Strong Dislike (Andy Biersack)

Chapter 13

"Cora, you're shouting." I say, holding my cellphone between my shoulder and ear as my half-sister jabbers excitedly about the boy she likes asking her on a date.

"I know, I'm sorry but I'm just so flipping excited!" She squeals and I pull the phone away, tapping on the speaker button and setting it on the counter so her voice fills the empty bus.

I pick up the knife and resume cutting tomatoes for the salad I'm making.

"What's his name again?" I ask, pushing the tomatoes off of the cutting board and into the large bowl in front of me.

"Aaron Faye." She giggles and I imagine her squealing and jumping around her room, which is probably something she did after the glorious Aaron asked her out.

I grab a stalk of celery and begin slicing it into bite sized pieces as she rambles about what she should wear for her date.

"Does Sam know his 15 year old daughter is going on her first ever date?" I wonder aloud and for the first time since she called me twenty minutes ago, Cora becomes silent.

"Uh no. But my mom knows and she said she'll tell Dad where I'm at once we've left." She whispers and I laugh.

"That's a good plan you've got there." I say as I hear the bus door open and four voices fill the room, laughing.

"This giraffe is like one of the best gifts I've ever gotten." Comes Mike's voice from down the hall and I turn around to wave at them.

I quickly take Cora off of speaker phone and set my knife down, holding my phone to my ear.

"Alright Cor, the guys are back so I'm going to let you go get ready." I lean on the counter, careful not to set my hand on the knife.

"Okay Ari. I'll text you when I get home." She says and I smile, she really is excited.

"Alright, love you. Be safe. Bye." I say before pulling my phone away and pressing the red button on the screen.

Vic steps into the kitchen and stares at me.

"What're you doing out of bed Missy?" He asks and I roll my eyes.

"Vic, I love your concern, really I do. But it's been a week since I've fallen. I'm fine now. Plus I made lunch."

Vic stares at me, as if he expects me to collapse any moment before sighing.

"Fine, I'll stop worrying. What'd you make?" He questions, peeking over my shoulder at the food arranged on the counter.

"Burritos, salad, and refried beans. But it's not completely done yet so go away until I'm done." I say, to him and he stares at me for a moment again.

"You don't need any help?" He offers and I groan, placing my hands on his shoulders and pushing him out of the kitchen.

"No, go away." I laugh, closing the door between the bunks and the kitchen in his face.

__________________________________________________________

"I've got to hand it to you Ariel," Mike says, chewing his burrito slowly. "This is one damn good burrito. It's not Ma's, but it's pretty damn good."

"Thanks Mike." I say, poking a piece of lettuce with my fork before stuffing it in my mouth.

"You eat like a fucking rabbit." Jaime says to me, picking up meat off of his plate that had fallen out of his burrito and stuffing it in his mouth.

"Hey, I ate my burrito!" I say in my own defense but he rolls his eyes.

"That was the smallest burrito I've ever seen in my life."