Allegra

Intermezzo

"Have you thought about it?" 

"Thought about what?" I asked, letting the smoke slowly leave my mouth.

"Where you're gonna take her, dumbass." Alex said, rolling his eyes.

"oh." That's all I said. I didn't know.

"Just take her for a burger and a walk or something." he suggested, "I would say where I take my girls but we both know she's not into that." 

"no." I pushed, "I'm not some lame ass guy who's gonna take her on a date she will forget in a day." 

Alex started laughing, coughing manically in between each breath, "oh you really know how to tickle my pickle, Benvolio," he began again, "'not some lame ass guy'" he couldn't stop laughing and coughing, he sounded like a tuberculosis patient or something. 

"Alex could you shut up, your bronchitis suffering ass can die a bit quieter!" his sisters voice rung from the hall, sounding closer until her head poked in from the door, "oh hi, Ben." 

"hey, Sarah, how are you?" 

"oh I'm great, you know," she leaned against the door and adjusted her skirt, "just hmm doing homework and stuff, the usual.." 

"cool cool." I took another drag and pressed my cigarette into the ashtray. 

Alex finally stopped dying and butted in, "Sarah, fuck off or I'll tell mum about the money you stole." 

Her face turned so red I thought she was gonna burst, "you're such a dick, Alex, ugh," suddenly a smile appeared on her face, "bye Ben, have a nice day."

"thanks, you too."

"if you're gonna fuck my sister, do it now cause we both know if I'm healthier I'll cave your face in." he said calmly, looking at me from the corner of his eye.

"ew dude no, she's fifteen!" I repulsed, "plus she's like a sister to me, that's so weird, never say that again." ... "plus I lift the same as you, don't flatter yourself." 

He began chuckling again and coughing, trying his best to hide his weak form. A silence settled in. It felt like home here, smoking on Alex's porch, him shouting at Sarah and our pointless talks. 

"OH BRO!" He exclaimed, "did your mum see your tattoo?" 

"nah, I think I'll hide it till I move out"

"So forever..."

"Shut up, she'll cut my arm off, and you know I need my right hand for many deeds." 

"dirty, dirty boy." He smirked and his blue eyes glistened, "Why would she be against it anyways? Wasn't she a tattoo artist?" He sat up straight and rubbed his eyes.

"yeah but I don't know, apparently everything is wrong if I do it." 

"I would understand her disappointment, out of anything, mountains, really bro?"

"what? I like mountains."

"you're such a weirdo."