Our Sandbox

one - piper

Piper

"You know you've worn that sweater for three days this week." Nolan's voice is projected around my room, the phone lying on top of my physics textbook turned to speaker.

I look down at my black cotton sweater, its long sleeves pulled high over my hands.

"Ever heard of a washing machine, doofus?" I snap, and I hear him laugh and smile.

"Not sure, isn't that the monster in the basement?"

"Okay, I haven't been afraid of the washer since I was seven."

"Nine."

"Whatever!"

"You still working on homework? Piper, I can literally hear your brain crying." I look down at my notes filled with equations and theorems, then over at the clock on my bedside table. 8 p.m. Shit. I started studying at 3.

"Almost done." I lie, flipping to the next page of the textbook. "How's your tiny thot?"

"She's not that much of a- She has a nice personality." He stutters, and I laugh out loud.

"Nolan, I've seen watermelons smaller than her boobs."

"Those are part of her nice personality!"

"Sure, ducky."

"You ever gonna let up on that nickname?"

"Don't count on it."

I sigh, redoing my half-assed bun. I try to focus on the symbols dancing around the pages of my textbook, but at this time of night, they just start looking like a bowl of alphabet soup.

"Why the fuck does this have to be so complicated?" I groan, and throw my head back onto my pillows.

"You know, you don't have to get a hundred percent every time, Piper. It's okay to get an A minus every once in a while."

"Says the guy who cheats off of me, but won't talk to me in the hall."

There's silence on the other end. 

Crap.

"Sorry, never mind, I'm so tired, I have no idea what my mouth is saying right now."

Silence again.

"Nolan?"

"Yeah, I'm here." I wait for another response, but only static comes from the device on my bed.

"Forget what I said, ducky." I whisper, but loud enough for him to hear.

"Stop frowning, your face will stay like that."

I turn towards my open window, and see Nolan, peeking through his curtains, his messy hair sticking out in every direction. I stick my tongue out at him and he flips me off, before disappearing back into his room.

"You do realize that stalking is a crime, Mr. Nolan Howard."

"Only if I get caught, Ms. Piper Reynolds."

I laugh, remembering how Nolan had been complaining of several girls creeping on him at a party, before the party got busted up by cops. I have not had the luxury to go to such a party, which is both a blessing and a curse. I have too much homework to do anyway.

My stomach rumbles, reminding me that I haven't eaten all day; I was in too much of a hurry to get to school before the bell to eat breakfast, and I was studying at lunch so I forgot to eat then.