Problem Girl

Chapter 4

•Chapter 4•          

I rose to the smell of pancakes and immediately heard my stomach churn in undeniable hunger. Desperately, I brushed my teeth, rinsed my face, and rushed into Mrs. Tina's kitchen only to find both her and Aj gone and Andrew sitting, eating pancakes.

 I caught his attention as he sat, lips doused in maple syrup.  

"Morning" he greeted, licking his lips clean as I stood, my insides devouring themselves.  

"Morning" I replied, walking toward one of the cupboards and looking for some cereal or any type of leftovers. I was completely famished.  

"I made a couple extra pancakes." Andrew began, and as soon as the words fled his mouth, my eyes began scanning the kitchen in anticipation.  

"But I ate them." He finished.   My eyes squinted in his direction, blood boiling as I turned to glare at him in fury while he stood and walked toward me, a cheap grin on his face.  

"Andrew.." I began, my speech completely venomous as my eyes tore at him.  

He laughed and stared at me.  

"I'm kidding." He whispered, reaching around me and pulling out a plate from the microwave.   Eagerly, I grabbed it from his hands and took a seat at the table.  

"You're welcome." He retorted as I fed myself.  

I rolled my eyes, smiling as he walked back to the table. My mouth was full, but as soon as I swallowed, I spoke.

 "So, tell me stuff." I blatantly chimed   "I wanna know the basics of who you are before I let you become close with this family." I finished, taking another bite of the soft, fluffy pancake as I watched him.  

He quietly stared at me before clearing his throat.  

"Well, uh I was born in Casper, Wyoming. When I was sick, I was taught to train dogs. I have a vintage penny collection. I play the ukelele. I enjoy long walks on the beach, staring up into the stars and frolicking into open pastures with my pet giraffes." He smirked, grinning at me as I rolled my eyes and laughed.

  I looked up from my food as his grin held undisturbed on his face.  

"Interesting, so how much of that was actually true?" I inquired, wiping my mouth as I waited for an answer  

"None." He replied soundly  

"Well, at least none after the Casper, Wyoming part. That was true." He stated, matter-o-factly  

I glared at him, letting my mind wonder as my eyes fixated on his.

 "Well then why did you make up all that other stuff?" I asked, somewhat perplexed.  

"Well" he began   "I figure it is completely illogical for me to sit here and tell you all about my life. If I were to tell you, being human, I would leave out any unflattering details or flaws in my personality. You truly would not discover my true self within those words, and where is the fun in flawless? Therefore, I ask that if you'd like to know me, we should instead spend time with each other rather than dwell on silly questions such as that one."  

He smiled his typically charming smile as his gaze stayed focused on me. I stared at him rather perplexed by such an intelligent response. Rolling my eyes, I shook my head and laughed then ate a mouthful of pancake.

  ------  

"Yes, he's Mrs.Tina's son." I mumbled, tossing some of the dishes I'd just washed onto the shitty dish rack of my apartment as Gina tried to make a pyramid out of cigarettes and Nat flicked through his iPhone.