Vanilla Girl

P e p p e r m i n t

WE FINISH our breakfast as we keep talking about anything and everything.

I tell him about my classes and how I'm thinking about pursuing a degree in psychopedagogy. I've been weighing my options for a while now. I've already applied to University of North Carolina and University of Alabama, but as I wait I'm open to other options that may arise.

He talks about college, his upcoming exams, his friends there and the curses of living with a flatmate who doesn't care about tidiness.

Before I know it we're talking animatedly, just as It's always been with him, conversation flows fluidly. Michael is gesturing with his arms as he tells me an anecdote involving Chris and a soccer ball.

I'm chuckling and shaking my head absorved by the story when we hear a throat clearing coming from the kitchen doorway. We both look up at the same time the interruption taking us by surprise.

Chris is leaning against the wall, his bright gray eyes going from Michael to me.

"Hello." His deep voice starles me and I give a little jump.

He smirks.

Somehow he makes me feel like a five year-old who's just been catched doing something bad wich is ridiculous because I was just talking with Michael.

"I hope I'm not interrupting." He continues.

"No!" The reply is imediate and out of my mouth before I can take it back.

Chris raises his eyebrows at me and I look away, not meeting his stare, my cheeks coloring slightly.

"No? You sure?" He repeats, clearly enjoying my embarasement.

I want to crawl under the breakfast bar and stay there.

Luckily Michael comes to my aid. "Leave her alone Chris, you'll scare her away."

Or not.

That just makes me three times more embarased. I'm not like a little cat scared of any human interaction Michael. Thank you very much.

Not.

"Now, we wouldn't want that. Would we?" Chris eyes twinkle as he makes his way toward us.

Michael chuckles, "Shut up and eat the damn breakfast." His hand reaches out to slap against the back of his friend's head.

"Ouch! What was that for?" Cries Chris rubbing the spot.

"So next time you think twice before speaking dumbass. And I didn't hear you thank Adaline for getting up early and fixing you breakfast."

I sit on the stool, paralized. I haven't moved since he stepped into kitchen grounds. "It's ok, really."

Michael ignores me, he's too focused in having a stare down with his friend. I've never met anyone who could held his ground with the intensity of Mike's eyes boring into them, but somehow Chris does. I guess all those years of friendship give him an adventage.

The grin that spreads on Chris lips makes me uneasy. He's got something going on on his plate. "You sure it was for me?" He says with a tease.

My back strightens. What is he implying?

Before I can understand the meaning of his words though Michael hand makes contact with his head again.

"Hey! What did I do this time? That's physical abuse!"

A laugh bubbles up my throat.

"I'm not hitting you again because you made her laugh. Now sit down and act mature. That is if your mental maturity can grasp the meaning of the word." Michael retorts. His voice is serious, but I can see the curling of his upper lip.

Chris sighs, "You're no fun." He pauses, then jumps on a stool and grabs a waffle from the plate. "This are delicious Adie, thanks."

"You're welcome." I say, still a bit flustered.

I suddenly feel outnumbered. I'm not one to get uncomfortable around boys, but somehow the two of them feel like too much.

Wyona where are you?

"I was just telling Adaline about the time you accidentaly hit our teacher with a soccer ball." Michael explains.

Chuckles turn into coughs as Chris struggles to swallow the remnants of his waffle. "You did that on purpose!"

"Don't blame me! You are the one who stuffed your mouth like the big bad wolf." Michael holds up his hands, smiling.

Chris turns to me shaking his head.

"It was hilarious! But I swear it was an accident. I kicked the ball and it went stright towards him." He laughs, eyes twinkling. "He...he tried to catch it, but couldn't. The next thing I know he's collecting a black wig from the floor, not a single hair remained on his head." He shakes his head.

"Yeah, and instead of helping what does the idiot do? He starts taking pictures."

I let out a giggle. "Seriously?"

"Cross my heart baby." Chis replies, then looks to Michael. "Admit it man, it was hilarious."

He cocks an eyebrow, "Yeah, wasn't that hilarious later when you failed the class."

I gasp, looking back at Chris. "You failed the class?"

He nods, "Yep, unfortunately we had a very important test that week and his pictures were all over the social media. I had to take the class with another teacher after that."

"And what about the picture?" I wonder.

"He made me take it down obviously." He rolls his eyes.

My shoulders drop. Skittles! I'd have loved to take a peek.

I let my gaze wander around the kitchen, halting when I notice the time. "Don't your parents have to be at work by now?" I ask Mike with a frown. Maybe they had already left by the time I got up.

"They work the night shift today." He replies, looking up towards the hallway when we hear the schuffle of feet against the floor.

I wait for the owner of the lazy footsteps to come around the doorway while trying to mask the expression on my face after the bombshell Michael just droped on me. Why the fudge did I wake up so early?

He catches it anyway. His brown eyes widen as it dawns on him and he bursts into chuckles. "Sorry. Look at the bright side, your efforts didn't go unnoticed." His hand points to the empty plate of waffles.

I twist my lips to the side. No wonder Wyona didn't wake up. If I knew her parents schedule I would have slept till noon.

A second later Wyona's head peeks around the corner. She's rubing the sleep of her eyes and a big yawn escapes her lips.

"Here comes the sleeping beauty." Teases Michael.

She drops her arm to the sides and a slow smile spreads across her lips as she meets her brother's gaze. I watch as her gaze sweeps along the kitchen and comes to rest on the person sitting at my side--who all of a sudden looks very very stiff---

The smile freezes.

Well, skittles!

******