Battlefield: Control (Book Two)

Chapter Five - Orlando

Pacing his foyer, Orlando listened to his girlfriend talk about all of the simple things of the day. Cheerleading practice, how her brother burned dinner, and basically everything under the sun outside of their topic at lunch. Which is why she wanted him to call tonight. She had said there was more to say, right? He hadn't made that part up had he?

He listened to her talk anyway, saying the appropriate "uh huh" and "okay" and even nodding when needed.

"Can you believe Mrs. Henley gave us two chapters of reading for the weekend? Doesn't she know it's a holiday? I have a lot of socializing and shopping to do. Now I have to read and do the questions at the end of the section?" Tait whined.

"It's nothing drastic. I finished it in ten minutes," Orlando said. "So you're one of those Black Friday three-in-the-morning crazy people who attack all of the stores for the ninety-nine-cent DVD sale?"

"When you say it like that, it sounds so negative."

"I believe Black Friday is of the devil to ruin the holidays even more than the petty family drama. Besides, it's all a corporate trap." Now he was just making things up, but it sounded good at the time. He was smiling, even if she couldn't see it. He hoped she could sense he was telling a joke.

"Well, as you'll find out, shopping is generally the highlight of the week even if I do have to push my way through crazies to get a good deal. Remember how I said the little things keep me going? This is one of those little things."

"Thanksgiving that bad?"

"My grandparents are opinionated, which makes my parents edgy, which makes me even more so. On top of that, my cousins are privileged brats who think they own everything and everyone. If my brother Peyton wasn't such a saint and lovable it'd be miserable."

"Oh, so they're a lot like me. We'll get along perfectly."

She snorted from laughing so hard. "You're a lot of things, but definitely not like them. You don't flaunt things, and your bratty moments are like heaven compared to theirs."

"Glad to know you think so highly of me," he teased.

"You know I..."

"Hmm?"

"What?"

"You going to finish that thought?"

She was quiet for a moment, and followed it with a light laugh. "You know I only think the best of you."

Orlando was pretty sure she was going to say something else, but he sighed with relief when she didn't. If she'd dropped the "L" word on him, he wasn't sure how he'd handle it.

A lot of the things he felt with Tait were new for him. But love? He didn't think he was there yet, not in such a short period of time. The one other girl he'd dated, and thought he'd loved, turned out to be nothing more than fourteen-year-old puppy love.

She'd also been a gold digger. He'd only liked her because she was cute and giggly which is what most boys in his social circle were into at the time. Now he was attracted to smart girls who also happened to be cute. Intelligence was more the necessity or else he'd get bored fast.

"Yes, I'm sure you do," he said at last.

"Doubting me?"

"No, actually."

"Good, because I only talk you up. You should have heard me this afternoon when I was asking about Thanksgiving. Mom's thrilled with the idea."

He swallowed. "So long as you didn't paint an unrealistic picture of me to her, I should be able to handle attending. My sister is officially going to her boyfriend's mom's place. I've been invited to join of course, but seeing as how I've interacted with him a whole three times, I'd rather not."