Maroon Socks

15: WATER PARKS PLEASE

The Maroon Socks cottage in the morning is quite hectic. People are dishing freshly cooked pancakes ("From scratch!" may Fiona add) onto plates and passing coffee mugs around. The main problem erupting from this morning is that everyone's mistakenly swapping mugs and sipping their drafts from someone else's mug. They can't help it: all the mugs look the same.

Just as Calvin is about to take a sip from Fiona's mug, she takes it away from him, wiping the mug to get rid of any remains of someone else off it. "Okay, guys, come on! I don't want to go when there are a lot of people!" Fiona says. Elijah's half of his seat amidst him stuffing the last bits of pancake into his mouth. "Come on, come on!" Fiona rushes, slapping Elijah's back to get him to move on.

The poor guy's food gets choked up in his throat and his eyes widen, dramatically. Brooke's eyes enlarge as well, and she quickly gets up and grabs the nearest mug and passed it to him. Elijah takes it, instantly downing it. But to his continuous bad luck for the past minutes, it turns out to be hot coffee (two things Elijah hates: coffee and hot beverages [most of the times, he has his exceptions.]) Brooke makes a 'tss' sound, taking the mug from him. "I'm alright. I'm alright," Elijah murmurs. "I thank you all for showing concern in times of chocking. And Brooke, you must love me."

Brooke snorts, then smirks at him, cheekily saying, "I've been flirting with you for the past week but thanks for noticing." The two of them high-five one another, before going to the sink to clean up their plates. They silently throw soap on one another, without having anyone notice.

Arthur eyes the eating spot, that belonged to Elijah mere minutes ago, feeling irritated. Dakota, who's too busy making flower shapes out of her fruit whilst sitting opposite Arthur, notices his heated stare. She follows his glare to see a messy spot. It isn't disgusting but it's enough to make Arthur agitated. Although, he knows that Elijah's going to come to clean it up, he is sitting next to it and he suddenly feels uncleanly.

Dakota purses her lips, quickly getting up and walking over to his side. She piles all the different bits used onto Elijah's plate, before picking it up with one hand. She doesn't walk off. Dakota lifts her hand and caresses the skin on the side of Arthur's neck with her thumb, whilst smiling at him. 'I got it,' she mouths to him. Just as she's about to leave, Arthur grabs her by the wrist, making her look over her shoulder. He mouths a thank you to her, to which she responds by nodding and her cheeks flushing. She walks off to the spare kitchen counter on the other side. Arthur doesn't remove his gaze off her retreating form or when she's got his back to him whilst doing something unknown to Arthur.

Calvin, who has a fork against his lower lip, clears his throat. Arthur snaps his head towards Calvin, completely dazed and unaware of what is happening. Calvin simply tilts his head to Dakota's direction, then raises his eyebrows for a second, in question. Arthur frowns, not understanding what he's trying to say. Then Calvin nods his chin towards Arthur, however the Clueless remains clueless. Then, he leans forward and hisses, "Fucking Dakota."

Arthur lets out a small gasp, instantly leaning forward. "I'm not fucking Dakota." Calvin lets out a strangled noise, his hands clenching and unclenching. He sighs and falls back onto his seat, putting a hand on his forehead and shaking his head.

"Who's sexing Dakota?" Brooke whispers, plopping onto a seat beside Calvin with an orange that she's currently peeling in her hand.

"No, you guys misheard me," Calvin groans.

"Wait — Is this you we're talking about, Arthur?" Brooke smirks, popping an orange piece into her mouth. Calvin sighs, tipping his head back and slouching further into his seat. "Is there something I'm missing here?" Brooke gasps, now grinning. "Arthur Bradley are you and someone else not saying anything?"