𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 [Christopher & Matthew Sturniolo]

Tʜᴇ Lɪsᴛ

ꜰʟᴀsʜʙᴀᴄᴋ

Sᴇɴɪᴏʀ Yᴇᴀʀ
⁰⁴/²²/²⁰²⁰

Taylor Withlock

            I woke up with something poking my ribs, I turned on my other side and went back to sleep. When I felt another poke I opened my eyes, looking at the digital clock on the nightstand marking 6:40 AM. Who the fuck was poking me at 6 in the morning.

I turned back to my original position to face Paige who was sprawled on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She went to poke me again but I slapped her hand, she looked at me offended.

"Why did you slap me?" She asked massaging her hand.

"Why did you poke me?" I returned the question and she shrugged her shoulders.

"I woke up earlier than expected, so I wanted you to keep me company" She explained looking back at the ceiling.

"Paige, it's 6 AM on a Sunday what possibly could you want to do that needs company?" I asked confused.

"I don't know, I just woke up with a lot of energy" She said moving her hands to show how she was uninterested in the topic. Moving her hands too much...

"Why are you nervous?" I questioned now fully awake and curious.

"I'm not nervous, I just have a burst of energy" She shrugged her shoulders "You know I have ADHD, that's normal" She finished not looking at me.

"Exactly" I said resting my head on my arms "I know what is like and this" I said pointing to her "It's not a burst of energy" She turned her head from the ceiling to me, staying silent the whole time.

"Is it because of Nate?" I asked and I could see the slight change of shade to her cheeks. "Oh my god it is" I said sitting up on the bed while she grumbled and covered her face with her hands.

"Well, since we couldn't talk yesterday because of miss 'everything is about me' was here, you have to tell me everything" I said poking her so she would uncover her face.

"There's not much to talk about" Paige said "He asked me out and I'm going" she messed with a loose string from her covers.

"Boring" I said dragging the G "C'mon I'm your sister" I poked her again.

"I don't know if agreeing to go out with Nate was a good choice" the girl admitted with a certain guilt.

"What? Why?" I asked, shocked at the information since yesterday the idea had seemed so good to her.

"I love him, I do, very much, but we are best friends and as cheesy as it sounds I don't know if I feel in love with him, you know?" she explained and I understood her side, but also maybe she is just not used to the idea.

"Maybe the dynamic is just too fresh for you" I commented.

"My biggest fear is that I can't see him that way because my head has already built him up as just a friend" she spread her hands across her face looking tired and I thought for a moment.

"I got an idea!" I got up and walked around the room looking for paper and pen and as soon as I found it I sat down next to her on the bed again "Remember when dad used to say that we have to make a list of things we want to do before college so we know what we really want?"

"Yes" she replied with a frown wanting to know more of what I was talking about.

"Let's do that with Nathan" I suggested and she was confused.

"What do you mean?"

"You're going to say things you need to do with the person you like before you fall in love and if he check all the boxes, he's the right one" I explained and she seemed excited about the idea.

"I like that" she moved closer to me.

"Alright, go ahead and list some things you would like you two to do before you are official" I asked and she thought for a moment.

"Well... I'd like him to take me somewhere nice, you know? Kind of special, so I can get the vibe" she said and I wrote down with a square beside it "Oh, and I would love it if he gave me flowers, that's so cute" she opened a huge smile at the thought of the situation and I add it to the list "And if he read to me, I love it when people read to me" she said warmly and I remembered that our dad used to read to us. Maybe she misses him as much as I do and doesn't even realize it.

Paige went on to say a few more things that she would like him to do. Among them were: watching the movies only she likes, taking her places since she doesn't have a driver's license, helping her cook weird things she sees on Tiktok, listening to her sad playlist with her, and letting her wear his clothes.

"I guess that's all," I looked at the paper that had all eight things written on it and she seemed satisfied with that.

"Today is the date so I expect him to do at least one of those things" she pretended to look demanding and I laughed.

"Where are you guys going?" I asked curiously.

"The movies" she replied and her phone notified loudly, she picked it up looking at the screen and the expression on her face was kind of indecipherable.

"Is that Nate?"

"No, it's one of my friends that I play Valorant with" she spoke "He lives in Seattle but said he's coming to Boston this weekend to visit some family and wanted me to show him around" she commented.

"And you're going to say yes?" I asked worriedly.

"Sure, Vinnie's really nice" she said simply

"How do you know he's not a murderer or a rapist?" I questioned and she rolled her eyes.

"He literally does anime edits and is obsessed with manga, I guess he's harmless" she spoke sarcastically.

"Have you at least seen his face?" I asked.

"No, but he sounds like a 15 year old boy so I'm sure he's not a creepy old man" she said shrugging.

"Honestly, I don't trust your naivety so on the day I'll go with you to make sure he doesn't kidnap you" I said and she seemed to agree.

"I'm going to get ready for my date so if you excuse me" she got up and went to her bathroom.

Now that I was alone I thought for a moment about last night and all the drama that had gone on. I wonder if I was too harsh on Elizabeth. She kind of deserved it, but I feel like we should make things right. We are friends after all. Maybe I'll talk to her today.

While I was thinking of ways to talk to Elizabeth again without starting another fight, my phone buzzed with a notification. I picked it up to see who it was and as my screen lit up I could see the name Matthew above the text 'are you awake?'.

I unlocked my phone and sent back a quick 'unfortunately', and I could already see him typing a response.

'I'm outside, let's drive somewhere and talk' I got curious about what he would want to talk about so I replied with 'give me 10 minutes'.

I got up from the bed and changed my outfit, checking myself on Paige's full body mirror near her wardrobe, looking presentable. I finished getting ready and went back to Paige's room.

"Paige I'm going out to solve something, I'll be back for lunch" I said loudly from outside the bathroom so she could hear me.

"What?" She said turning the music down.

"I said I'm going out but I'll be back for lunch" I yelled. This girl is getting deaf.

"Okay" She yelled back while turning the music back up.

I got downstairs checking if I had my phone, keys and headphones. You never know when you might need them.