Neighbors

Neighbors XXVII

Chapter 27

I  L O V E  Y O U

A week after the whole graduation, everyone is sitting in my living room lounging on the couches mom bought. Well...everyone who is coming to Chicago of course. Carol, and her new boyfriend James. Parker. Andrew. We are all going to Chicago to meet up with Jason. I literally cannot wait until we go. We have about a six-hour drive ahead of us, and we've decided to take Parkers Jeep since he has the most room and seems like the best car. I can't wait until we leave. Although I'm sad that Willy couldn't come, I know he is happy right now with all his family throwing him a going away party. So he didn't come.

Carol sits next to me as we wait for Andrew to arrive from his uncle's house. He supposedly left about an hour ago and should be here in a little bit (now that I think about it, it would have been easier to pick him up on the way since Indiana is on the journey to Chicago). James is staring at Parker and Parker is staring at me with a smirk. He obviously is recalling what happened a couple days ago. I remember it too. It was a good memory, and I love to replay it. A nice little make out scene brews over and over inside my mind.

"Hello, hello." Andrews familiar voice fills the silence between all of us. I don't really know why we aren't talking. We should be buzzing with excitement, but we all just look tired. Jeez.

"Yeah!" I try to bring a spark of excitement through us and pop up. I jog over to where Andrew is entering the living room and crush him in a hug. He hugs me back after a second and we pull away.

"Why is everyone so quiet?" He whispers in my ear. I shrug against him and pull away. Parker is staring at me, so I walk over to him. Thankfully, James gets what I'm doing and bounces up from his seat to walk over to Andrew with his arms raised, posed for a hug.

"Long time no see, my brother!" His silly voice makes Carol smile and she gets up as well. Her dog Shiner prances around the house, since my mom agreed to take care of him so that Carols creepy butler could have the week off. So Shiner barks from the ground as Carol bounces all of the bags onto her shoulder. Parker gets up, lifting me up bridal style. I yelp in surprise but wrap my arms around his neck.

"Don't drop me," I mewl. He tightens his hold.

"Never."

I look out, to see Carol, Andrew, and James staring at us with smirk. I scramble, my mind fringing then coming back together. A crimson red paints its way across my cheeks and I jump down from Parkers arms. He laughs and grabs his and mine bag. What just happened?

"I'm ready," Parker starts.

"I'm ready." I state after him.

"I'm ready," Carol and James say at the same time and look to Andrew for his say.

He stares at us with a growing grin, "I'm ready."

~*~

An hour later, we are driving on a highway with Parkers Jeep windows down and everyone singing along to music that is blasting. I'm in control of it. I plan on playing some Panic! at the Disco after this song that is playing now. I don't actually know what it is, it was just on Parkers phone and everyone shouted yes and started to sing along. I have no idea what any of the words are, but apparently Carol does as she bursts out all the lyrics as if she is a soloist. I stare at her, wondering if she was always this good at signing.