• - handle /'hand(ə)l/ [verb]
to take action in order to deal with a difficult situation •
With 18 years the internet- and food-addicted Tara Rayes is kind of forced to leave her home for 3 months. Her dad has a really bad illness which can onl...
Ever since being here with Tara I've laughed so much more. Before I was happy, too, of course I was. In my position I was nobody to be sad. But now, I realize, I'm truly happy. I haven't had so much fun in years. It kinda reminds me of the times when Grayson and I were still having a blast together and doing YouTube videos.
The good old times.
"Hey, boys," Tara greets us cheerfully, plopping down onto a kitchen stool beside me. Her bright and happy appearance instantly put a smile onto my face. I turn towards her and notice her bright green eyes shifting from me towards Grayson.
"What'cha doing?" She watches Grayson attempting to prepare something in the kitchen. I already forgot what he tried to do, he told me a few minutes ago. Since Tara is here she's occupying my mind.
Okay, she's always in my head, but that's not the point.
"Just a smoothie. Nothing too difficult," he absentmindedly replies, putting the chopped fruits and greens in the blender. His back faces us as Tara quietly chuckles to herself, whispering, "Has he ever made one before?"
After a short time of thinking I plainly shake my head and eye Tara again. "I hope he knows that he's doing it wrong," she answers the unspoken question in my head and covers her mouth with her hand. Her eyes shine and her cheeks are a pretty prink. Her whole appearance showes how comfortable she's right now.
My attention only got withdrawn as I heard the unusual loud noise of the blender. Abruptly I turn my head into Graysons direction, only to see him and half of the kitchen covered in halfway mixed foods.
Good job, Gray. Nailed it, as always.
His back is still facing us as he looks down onto himself. Very slowly he turns around and shows us his bare chest and stomach, all covered up in a greenish- purple colour with strawberry and blueberry bits.
Tara bursts out laughing and I can't help but join her. At the view of the shocked and disguisted look on Graysons face it's hard not to laugh. He looks just so much like the dumbass he is.
"I forgot to put the lid on," Grayson, still too much in shock to comprehend what's going on, mutters to himself as Tara and I have tears in our eyes from laughing so much.
***
"No way. What the hell?"
"Oh Tara, come on. Please?" I try to convince her as we walk down the stairs. My phone's in one of my hands and a towel in the other. Heading into our clean but still sticky kitchen I grab a water bottle and meet Tara's eyes.
"No! Cleaning all that mess," she begins to scream, "thanks to you, Grayson," and returns back to normal volume, "was enough of a workout already."
"Grayson did most of it. Please join us?" I try it once more and lay my head into my opened palms while my elbows rest on the counter. Blinking my eyes I show her my best attempt on a pout.
"Ugh. Fine. But I won't lift a finger."
Soon enough Grayson and I are on the training tools and Tara'ss on the couch at the wall. Why did we put a couch in this home gym again?
Tara's legs are up the armrest and she lays on her back. "Where do you guys live, actually?"
Sweat runs down my forehead and I wipe it as Grayson faces me. I continue to run on the treadmill and slowly nod my head, making eye contact with him.
"Los Angeles," is all Grayson plainly says without stopping his exercise.
"Oh my god, really?" Tara sits up, "I've always wanted to go there!"
"Well, we can go together one day," I answer her with a small smile that she excitedly returns. I feel the exhaustion taking over me until I can take it no longer and I press the stop button, getting off and grabbing my bottle.
I take a few sips and lift my shirt to my wipe my forehead from the sweat.
"Los Angeles, wow," Tara still mumbles amazedly to herself and shakes her head. "That's crazy. I would've never assumed that."
"Why?" I immediately ask and look down at her, breathing heavily.
"I don't know. You guys don't seem like city people. Especially you, Ethan, with all that exploring and adventuring." For the first time Tara turns her head towards us and stares intensely, then looks away again, blushing.
"Yeah, we're born in New Jersey." Grayson states. "Deep down we're forever country boys," he laughs and takes a quick break, too.
"That sounds amazing." Her voice is lost in thought and I guess she's thinking about her home. I don't dare to ask, though.
"Maybe you can come visit NJ with us as well?" Grayson nervously asks, glancing over to me. I look back at him as I hear a quiet, "I'd love to."
***
MICEMBER is here! and how else could I kick it off than with handle?
so, technically, it's after 12 am and so officially the 2nd of december.... but um, you know me and my punctuality with updates.... I hope you're happy tho ^^
happy winter time and see you soon!
- michelle kai
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