Inside Outside

6. The Great Spill

Sorry this took so long to post. A mixture of writer's laziness and an online math course got in my way. Anyway....... ENJOY!!!!    ~BButterfly

                                                               Back to the Living Room:

“So I just walked in the front door...” Jackie stated matter-of-factly. I had just heard the door bang, but ignored it because I figured it was just someone else in the house. She peeked her head around the hallway to see me on the couch still, afraid to move due to my aching muscles. Her hair, slightly similar to mine was in a messy bun,  a red and white striped bag on her shoulder, which wasn't covered by her longsleeved but wide-necked shirt, showing off her pale skin. 

 Now that I had thought about it, I should have been more worried about an intruder while i was cuddling up to Jake. I always had been the touchy-feely type, perfectly willing to wrap my arms around my guy friends and snuggle close watching movies or whatever with the rest of the group. This seemed to cross the line of appropriate strangely, despite the lack of real change. Maybe I just missed my girl friends as backup.

I had to click out of my fuzzy mindset quickly to talk to Jackie, almost in autopilot. “Oh Thumbs! Finished visiting you fam' out here already?” I spat out.

“Yah, I tried calling you, but you didn't answer.” Jackie said while dropping her bag and sitting on a chair next to the couch.

“Could never imagine why you wouldn't have reached her.” Jake laughed, trying to act cool around the new girl who he probably wasn't comfortable with at all. “Your Arie's friend from Cali right?” stuttering now. I couldn't imagine why; all i could tell was that he wouldn't move his eyes from her.

Jackie smiled at the instant recognition, “Pretty much.” Both her hands were between her knees, politely being a neon brick in the wall. My friends here in the cabin treat newcomers like most teens. The difference is that once they come around to hang a lot, those who grew up together stick together.

“Ah!” I yelped, jumping into the air and holding my chest with both hands, “you've got to stop doing that!” tazering someone is a great way to slyly  put one's hands around their waist. I couldn't complain though, he had probably dealt with a lot while saving my butt. 

"But it's too much fun!" Jake poutily protested. Usually Jake didn't act like this around me, it was almost as if he were showing off. In the corner of my eye i noticed Jackie roll hers. Like myself, she doesn't appreciate a guy who thinks that he can get a girl by having her fall for him first. 

Just as i was about to get up and make some cocoa for all of us the back door opened, revealing the faces and icy shoes of James, Mckenna, Kai, and Matt.  James immediately gave Jake the "furry eyeball" and opened his mouth to probably remark on how i was being held, when Mckenna bust out, "So who's this?"

I had gotten up to make hot chocolately beverage for everyone. I had to get away from the tension.  Mckenna was playing a game of 20 million question with Jackie while Kai occasionally  barged in  from the side to keep it friendly. I wish i knew why everyone was on edge. What happened while i was out cold? Wow, cold, that's literal. 

Me being lazy as always tried to carry about three mugs into the living room at once, i was surprised when i got back with only a little drop on the floor. The only one that even noticed I'd been in the there was James, who continued to stare back and forth between me and Jake as he crossed his arms and stayed silent; I couldn't help but but be mesmorized by his face though, so cutely childish. Matt and Kai were in the corner near the TV, criss-crossed on the floor and whispering about who knows what. Kai was such a flirt, and Matt was so naive.  As i went for the paper towels my elbow knocked the cocoa mix onto the kitchen floor, and my shock knocked me onto the floor as well. 

James began to get up while Jake rushed over to my aid. Jake lifted me up with one hand on my thigh and the othe on my upper arm. His hand near my butt felt like electrical sparks jutting into my intestines, so definately not the kind of touch you want. "You okay?" Jake looked into my eyes, but more in a big brotherly way than anything romantic. I wouldn't be sure though, since i don't have any brothers, or even any close-by cousins. 

"Yah, I'm chill," I muttered nonchalantly. I leant over attempt to pick of some of the mix, not squatting like a normal person, with one leg in air like an awkward ballerina. Jake chuckled and slapped my tush. I ignored my stinging skin, but no one else did. 

"Hey!" James yelled out, everyone stared and he looked as if he wanted to take it back immediately. "Jake, can I talk to you on the porch for a sec'?" He had gotten up and grabbed Jake's wrist.

Jake pulled away harshly, "Look if you've got a problem with me talking to your little girlfriend then just say so!" Say what now? 

"How can you say that!" James was looking down at me from the corner of his eye, but for some reason he just looked away when I took a step forward from my hiding place behind him. "You know I like her and you keep flirting! You even went in and acted all hero-y. You probably didn't even tell Arie that you only came to get her after you decided to get up off your lazy ass!"

"James! how can you yell at Jake like this! Even if he was lazy or whatever, he still helped me out!" I screamed. i've never been this mad at James.His usual shyness was gone. I love a strongwilled guy, but right now i was so mad i didn't care. How could he talk about liking me as if weren't in the room? I tingled at the thought of his liking me... Not the right time for that. I'm mad, not miss goody two shoes today.  

"Arie, James just admitted that he likes you, and you're mad at him? I was right, you are bad with relationships." Mckenna smirked. Aphie and i alike couldn't stand her high-and-mightyness. 

"Wowowow, no one talks to one of my friends like that! And just so you know she's fine with guys!" Jackie yelled at Mckenna, probably getting out her penned up anger from all the testing she'd gotten earlier. I felt touched that she cared enough to lie. She'd been around with all of my boyfriend fails back in Phoenix. 

"Well excuse me girly, but you're so not even in this. Even though you think you know Arie, you don't get the rest of us, so get the hell out of.."

I felt a bump on my shoulder as Kai walked past. She'd come around the other side of the kitchen so she could be seen past the tall boys and myself. "Mckenna, just shut up! For all you know you and Jackie could end up being friends someday, but for now all she knows about you is that you're a total bitch!" Mckenna's mouth hung in stuck up terror.  

Kai stepped back, tears forming in her eyes. "Come here, Kai," Matt pulled her out of the way back to the other room. In his arms Kai seemed to lose her rage. I though Kai was just messing with Matt earlier when she was flirting. I'll have to talk to her later. 

"Wait, Matt. Don't comfort her. She's just gonna diss you when we're back at home and she can spend time with all the hot sports players." Mckenna and i think alike. I just hope Kai will live up to my challenge. 

I thought for a moment that Matt might slash out like he did when he was younger. To my surprise, he just sat there, taking in Mckenna's words like they meant nothing to him. I suddenly looked back to the boy in front of me. His arm wrapped around me with his hand on the counter so i was kept behind his back, I felt protected from the battlefield. He was warm on my frozen muscles, just like he was when I couldn't stay mad at him. 

Mrs. Shoemaker walked down the stairs. It made the already silent room a blackhole. Had she been upstairs the whole time? and following that, where had the gang been while Jake stayed with me inside?

I pushed my hands on James's lower back which was closer to my level of height to get away. I wished it lasted more than a moment, his muscles were so hard! Focus, Arie. Without breaking the silence, James put his hand onto mine without intertwining our fingers. I loved how he already knew i hated that being hand-raped.

I felt bad leaving Jackie in the room with Mckenna, but i'm sure Kai will protect her. Right now i coudn't see straight; James led me past Jake and down the hall.  Tears were forming in my eyes, and i didn't know why. We walked into the bedroom at the front of the house, Aphie was in there, t-shirt with a scissor-cut neck and sweatpants rolled up, fake sleeping behind the bed. 

Oh how i hate it when people fight. I'm not much of a crier because i try to people please. So i hope this never happens. I love you all! Comment pleaseeeeeeeee!!!!!!!