Dusk Harbor 1999

Zebras

Mason swung his door open and closed his eyes as he stepped out into the bitter cold rain. It trickled down the back of his neck and fell into his shirt. Down his spine. It sent a chill running through his body. She took the cupcakes and she wants the cookies? Man, I should have called it first!

He went up the jagged concrete walkway and up the wooden stairs. Grabbed the black plastic handle on the door and pushed on it. He met resistance. The door was locked. He rapped his fist against the window.

He waited a few moments. The door swung open, and Jordan was peering around it. Topless. One arm was extended down, holding a red shirt to his lower portion.

"Not a good time Masey. Come back later."

"You found Allie, eh?"

"Not quite."

Mason stepped back, scrunched his nose.

"You're cheating on her? That's so wrong. I--"

Jordan danced back and forth, panic lit up his eyes.

"Really not a good time for a lecture. 'Kay?" He made a few odd gestures with his face.

Mason glared into him. Drew up one fist and shook it at him.

"If you weren't naked right now I'd punch you all the way to Saturn."

Jordan grinned, stepped away from the door and leaned against the cheap plastic frame. Kept his shirt draped over his lower area but flexed his chest muscles.

"Hey, that's a win-win situation. Saturn would love me."

"Uck." Mason kicked at the door and then turned around on his heels. Went stomping down the steps. He heard the door swing shut, and both locks clicking.

He looked at his feet and felt his ears growing hot. Fire trickled into his face and arms. Rain smacked against him and he half-expected it to sizzle on contact. His knuckles tightened and his fingers bent into claw-like shapes. Then he took a deep breath. Resisted the oh-so-tempting urge to summon a rocket launcher. Started going down the walkway. Luckily, Olivia hadn't pulled away yet. He smacked his palms down on the hood of her car and growled.

She screeched. Rolled her window back down and leaned out it. She had chocolate frosting smudged on her nose.

"What are you doing?!" She asked, crumbs of cupcake flying out of her mouth.

"Jordan's doing it again," he mumbled.

"Allie?"

"No."

"Ew. Get in loser."

He groaned and threw his face up to the sky. Rain punched him in the eyes. He slowly ran his hand along the side of the car until he reached the handle. He yanked it open and fell into the passenger seat. Slumped into it. His hands flopped into his lap. He straightened his legs as far as they'd go before he had to bend them back. It was somewhat of a small car, and he had very long legs. He stretched the tension out of his arms and sighed.

"Drive. Now," mason grumbled.

Olivia shoved the tray of cupcakes at him. There were three left.

"You ate four cupcakes? In under a minute?"

"No. I dropped one and threw it out the window," she waved a half-eaten cupcake at him. "I'm finishing my third."

"How--Why--?"

"General well-being," she replied.

He stared at her for a moment and then took one of them. Unwrapped it half-way and took a bite of it. The frosting was so smooth and rich, yet light enough that he suddenly understood how she'd eaten four of them. The cake was delicious, soft, slightly salty. He liked chocolate to be a little salty. To offset the sweetness.