Adorably Abducted ✧ Sparklington/SyndiSparklez

Set Up

"Do you want me to help you clean up?" I offered, getting up, out of my seat.

"Nope, you sit yourself right back down, I've got it," Ingrid giggled, cleaning the plates from our bacon and eggs breakfast. "So, I have a season pass to the zoo... I was wondering if maybe you'd wanna come with?"

"Sure," I mumbled, grabbing Ingrid's and my phone. "I'll meet you in the car."

I checked my home screen, noticing Tom had texted me.

'Please call me when you can.'

Opening my contacts, I clicked on Tom's name.

What will he say? Is he going to yell at me, or apologize? Multiple scenarios ran through my head all at once.

I hesitated to click the call button.

"Hey," Ingrid exclaimed, climbing into the drivers side. "I hope you have my phone, cause I couldn't find it..."

"Uh, yeah. Here 'ya go," I placed her phone in the cup holder, giving up on calling Tom. I didn't exactly want to go to the zoo with Ingrid, I just wanted to sleep. I was only going because of how excited she seemed.

"So... What's your favorite animal?" Ingrid practically sqeauled, taking the interstate to get to our destination.

"I mean... Bats are kinda neat."

"Oh my gosh... Bats are like flight puppies, I love them."

"Flight puppies?" I couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah!" Ingrid giggled, looking over at my confused expression. "I'm perpetually twelve, sorry 'bout it... Fun fact, I was going to be a biologist before I went to law school."

"Really? What made you change your mind?"

"Um... Oliver. He said being a biologist was ridiculous and he wanted me to go to law school with him... So I did," she explained.

"Where'd you meet this 'Oliver' guy, anyway?" I asked, picking at the skin surrounding my thumbs.

"High school," she muttered, pulling into the zoo parking lot.

We stayed quiet for a good hour or so, just taking in the sights of the establishment. A herd of zebras grazed on some grass, giraffes stretched their necks to reach for a snack of green leaves. Lions snored, penguins swam. Nothing too exciting happened.

I stopped to buy Ingrid and I some ice-cream, but neither of us said a single word. I didn't know why. It wasn't like we were angry or upset with each other, we were both just too tired to try to make conversation.

"Ingrid?" A random dude walked up to our little table in the shade. Ingrid quickly wiped the ice-cream off her face. "Oh my god it is, Ingrid Mulaney!"

I suddenly felt a wave of jealousy wash over me, my shoulders broadening, my chest puffing out. Ingrid turned around to meet who had recognized her.

"Sawyer Neil?" Ingrid smiled. He had short, black hair. He pulled off his goofy, bright green shades to reveal his sky blue eyes. He had a frame similar to my own, as he quickly reached out to hug Ingrid. "It's so good to see you!"

"It's good to see you too! I thought I'd never see you again after you dropped out," he finally turned to notice me. "Oh, uh, hi. I'm Sawyer," he said awkwardly, extending his hand out towards me.

"Jordan, nice to meet you," I forced a smile, shaking his hand.

"Here," Sawyer mumbled, scribbling something down on a napkin and handing it to Ingrid. "You can text me later, I'd love to catch up. It was great seeing you!" He exclaimed. "Nice to meet you, Jordan."

"You too."

"I'll see you around?" Sawyer asked.

"Yeah! Of course!" Ingrid was grinning from ear to ear.

And with that, he was gone. Ingrid continued to watch him leave, a smile printed across her face.

"Who was that?" I asked.

"Sawyer Neil..." she whispered to herself. "I had a massive crush on him when I was still taking my biology courses."

"Oh," I muttered.

"Yeah."

She wouldn't stop smiling.

"Oh!" I exclaimed. She looked over at me.

"What?"

"You two should date!"

"What? No!"

"Um, yes, you should!"

"You're crazy," she was blushing like mad.

"And you're blind if you can't see he's crazy about you! He's obviously in love with you, you're crazy about him, just... Date the man!"

"Jordan, shut your mouth," she rolled her eyes.

"You shut your sass, cause it seems like a perfect fit."

"The only conversation we've had all day is about my love life, great," Ingrid said, shaking her head.

"You two should date," I teased in a sing-songy voice.

"Or we should not," she mimicked. "Can we just go home, please?"

"Only if you promise to call him."

"Fine," she simply dismissed me.

"Pinky promise," I demanded.

She hesitantly linked her pinky with mine.

"You're a dork."

"I know."