Chapter two
By the time I make it to my house, it's almost four o'clock. I leave my books and stuff in my room, grab a jacket and decide to go to Nathan's, who lives opposite my house. I'm eager to see him because it's been a long time since we last saw each other, so I cross the street, ring the bell and, after a few seconds, he opens the door.
"Sam! Long time no see!" he pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek. I hug him back and smile, his current scent entering through my nostrils. I'm always so glad to see him.
"I know! It's been like, what, a week?"
"Yeah, hard to believe we live across the street" he laughs and I join him.
"So, are you going to invite me in or shall we stay here all the afternoon?" I tease him.
"Hey, wait. What about our healthy meal?" he complains. "Come on, let's go." He grabs the keys, closes the door and motions towards the kiosk. I can't help the smile that appears on my lips.
When we were little, we would have doritos and coca-cola as a meal everyday. Our mother used to tell us that if we kept eating that much we would end up rolling out the door. But no matter which house we were staying at, no matter what we had eaten before or were going to eat later, it was always a good time to have a pack of doritos and a glass of coca-cola. I guess it has become a habit for us. We will never talk —not about any serious stuff at least— until we are sitting on his or my bedroom's floor with a mouthful of our usual junk food. We are used to spend most of the day together. I guess that's why he's my best friend.
-
We're sitting in his bedroom, eating like there's no tomorrow, while watching a lame TV show. It's about random couples that, apparently, are there to sort out their oh-so-terrible problems. Of course, they end up either overacting their endless love for each other and exchanging cheesy words in front of a million people or fighting even more and telling their worst secrets to everyone as a revenge. Ugh, disgusting. I bet they pay a lot of money just to be on TV for no longer than ten minutes.
"Hey, Sam" Nathan interrupts my thoughts.
"Yea?"
"What did one plate say to the other?"
I raise an eyebrow and look at him confused, waiting for the surely ridiculous answer.
"Lunch is on me!" he says with a grin plastered on his face. "Get it? Because it's on the plate!"
I don't know if it's because of the stupidity of his attempt at a joke, or because of the awful failure sound the TV made —due to a stupid, cheesy comment some guy did— seconds after he told it, but I choke on my coca-cola, spitting some if it inside the glass and some on the floor, and we burst into laughter for several minutes —me breaking into a coughing fit in the end.
"Sam —are you okay?" he manages to ask while laughing and pats my back.
"Ye —yeah" I say through coughs. "Fuck, that was a really bad joke, Nate." I let out a huge sigh, finally recovering. It's been ages since I last laughed like this, and I know it's because of the ability to set me in a good mood that he has.
"Your face says otherwise..." he teases me and I nudge his arm.
"Shut up."
"Don't provoke me or I'll tickle you" he threatens and pokes my stomach to prove his point, and I squeak in response. It's my weakness. "So, any news to share with me?" he turns the TV off and he's now facing me, anxious for an answer.
"Nope" I say nonchalantly and he frowns; his eyes search through my face for any clue but I try my best to hide any emotion. I'm good at that anyway.
