From Enemies to Enemies

Chapter 3- The Hangout

 I get ready to go to Rachel's house. I brush my teeth, comb my hair, change my underwear and apply deodorant. I'm oddly excited. I mean, who wouldn't be when you're going to the hottest girl in the school's house? When Mom gets back, I can take the car over to SJ's house, pick her up and then we can get to Rachel's house. So I sit in the living room, waiting for Mom to come home from work. I know she wouldn't let me take the car out to go hang out at a friend's house given my recent tardiness so I'll have to make an excuse. I'll just blame SJ. The garage door opens and I dash outside to greet Mom. Mary, my little sister, is at karate practice today so her friend's mom will carpool her home. "Hey, Mom!" I say as she pulls in. She smiles at me tiredly. Moms got red hair like me. Hers is just more fiery. And she bleaches part of it to add highlights. When she steps out of the car I put my hand out for the keys and she frowns. "What do you need the keys for?" she asks. "I have to go to SJ's house. She's having some boy trouble." I lie. Mom looks sort of appalled. She's always really liked SJ. Mom nods her head. "Would she prefer I talk to her? We all know her father might not be well equipped to handle that."

SJ's mom left when she was eight and hasn't really come back. It's just been her and her father. Kind of like how it's always been me and Mom and Mary. Dad doesn't really come around much. "No!" I say. "She asked for me to come. She doesn't really want anyone but me to know. As a matter of fact, you shouldn't even bring it up the next time you see her because she might be very embarrassed." I snatch the keys from Mom's hand and get into the car. "Oh, I didn't think of that. Well, if you need me you know you can call me." Mom slams my door shut. "I love you." I back out of the garage. The car is warm still and smells like french fries. "Be back by eleven!" Mom shouts before turning into the house.

I get to Rachel's house with SJ in the passenger seat. She made a comment about how I actually took a shower for once and I turned the radio up so I didn't have to hear her shenanigans. Were listening to some weird punk metal-rock. Rachel doesn't live far from us. About a seven-minute drive. When we pull up to her driveway, I notice her house is oddly plain. It's got white paneling and green hedges and red shutters and shingles. The car shuts off and we walk to the front door. Rachels already waiting for us at the door and she opens it with a smile. 'So glad you could make it!" she says. I take my shoes off, as I see SJ doing it and there's more shoes by the door. Her house is so clean, and boring. There's not a thing out of place. And it smells very clean. Like whoever did the cleaning cleans with vinegar. I watch as Rachel smooths over her gray sweater and removes a piece of pillage from her jeans. She seems nervous. "I'm glad you're here." she reiterates. SJ makes herself at home. She's been here loads of times. Instead of going to the Strip with the rest of us, she usually hangs out with Lori and Rachel.

"We've already started eating but you're right on time. There's spaghetti." Rachel moves a piece of hair out of her face. "Here, let me just show you." The three of us walk into the kitchen. It's gray and beige and quite cramped. There's a pot of spaghetti, little bowls of premade salad and garlic bread on a pan. SJ helps herself to a serving of spaghetti. "Love your mom's cooking!" she says. She winks and then walks out. I begin serving myself. "So, Elijah. How are you liking the place?" Rachel leans over the counter to look at me. "I like it," I say. "It's very quaint." She has that hot little smile. "Quaint." the word rolls off her tongue. Her eyes go wide. "Oh, I forgot!" She runs to her fridge. "What would you like to drink?" but before I can answer, she's filling my glass with sparkling water and thrusting the cup into my face. "Here you go," she says.

At the dining table, SJ and Lori are already eating. And there are two empty placemats. Rachel sits down with her salad. (She actually got two servings of salad and no pasta!) and claps her hands together. "So, the itinerary for tonight is to eat dinner, watch a movie and if time permits, play a board game. How's that sound?" SJ nods. "That sounds great! Elijah, I'm so glad you could make it." Lori tells me with that same bimbo attitude. I can tell just by the way that she acts that Lori is a follower. She'll follow anything anybody else says because (and I'm just hypothesizing right now) Lori can't think on her own. It's probably why she comes off as a dumb blond with great tits. Dinner goes well. It's quiet, barring the smacking and slurping of lips. So, actually, it's going kind of awkward. The girls ask me questions sometimes. Mainly Rachel and Lori. For example, one of the girls asks if I was interested in anyone, and another asks what I could foresee in my future. Then Lori turns to Rachel and asks who the other two placemats are for. "Oh. they're for my cousins. I don't know where they've gone though. Rachel turns to look up the stairs but there's nothing there except an end table holding a lamp.

After dinner, I'm already tired but I decided to stick it out. If you couldn't tell already, I have the most massive crush on Rachel. Have for the past year. Maybe tonight we can get a bit closer. Or at least, I can put myself on the radar. I call it Project Rachel. "Sierra, can you put the movie on? It should be that first DVD." Rachel says. We sit next to each other on the couch. Much closer than I would have expected considering I've talked to this girl maybe three times in the past two years. But I don't complain. When I outstretch my arm across the back of the couch, it's like I'm almost enveloping her. Lori lays down on the floor and SJ crawls next to her as the DVD title screen plays. We're watching Liar, Liar. I like that movie, and the blond girl is hot. As the movie plays, I hear creeping down the stairs. Rachel turns with me. "Oh, Maddison! You're here?" A little boy with blond hair and some rocking Spiderman pyjamas stands at the center of the steps. "Hi," he says. He looks nervous to see us. "Everyone, this is my cousin Maddison. Maddi, would you like to come join us?" Maddison looks around the room and nods. Then he walks down the stairs and plops right in between me and Rachel. (fucking cock block.)

Another set of footsteps come down the stairs, this time much harder. "You guys started the damn movie without me?" the voice said. I turn around again. There's a blond head and black painted fingernails and droopy eyelids. Fucking hell, it's the rude ass barista. "Hey, I know you!" I say to him, but he ignores me and tosses himself on the floor.