes some vague hand gestures, as if it's supposed to clue me in to what he actually means.