Mediocre Boulevard

f i v e

     I was sitting on my mess of a bed when my mother informed me that we were going to the St. James' for dinner. Mind you, I had no fucking idea who the St. James' were. At least, I didn't remember until she nodded her head towards my window indicating that they lived next door. Cloud's house.

I was told to wear something presentable and to do something with my hair. Call me disrespectful but I kept on my same faded jeans and simple yellow t-shirt because my mother was a real bitch for trying to make me be the daughter she was obviously not going to get.

Cloud's house was small and looked a lot like mine. Not everyone on this boulevard could have a tacky ass mansion like the Holt's. I knew my mother wished she could but I found joy in living in our small house with the dingy shutters. A house with character, like Cloud's.

"Welcome! I'm so glad you're here!" A woman with wavy cropped blonde hair smiled as she ushered my mother and me inside. I didn't expect Cloud's mother to be in paint stained jeans and a simple white t-shirt. I expected her to be in a tight dress like my mother. I also didn't expect her to be so happy.

"Oh! What a lovely home! Thank you for inviting us," my mother responded before handing over the plate of cookies she'd baked. I could tell she was being bitchy. I could also tell that Mrs. St. James knew she was.

"You must be Charlie. I've heard a lot about you. Cloud is in the living room if you want to join him," Mrs. St. James smiled before she pointed over her shoulder towards their living room.

I hesitated before going to the living room where Cloud was sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and that ludicrous movie he'd brought over a week ago playing on the television. He seemed so focused and dedicated to every word that was spoken from the two characters.

"Hey, asshole," I greeted before I took the seat next to him.

He didn't even look at me.

He wasn't wearing his signature smile or letting out his goofy chuckled. He just nodded his head and continued shoving popcorn into his mouth.

I kind of preferred him this way.

Cloud's trance was interrupted as soon as a deep voice announced that he was home. I looked over my shoulder to see an older version of Cloud taking off a similar jean jacket.

"Where's my gorgeous woman? Where's my beautiful boy?" He yelled with a grin—just like Cloud's—on his face. He too was almost a rainbow.

Cloud quickly jumped off the couch to hug his father in a way I'd never seen a teenager do. The hug was in a way beautiful but it was probably only because I could see Cloud's shirt riding up. He was a beautiful boy indeed.

"Oh! There's my boy! And who might you be young lady?" Mr. St. James asked as he patted Cloud on the back. I stood up awkwardly and waved, "I'm Charlie."

Mr. St. James' smile grew bigger as he shared a look with Cloud. I could see a faint blush on Cloud's cheeks.

"Dinner is on the table, people!" Mrs. St. James yelled from the dining room.

I followed Cloud and his father until we were standing around a paint chipped dining table. I could tell from the way my mother kept fidgeting with her fingers that the food Mrs. St. James had chosen for us was not to her preference.

"I burned the lasagna so I just went out and picked something up. I hope burgers and fries are still alright, Audrey," Mrs. St. James smiled nervously as she checked with my mother.

"It's actually better than anything my mother has ever made," I smiled before sitting down. I could tell my mother was glaring at me with a smile on her face but I didn't give a fuck. I preferred burgers and fries over he organic bullshit any day.

"Cool," Cloud murmured before taking the seat next to me. He still hadn't said a word to me.

Dinner was full of Cloud and I eating silently while my mother attempted to relate to Cloud's parents. I could tell they were free spirited people with zero hostility and I really liked people like that. The only thing was that they were just as happy and bubbly as Cloud. Rainbows.

"I don't really like those bitches down at the grocery store. They're rude and I prefer people who tell me to my face that they don't like my hair or my jeans. As if they could rock a pair of jeans like a mother of one. Fuck them," Mrs. St. James smiled before shoving a fry in her mouth.

I really liked her.

"It's alright, baby. Their husbands are cheating on all of them," Mr. St. James responded. He was most likely right considering men weren't discreet around other men. As if they were all sworn to some secret obligation to keep their mouth's shut.

I could see my mother becoming tense as they continued to speak about her friends. She too was one of those bitches down at the grocery store that talked about other people. I was embarrassed to call her 'mom'.

"I say they can all fuck off," Cloud chimed in. I knew that would be the icing on the cake resulting in my mother pushing her chair back obnoxiously.

"I think you people are rude! As if you can actually sit here and speak about other people in this beautiful town while you're serving burgers on cheap paper plates! I think it's time to go, Charlotte," she ranted before going to grab her coat. I scoffed and looked around.

Cloud's parents seemed unfazed and a little relieved as I would be too if I were dealing with someone like my mother and they decided to leave.

"It's Charlie. I think I'm gonna stay and before you throw another tantrum I'm gonna do whatever I want so there's no point in fighting," I responded before going back to enjoying my food.

I smiled at Cloud's chuckle before my mother scoffed and walked out of the house. It was the first time he'd smiled at something I'd said all night.

"I like your style, Charlie," Mrs. St. James smiled as she held her soft drink up as a salute. I smiled and did the same before finishing my plate. Cloud had been done way before me but he hadn't left the table.

"Charlie? Do you wanna come to my room?" Cloud asked suddenly. I was a little surprised. He hadn't said one word to me and now he was inviting me to his room?

I could have ignored the feeling in my stomach. I could have ignored the urge to kiss him again.

But I couldn't ignore either as Cloud straddled me on his twin size bed with his lips on my neck. Only this time there was no talk about love.