friends or more • jenzie

2 ↬ oops

Johnny Orlando
7:30 am

•••

"Lauren Orlando, you better not have eaten all the pop-tarts!" I yell out to my younger sister.

"Oops!" She yells back, and I grit my teeth to stop myself from yelling a few more choice words at her. God, little sisters are annoying.

I pretend to 'put my anger away in a box,' like Mackenzie tells me to do, and raid the cupboard for more breakfast foods. I sigh when I realise that toast will have to do. Popping some wheat bread into the toaster, I pad barefoot back into my room to get changed, squinting at the sun. Although it's spring, It's definitely not hot, so I grab some navy sweats and a white shirt off my dresser to shrug on. When Lauren walks through the hallway, I fall into step behind her as we walk to our shared bathroom.

"You know, I really feel like strangling you right now." I casually state, and she raises an eyebrow at me.

"Why?" She asks innocently.

"You," I start, poking a finger at her shoulder, "ate all the unhealthy food, and now I have to have Mom's wheat bread!"

"Sorry." She giggles, running away. Sometimes it really does weird me out– her and Mackenzie are so alike.

Mackenzie and I have been best friends for years. We've always been closer than her and Lauren. We have each others backs, love to play video games together, have sleepovers and movie nights. Sometimes I feel like Mackenzie is the only person I want to talk to, the only person I want to confide in. Maybe it's because she has such a kind and positive demeanour.

"You should be." I yell at Lauren before running a hand towel under the tap and splashing it in my face. Cold water spills everywhere, but hey, that can be Lauren's job to clean it up after her shower. Oops.

After I've done getting ready I walk to the kitchen again and spread my toast with butter. Dad's sitting in the kitchen sun, munching on an apple.

"Hey son." He says, ruffling my hair up. as he stands. "How about we practice some more guitar today, yeah?"

"Sure." I shrug, with a mouth full of toast.

He gives me a condescending look.

"Sorry." I grin when I've swallowed.

"Yeah." He states, smiling just as any boy would. "Thought so."

I finish up my toast before walking back up to my room. Looking around, I sigh. I better tidy it, because Mackenzie hates me being messy. Damn her and her perfect ways.

I pick up clothes off the floor and dump them in my basket, swipe my desk clean of the junk that's collected there and briskly pull up the covers on my bed. Surveying the room again, I shrug my shoulders. Not too bad. At least I made an effort.

•••

Just less than half an hour later, I'm sitting at my desk studying when Mackenzie opens her window, hair splayed in every which direction. I fight back a laugh.

"Well you're looking pleasant this morning." I smirk, trying to keep the amusement off my face.

"Hello to you too." She grins sarcastically.

"Oooh beautiful and sarcastic, just what I want to hear." I tease, and she sticks out her tongue at me. She does look sort of beautiful today. I'm not sure I'd want to tell her that though; she has a mean punch.

"Come over later." She starts. "Please. Mom and Maddie are getting their nails done."

I laugh. "Too girly for you to handle?"

"Definitely."

"Alright, I'll see you soon." I start. "But Mackenzie?"

"Yeah?"

"Have a shower."

She gives me the finger. I just laugh.

•••

"Don't let me, down." I finish singing, and Dad claps.

"Bravo, bravo." He laughs. "That was some of the best singing I've ever heard from you."

"Thanks Dad." I grin. It's safe to say that I'm a lot closer to my Dad than my Mum. I love my Mum, but Dad taught me how to sing and play all the instruments I know. One day, I'm going to make it big with my singing. I'd love to explore the world, touring maybe. That, or basketball.

"You better shower up man." Dad says, getting up and patting me on the back.

"I will later. I'm going over to Mackenzie's."

"Of course you are bud." He laughs, ruffling my hair for the second time today.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I grin back. He winks. My Dad, Dale Orlando, winks at me.

"John, when are you ever not at Mackenzie's?"

•••

[780 words]

Lol I'm editing this story in case you haven't noticed. Hope you enjoy X