Oliver and Joslyn

III

{edited 8.22.15}

joslyn

i tilt my head toward a house on the right, which is basically a cookie-cutter copy of it's next door neighbor..and every other house on the block.

oliver and i walk side by side to the door. i sneak a sideways glance at him, but he notices and i quickly direct my eyes to the pavement. next to the house is one dying tree, and no other plants whatsoever. dad used to say it wouldn't have been any different if mom were around. he said she had a red thumb; red with the blood of dead plants. i think what he really meant, though, is that she bore the blood of his bleeding heart or something like that. 

as far as i know, she has no regrets for what she'd done.

i don't realize we'd reached the door until oliver tapped me on the shoulder, tentatively. he's looking at me, one eyebrow cocked, his hazel eyes asking, are you going to knock? 

 i bite my lip and knock, and we stand facing the door awkwardly as we wait for my dad to answer the door. i lost my house key a while back.

it's a long story.

after a minute or two, my dad opens the door so suddenly we both jump. 'joslyn!' he cries and picks me up into a hug. i feel my face redden.

dad sets me down. 'i knew it. i just knew it.'

'knew what, dad?' i ask, and immediately regret it.

'i knew you would bring a boy home one day, joslyn!'

i feel a twinge of annoyance. i'd gone out with Grey Morgan practically all freshman year. we even broke up less than three months ago. apparently that slipped dad's mind.

i need a mom. 

'no dad, he's just a--'

my dad is beaming at oliver. he extends a hand, changes his mind, and leans in for a hug.

oh gosh dad, just stop.

i love my dad to pieces, especially after my mom left, but still, that doesn't distract me from the fact that he's about the most awkward (and forgetful) person on the planet.

'and your name is?'

'o-oliver, sir,' oliver says, detaching himself from my dad.

'well olly,' he says winking 'you'll have to come over for dinner tomorrow. are you up for it?'   

olly?!

oliver doesn't look fazed. 'sure, s-sir. if--' he looks at me, a little anxiously. '--if t-t-that's okay with j-joslyn?' he looks at me, the question etched all over his face.

i smile a stiff little smile. i can't believe he would want to come after meeting my very (very) socially awkward dad.

and i nod.

i mean, what else could i do?

oliver smiles. 'then y-yes. i be there. i m-mean here.' he blushes. 'thanks, mr. johnson.'

dad cringes visibly. 'please. call me spencer.'

oliver nods, uncertainly. he starts to leave, then turns back and waves. 'bye, joslyn.'

'bye, oliver.'

he grins crookedly, and leaves for real. 

once i make sure he left the neighborhood, i turn to round on dad, but he isn't there.

'dad?' i call into the house. i inhale the scent of the new mango peach candle i was burning in the kitchen. also, smoke. wait, smoke??

'joslyn? come here! now! and get the fire distinguisher!'

oh gosh.

i run across the hall to the garage. where is it?? i eventually find it buried behind some boxes we still hadn't gotten around to unpacking from when we moved here..four years ago.

man, this thing is heavy. i need to start lifting weights or something, because this thing is about pull my arm out!

'here, dad!' i call as i reach the kitchen. but it's too late. dad already poured water of what looks like the remains of my candle, and some of Noah's homework. dad looks at me and grimaces.

'what the--?'

and then, she steps out from behind my dad. the little monster.

my sister.

***

A/N: Hey sorry for the SUPER LATE update!! I've seriously been so busy lately. Hope you like it!!!! Random question: have you ever tasted grass? I don't have a distinct memory of eating grass, but I seem to remember the taste. Kinda sour. Comment your answer!!! Stay strange!! :3 :3 :3