summer boy ~ tal fishman ✓

~53~

We head back home to put the pizza's in the oven. Once home, we all place our frozen food on the countertop so it can defrost a bit. Meredith turns on the tv for us to watch some dumb show that's on right now. We don't even try to pay attention.

Anthony's phone rings and he picks up. He walks to the hallway so we won't hear him but we still slightly hear murmurs through the door. He hangs up frustrated after a few minutes and walks back to the living room to us. 

'It was my mom. She said I had to come back home immediately because my aunt and uncle decided to stop by.' He runs his hand through his hair. 'And no, Tal. I'm taking my pizza with me, you can't have it.' Tal furrows his brows as if he's thinking. It looks hot on him.

'I was going to share it with Michael.' 'No you weren't', Michael and Anthony say at the same time, unamused. I laugh at this, which results in the guys all looking at me with a slightly confused expression. 'Ignore me, go on with your argument.' Michael and Anthony look away, but Tal grabs my hand subtly. That little sneaky goblin. 

'Julia, you do know that you two are having giraffes together instead of babies, right?' Anthony asks. Tal lets go of my hand to punch Anthony on his left arm. 'And Tal is gay. We're secretly in love, right daddy?' I laugh so hard at Anthony's comment and Tal gives him another punch on his shoulder. 'But he can be a little aggressive at times', he says softly and I chuckle again.

Meredith walks out of the kitchen. 'Well, bye then Ant.' 'Did you just call me an ant?' 'Wow, you have ears. Yes, I did. Seeing you don't like the nickname, I'll definitely call you that way more often.' Anthony looks like he wants to argue with her but lets it be. For once.

He walks to the kitchen grabs his pizza and says goodbye once more. Meredith ruffles his hair as a goodbye, Michael and Anthony do a sort of bro-hug and Tal does the same. I give Anthony a short hug. 'Be careful, giraffe. I'm going to steal your girl. She'll be sliding into my DM's.' 'You wish', I reply and punch him on his arm. The right arm, and not that hard since Tal pretty much abused his other one. Then he walks over to the door and leaves to his house. He'll have to walk home since we picked him up with Mer's car.

The oven finally beeps, signaling that we can put the first pizza in. Meredith puts hers in first. I hear her close the oven door and I sit down next to Tal on the couch, leaning on him. Michael is already seated on the couch, the far end and Meredith lets herself fall down in the middle.

 A few minutes later I smell something weird. 'Tal, do you smell this too?' I stand up from my comfortable position in his arms. I quickly walk a few steps towards the kitchen and see the enormous cloud of smoke. Then the fire alarm went off. 'Mer! Fire alarm! The oven!' I run to the kitchen and start coughing nearly immediately. I turn off the oven and start to feel my eyes tear up from the smoke. I try to open the window, but it won't budge. I make out the silhouette of a guy when I turn around, either Michael or Tal. I can't see straight, I don't know which one it is. My guess goes out to Michael.

The person grabs my hand and guides me out of the kitchen and outside firmly. Once outside, he lets go of my hand and I can clearly see it's Michael. My eyes are watering from the smoke and my lungs feel dry. I want to walk back in, so I can help Meredith and Tal, but Michael grabs my arm. I turn around and he lets my arm go as fast as he grabbed it. 

'Don't go back in there, please. Don't risk getting sick over some stupid oven. You turned off the oven and noticed the smoke, you did enough. Tal just turned off the fire alarm and Meredith is opening the windows, they can do it by themselves.' I'm still hesitating, I want to go in and help them even though I know there isn't much I can do. 'Julia, I know you want to help, but you can't. Tal and Meredith will be out in a few minutes, sit down.'