Out Loud

Twenty Seven

-Grayson-

Miranda and I dropped Eli off at his place before heading back to my house. I wasn't quite sure what I'd need to wear for a walk in the woods, so I just slipped on some black shorts and a grey tank top. Miranda seemed to know what she was doing, she always kept a little cache of clothes here for things like this. She slipped on some black athletic pants with a cute little purple stripe that went up the legs, and a purple sports bra to match.

"I'm gonna pack some water bottles and stuff," Miranda said as she tied her hair up into a pony tail, "go ahead and pick up Eli. It'll take me a while."

I nodded and headed out to my car. The drive to Eli's was a short one, thank god traffic hadn't started up yet. I pulled up in front of Eli's apartment complex and went up the stairs in search for his number, I think I new which one it was. Needless to say, I was unsuccessful and had to text Miranda to text Eli so he could text his apartment number to me. It was quick to find afterwards.

"Hey," Eli said as he stood in the doorframe, half naked. He must've been in the shower, he was dripping wet and his towel was tied so loose the tiniest gust of wind would send it flying off him.

I giggled a bit and stood awkwardly in the doorway, it's hard to be invited into places when you can't ask to come in.

"Come on in," Eli said quickly, "I'm sorry for the mess."

I walked in and looked around, his apartment was actually really clean for a high school boy living on his own. He had a few dishes in the sink, but they looked like he just forgot to put them away after he cleaned them, his couch had a blanket thrown askew on it and a mug half filled with...something was sitting on the coffee table. The look I gave him was the "you-call-this-a-mess" look. "

I'm gonna finish getting ready, help yourself to whatever you want," Eli laughed nervously as he went down the small hall to his room.

There was only one other bedroom in the apartment, and it was across the hall from the only other bathroom in the apartment. I was surprised at how neat everything was, the carpets weren't stained or dirty, the couch didn't seem to have any crumbs on it, the kitchen didn't smell like dirty dishes. You know how a kitchen starts to smell after the dirty dishes are left in the sink for too long. In fact, the whole apartment smelt like him.

Eli came out a few minutes later in a red T-shirt and tan cargo shorts.

"Ready to go?" he asked as he grabbed his keys off of the kitchen counter.

I nodded and smiled at him.

"It's kinda dangerous leaving us alone in my apartment isn't it," Eli smirked as he led the way down to my car.

I felt myself blush and I gently smacked his arm.

I let him drive back to my house, I liked it when Eli drove. Miranda had an entire picnic basket packed for us when we arrived, she put it into the trunk and climbed into the car.

"Alright, let's get going!" she giggled with a click of her seatbelt.

Lexi was cleaning up the kitchen when we arrived back at the Jenkins'. I have no idea where Jamie and Levi went off to.

"Welcome back," Lexi laughed as she put some cups into a cupboard.

"I packed us some food," Miranda replied as she set the little basket onto the counter. "Great, we'll leave as soon as Jamie and Levi get out of the shower," Lexi giggled.

"Now they're showering together?" Eli chuckled as he sat down at the breakfast bar. "We have at least eight showers in this house," Lexi laughed, "but it wouldn't surprise me. Now that you mention it, maybe I should go check on them."