Boy Next Door ~ [C.H]

ch. 5

     We were at the table, eating our dinner as mom was explaining her day at work. "Kenz, Damon said he'd love to have you build a camera sculpture for the office," my mom said. I nod, liking the idea of that. 

       "Do I get a free work space in the office?" 

       "You would. Plus any equipment you need." I smiled at that. My mom is a television producer and will often take me to her office with her on the days I can to help her edit through her show clips she is assigned. My dad was a lawyer and worked in our local police department. He always says that if anything happens, I need to tell him first so he can get it situated and handled. I've taken that to consideration many times. 

       There was a knock at the door before it opened. "Just me," I heard Zoey's voice call. 

       "Come in, Z!" My mom said. The I turned around as the front door shut and saw Zoey enter the kitchen. 

       "Hi Zoey," my dad said, greeting her. 

       "Evening Ralphie," she said with a smile. 

       "Want some?" I asked her, standing up with my bowl in hand. She shook her head and followed me back to the stove. 

        "No, I'm just passing by. I had a question about Calum," she said. I looked at her as I set my bowl on the counter. 

        "What about him?" I asked. She turned around and glanced at my parents who were busy in a conversation. Zoey turned back to me. 

       "Does Calum know who Danny really is?" She asked as I filled my bowl with more pasta. 

        "I don't know," I said with a shrug at the same time she asked me. 

        "Because I told to Alex earlier-" 

        "Basketball Alex?" I questioned. She nodded. "Since when did you talk to Alex?" 

        "When Bray invited me to that lame party," she joked. I rolled my eyes in agreement at her description of Bray's party. His party's are actually really fun when it doesn't consist of drinking alcohol. But last party was kind of a flop. "Anyway, he told me that he was in that circle and had mentioned something about Daniel wanting to get back at 'some Calum kid' as he said," she said using quotations. I walked across the kitchen to grab a napkin as I handed Zoey my bowl. She picked up my fork and took a bite of my food. "And not to mention he did hit Calum in the eye."

         "So you think Daniel elbowed Calum on purpose rather than on accident?" I asked her as I got closer to her. She nodded as she handed me my bowl back. 

       "You already know how I feel about him, but I wouldn't lie to you about my thoughts to him. You already know when I'm lying. And i can clarify myself just as much as you can, that I am not lying." 

       When Zoey lies, she tends to fiddle with things that are on her or her hands become sweaty. I can always tell because she is constantly wiping her hands on her pants when it isn't my shoulder. 

        "Damn, your dad's tomato and spinach pasta is good," she randomly said as I got clicked from my thoughts. I scoffed at her. 

        "I don't know. It just doesn't seem like Daniel." 

        "Kenz, he's a junior, a jock, a basketball player, and a juvenile delinquent," she said, exaggerating. No, Daniel is not a juvenile delinquent. Zoey just likes calling him that because he's got quite the cabin on his mouth. "I wouldn't trust what he says. But, you can do what you want." 

        All I did was shrug it off because I didn't know what else to say. "I'll just keep them distance. Calum has no part of this chapter with Danny and I." 

       "Um, he kinda does," Zoey said, taking a noodle from my bowl. 

       "Why do you say that?" I asked, putting the fork in my mouth. 

       "He just moved in next door and you guys carpool. He asked you if he needed to be handled, and Daniel wanted to take care of Cal. That's all signs of a jealous boyfriend!" Zoey stated. I can kind of see where she's coming from. 

        "I'll figure it out I guess. I just don't want Calum to keep getting hurt," I told her. 

        "Well, you better do what you can to fix it. Because one thing lead to another, it's gonna drag Michael, Roy, and probably Luke along too. And they don't deserve that. Especially Luke, especially Calum."