friends //cody bellinger

twenty eight

 Tonight was our first night in the new house, and since Cody had invited his family over for dinner, we were all busy making sure everything would be ready on time. We correction; I was busy.

Cody, Ashli, and Cole went out to have a siblings day, which I thought would be a good idea, and it was, up until it just Chris and I left to do everything that still needed to be done.

Cody had missed his siblings over the season, and I wanted him to spend time with them, but it was hard to make dinner and get everything finished in the house; especially with Chris because he has been playing video games the whole time.

I was making spaghetti because it was simple and I was running out of time.

I put the noodles in the pot to boil before walking to the living room to find Chris.

"Are you ready to help now?" I asked, stifling a laugh.

"What else needs to be done," he asks, pausing his game and sitting up.

"Can you set the table?" Chris nods and walks towards the kitchen.

He doesn't get far before calling out, "Wait, Em, where do we keep the dishes?"

I chuckle to myself, walking over to the TV to turn off his game before shouting back, "The cupboards next to the fridge."

"Emberly" Chris whined, dragging out the y in my name like he was a toddler. "I was still playing."

I roll my eyes and point to the cupboard of dishes that he was supposed to be putting out.

"No Christopher. It's time to help me. Jen and Clay are going to be here soon, and I still have to get ready. Dinner's not even ready yet!" If you couldn't tell, I was stressing major.

"I was only joking, Emberly," Chris jokes with a small smile. "Go ahead and get ready, I can finish from here."

I sigh a breath of relief, thanking him before starting to walk down the hall.

I do a 180 turn when I hear the door open.

"We've got to go to your room, Em." Cole rushes in by himself, taking hold of my arm and attempting to pull me into Cody and I's room.

"What are you doing?" I question, giving the boy a strange look.

"Cody got something for you, and he wants to surprise you, so you got to go to your room. I'll tell you when you can come out." Cole puts his hands on my shoulders and lightly shoves me towards my room.

I turn away and walk into my room, Cole closing my door behind me. I didn't question Cole's actions because I know how serious Cody can be about surprises. He thinks that they're the best gifts.

I pulled out an outfit, thinking about what Cody could have gotten me. Flowers? A family car? A puppy? Ooh, a puppy would actually be the best gift ever.

I wasn't even certain what the gift was, but I was already thinking about adorable dog names. Ace for a boy and Daisy for a girl.

I slid on the black silk-like romper I had picked out and sat down at my vanity to brush out my hair and do my makeup.

After hassling with my long locks, I set the brush down and looked around the room. A year ago I had nothing, and now, with Cody, I have everything I've ever wanted. I had people who loved and cared about me; I had hope for a positive future. Those were things I never had growing up.

"Cody's ready when you are Em," Cole opens the door, gently shutting it behind him and sitting on the floor next to the white wooden chair I was residing in.