Seeds of Tomorrow

39

Rocco wanted to pinch himself because it still felt like a dream to him. His dream car, goddamn! He drove his grandfather back to Vancouver with Gabe and Audrey. When Gabe had asked to ride along, the urge to tell him he wasn't trying to get his shit stank up was hard but he was too stoked to be a dick to smelly ass Gabe.

After they returned to town, he went through the drive-thru of Evie's work to get his siblings and parents milkshakes...and show off his new whip. Evie had been working the counter so he had to tell her coworker to bring her to the window.

"Baaaaae, you got your car!" Evie gushed, "You better pick me up tomorrow!"

He clicked his tongue at her playfully, "Duh, of course, I am gonna come get you."

Evie beamed at him, her plump cheeks pink. Rocco never realized how damn big her head was or how much she looked like a Cabbage Patch doll. The thought made him feel guilty.  She passed him the tray of shakes, asking him if he had a tip for her to which he replied "I've got a tip for you", making his siblings cringe.

It was nearly time for Annie to be off work so he dropped off Gabe and Audrey before heading out to Panera to wait for his friend. His dad texted him to behave himself and not do anything stupid, Rocco said it was in his genetics so he couldn't promise anything.

"I'm serious bro," Krist replied, Rocco followed up with a GIF of Tony Stark rolling his eyes and then letting him know stress can make him shorter, something he swore he had heard but wasn't certain. And even if he hadn't, he needed to put the Short King in his place.

Rocco decided to wait inside Panera to fuck with his coworkers while they closed. Kevin teased him for being spoiled and said that he didn't know why he even worked at Panera when he clearly didn't need the money.

"Trust me, bro, my dad don't like to buy me shit," Rocco rolled his eyes, "And I hate asking him for money. It's all my grandparents who spoil us."

"Shit, do they need a thirty-two-year-old grandson?" Kevin asked.

"We can just say you're one of my dead Uncle Brad's bastard kids, they wouldn't question it."

Kevin shook his head laughing, "Oh that reminds me, you know of anyone who might be looking for work? Fucking Sammy and Desiree quit with no notice so we are back to being short-staffed."

Rocco helped stock condiments, thinking for a moment, "You know...I think I might. My cousin Mark needs a job, he just don't have an ID yet."

He found it was easier to call Mark his cousin versus uncle, people heard uncle and assumed Mark was double his age and when he would correct them that no, they're like 2 months apart, they acted confused as if men ain't shooting working sperm late in life.

"Tell him to get on it and we can work something out."

Rocco shot Mark a text that he had a job for him if he could get his ID and if money was the issue, Rocco could loan it to him or give it to him so he could get it on his birthday. Mark said that would be cool and let him know he was gonna be having a party over at his new spot to celebrate turning eighteen so he was welcome to come and bring his girl along.

"How you have an apartment?" Rocco wanted to know, knowing damn well that Mark didn't have no money.

"Me and my girl got a spot together."

"How old ur girl bc I know no girls our age got apartments."

"23 lmao."

"23 wtf she doing with your scrubby ass?" Rocco teased.

"Bro if u seen the bitch,u wud get it."

Rocco furrowed his eyebrows, he wasn't sure if that meant she was busted or hot but didn't want to ask the wrong question. So he called Mark a prostie.

"I prefer the term gigolo, keep it classy u no."

"You ready to go?" Annie asked, putting the strap of her satchel over her bony shoulder.

Rocco couldn't help but grin, "Let's go," he told her, "You know if you ain't got to be home right away, we should go up to the Sonic in Chehalis, get some grub."

"Your treat?" She teased.

"I was hoping you'd pay," Rocco gave her one of his famous grins, "Nah, I got you girl."

Evie texted him goodnight as he got in the car, he said it back with a heart before putting his phone on silent. Annie knew he had a girlfriend so it wasn't like he had to hide the fact that she was texted but he wanted to give her his undivided attention. It wasn't like she liked him that way anyway. And even if he did, he knew his Short King of a father was right about not acting on shit if he was still with Evie.

The drive to Sonic took about 35 minutes, there was no traffic that way and he could drive 80 the whole way. They ordered drinks and shared an order of mozzarella sticks, sitting under the canopy and talking in the car.

They talked at work of course but that was different than having a chill conversation elsewhere. Annie was hella cool, she liked the same music and shows and had the same sense of humor. She was different than Evie, a thought he often had. He thought about Evie and the fact that they got along well but they really weren't into any of the same things. It hadn't bothered him until he met Annie and saw how much he was missing.

His dad started blowing his phone up around eleven telling him he didn't need to be out with some other girl that late and how nowhere in town takes two hours to drive to and back. Rocco told him where he was, dreading his father's reaction.

Groaning, he told Annie he better take her home because Krist was on the rag and crying again.

"I hope you aren't in trouble," she said with a little frown that forced her plump bottom lip to stick out. He wanted to kiss her.

Rocco turned the key in the ignition, "Nah, he's just gonna bitch but he never actually does anything beyond annoy the piss outta me."

Annie laughed, "Sounds like my mom."

He dropped her off at her house, giving a dorky little wave as she stepped out of his car and was home before midnight. His dad was up, sitting on the porch, sharing a blunt with Jeordie when he pulled up.

"You staying out of trouble?" Jeordie laughed.

"Something like that," Rocco gave him a grin before reaching for the blunt.

"You didn't do nothing stupid, did you?" Krist wanted to know.

Rocco hit the blunt, coughing as he shook his head, "Nah, just drove up to Sonic and chilled. Didn't even get a hand job or nothing," he told him just to watch his reaction.

"Look, I know you're almost grown and all but if you like this girl and you plan to be kicking it with her, you need to figure your shit out with Evie first. She's a good kid, don't be a dipshit."

Jeordie laughed, "Listen to your dad, he knows all about being a dipshit."

Krist was stoned enough to laugh in agreement, "And I know all about the shit that comes along with it. You don't want none of that. Shit, look at Mark, he's always doing dumb shit and he ain't got nothing but drama and a kid on the way."