Someone Hit the Mute Button

Chapter Nine- Happy Halmark Holiday!

Chapter Nine- Happy Halmark Holiday!

     Valentine's Day. Possibly the worst day of the year, in my book. It only comes in second place to the day I lost Alec. 

     I had survived my birthday, but this time I was positive this day was going to kill me.

     As usual, I was sitting on my window seat still in my pajamas, waiting for Eli, Dustin, and Gwen. They would probably be here within minutes. For about two weeks now, they showed up at my house right after school. Gwen always had her backpack (Dustin and Eli claimed they didn't need them), so I assumed they rarely ever went home first. Today was Friday though, so they'd pretty much just be here all the time.

     Speaking of, I was told that I would have to go back to school next week. I was nervous, sure, but slightly less so than I should have been. I knew that my friends would help me re-adjust, even though I was never "adjusted" in the first place.

     I heard my door squeak open, and I turned to see Eli leaning against my doorframe- completely soaked.

     My eyes went wide and I suddenly began laughing, that silent little laugh of mine that not many people saw anymore.

     "Ha-ha, very funny," Eli signed, shaking out his hair. "Get dressed, we're going for a drive."

     I noticed how the words, "Happy Valentine's Day" never left his lips- well, his hands. For some reason, that made me feel ten times better.

     "Where are the other two idiots?" I asked as I stood from my perch.

     "In the car. Get dressed."

      I rolled my eyes and signed, "Fine, but don't you dare sit on my bed."

      "Don't worry, I will," He answered with an innocent smile. I gasped and ran over to my bed, jumping onto my knees just as he was about to sit down. I started pushing on his back, leaning my whole shoulder into it, even though I knew that he would sit if he wanted to.

     He chuckled as I did so, pushing back against me lightly but being careful not to actually sit. "But my legs hurt, Lise!" He signed, and all of a sudden took a step forward.

     Of course, I had been putting all my weight into keeping him off my bed, so I fell face forward. I landed with a small thud, and then turned and crossed my arms, sitting on the floor. I glared at him and he simply laughed, leaning down close to my face.

     "Happy?" He teased, smirking. "I didn't sit on your bed."

     I smacked him lightly, and he chuckled once more before leaning against my doorframe again.

     "Seriously, though. Get dressed," He signed again, pointing across the hall to the bathroom. I vaguely wondered why I always had to leave my room. I mean, he could have just waited in the hallway for me.

     I rolled my eyes and stood, heading over to my dressers searching for something to wear. I found a pair of black skinny jeans, and dug through my closet for a sweatshirt of some sort. I dug up a loose-fitting red one with the Batman logo on it. I tore through my shoes for my red high-tops, and once I had found them, I quickly crossed the room and headed for the bathroom.

     I changed and put on some quick make-up, pulling my long and loosely-curled hair into a ponytail. I hurried back to my room to make sure that Eli had not decided to sit on my bed, and I was very relieved when I got there. 

     His eyes scanned me up and down. He did this every time I changed, as if he would see something other than me and my horrible taste.

     My sweatshirt was huge. The sleeves engulfed my hands and it slipped off my shoulder a little, but I didn't mind. I was just hoping it'd be warm enough.