why not?

chapter 4: se prohibe

chapter 4: se prohibe

The moment I realise that Tristain is in my bed, I panic. My twenty three year old, bleeding hot cousin is in my bed! Not to mention I have a crush on him! 

I toss the sheets of and make a plan to head towards the sleeping bag at the foot of the bed. Tristain's arms detain me, however. I tug them off, quite forcefully and bury myself in the hard, awful sleeping bag. I remember how much I hate them.

I hear Tristain's light breathing and wonder what time it is. The clock reads 4:00 am. Wow. Why did I wake up so early? 

Going back to sleep is easy, but waking up is tough.

I wake up to the smell of breakfast. Omlets and oatmeal, it is. When I try to get up, my whole body aches. Argh. I pull myself up and wonder what I did to deserve such painn!

Glad to get rid of the sleeping bag, I check to see if Tristain is still in bed, and thank goodness he isn't! I don't want to get all nervous and act like a baffoon. The bathroom looks used, with toothpaste and water all over the sink and the roll of toilet paper looking disheaveled. Tristain really is a messy person.

I get dressed, with another crappy looking shirt and boy shorts. Mum always says i should've been her son and I smile at that. Maybe it's true.

Joey is working on the crosswords in the newspaper and Mum is cooking breakfast. No one else is in the kitchen.

"Where is everyone?" I ask, looking around. Mum, still wearing her bathrobe, gives me a look.

"It's 7:30 darling. Cara and your Dad are still in bed. James and Tristain went out to make reservations for us adults for dinner tonight. James has holiday party to attend to and Tristain will be staying home with you, if you haven't got anything...?"

"No, all my friends are on holiday trips" I say rather glumly. Mum looks thoughtful.

"You could invite Jessica or Mandy, right?" says Mum, "You told me they aren't going anywhere"

"Yeah, I could" I say, but secretly I really want to be alone with Tristain. Maybe we can bond. And kiss again...!

"But I'm not up to it, maybe tomorrow"

"Whatever you'd like"

"A three letter word for horseless carriage...." Joey mumbles, "...it's got to be car, right? Hmm...It might not fit with seven down...."

Who even does those crosswords anymore? Only Uncle Joey would.

I eat my eggs and oatmeal and retire back to my bedroom. I do something that shocks me. I actually (get this, I'm serious!) smell the pillow that Tristain slept on.

Have I gone mental?

i'm one of those creepy girlfriend characters that are obsessed over their boyfriends.

Tristain isn't even my boyfriend!

I'm even worse than I thought!

But my....he smells wonderful. Like fruity shampoo and Dove soap. Ooooooh. I hug the pillow. He's an idiot. He was always mean to me. He pushed me in the mud that one time went we went to that swamp place. Then he laughed at me. And that other time! Where he and James went to the arcade without me! They didn't even tell me and I was stuck with the grandparents. Those countless times he would pinch me and never apologise. He'd trip me on the playgrounds too. 

Why do I like him?! Is it because he's manly and hot and ridiculously and adorably caring when he wants to be? 

Stop it, I tell myself, he's...he's Tristain! My older cousin! Even if we ever did end up together, or anything like that, it's not like we actually could. We'd get arrested or something. Our families would disown us. 

I groan. Why am I even thinking about my own trifle problems?! The old Lila would be studying her History, or working math problems. The old Lila would be terrified about her grades and SAT (kind of like A-levels, but in the US) scores to even be bothered by boys. 

He's a man, a part of me argued, You're allowed to get distracted with him.

He'll break my heart, I argued back, boys are trouble. 

It's like having a chocolate bar in front of you and not eating it because you're afraid of the possibility of cavities. 

EAT THE CHOCOLATE BAR!

No! It might give me cavities!

My point exactly!

Holy sh**! Am I talking to myself?

Yeah, you are.

I snap out of my little arguement and think about what I (the other part of me) had said. Maybe I should...taste the chocolate bar? Just a little?

Oh god, that sounds wrong.

I'm screwed.

Tristain's POV

The resturant didn't even open when we got there. Damn. James heats up the car and we crank on the radio.

"Ugh, American music" James scoffs, "I miss the Beatles"

"They don't make music like that anymore" I sigh nostalgically. I didn't grow up with Beatles, but I wish I did. They're music is amazing.

I close my eyes and think about Lila. I shouldn't have pretended to be drunk and weaseled myself into her bed. It was wrong of me. I was acting so immature. It was embarassing! She even got out of bed and slept on the floor! I can't believe I made her do that.

Maybe I should just tell her the kiss was a mistake. 

But I think she's just starting to like me....

Even if she was, you dimwit, you can't make her do this. She's only seventeen, she's got her whole life. She probably has never had a decent boyfriend. You can't steal that experience from her.

Let her date boys her own age, a boy who isn't her cousin.

This sucks, I decide, this sucks sh**. 

James and I  chill until a car pulls up, a resturant employee by his outfit, and then we make reservations. The resturants this big shot resturant that forced us to drive early. In a few hours, all the reservations would've been taken.

I'm nervous on our car ride home. I can't wait to see Lila. 

"You and Lila have been pretty close" says James. Speak of the devil.

"Same as ever" I argued smoothly, "Can't believe she's already a senior in high"

"Yeah" says James. That's the end of our conversation. We men don't talk very much. A few minutes later.

"Wanna play some Call of Duty when we get back? I haven't played with anyone good lately. All my college mates are god awful"

"Sure, why not? I'll beat you for sure, don't worry"

James and I laugh.

And we pull up into the driveway. Lila! I sing in my head. I've come homee.

Wait, I just sounded like a deranged maniacal serial killer. God, what's happening to me?