LIFE IN A DREAM | CHRIS STURNIOLO | STURNIOLO BOOK |

Chapter Five

Nick "ANA! We're home!"

I hear Nick shouting, immediately followed by a hard slap and a loud groan from Matt. Chris then lets out a fat giggle, which is obviously him since he does that odd wheezing thing.

Matt "OW! My fucking hand."

Nick: "That's what you deserve."

The three appeared from the stairs with several bags a short while later. Nick seemed to be the most uncomfortable, struggling with two half-empty bags in his hands. Matt focused closely as he carried three full, chilly bags. Chris followed up along the back of the squad, only carrying a box of Pepsi. Not much of a help. Watching how each of them carried things through different facial expressions was kind of ridiculous.

Ana "Do you need help with that ever-so-heavy box you got there, Chris?"

I look at him sarcastically and then turn to Matt and Nick, who just placed the bags of food on the counter.

Nick "YEAH Chris, this is why you have no muscle on those bony arms of yours."

Nick tries to grab Chris's arm and pinch the skin Chris smacks his hand away, then glares at him, placing his box of Pepsi on the busy countertop and opening the cardboard.

Ana: "Oh, and by the way, your mum's cleaning your room, Nick. What did she say exactly... Hmm, oh, wait, it was something along the lines of "This is no son of mine, oh my lord." 

Matt: "Wait, Mum's here?"

They all look at each other and smile, and then Nick's face changes into panic.

Nick runs off up the stairs, hurrying to see his mum

Nick "Mother! Do not take one step into my room!"

Nick puts on a funny voice and swings his arms in the air. Matt then follows him, leaving Chris and me alone.

Chris "How ya feeling?"

He steps forward towards me.

Ana: "Better than this morning, for sure."

he looks at me with a concerned gaze

Chris "That's Good... I'm glad you're feeling better, Ana."

Chris says something nice—strange. I squinted my eyes and stared at him.

Ana: "Why are you acting so weird?"

Chris "What do you mean?"

Ana: "You acting strange, Chris."

Chris "I'm not acting strange; that's just me."

Ana: "Mhm, I know you're hiding something... but don't worry, I'm going to get you to tell me when you least expect it."

I point in his face as I say my piece, then I grin at him and walk back over to the couch. Chris laughs and walks up the stairs to his room. Little does Ana know Chris knows something is wrong; she's not great at hiding it at all.

COUPLE HOURS LATER 

Mary Lou: "Okay, kiddos, I'm off back home."

I hug Mary Lou goodbye and say 'thank you' under my breath. She then hugs me tighter.

We then all say our goodbyes to Mary Lou and then continue to fuss about random things; for example, Nick ends up doing the worm on the couch with the song 'Earned It by The Weeknd' playing in the background. Don't ask how that song ended up playing; it just happened, okay? 

Nick "We should so get Wendy's right now." 

Chris: "I'm so down."

Ana: "I'm good if everyone else is."

Matt "I hope You realise I'm  the only person who can drive here."

Ana: "Uhm, I think you're forgetting someone here."

I point to myself, and Matt Bitch looks me up and down and then sarcastically laughs. The others start cracking up.

Chris "Ana I'm sorry but I'm never getting in a car with you ever again"

Nick: " I would get in the car with you if I wanted to die, but I do not, sorry?"

Nick brings his shoulders up to his ears as he says his last word.

Ana: "Just get in the fucking car."

I smile at them all and rush them out of the apartment.

RANDOM CAR PARK

We decided to make a would-you-rather video because we got bored and wanted to do something fun. After we got to Wendy's, we drove to this car park behind a random supermarket. 

Nick: "OKAY, WOULD YOU RATH!- 

"WHY THE FUCK are you YELLING?" You're going to burst my fucking eardrum, oh my god."

Ana exclaimed.

Nick "LET ME FINISH ANA!"

I snatch the phone out of Nick's hand and start to read the question. Chris leans down to grab something off the ground and gets stuck down there. 

Chris "AH! Help me"

Ana: "Anyway, would you rather be stuck in a room all together for a week or be separated for a month?"

Matt: "Uh, stuck in a room for a week, cause we practically do that already."

Nick "Yeah, that's what I was going to say."

Chris "Wait, what did you say?"

Ana, "Were you even listening?"

Matt repeats the question

Chris "Oh, a week for sure; are you kidding me?"

Matt: "What about you, Ana?"

Ana "Huh?"

i mumble with my straw leaning on my lips 

Chris "You seriously didn't hear the question? after you just accused me of not listening?!" he looks at me

Ana: "No, I did; I just want food."

"Are you eating MY FRIES?" Nick exclaimed.

I smirk as I shove a couple of chips into my mouth, bringing the fries box closer to my chest.

Nick, "Give them BACK!"

I fake a disappointed face and hand them back to Nick, but I grab a couple more because why not?

Nick: "Anyway... NEXT!"

Nick "This question freaks me out; would you rather come across dangerous aliens or bigfoot?"

Chris & Matt "Bigfoot"

Chris "period, end of conversation."

Ana: "Uhm, are you guys of fucking drugs!?, Neither would be absolutely great, thanks."

Nick "Woah, Woah, wait, I feel like aliens have high technolo-"

Nick can't get another word in from Chris, and Matt drags on Nick's answer. As they all argue, I sit back and watch it happen, stealing Nick's unaccompanied fries and taking a swig of my drink Chris looks back at me, noticing what I had just done, and smiles like a genuine smile. I look towards him and return the favor.

Chris "NICK! The second you come across a dangerous alien, your fucking done the fuck."

Matt "Wait, listen, I would've said aliens instead of bigfoot, but the fact that they put 'dangerous' in front of their fucking bigfoot.

Chris "Nick What do you know about aliens?"

Nick "nothing"

Ana: "I swear you guys are on something."

They all look at me in sync, then turn back, doing the same.

Ana: "Woah, what the fuck did I just witness?"

Chris "Ana, you've known us long enough to know that happens all the fucking time."

They all laugh, and I join in, still skeptical that they are on something.

We end the video and drive home. As it is 3 a.m., we all head to bed without saying a word to each other because we're all so fucking tired.

A/N
ta daaa
1029 words