48 Hours

Chapter Seven: I Know All The Right Buttons To Push

Chapter Seven: I Know All The Right Buttons To Push

3:45 p.m. Friday, August 8th

"Well, you're all done. That took forever." I said, plopping down on the cold concrete. Steven shrugged his leather jacket on, careful not to pull the stitches in his right arm. Serves him right.

"So did you guys get anything done?" Riley asked. I gave her an awkward smile.

"....No?" I treaded carefully, worried she'd lose her mind. She was almost there anyway.

'You guys are hopeless. You need to work out your issues. Now. Stand up, Paisley. Steven don't you dare walk away!" Riley warned, giving him a glare after he had tried to sneakily back out of the conversation.

Personally, I was right behind him. I wanted to avoid this conversation more than anybody, that was for damn sure.

"Riles, I'm going to murder you." I groaned as I stood, wiping the pieces of gravel off of my butt. This day just got better and better, didn't it?

"Fine by me, but you two will work out your differences first." I crossed my arms and huffed whereas Steven just rolled his eyes.

"Do we have to do this now? We need to go back to the warehouse." Steven said. Riley glared.

"You and I both know that there isn't going to be any action whatsoever until later this evening, so grow yourself a pair of balls and let's get this over with. Now." Her tone left no room for argument as Steven and I stood to face each other.

Have you ever read that one poem by Shel Silverstein?

One day in the middle of the night, two dead boys got up to fight. Back to back they faced each other, drew their swords and shot each other. a deaf policeman heard the noise, and came to shoot the two dead boys. If you don't believe this story at all, ask the blind man; he saw it all.

I was basically standing up to an arguement, just to shoot myself in the foot while Riley watched and chuckled to herself at my stupidity. How lovely.

Steven just happened to be a part of our twisted little poem.

"Now, Steven you say something you hate about Paisley, and then something good. And then you do the same, Pais." She said. I waved her off.

"Yeah, Yeah. Let's get this show on the road already." I replied.

Steven glared. "You know what? Screw this, I'm out of here. You girls go ahead and talk about your feelings, I'll be in the car." He began to walk away but Riley grabbed his arm and drug him back.

"Not so fast, Speedy Gonzalez. You two need to work this out if we plan on being an efficient team. So hop to it." Riley demanded.

When neither of us made a move, she jabbed her elbow into my rib. I winced and let out a little cry before glaring.

" Fine! Guess I'm starting." I sighed, wracking my brain for anything. There were plenty of things I hated about him. What I was having issues with was finding things I liked.

"I hate the way you think you know more than me. But I like how you don't let your intelligence hinder your ability to communicate with others. There. Done. Can I go now?" I asked Riley. She shook her head no and then gestured for Steven to do his part.

He seemed just as confused as I was.

"I, Um, hate how stubborn you are. But I like how you don't let people push you around. Unless it's Riley." He said.

Ha, Ha. Funny. I was actually beginning to smile before he opened his big fat gob.

"I hate that you're a part of this. But I like how you agreed, despite our previous history." I said. Riley smiled in appreciation. I gave her a mocking smile.