Even Through the Storm

29. Uninvited

 It's nine o'clock and the boys have all gone to bed. Dri and I are sitting on the living room floor with a romance movie that we've seen a hundred times in the background. "So," Dri says. "Pumpkins or pineapples?" I take a handful of popcorn from the bowl in front of us.

"Ooh, that's a hard one."

"Really?"

"No. Pineapple. Though it burns my mouth."

"Ugh, okay. Your turn."

"Okay, um, Ash or Peter?"

"What?"

"Which one would you rather kiss? Ash or Peter?"

"Um, I can't choose! Nor can you even ask that!"

"Um, why not?" I put an unpopped kernel in my mouth.

"Because one of them's your boyfriend! And the other one is Peter!"

"So?"

"So? If I say Ash then you'll hate me, and if I say, Peter, then that means I said I want to kiss Peter! And that is just, ugh!" She shivers at the thought.

"Hey!" Peter yells. Dri and I jump. Ash and Peter walk through my front door. I throw a pillow at them. It hits Peter in the face."Hey again."

"Choose one," I tell Dri.

"Yeah, choose one," Ash whispers into Dri's ear. She hits his arm.

"And what are you two doing here? My parents are going to be home any minute and I'm supposed to be babysitting!" Asher grabs a piece of popcorn and lays down on the loveseat next to me.

"Pete here is the only that's not invited," Asher says.

"You weren't invited," I say.

"Technicalities. Anyway, Dri, who's hotter, me or Peter?"

"Um, the question was who would I rather kiss. But hotter is the easier question. And that's Ash." I smack her arm.

"He's mine!"

"Reason I don't want to kiss him."

"You're a good friend."

"I know."

"But, that leaves Peter."

"Hah. no. Not Peter. Never Peter."

"What? Hey! What's wrong with me?"

"Yeah, I've kissed him," I say, eating another piece of popcorn.

"Do we need to bring this up again?" Asher asks.

"Yes. And you have too!" I say.

"Okay, that we never need to bring up."

"Four hundred likes!" I tease.

"Stop! And we'll make it easier. Add Lola to the mix."

"Oh, that's simple," Dri says. "Lola."

"Hah," I say to Peter. "Wait! Why me?"

"'Cause you're my friend. And I've already kissed you. That's also in the video."

"We're not your friends?" Asher asks pretending to be hurt. Dri throws a pillow at him.

"You know what I meant!" Cassie and Dad walk in.

"Woah, people!" Cassie says.

"You said I could invite Dri over! And these two were uninvited. And are uninvited. Why are you guys even here?" I ask Asher.

"Um, 'cause we're awesome," he says. "And I forgot my house key. So, yeah."

"That explains you, kinda. You?" I direct to Peter.

"I was gonna hang out with Ash, but house key."

"And the reason you can't hang at your place?" Dri asks.

"Ahh, a great question. Answer, house renovations. Horrible toll."

"Cool," I say. "Um, Cassie, the boys were asleep by eight and had watermelon and chicken nuggets with milk for dinner. Oh, and I gave Noah his bath."

"Thanks, Lola," Cassie said, heading upstairs.

"Boys gone by eleven!" Dad says heading after her.

"Deal!"