Stole My Heart - C. Sturniolo

SEVEN

♪ and yeah i let you use me ♪

As I drove myself home from school I was stuck behind several cars with my stomach growling. Boston has a shocking amount of traffic when you don't live in the suburbs. I decided it was a good idea to take a different route and hopefully find somewhere to eat. To my luck, there was a Taco Bell about five minutes down the road.

A knock on my car startled me and I rolled down my window thinking it was a fan, "Hey do you want a picture or- Nick." "Hey Val." He grinned and I narrowed my eyes, "Are you following me." "No, well-" "We recognized your car." Matt and Chris came up behind Nick, "And followed you into the Taco Bell drive through!" "Creeps." I rolled my eyes, "I'm about to order, you guys want anything? Where's your car?" "Can you get me a baja blast?" Chris requested, "Oh and mom took it home, can we hop in?" "Go ahead."

I ordered food for myself and the boys. I let out a yawn and Matt asked, "Are you coming home from school." "No I'm coming home from the war." I retorted, "Yes from school idiot, I'm still in my uniform." "Can I try on your uniform?" "No Nick you can't try on my uniform." "Can we hang out tonight?" Chris asked and I groaned, "You guys need to stop asking me questions I'm hangry right now so wait until I have my food."

"So can we hang out?" Chris repeated the question after we finished eating. I wanted to say yes but remembered, "Shit I've got lacrosse practice tonight." "After practice." Chris pleaded. I replied, "Fine, but do I get to meet your parents this time?" "Of course, Mary Lou is gonna love you." Nick told me.

________

"We have our first game this weekend I expect you all to be well rested and ready." Coach told us. Once practice was over I rushed to get my cleats off and ran off to the parking lot with a grin on my face. Nick, Chris, and Matt were waiting to drive me home and I spotted them immediately. I put my bag and stick in the trunk of their car and filed into the back next to Chris.

"Jesus Val- you stink!" Nick exclaimed, plugging his nose. I pointed out, "You guys are the ones who offered to pick me up from my practice?" "How was practice?" Chris asked and I replied, "Thank you Christopher for asking a normal question for once. It was very tiring and I'm going to take a nap at your house." "Do you need to shower?" Matt asked and I nodded, "Yeah but I brought clothes to change into this time at least."

When we arrived a kind woman greeted me when I stepped inside, "You must be Val! I've heard so much about you." "It's so nice to meet you Mrs. Sturniolo." "Please, just call me Mary Lou." She smiled, "Now let's get you showered, boys stay down here!" "Yes mom." They all said in unison, causing me to laugh.

I changed into sweatpants and a tank top after my shower. I pulled Chris's sweatshirt out of my bag, ready to give it back to him. As I tiptoed down the stairs I heard yelling, "Matt I didn't say that!" Chris exclaimed and Matt giggled, "I'm so gonna tell- oh hey Val." "What did I miss?" I asked and they glanced around suspiciously, "Nothing." "Whatever." I shrugged, "Here's your hoodie Chris." I handed it took him. He looked down awkwardly, "You can just keep it if you want."

"Fine by me." I pulled the sweatshirt over my head Matt whispered something to Nick. I began going through their pantries and Matt asked, "Val what are you looking for?" "I want to bake." I declared, pulling out a brownie mix. "Chocolate sounds so good right now." Nick admitted and I joked, "You on your period right now?" "How'd you know!" "Oh my gosh Nick we must be synced!" I laughed.

"Do you guys wanna stream?" I asked and Chris shrugged, "Your account or ours?" "I can do it on mine." I said, setting up my phone so we can do a baking stream. I'm not going to lie, sometimes I get quite bossy in the kitchen, and with these three boys, I know things are going to be disastrous. "Matt grab the bowl, Nick gather the ingredients, and Chris-" I looked at Chris who had a stupid grin on his face, ready for instructions, "Just stand there and look pretty for the stream."

"No Chris- Chris! We talked about this!" I gasped as brownie batter down my back. Currently there were eggs cracked on the floor, the oven wasn't even preheated yet, and we basically gave up and started eating the batter. Except, when we started eating the batter it turned into a food fight. "Ugh it's in my hair!" I cursed at Chris, "I hope you get salmonella." Chris shrieked as I put brownie batter in his hair and Matt shushed him, "You're gonna wake up mom!"

"We should probably clean up." I looked around at the mess that had been made. The boys agreed and we stopped fighting with the food and worked on turning the kitchen back to its usual state. "Tada!" Nick wiped off the last bit of batter. Chris grinned, "You missed a spot." "Where-" "Right there!" Chris stuck his finger into Nick's ear, giving him a wet willy. I choked on my water and spat it in Matt's direction, and soon enough we were all laying on the floor laughing.

"Alright stream, that's it for tonight, I hope you all enjoyed our incredible baking." I told my phone and turned off the stream. Chris yelled, "I think it was a success!" "We should start a bakery!" Matt grinned and Nick listed, "A bakery, an acapella group, what a next? A circus?" "That is a good idea." I smirked. They ended up driving me home and I finally got to shower and get the brownie batter out of my hair.