Too Much Clickbait - Sequel to Clickbait

51

Katie's P.O.V
I walked around the entire day of Vid Con drama free, thankfully. I was able to meet a few new friends as well as a few fans I recognized who I have seen coming for years. I was feeling like I was on a sugar rush, never wanting to come down as I skipped around happily with a cherry coke and a black maxi dress flowing as I walked, nearly catching at the bottom of my black flip-flops every time I walked. I played with the ends of my second-day curled hair, looking around me aimlessly. I felt a presence come up to my side closely, nearly causing me to jump before I smelt the overdose of Axe body spray come from him. "Hey, Shane! I didn't now you were here."
"I actually just came as an Uber. I'm grabbing Zane and my brother and that Gabbie girl for the barb- Wait. Heath didn't ask you?" Shane raised an eyebrow, turning his snapback's brim to the back of his head.
"Ask me what?" I raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of my soda through my straw.
"The family barbecue is tight. I mean... You're more than welcome to come. I assumed he asked you though." Shane laughed nervously. I backed away, shaking my head and hand nervously. "Come on! You loved them before!"
"I've already had my life threatened enough, thank you." I rolled my eyes. "I don't need to look Cori in the eyes ever again."
"Between you and I, she misses you." Shane laughed lightly when he saw the disbelief on my face. "It's true! Heath never brings home chicks she actually gets along with. You were the first! It's like she lost a friend too."
"I don't know, Shane... If Heath didn't invite me, I'm assuming it's for a reason." I shrugged, walking away.
Shane called after me, causing me to immediately spin around on my heel. "You can bring that Spanish boy you've been digging!" I walked over to him quickly, hitting him in the chest. He brought his hand up to it, pretending to be hurt. "Hey! You're the one who's been feeling up Elton!"
"How do you even know he and I talk?" I narrowed my eyes.
"I'll see you tonight. We start grilling at three and eat at four-thirty, sharp." Shane smirked, calling to me as he walked off. "You got a full kitchen in your room?" I shook my head, yes. "Good. Try and bring some of that vanilla-buttercream cake... Mama's heart will be like putty in your hands."

*****

I held the cake tightly in my lap on the way over in my Uber. I nervously got out, thanking the male driver, and walking towards the oh-so-familiar ranch-style house. I knocked lightly on the door before I heard foot steps walking briskly up to it. Heath opened the door, looking slightly amused. "I didn't think Shane was telling the truth."
"I tried to tell myself how stupid I am but, oh what a shock, I ignored my conscience." I joked through a tight smile, making Heath laugh as he held out his arms for the cake."I made the one she likes."
"She's going to appreciate it." Heath smiled, jutting his head towards the inside of the house for me to follow him.
I did just that, being greeted immediately by Jojo as I closed the front door behind me. Heath put my cake in the kitchen, speaking to someone inside of the room as well. I straightened back up as Heath walked towards me with his mother beside him. She smiled at me softly and Heath slowly backed away, mouthing a 'good luck', as he walked out to the rest of the people at the barbecue. "So...-"
"I want you to know we had a misunderstanding of what took place. I never cheated on Heath. I would never cheat on Heath. I respect him, but... I get it. What was done was wrong, but we are friends now and I just... If you want me to leave, I will. I just want you to know I'm sorry." I spat out in one breath, fidgeting with my fingers nervously.
"Honey, I was just going to ask if the cake needed to be refrigerated or not." She laughed, putting a hand on my shoulder. "There's no bad blood between us, baby! If there was, my rifle would have been down your throat no sooner you touched the driveway."
"Really?" I heard my throat crack, a fire in my chest beginning to deepen.
"If my son loves you, I love you." I went to correct her statement before she put a perfectly manicured finger to my lips. "He wouldn't bring you around here without loving you. Don't you forget that. Come on, now. Help me with the macaroni salad."

*****

"She wasn't made for that shit. I don't know how the fuck she even passed inspection." Shane rolled his eyes, discussing about how his garbage-on-wheels Jeep Cherokee was able to pass inspection. He threw back a sip of beer, firmly patting Heath on his shoulders next to me. I watched as Heath choked on the beer he was drinking from the pain of his tattoo burning underneath his baby blue collared shirt, making me wince for him. "How the hell is Big Red on the road Mr. She Don't Need a Working Catalytic Converter?"
"Nearly three years of a check engine lightly blinking for it's life and I still can't get him to drop the for hundred to fix it." I laughed, rolling my eyes as I crossed my legs underneath the glass patio table. "Believe me, baby, I've tried."
"Heath? What's wrong with your shoulders?" Cori raised an eyebrow, taking a bite from her burger.
"The gym has just been killing me lately." Heath said, exaggerating his words, nearly sounding sarcastic.
"Heath, baby..." Zane said, looking over at him from the opposite side of the table, next to Cori and Gabbie to his left. He tried not to laugh as the entire table looked at him with a smirk. "That wasn't a good lie, baby..."
Cori put her plate down on the table, wiping her hands together to get the crumbs off of them before folding them over her chest. She frowned at Heath, yelling at him with her eyes until Heath stood up. He sighed dramatically, pushing the chair out behind him and unbuttoning his shirt. I felt the tension begin to arise when Heath fidgeted with the last button, stalling as he spoke in his baby voice. "Mama... Don't be mad at me. I'm still your little boy. I may or may not have made a boo-boo, but it's totally fine! I will wear shirts. You will never have to see this thing ever again. I will-"
"Heath Garrett Hussar turn the fuck around." Cori spoke in a deadpan tone, causing my throat to go dry as my eyes bulged out of their sockets. Heath turned around slowly, white knuckling his shirt as he waited for Cori's reaction to the tattoo. Shane and Mark attempted to stifle their laugh, not wanting to increase Cori's wrath.
Cori went inside quietly, causing all of us to turn and watch her every move. She entered the kitchen and we could all hear her fumbling around. Looking at each other confused, we continued to watch the door to wait for her to emerge. I shrugged my shoulders up at Heath. "Why wouldn't you just lie and say you fell, asshole?"
"I didn't know how buzzed I was, okay? I thought I could lie better!" Heath whined, flailing his right arm helplessly. I tried to keep from laughing at his glassy eyes and rosy-red cheeks, though I couldn't help it. "I'm glad you think my exorcism is funny."
"Execution is the right word, baby." I patted his forearm, the rest of the family joining in laughing with me.
Cori walked back out, shutting the screen door behind her, as she held my cake with large piece missing from it. We all fell silent as she stood in front of Heath. She let out a small huff of air before shoving the cake full force into his face. Heath jumped back as the rest of us gasped. Cori smirked, licking icing residue from her fingers. "Now... Mark? Shane? Go set up the projector for out here. I want to have a movie night."