My best stranger

s3x_tin

I look at the blue and white striped shirt Erica suggested I wear to the party. It's hanging on my wardrobe door.
Done taking a shower and not that hungry, I go downstairs to take my meds and come back upstairs to dress up.

I pull out a beige hued fitted trouser and my sneakers.
When I'm done pairing all the elements of the outfits together I pair it up with a brown leather watch that Dylan left for me.
I go down stairs and make sure all the lights are switched off then leave the house,  lock the front door and head to my car.

Next up, get Erica.

I arrive at her place but unlike last time she isn't ready. When she opened the front door her hair was in a messy bun and she had her glasses on. She's dressed in nothing but a big white shirt.

"Don't panic yet? I've had a shower. Just need to dress up after I convince Tayo to stay with with his friend for just this night"

I'm sitting on the couch and watching Erica try to convince her younger brother to let her have some fun.

"Tayo, look at me" she's squating in front of him and holds his chin in between her index finger and her thumb. She's commanding yet caring. I want her to be like that to me. The perfect mix.

"I'm not leaving. I'll be back. Just stay with your friend for a sleepover and have fun."

What kind of child hates a sleepover

"Tayo, I'm sure they'd want you to teach them your bad ass cod moves" I say still crossing my arms with a knowing smirk on my face. If I was correct about this kid being a younger version of me then he likes showing off.
They both face me. Erica looks desperate now and I just offered a little help.
"I'm not that good" he says
"Are you kidding me? I saw you when I came over, your a pro kid. And it's a shame they can't learn from you"
He looks at his sister, her eyes still pleading and says
"I'll go. Just this once"
"Okay. Go pack your things"
She gets up and looks at me again. I can see the thanks in her face.

"I'm going to change. Be down in a minute or ten"

I don't know how long it took, but it was way more than ten minutes. Tayo and I are already playing the second round (I let him win the first) of cod when she gets downstairs.

Her hair is in a low puffy ponytail. She is wearing a different pair of jeans, a faded blue pair with butterfly prints. It's the same tank top from the time we went shopping and the matching shirt thats XL on her.
Tayo is already outside by the car waiting to be dropped for his sleepover.

I walk towards the front door
"Where you going?" Her question stops me in my tracks.
"Uhmm outside, to the car"
"We have to take pictures"
I notice that we are standing in front of a full body mirror by the hallway.
"Don't you see those pinterest couples with their matching clothes"

"We're a couple?" Shit, I thought out loud. Apparently not loud enough cause she didn't hear me. I wish she did. I want to know her answer.

"Okay, just one" she says and points her phone's camera at the mirror. I'm not a picture kind of person. I don't like taking pictures.

"I don't like taking pictures" I state and head to the door.
She grabs my arm and tries to drag me back. I sluggishly walk back to the mirror.
"Then don't look at the camera, look at something else."
I look in the mirror and take a look at her reflection. She has her eyes on her phone screen.
"Hold on to me" she wraps my arm around her waist and I'm immediately drawn closer to her. I hold onto her waist tighter and place my chin on her shoulder. Taking in her familiar scent.

"I'm done"

What?

She shows me the picture and I don't have my eyes on the camera or on the mirror. I have my eyes directly on her.