Rules of Attraction

Chapter Two

Chapter Two-

Mallory wakes up the next morning to her best friend climbing in her window with a toothbrush in his mouth.  “Time to get up,” he attempts to say through a mouthful of toothpaste.  She loved waking up to Ross, not only because he was amazingly nice, but because he would always brush her hair for her before leaving to go back to his own room.

Pushing back the covers, she swings her legs over the side of her queen sized bed.  She strolls over to her bathroom where she grabs her own toothbrush and points it at her best friend.  “You were cuddling a bit too much last night, Ross.”

“Sorry, I had a dream that we were-“

Mallory turns on her electric toothbrush and smiles at herself, “sorry! Can’t hear you! I’m brushing my teeth.”

Ross scowls and runs a hand through his short brown hair.  He takes the time to make Mallory’s bed before sitting down on it and buttoning his long sleeved collared shirt.  Mallory spits out a dollop of used toothpaste into the sink and gurgles some water.

“You’re still giving me a ride today right?”

Ross stands and joins Mallory in the bathroom, watching her from the door frame.  “When don’t I take you to school?”

“I don’t know, I just…”

“You ask me every day, Mally.  I would’ve assumed that by now you would know that I drive you and the guys every single day.”

“But you were supposed to play paintball today and-“

“you can take my car, and then come pick me up later.”  Ross smiles and kisses Mallory’s forehead.  “I trust you, even if your parents don’t.”

Placing her toothbrush back on her bathroom counter, Mallory then washes her face and hands before returning to her bedroom.  “whatever,” she mutters.

Ross chuckles from the bathroom and plants his butt on Mallory’s window seat. 

“Wanna pick out something for me to wear?” Mallory takes out her braid and looks at herself in the mirror as she pulls her bangs back.

“Sure,” Ross responds walking to Mallory’s walk in closet.  He grabs a pair of jeans and a white long sleeved t-shirt.  “here.”

“Thanks,” Mallory pulls off Ross’s shirt that she wore to bed and switches it for her own.  Then she tugs on the pair of skinny jeans, followed by some socks and her pair of green converses. 

“Hey, I gotta go get my backpack, but I’ll meet you at the car in twenty minutes.  Okay?”

“sure,” Mallory smiles and rolls up the sleeves of her shirt.  “I’ll just go eat breakfast with my dad.”

“Did he ever come home last night?”

“I don’t know Ross.”

“okay, well… I gotta go.  Have a nice breakfast, Mally.”  Ross sneaks out Mallory’s window with a smile. 

When Ross steps back into his own room, he grabs a stick of deodorant and swipes it on his armpit.  He sticks his nose under his arm and sniffs, “perfect,” he mumbles.

“Ross! Breakfast!”

“Coming!” grabbing his backpack, Ross races from his bedroom.  He closes his door and meets his mom in the kitchen.  Passing his little brother Wes he grins, “Hey dude.”

Wes looks up at Ross with a toothless smile, “hi!” Laughing, Ross takes his seat next to his mom after kissing her cheek to say good morning.

“I’m gonna need you to pick Wesley up after school today,” his mom, Trish states while reaching for her glass of orange juice. “I have to take an extra shift at the hospital.”