change of pace

loud

chapter five

Eddie dropped me off after school and rushed to his emergency that he had to attend to. I walked inside and saw my dad asleep on the couch. Grabbing a blanket, I covered him up and began my way upstairs to my room to start cleaning.

I made my bed, opened the window to allow circulation, and cleaned off my mirror. My clothes were neatly folded and put away and I opened up my backpack to start doing some homework.

I couldn't seem to focus at all. My brain just kept shifting to that feeling I had last night. Eddie's smile kept flashing in my head violently. I shut my book and decided to change before Eddie got here.

I put on a pair of black long workout shorts, and a baggy black sweater. Tying my hair up into a high pony and changing my socks into long comfy ones, I brought out my art supplies to get ready for the nights activities. I walked downstairs and noticed my dad getting ready to head off.

"What time is your friend coming?" He asked tucking his shirt in. He works late nights because is pays the most and allows for us to be able to live comfortably. I rarely get to see him though.
"Around 7."
"Oh so in a few minutes? Maybe I can meet her?" Uh oh.
"Oh, no. They might be running late and I don't want you to be late for work." I said, sad to have been trying to get him out of the house sooner.
"Oh, I'm kidding. You two have fun. Order some pizza too. I left some cash in the jar above the fridge."
"Thank you, Dad. I love you. Be safe please."

I watched him get in his car and take off. Sitting by the window and watching the evening start to roll in. And of course the familiar loud music blasting, tire screeching van rolled in too.

"Are we ready to do this or what!" Eddie said bringing in the same box from the Hellfire room earlier.
"Set it down at the counter. I was thinking we could order some pizza before we begin? I'm starving." I said shutting the door and following him to the kitchen.
"Yes PLEASE! All I've had today was that gnarly cafeteria food."

I called the local pizzeria and ordered two pepperoni pizzas. Eddie was leaning against the counter. I started reaching for the jar at the top of the fridge and decided to get on top of the counter to grab it. "Oh, here let me." Eddie says helping me down and easily grabbing the jar I had painted when I was 5 as a Father's Day present for my dad. "Thanks." I smiled at Eddie and reached my hand inside and grabbed the change. He placed the jar back for me and then looked back at me. He looked like he wanted to say something, but instead just looked right at me. I looked into his eyes and felt like I was getting lost in them. Then the feeling returned. The floating feeling. I got closer to him and he started moving his arms closer to me...and there was a knock at the door. "Uh, I guess...pizza's here." I said. We awkwardly giggled and shuffled our way to the door. I opened it and there was our delivery man, holding our pizzas. Eddie grabbed them and I handed the delivery man the money. He smiled and walked off back to his car.

Eddie and I walked over to the counter to set down the pizzas and I grabbed some paper plates for us both. We very awkwardly began eating, not making any eye contact

"Should we work in my room?" I asked with my mouth still full of food. He chuckled and swallowed his food.
"Let's do it."

I packed up the pizza boxes and plates and he carried his DnD box with him. He followed me to my room and opened the door for me since my hands were full. He examined my room. Mainly full of movie posters and pictures taken on family trips of the lake and pretty buildings that I taped to my wall.

"Did you take these?" He said touching them lightly with his finger.
"I did, with my camera right there on the nightstand. I haven't taken one in forever though. Not after my mo-" I stopped. "Not after we couldn't really go on trips anymore." Nailed it.
"You should continue. These look really good." Eddie says walking over to my nightstand and grabbing the camera. "Take one of me right now. I'll be your model." he says tossing me the camera and posing with his tongue out at me.

I focused the lens and pressed down hard on the button, waiting a few seconds before lifting it to grab the film. I set it in front of me to let it develop, waited a few seconds, and removed the lining from the photo. I handed him the negative and placed the actual picture and the camera back on my nightstand. "One handsome stud." He says giggling, holding it up to the light to examine the negative. I hand him the real photo once it finishes processing and he smiles at it and then to me.

He takes a seat at my vanity. Shit. The picture. "OH now is this little YOU?" He says excited finding the photo of me and my mom.
"Yes, sir." I said walking by and snatching the frame.
"Now, you were one darling little baby. What happened?"
"Fuck you." I joke and set the photo back down where it was.
"Ooo, she's feisty now." He mimics a cat.

I sit down on my bed and make room for him to sit as well. He makes his way over and takes his shoes off and sits down right next to me. He looks at me with that blank expression again from earlier.

"So, I brought out some markers and paper we can use to begin. Or we could finish eating pizza first. It's up to you." I said before staring at him. Into his eyes.
"Well, yeah that sounds fun." he says softly. A voice I had yet to hear from the usual loud Eddie.
"Yeah..." I said quietly as well. His head slowly started leaning forward. His hands were making their way close to me. I reached my hands out and grabbed his face, pulling him close. He rested his hands at my back. And we kissed.

The longing wasn't there anymore.