Requisites Of Life

Chapter 1

Cooper

Usually, when I wake up, it's a gradual process. It's drifting back and forth in the fuzziness between a dream state, and a state of full, alert consciousness.  But, when I'm woken up, it's more like a sudden snap back to reality, as Eminem would put it.

What woke me up was a soft feeling pressing onto my face, pushing heavier and heavier until all access to oxygen was blocked. The fuzz from the fat lump tickled the insides of my nostrils.

"Lily!" I grumbled, my voice muffled by her fur. I picked her up and held her above my face, staring right at her butthole.

After letting her plop down on my chest, she continued what she was doin as though nothing happened, curling up right below my chin. A content purr vibrated off of her.

She's lucky it's a Saturday.

I picked her up off of my chest and set her next to me, allowing me to sit up. Letting out a yawn, my feet pulled me over to my dresser, where my phone sat charging through the night. I unplugged it and hurried back to the covers, the crisp autumn air trying to chill my skin.

By the time I got back to bed, Lily had already decided she was done asking for my attention, having left leaving a circle of hair to show where she was.

I sighed and hopped back into my spot, then opened up my phone, heading straight to the messages. I opened up the latest one, from my best friend Amelia, that was received last night.

Millie: well get some sleep then

Me: just got the message. i got a little thank goodness.

The phone buzzed just moments later.

Millie: good :)

Me: wanna hang out today?

My thumb hovered over the send button, mentally debating on whether or not I'd try and bring up our relationship if she came over.

You know those relationships where it's obvious that the two both like each other, and they act like a couple, but they say that it's complicated? Yeah, that's not us. We actually are complicated. I like her, that's for sure, but I just never brought it up. I didn't want to act like we had to date just because we kissed one time. For all I know, she thought of it as a mistake and wanted to forget about it, move on with our friendship and keep it as such.

I decided to throw caution to the wind and pressed the button.

Nearly a minute passed before a reply came in.

Millie: sure. What time?

Me: u can come over around lunch, i'll make some of my famous chicken salad sandwiches

Millie: ew, gro--I mean, yay

I rolled my eyes.

Me: you know you love them

Millie: define "love"

I could have responded in so many ways to that, but ultimately played it safe.

Me: how u feel about my chicken salad sandwiches

Millie: survey says...incorrect

Me: alrighty then i'll see u later

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"Honey, I'm home!" Amelia called, trotting down the last steps to the basement. She plopped herself down onto to the couch next to me. "What are we playing today?"

"Why would you Just assume that we're playing video games?" I said, feigning offendedness.

"What other hobbies do you have?" she deadpanned.

I raised an eyebrow at her. I play the piano, I write songs, I actually have a car to go places and do things."

She held up her palm at me to stop, "Point taken, no need to rub it in."

I released a laugh through my nose, biting back the smirk that found its way onto my face.

"Besides," she continued, not allowing me the chance to humor myself,  "you just have one because your uncle gave you a beat up, used birthday present."

"And what did your uncle get you, a pony?"

"Yes."

My eyes widened with surprise. "Really?"

Her face dropped back down into a serious look. "No, of course not."

That's Amelia's sense of humor for you. She loves sarcasm like an art. We used to be in a band together over the summer, and though I was the one who wrote the words to the songs, she would always joke about her really being gifted with words--just in a certain form.

"Well are we gonna play video games or nah?"

"I don't know," I shrugged. "If you want to."

"Oh please don't start with that line," she groaned.

Would you rather I use a pickup line?

"Well I was gonna go upstairs and start on lunch," I said, getting up and making my way to the stairs. "But feel free."

She peeled herself up off the couch, trailing toward me. "Well now I've got to come and help or I'll seem like a lazy house guest."

We headed upstairs to the kitchen, and while bringing out the few ingredients, became the victims of my mom's attempt at small talk. Aimless questions were thrown like "How is your family?" and "What do you think of your new school?" Every question, Amelia painstakingly answered, a polite smile plastered on her face for every one. 

But the time eventually came when my mom had to go run errands, and left us with a warning. "I've gotta run by the bank and get some groceries after. You need anything, Coop?" 

I shook my head. "No, I'm good." 

She slid her keys off the key rack and threw on a jacket. "Can I trust you two to behave here alone together?" She shot a stern look. 

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, mom." 

"It's okay, we're not dating or anything," Amelia said. "So I think the only trouble we'd get into is getting food on the carpet." 

Well so much for talking about being more than friends.

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Hey again darlings! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and that you're as excited for this sequel as I am, even more! 

What were your thoughts on this chapter?

What do you think of this new narration? 

How about I start giving teasers for the next chapter? Would you guys enjoy those?

Thanks to Whiterose040510 for suggesting this song as a way to describe their relationship.