Sucker Punch

Chapter Four

Finn

The smell of lemon cleaner mixed with Febreze assaults my nostrils the instant I walk into my apartment. I don't even get a chance to question it before Mitch rushes toward me, broom in hand

"Shoes, man! Your shoes!" He's sweating and looking at me like I kicked his puppy. "Fuck's going on? Your mom coming or what," I ask.

"Shoes," he demands. "Don't ruin my freshly vacuumed carpet," he points at my feet. I slip my sneakers off, grab my bag off the floor and head to my room. "You gonna answer me now?"

He follows me into my bedroom and groans. "Shelby's coming over tonight, remember? I've been cleaning all morning. Nothing turns a girl off more than a crusty toilet."

I take offense to that. "Whoa, our toilet is not crusty. Matter of fact, I think we're pretty clean for guys our age," I say indignantly.

Mitch narrows his eyes. "You know what I mean. I want this place to be spotless for tonight. I don't want anything to go wrong. For shit's sake, I even ordered four different types of carryout." I raise an eyebrow.

"Pizza, burger, tacos, Chinese," he says with a shrug.

"What? No, I mean, why?"

"Well I don't know what kinda food she likes!"

"You couldn't just ask her?

He opens his mouth to speak, then shuts it. "I'm nervous, okay," he says sheepishly.

"At least you'll have leftovers for the rest of the week," I say to cheer him up.

"Nah, I'm sure it'll be gone tonight. Mo eats like he's never seen food." Now I'm confused again.

"Why would Mo be here with you and Shelby?"

"Do you ever listen to me? It's a group thing. I told her to bring her friends and I invited the guys.

"Oh. Shit, that's right." I was sort of hoping I could spend my night watching Netflix and eating Sour Patch Kids. "Man, count me out for tonight. It's been a weird week. I don't really feel like dealing with people," I tell him.

"Who's gonna be my wingman? I need you! I'm funnier when we're bouncing jokes off each other," he pleads. I groan. He's got a point but family stuff has had me wound up the past couple of weeks and I don't know if I can deal with more people.

"Bro, you'll be fine. Shelby's probably just as nervous as you, take it easy. Think of her as a friend, like me, and quit trying to impress her." He nods and stands up straighter.

"Alright, I'm gonna take a shower. I'll probably be in my room for the rest of today. Don't tell anyone I'm here?"

"You got it. I'll try and sneak you some food later. God knows we have enough."

"That's why we're friends," I say as I head into the perfectly clean bathroom.

I'm on my bed surrounded by an assortment of chips and candy, watching The Magicians and I really, REALLY, need to pee. I can hear Mitch's nervous laughter over the music and I know Shelby must be here. The guys have been here a while but Mitch told them I was at the library and I'm afraid to risk being seen, even though the bathroom is directly across from my room and down the hall from the living room and kitchen. 

The universe answers my prayers and the doorbell rings. I run across the hall while everyone is distracted. I rush back to my room and smell the freshly arrived tacos.

My stomach growls like a beast. Fuck. I didn't think this through.

Ivy