Up With The Birds

Chapter 6

By the time two thirty rolls around, I'm out of the shower and working on my outfit. I can't decide whether to dress up or look casual. It's not a date, so I decide not to dress up. I put on a pair of khaki shorts and a maroon tee shirt, and shove my feet into a pair of beige vans. With a few quick strokes of my mascara brush, I'm ready to go.

I hurry downstairs and plop onto our couch. My mom is sitting on the recliner with a laptop in hand. My dad is looking at the papers on the table. It's only 2:45, and I'm absolutely starving. I'm not used to such a late lunch. Three o'clock is more like a snacking time, not a meal time. I sneak into the kitchen to snatch a box of cookies. A familiar object peeks my interest. It's Chris' raincoat. How could I have forgotten that?

"Why are you out of pajamas so early in the day?" my dad jokes.

"Oh, crap! Sorry, I forgot to tell you. I'm going out to grab lunch with a few friends at three," I explain. I expect him to be cross with me for not telling him, but he's actually very glad.

"Well I'm happy you're making friends so soon!" my dad says with a smile. "You can stay with them as long as you want, but only if you're back by midnight." I raise my eyebrows.

"Midnight? Are you sure mom is okay with that?"

He laughs at me. "Hey Clara!" he yells. "Is it okay if Lana doesn't get back until midnight?"

"Sure!" my mom replies. "As long as she doesn't do anything stupid." I can hear her snort quietly. My dad looks at me smugly. I shrug my shoulders.

"Midnight is fun by me," I say with a exaggerated sigh. "Party 'til you drop!"

There's a knock at the door. I grab the raincoat and hustle to the door. Guy is standing outside, admiring the bushes that my mom trimmed. I open it, and smile.

"Hey, Guy!" I say cheerfully.

"Hi, Lana." He smiles. "Ready to go? The guys are waiting."

"Yeah, I'm ready." I wave goodbye to my parents and Guy walks me to the car.

"You know, it's perfect raincoat weather out here," he says sarcastically. "What with all the sunshine and still air. I wish I would've brought one."

"Oh shut up!" I push him playfully. "It's Chris', he left it here this morning."

"What a bloke! I can't believe he forgot that," Guy says awkwardly. He looks envious... Is he jealous that Chris got to spend time alone with me this morning?

He opens the car door for me. I'm in the back seat with Jonny and Chris. Will is in the passenger seat by Guy. Jonny stares at me. And he does it for a few minutes straight.

"Are - are you okay?" I stutter. He keeps looking at me ominously.

"Welcome to the Bloody Lads Cult," Jonny says gruffly. Then his straight face breaks and he starts laughing.

"What are you talking about you twit?" Chris scolds him. "She can't join until we do the blood brother - or, rather, blood sister - thing!"

"Yeah, Jon, what are you thinking?" Will chimes in. "I guess you'll have to spend another night at a sheep farm."

"Guys?" I ask, bewildered. "What's going on?" All of the boys laugh, except for Guy. But he cracks a smile.

"We're not really a cult," he reveals. "Although I would've thought that was obvious," Guy adds.

The other boys groan. "Come on, Guy!" Chris gripes. "Don't be such a Will."

"Hey!" Will retaliates. "At least I don't have a twiglet fetish."

I giggle. "You have a twiglet fetish?" I ask, turning to Chris. He blushes madly.

"NO! I don't have a twiglet fetish... I just really like the way they taste." He looks out the window and pouts.

"And the way they look, and the way they feel..." says Jon.

"Be quiet you!" Chris shouts. The car fills with raucous laughter. Even Guy is cracking up. And Chris lets a smile slip onto his face.

"All jokes aside," Will says, clearing his throat, "where are we going to eat?" Nobody answers, so I speak up.

"I'll eat anywhere, but pizza sounds delightful."

"Pizza is always good, but that's what we had yesterday at school," Jonny mentions. "What about a the bakery we normally go to?"

All the guys nod in agreement. "Is that alright with you, Lana?" Chris asks me.

"Yeah, that sounds good," I confirm.

"Fantastic!" Guy says. "If you love sweets and carbs then you'll love this place. They've got all kinds of rolls and there are even scones! And they have some amazing coffee and tea. It's a little overpriced, but it's delicious, I promise."

"Oh. My. Gosh," I whisper in awe. "It sounds just like Starbucks. You guys are... basic British boys."

"We're what?" Will ponders. I can't believe they don't know.

"You know, basic british boys, basic white girls... I was just teasing you guys." This is awkward - they don't get it. "Okay, never mind..." I mutter.

"So, Lana," Jonny starts, breaking the ice. "What makes you wanna hang around with our lot?"

"Clearly it's my charming wit, and Guy's devilish looks," Chris says with a cheeky grin.

"Well there's that," I agree. I'm kidding, of course. I think... "But it's also because you guys are willing to take me in when nobody else is."

"How touching," Jonny gasps. He clutches the area where his heart is. His green eyes shimmer.

"Touching indeed," Will says. "I'm glad you're happy with us."

"Me too," I tell them. Finally we roll up to the bakery. Guy shoos us out of his car and we head into the restaurant.