totally clueless - e. tiscia [✓]

XVI

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(this chap told in snapshot edition)

I'm still not thrilled with my sister the next morning.

I lurk around and watch how she acts around Josh. Stiff as a board. It's like she doesn't know how to use her limbs. Josh isn't totally clueless, he notices the change.

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The next night, I've cooled down. I sit in Daddy's office, high on Elton's promise to buy me a cherry limeade tomorrow. Daddy has me marking files for his case. I am interrupted from my work by the sound of tapping footsteps. Cher is pacing.

"Just come in," I sigh. "No need to tire yourself out."

"Can I help?" she asks hopefully.

"You can mark up the September calls."

"Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"I know."

She caps her highlighter and shifts to face me. "I was wrong. Please forgive me. You've never iced me out like this before."

"Speak for yourself."

"You're right," she pleads. "Just please forgive me."

I roll my eyes. "Fine." I wrap my arms around her shoulders and give her a firm squeeze.

She cheers and beams up at me.

"I'm still not 100% on the Josh thing though," I scold her.

Before she can reply, Daddy comes back into the office. "What Josh thing?"

"Nothing, Daddy," Cher hastily replies.

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"So, you definitely made up?" Elton asks, drinking MY cherry limeade.

I snatch it back, elbowing his ribs. "I guess so? She wants me to help the Pismo Beach Beach Disaster Relief team tomorrow. She's been on a rampage. She asked Daddy if he liked the caviar we had leftover in our cabinet."

"Are you going?"

"Yeah, you wanna come with?"

He wraps an arm around my shoulders and kisses my forehead. "Anything to spend time with my girl."

I melt at his feet until I realize that he stole my drink during his distraction.

"Elton!"

He chuckles at me but doesn't give it back. "Hey, my mom's home. You could have your weird, little tea thing."

"It's not weird, it's tradition!"

"So, what I'm hearing is, you want to?"

"Duh!"

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Mrs. Tiscia is the most wonderful host. The second she sees me she rushes over and kisses both of my cheeks.

"Samantha!" she greets in her thick Italian accent. "You're back to see me! Sit down over there I'll make our tea."

"Okay, I guess I'm just invisible," Elton sighs. "I'll be in my room."

"It's good to see you too, Mrs. Tiscia," I giggle.

Our tea time started in middle school while I was watching cartoons on this very couch. Mrs. Tiscia was showing me old princess cartoons and she called me a princess. I told her I wasn't a princess because I didn't have a tiara. The next day, she got me my very own plastic, bejeweled crown.

"You know what else princesses do?"

"What?!"

"They have tea time!"

And thus, a forever bond formed between me and the woman.

She brings her good china out. "I see you and my son are together now?"

"Getting right into the good stuff, are we?" I tease.

"Oh Sam, you know I'm a gossip." She adds two sugar cubes to each of our teacups.

I add our cream. "Well, I guess you see right then."

"Ha! Took you long enough."

"What?" I laugh.

"Do you know how long Elton has been pining for you?!"

"MA!" Elton yells from his room.

"Oh shut up," she calls back. She drops her voice. "I already promised him my ring for when you get married."

I flush. "Oh, I don't-"

She waves me off. "If it was any other girl I wouldn't have even offered." She pours our tea.

We gossip and watch Golden Girls until I fall asleep not even waking when Elton carries me to his car, drives me home, and tucks me into bed.

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I've been working at the kitchenware station of the Disaster Relief Drive since six in the morning. My only solace is the coffee that Elton brought me an hour ago when he started his shift. Elton's arms instinctively wrap around me when I lean into his chest.

"I'm so tired."

"I know, baby. Just a few more hours."

I bat my eyelashes at him. "If you take me to get ice cream after, I'll buy it."

He makes a show of huffing a breath of air. "I guess we can get ice cream..."

"Hey, Sam!" someone calls. It's Travis with a... bong?

"Travis? What is this," I ask.

"I'm trying this new clarity thing," he shrugs.

I smile. "Good for you!"

"Oh here!" He hands me a poster.

"ASL?"

"Amatuer Skateboarding Leauge. I'm competing on Saturday, would you be there?"

"Sure, I'll make an appearance."

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Elton and Murray sit off to the side talking while Cher and I get coffee from the Starbucks cart.

"I'm glad you're cool with Travis now," I tell her. "He really is a sweet guy."

"Yeah, I guess so. He's, like, doing better for himself."

Tai catches my attention, looking wistfully at Cher. I make myself scarce so they can make up too.

And, hey, I was right. The way Tai was drooling over Travis? Major sparks.

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The next night, Elton and I go on a double date with Summer and Charlie. It's at a new fancy restaurant so Summer and I get to dress up and convince out guys to wear tuxedos.

When Elton picks me up, he looks nervous.

"What is it?" I laugh. "You weren't even nervous when you told me you loved me for the first time."

He breathes out like he's hyping himself up and pulls out a black ring box. Inside is a plain gold band encrusted with small, round rubies.

He sees the shock on my face. "It's a promise ring," he clarifies. "I didn't know if-"

I cut him off by grabbing his face and kissing him.

"I love you."

"I love you more, Sammy."

He slides the ring on my finger.

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Ooh la la get me a man like that

QOTD: How did we feel about snapshots?

xx ⸺viv