Don't Talk to Strangers

Chapter 3

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping out open windows. Something was odd though. I lifted my head and noticed I had been sleeping on Josh's chest. My face went red and I slowly sat up, hoping not to wake anyone up. He was laying on the floor, one arm under his head.

"You sure do blush a lot, Kara," I jumped at the sound of Josh's voice and looked at him grinning. How long has he been awake?

I looked at the clock and noticed it was almost noon. Mia and Ryan were still asleep on the couch.

"Are you hungry?" I asked Josh as he sat up.

"Sure, want me to help you make breakfast?" He replied, brushing back his messy hair with his hand.

I nodded and we went into the kitchen. I started looking for a bowl to make pancake batter in but I was disappointed when there were none in the cupboard. I got one from the dishwasher and started washing it.

"So, are you home alone a lot? You seem pretty used to taking care of yourself," Josh asked.

"Um, yeah. I sometimes get to see my mom at night but she gets home late, and she's had to do a lot of traveling lately."

"What about your dad?" He asked getting out plates and silverware.

"My dad um, passed away when I was nine." I always felt uncomfortable talking about my dad's death, he didn't deserve to die. Especially the way he did.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. What happened?" I could feel tears forming in my eyes but I told myself not to cry.

"Cancer, he died of cancer." I lied. Josh didn't say anything else and I kept washing the bowl even though it was clean by now.

"Want me to dry that while you get the ingredients?"

"Sure," I said giving him a weak smile. I walked across the kitchen to the pantry and started looking for flour.

All of a sudden I felt cold water hit my back and I turned around to see Josh at the sink holding the hose and grinning. I grabbed a handful of flour and threw it at him but he ducked. He kept spraying me with ice cold water and I kept throwing flour at him.

"Hey, what's all the noise for in-" Just then Mia walked in, wide eyed. She started laughing and it wasn't until then I noticed what a mess the kitchen was.

"We were just making breakfast," Josh said casually like nothing had happened and Mia started laughing again. It's not that funny, I thought to myself.

"I'll go wake up Ryan and we go get some food down the road while you two clean up," She said still laughing. She turned around and headed into the living room leaving Josh and I in the disaster of a kitchen.

"Look at what a mess you made, Kara McConnell," He said shaking his head like an upset parent.

"Me? You started it!" I cried walking to a drawer full of towels. I tossed one at him and we started wiping the counters off. It only took twenty minutes to clean the kitchen and I was shivering in my wet clothes.

"I'm going to go home and change and check on my sister, I'll be back in a few minutes ok?" I nodded and he started walking home. I went upstairs to my bedroom and put on a clean pair of sweatpants and a new tank top. I noticed his sweatshirt laying on my bed and made a note-to-self to give it back to him.

I walked over to my window to close it, forgetful me left it open all night. Outside I saw Josh in his bedroom, looking through his closet for clothes. He started to take his shirt of and I hurriedly put the blinds down. I wonder if he knew about this whole window thing...

I went down to my basement and put a load of laundry into the washing machine. When I came back upstairs Josh was waiting at the door but he looked kind of nervous.

"Hey, is everything ok?" I asked him as he walked in.

"Yeah, I just have to go somewhere in a couple of hours."

"Oh okay," I said slightly disappointed but I didn't know why.

"It's a party thing for my cousin," He seems so nervous, I thought to myself, "It's her going away party. She's moving to Iowa,".

"Oh, that's nice. I have family in Iowa."

"Would you want to go with me? I mean to keep to me company, my family is kind of boring," He said half smiling.

"Sure," I said laughing and his face lit up in surprise.

"Really?" He asked in disbelief. I nodded and he smiled.

"Oh but there's one thing, it's kind of a formal party so you'd have to wear a dress."

"It's fine, I'll borrow one of Mia's," I hated dresses but I'd tolerate them.

"Okay, great. Thanks." He said smiling and I wondered why he was so happy.