Freaks

17(Continued)

After many hours of waiting at Malakai's house, the clock hits ten and they're on their way to pick up the others. Just as Alice asked.

Luka is first because he's closest, he jumps in quickly, slamming the door before the windy rain can, "Shit, it got worse out there." He mutters as he wipes his face dry.

"Are you sure you want to come with us?" Malakai asks from the front.

He shrugs, "It's not up to me, it's not a choice this time. Alice wrote so."

"Fuck what she wrote. The less of us, the safer."

"I'm staying with you guys."

He nods his head.

Next is Harper, they drive across the city, driving through walls of thick rain that crashes heavily onto the windows. They reach her house, her door swings open and she comes running in a hurry.

Malakai turns to her window, "Aw look, here comes Jackson's ex." His eyes trail to Luka with a viscous smile spreading across his face.

Luka glares at him, "Don't tempt me."

He cracks a small cackle as Harper's door opens, shutting her door as she catches her breath. She pauses and catches everyone's eyes on her, even Aster spying through the crack of the headrest before her. She looks at Luka, "What did you say about me?"

His shoulders shrug with wide eyes, "Nothing! It was him!"

Malakai tries to reach over and slap his face but Luka holds back his wrist. Luka keeps arguing with him as he keeps trying to slap him.

Aster whispers to Harper from the side of the headrest to get her attention.

She notices and leans towards her, "What?" She whispers back.

"He keeps teasing Luka about you." She looks back at them and then Harper again, "Even though he just kissed me a few hours ago."

Harper's eyes light up, "Seriously?!"

Her voice makes the boys' bickering stop, they look from either side in awkward silence. Aster boasts into laughter with Harper and the boys give a blank glance at each other.

Harper covers the side of her mouth and lowers her voice back down, "I just told him to take you on a date or something easy."

She smiles, "Yeah. Well, actually, I might or might not have started it so...he didn't, I did. But same effect."

Harper turns her head with an even more large smile, Luka keeps arguing with Malakai.

"Was it good?" Harper almost mouths.

She places her chin on the shoulder of the chair, "Good is an understatement."

"Why are we even whispering? He can probably hear us."

"Doubt it."

They both look over at them. Malakai starts to reach for Luka's face once more, he dodges it.

"Why are you—?" Luka folds his arms and leans back, "I'm not the one you should be touching, Kai."

Malakai gives him an evil glare and pulls back his arm, "Don't tempt me."

He smiles carelessly, "It's not my fault you don't like talking about it."

"Just like how you don't like talking about being jealous?"

"Exactly." He shrugs.

Aster shakes her head, "Don't let him pick on you, Luka. Slap him."

Before Malakai can turn his head on him, Luka's hand slaps his left cheek hard. Malakai scoffs and Luka laughs with a fist over his mouth.