Odd Living

Ten

I am done with the shower and now I am drying off. I change into shorts and a tank top. As soon as my hair is dried, I manage to make it to my room to take the bag off of my leg. Around 8:30pm, I make it to George's room and knock so I don't "interrupt anything."

He opens the door after a few seconds without a shirt on. I immediately blush and cover my eyes. Hoping he takes the hint to put a shirt on.

"I picked a scary movie. It's one of my favorites. It's called "The Babadook." It's mildly adequate. Is that okay?" He questions.

"Yeah...uhh it's fine." I don't even like scary movies but I can't stop thinking about George. Shirtless. Fuck.

"You can come in you know. I don't bite... usually." His upper torso is perfect. Goddamn it.

"Uhh... sorry. Where should I sit?"

"Right next to me, silly." He motions to his bed. "I hope you don't get spooked easily. This one is quite scary for beginners." I think he sensed my fear. That's okay. Maybe I won't be as scared. Maybe I've grown out of being scared.

I set my crutches down and sit on the far left of the bed, not knowing what I'm doing. He is sitting on the right side, should I move closer to him? I'll wait until he says something.

"What are you doing all the way over there?" He asks. I scoot over so I am closer to the middle of the bed.

"You're hot... I mean, fuck. I'm hot. I am physically sweating and I don't want to get you all sticky... I mean sweaty." REAL fucking smooth.

"I don't mind. As long as you're the one getting me sticky." He winks and pats the bed.

So I move as close as I can be. He does the classic 'stretch because I'm putting my arm around you and not because I'm tired' move. So now I am closer than I thought. If I move my head slightly to the right, my nose will touch his cheek.

The movie starts. It's already about ten minutes in and I've already been scared like 20 times. Every time I get scared, I jump, causing Georges arm to move in an odd way. "I don't think I can do this." I whisper. If he hears me, FANTASTIC, but if he doesn't, I have to watch the whole movie. I don't think I will be able to do that.

"We can do something else. We can play a game or something." He says gently in my ear.

It's about 9pm. I'm quite tired because I was in the tree for like three hours.

"Let's go for some ice cream. I haven't eaten American ice cream yet."

"That's a good idea. Are you ready now?" He asks. "I've got this cool place to show you too. It may be hard with your leg, but if it gets difficult, I can carry you." He removed his arm from my shoulder to actually stretch.

"I just need a shoe and my phone." I chuckle because I only need my one shoe. It's funny to me.

"Cool. I'll meet you in my car. I need to freshen up." He looks fine to me.

I leave his room to go to mine. There is a shadow sitting on my bed. "I have crutches and I'm not afraid to use them" I say, hoping to scare whatever it is away.

"It's just me." It's Ian. "Please don't go with George. I think I know where he is going to take you."

"Ian, I am an adult and I haven't done anything with George in five days. I can handle myself. We are just going for ice cream." I tell him. He must have been listing to George and I's conversation.

Before I leave, he grabs my arm and looks deeply into my eyes. "Please Mackenzie." He kisses me. On the lips. "Don't go. We can watch Alice again" I blush. Where is this coming from?

"I know you care about me, Ian, but I want to do this. We can do whatever you want tomorrow. I will see you soon." I kiss him on the cheek and leave.

George beats me to the car because crutches and Ian's warning. Ian is a great person but I miss doing shit with George.

When we get to the ice cream place, we just go through the drive-thru because apparently it takes up a bit to get to where he wants to show me. He orders us root beer floats and burgers. He pays and after a few minutes we get our order.

He starts driving. To where? I have no fucking clue. But it's calm. We have the windows down and the radio on quiet enough to hear our conversation. He is telling me about his family and when he started his  YouTube career. It's a really great story.

"Where are we going, Joji?" I ask because I am tired and it's 10:30pm.

"Did you just call me Joji? That's cute. We are almost there babe." He responds. I didn't even realize I called him Joji. That's okay though.

"How much longer? I'm getting tired." I ask another question.

"We are sleeping here. I have blankets in the trunk. It's a nice little tree house I found when I first moved here."

"Wake me up when we get there." There must have been something wrong with the burger and root beer float because I don't feel like myself. I feel intoxicated.