𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉

[Chapter 24] He's Crazy

"You want me to come over?"
I hesitate.
Kelly, this is literally the reason that you called him.
"Yeah, I do."
There's a pause on the other end of the line until I hear Lake laugh some.
"I, uh, I don't know if I want you to see me like this."
My eyebrows crease. "Like what?"
~
Thirty minutes later, Lake's Honda is humming in the driveway and I'm standing at the front door, wringing my hands.
Like what?
Is he drunk again? Is he high or something?
He wouldn't tell me over the phone so I've been left to mull over the possibilities for the last half hour.
Is he in his feelings over his ex? Are we going to commiserate together?
I don't know what to expect and it's making me nervous.
Once he finally knocks on the door, I close my eyes and take a deep breath before opening it.
I feel like this a bad idea.
I don't even get to list off the reasons this is a bad idea though because reason number one is staring me right in the face.
"Oh my gosh!" My hand flies to my mouth as I stare at the reddish purple skin surrounding Lake's left eye. "What happened?!"
"It looks worse than it is, trust me." He smiles but I don't return it. "Lake. What the heck?"
I try not to cringe as I continue to study him and he motions past me. "Can I come in or are you going to make me stay out here because I'm ugly now?"
"No, you're not—I mean, I'm not—just, yeah—come in." I step out of the way as he laughs and walks inside, hands in the pockets of his jacket.
"What happened to your eye?" I repeat as I shut and lock the door behind him. "Did you get into a fight?"
"What? No," he replies hastily but for the first time in a hot minute, I think back to the fight that happened in this very house when I met Lake for the first time.
Well, I met who I thought he was.
Him pulling a knife on that guy.
Throwing it across the room and almost hitting that girl.
Taking my jacket off—
"Hey." He interrupts my flashback by nudging my shoulder. "You still with me?"
"Yeah." I nod. "Just thinking."
"About?" He presses and I don't have the answer to give him. "Just...worried about you. That's it."
He doesn't say anything for a minute and instead just studies me. "You really think I got into a fight again? I told you that's not me. It was one time."
"I know, I believe you," I reply but clearly he doesn't believe me.
"No, you don't." He stares at me and I helplessly stare right back, unsure what he wants from me.
I wanted a distraction not whatever disagreement we're having right now.
"I do. Just tell me what happened," I insist in exasperation. "You're obviously hurt."
His dark blue eyes are punctuated by the red splotch of a broken blood vessel in the white of his left eye.
He still doesn't answer and I reach to grab his hand. "Please?"
He licks his lips. "I tried talking to your brother, like I said I would and well ..." he trails off with a shrug and I feel my vision lose focus a little.
"What."
He doesn't elaborate, leaving me to press a hand to my gaping mouth. "Hunter? He did this?"
He seemed completely normal today. He didn't even mention Lake.
"I guess you were right to warn me. I just didn't listen." He scoffs. "He wanted a fight and I wouldn't. My fucking best friend."
I think back to Hunter earlier tonight,
no signs of damage whatsoever so of course I wouldn't automatically assume that he swung at Lake.
"I don't want to hurt him but I will."
I get a full body chill. Hunter's own words.
He meant it.
"I'm so sorry, Lake," I breathe out, stepping closer to grab his other hand. "This is my fault. I should've just listened to Hunter and—"
"No." He shakes his head, squeezing my hands some. "If he wants to be pissed at me for telling you the truth, then fuck him."
I look at the ground and Lake drops my left hand to brush a thumb over my cheek. "And if he thinks a little black eye is gonna keep me away from you, he's crazy."
The corner of my mouth turns up despite the situation and a small smile tugs at Lake's lips.
I turn away shyly just for him to turn me back towards him.
"So, I've been thinking about last night."
I freeze because I've been thinking about last night.
Even between my whole debacle with Harry and then my whole debacle with Mom—kissing Lake never really left my mind.
"Oh?" I decide to play dumb and he nods. "Yeah, I really liked spending time with you. Especially getting Mexican food, you know I love some fajitas."
I laugh some but feel awkward for assuming we were thinking about the same thing when we clearly were not.
"So, what are you in the mood for tonight? You wanna talk, watch TV or something?" He quirks an eyebrow before leaning in. "Or should I whoop your ass in Mortal Kombat again?"
My eyes widen slightly at his words and I have to remind myself that I'm the only one taking things out of context right now.
Clearly making out in the hallway didn't affect him how it did me.
I titter nervously. "Yeah...if you want. I don't know how to set the PlayStation up or anything though."
"I got you."
He strolls into the living room like he's right at home and it occurs to me that he probably is. He's Hunter's best friend, he's probably been here hanging out more times than I've realized.
"Are you hungry?" I ask, rubbing my hands over my legs.
While I waited for Lake to get here, I swapped the purple dress out for a crimson, oversized Hemingway Academy Est. 1974 sweatshirt and my black Nike Pros.
Top half is warm, bottom half not so much.
"What are you offering?"
I pause, staring at him as he grabs the Playstation controller off the coffee table and settles on the couch.
Context, Kelly, context.
"I don't know. What sounds good?"
I surprise myself with my choice of tone and unfortunately, Lake notices.
It takes one sideways glance from him and I'm suddenly stuttering over my words. "Like to eat."
"I know what you mean." He laughs, resting his arms on his knees as he turns his attention back to the screen and continues setting the game up. "I am just trying to keep my mind in the right place."
Waiiit.
I know I shouldn't ask but I want to know so bad.
"What's the wrong place?"
I could kick my touch deprived self. I get kissed one time and this is what it does to me.
"You don't want to play that game," Lake says with a shake of his head.
Bold of him to assume.
I cross my arms. "Why not?"
He looks at me, his expression a mix of surprise and amusement.
"I don't know. You tell me. Last night you told me we 'couldn't let it happen again'. I'm just trying to respect your wishes."
He raises his eyebrows to emphasize his point as the Mortal Kombat loading screen comes up.
I don't like that he's right.
But he is.
I nod unenthusiastically. "Right...yeah. We should...not."
With that, I pad into the kitchen and pull open the freezer door.
I'm not even hungry. I don't even know if Lake is hungry.
All I know is the last thing on my mind is food.
Even still, I toss some pizza rolls in the air fryer just so I have something to do.
One glance towards the living room shows Lake casually lounging back against the couch.
Right smack in the middle.
Once the pizza rolls are done cooking, I toss them on a plate with some ranch, grab a couple of Coke cans and take a deep breath.
This is for the better, Kelly. Quit trying to instigate.
When I take my seat next to Lake, though, I only feel more drawn to do something ridiculous.
The fact that he's rocking the grey sweatpants, black tee combo does not help.
"Alright, here's your chance to impress me, Blake. Let's see what you got."
~
"No way you just beat me." Lake's jaw drops, his disbelieving stare trailing from me to the TV and then back again. "Again."
I giggle some, pleased with myself. "Yeah, I know. Feels good."
He raises an eyebrow. "Mhm and just who, uh, who've you been practicing with?"
"Practicing?" I sassily raise my eyebrows
right back. "I hate to break it to you but I think I'm just a natural."
"Oh yeah?"
The arm he has over the back of the couch, slides more towards my shoulders as his fingers play with strands of my
hair.
"So, what—you don't need me to teach you anymore?"
He brushes the ends of my hair over the side of my neck with a small smirk and I avoid eye contact.
"Hmm?" He continues to bait me in a teasing tone.
I've been doing good this whole time. One offhand question isn't going to completely derail me.
The ends of my hair are replaced by the tips of his fingers as he grazes his touch over my skin.
This. This is going to completely derail me.
"Teach me what?"
He scoffs, with that same surprise and amusement. "How to play the game? Obviously. What else would I be talking about?"
Feeling confident, I finally turn to look at him and even with the bruise surrounding his eye, his gaze is still ridiculously seductive.
A nervous laugh escapes my throat thanks to the butterflies in my stomach and his attention then falls to my lips.
He pauses before shaking his head with a chuckle. "I swear...you...are going to get me into so much trouble."