My IT novella (oc insert)

CHAPTER ONE, PART FIVE.

GO GREASED LIGHTNING

"Come on, Andy! I am really hungry!" Aspen complained, hanging his chin dramatically on Andy's shoulder.

"Not my problem," Andy sighed, glancing at Sammy and mouthing the word 'sorry.' Sammy responded with a reassuring smile and mouthed back, 'It's fine.'

"I won't shut up until I eat!" Aspen called out, his voice echoing through the corridor.

"Well, what do you want, Alex?" Lily smiled at the drop-out kid who shot up in surprise.

"O-oh! I wouldn't mind some food!" He smiled back at Lily, he was kind of scared of them, not knowing who some of them were and what they were like, all he knew is he trusted them.

"Okay, okay, everyone, me, Aspen," Andy pointed at Aspen who waved at Alex, Alex waves back, happy to have learnt a name.

"And Alex is going to McDonald's. If you want food, come with me," Andy announced, giving Aspen a resigned look.

"Food?!" Damo exclaimed, rushing over to the two and leading the way with boundless enthusiasm. As they headed off, it left just Sammy, Jordan, and Lily standing in the hallway. An awkward silence settled over them, each unsure of what to say.

"I'm going shopping for a shirt I saw yesterday if anyone wants to come," Sammy finally broke the silence, his voice hesitant but hopeful.

"Yeah, I'll come. Come on, Lily!" Jordan responded eagerly, beginning to walk with a sense of purpose. The others followed, with Jordan frequently turning her head to ask if she was heading in the right direction.

"This is the store," he finally declared, pushing open the door and stepping inside.

"Woah, hey, is that a Mötley Crüe shirt?" Jordan exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she ran off to browse through the racks. This left Sammy alone with Lily, an awkward tension hanging in the air. Sammy wandered over to a familiar shirt, a Grease one to be exact, and reached out to grab it. Just as his fingers touched the fabric, Lily appeared behind him, causing him to flinch.

"You like Grease?" she asked, a teasing tone in her voice.

"Oh no, I just want to buy this for someone," Sammy explained, placing the shirt over his arm and turning to face Lily. He crossed his arms, his body language both defensive and shy, his hips angled slightly as if trying to shield himself. Lily gave him a once-over, her expression a mix of curiosity and amusement. She half-scoffed, rolling her eyes playfully before looking him right in the eye.

"My brother?" she asked, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Sammy looked away, his cheeks flushing slightly.

"Yeah, he's been a good friend, you know?"

"Oh, Sammy," Lily said softly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. Her smile was warm and understanding.

"I know." She laughed, a light, melodic sound that broke the lingering tension. The two of them shared a moment of silent understanding, the air between them lightening. As they stood there, the store's ambient music playing softly in the background, Sammy couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. It was as if Lily's acceptance had lifted a weight off his shoulders. He smiled back at her, a genuine, grateful smile, and they both turned to continue browsing the store, the earlier awkwardness dissipating into a comfortable camaraderie.

The way back home was quiet, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily between them. Andy's attempt at conversation fell flat, and even Lily's usual bubbly demeanor seemed muted.

"Hey Sammy, want to stay for dinner?" Andy asked once they reached his doorstep, his smile attempting to break through the tension. Lily scoffed, but Andy nudged her gently, silently urging her to be more welcoming.

"Sure," Sammy replied with a small smile, though his eyes betrayed a hint of nervousness. They continued in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, until they reached the familiar comfort of Andy's home. As they entered, Lily wordlessly retreated to her room, leaving the boys to their own devices. Without a word, they made their way to Andy's room, their footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. They sat on opposite ends of the bed, the distance between them feeling more pronounced than ever.

"So, Alex is pretty cool! Never knew drop-out kid went into the forest." Andy broke the silence for a moment.

"Huh, oh yeah, sure!"

Sammy hesitated, his nerves getting the better of him as he fidgeted with the bag he had been carrying. Finally, he gathered his courage and spoke up.

"Hey, uhm, so I have something to give to you," Sammy began, his gaze fixed on the bed sheets as if afraid to meet Andy's eyes. He reached into the bag and retrieved a small package, holding it out to Andy with a mixture of apprehension and hope.

"Oh?" Andy's eyes widened in surprise as he accepted the gift, his curiosity piqued. As he opened the bag and saw its contents, his jaw dropped in astonishment.

"Oh. My. God! Sammy! You—oh my—thank you so much!" Andy exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over as he rushed forward to envelop Sammy in a tight hug, the shirt clutched tightly in his hands.

"It's no problem," Sammy chuckled, returning the embrace with a warmth that belied his earlier nervousness. As they pulled back, Andy held onto Sammy's shoulders, their eyes meeting for a fleeting moment.

"I could kiss you right now," Andy jokes, attempting to lighten the mood with a playful grin. But instead of laughter, all he received was a blank stare from Sammy, his expression frozen in place.

"...uh..." Andy's laughter faltered, his own discomfort mirrored in Sammy's awkward silence. Sensing the tension, Sammy quickly shot up from the bed, sitting ramrod straight as if to distance himself from the moment.

"Boys! Lily! Dinner!" Andy's mother's voice called out from downstairs, breaking the awkward spell that had settled over them. With a sense of relief, they both rose from the bed, their earlier exchange lingering in the air like an unspoken promise.

" Thank you, Miss Miller, dinner was lovely! " Sammy was walking to the door, but Lily rushed to him before he could leave.

" Hey. " She leaned on the door beam.

" Uhm, Hi. " Sammy wearily smiled. Lily looked around and leaned.

" If you like my brother, I'll tell you this, watch out, and don't you dare hurt him. You seem like a good guy, so you have my approval, but if you do as much as a tiny pinch on him I swear to god- " Lily whispered and breathed in deeply. Sammy gulped, his palms were sweaty.

" Y-yes, ma'am! I-I won't hurt him. " Sammy was scared.

" Good. " She signaled to him ' I'm watching you ' and walked off. Sammy walked out of the house and sighed.

" Is my crush on him really that obvious?! " He said, his voice slightly whispering.