sympathy ~ e.d.

XXI

The bell rings and I look up from my homework. Ethan must be at the door. I walk down the stairs while the doorbell rings once again. 'Yeah, I'm coming.' 

I open the door and see him standing there, a huge smile on his face. 'Hi Tate.' 'Hey Grant, come on in. I haven't gotten around to cooking yet, so if we'd just make some pasta together or something?' 'Sounds great!'

His enthusiasm is really cute but I'm curious why he is so jumpy today. 'Why the happy mood?' 'Am I not allowed to be happy, Silva?' 'I have a first name, and I'm just curious.' I am walking to the kitchen with him close behind me. 

'Well, you're wearing that sweater and it looks really good on you.' I turn around and send him a small smile while shaking my head. 'What do you want?' 'Well, now you've mentioned it, there is a party coming up and I'd love for you to be there.' 'A party?' 'Well, I did say that, didn't I?'

I shake my head and walk to the other side of the kitchen, past him. I grab a pan and attempt to fill it with water. It isn't going smoothly since I still am not completely used to my cast. He wants me to come to a party? I am not so sure about that. 

'Please, Zee, it'll be fun. You've never been to one if I remember correctly. And Grayson will be there too. You won't have to leave my side if you don't want to.' I tuck my hair behind my ear. My hands are leaning against the countertop while the pan with water is warming up on the cooktop. 

'When is it?' He looks at the ground. 'Saturday?' 'Ethan, seriously? That's tomorrow.' He looks at me apologetically. 'Please? We can go for just an hour or something like that. It's a really chill get together.' I sigh. 'You really want me to go?' He smiles apologetically once again. 'Please?'

'Fine. Not for too long, though.' Ethan's mouth turns into a huge grin and he picks me up into a hug. Surprised, I hug him back, trying not to hurt him with my left arm. 'I'm so excited to see you in a tight dress', he says with a playful wink. I slap his arm and turn back around to the now boiling water. 

'So you basically were climbing before you could walk? You two were definitely twins from hell.' I let out a small laugh. 'I'm honestly surprised my mom kept us and didn't send us back with a note we were malfunctioning.' 

I am laying on his stomach, looking at the stars just like we were last week. The only difference being I am not completely acting weird after too many hours in a hospital. 'And you? What were you like growing up?' he asks and I can feel his stomach muscles tighten. 'I think I was rather ordinary.' 'I refuse to believe that, but it will do. First um... sport you loved?' I think about his question for a second. 

'Running, I guess. You?' 'All kinds. Especially lacrosse was nice but football, soccer, hockey were all great. First pet?' 'A fish when I was three, he died when I was four.' 'First favorite color?' 'Blue, but it's green now.' 'First death you experienced.' 'My fish when I was four', I say with a small grin. His muscles beneath my head clench once again because he chuckles. 

'First kiss?' 'Oh, that wasn't fun. I was, I guess, twelve or something and it was so awkward. Yours?' 'Let's just say it was in a park in the bushes. That should be enough.' I laugh loudly at his comment. 

I sit up and look at him. Ethan follows my example and sits up as well. 'You've got to be kidding me! In the bushes?' I am still laughing. 'Well, yeah. You can ask Grayson, he was close by.' I laugh even harder. 'Grayson was close by? You need him for everything, don't you?' 'Well, most things we do together. The longest we've probably been apart would probably be 19 hours and that wasn't fun. So yeah.' 'And he lets you go with me? I am honored.' 'You honestly should be, I think you've earned his trust. Don't go mistaking him for me, though. I've had that one too many times.'

A smile appears on my face. 'Are you going to elaborate on that?' I ask him. 'Well for example, once Gray told me this story on how he got hugged by this girl I was hanging out with. One other time he went on a date with this girl who apparently thought he was me and there's been more of those incidents. You have no excuse now you've met both of us.' I smile at the story. 

'I could always pretend I don't know it's him and we'll run away to Iceland together.' Ethan shuffles closer to me and pulls me into a tight side hug. 'No, I don't want to share you.' I smile and wrap my arms around him as well. 

'I should probably head back home', Ethan says after a while. 'Yeah, don't want to leave Gray all alone. He's so young, he can't take care of himself for just one night', I say sarcastically, hoping Ethan might get persuaded to stay. 'Exactly.' He stands up and helps me up by pulling my good hand up. 

'I'll pick you up tomorrow at 7.30. Please wear the tightest dress you can find so your... um... figure really looks good.' 'Are you implicating I don't look good now?' I tease him. 'No, you always look awesome. I just think your ass would look so good in a tight short dress.' 'Then I've found exactly what outfit I'll be avoiding.' He pouts but places a quick peck on my lips, catching me slightly off-guard. 

Was I just teasing him? I think I was, at least. I'm enjoying this feeling of slightly annoying him yet not really- wait, was this what they call flirting? I am probably overthinking too much. I look at his gorgeous face and all anxious thoughts leave my head for a minute. 

'If you're leaving, at least give me a proper kiss', I say and pull his neck towards me using my good hand. He smiles into our kiss, pulling me closer by my waist. 

'No, seriously Grayson, I need your help. I don't know what to wear. Yeah, yeah. No, I'm not calling Ethan, of course not. Please?' He finally gives in. 'I'll flip it to FaceTime.' 

I quickly pull a large sweater over my head. I had been standing in front of my closet in only my underwear for about 30 minutes now so I called Grayson for help. 

'Thank you so much for helping me, Gray.' 'Oh, we're on nickname-basis now, Ra?' 'Why Ra? My name is Zera. Ra is not a good nickname,' I say while talking to him over the screen. I had placed my phone on my desk so I can see him rather well but he has a view of my closet as well. 

'Well, Ethan calls you Zee, which takes away the first two letters. So I'd thought I would claim the last two.' 'You weirdo, it doesn't sound good', I tell him. He mimics me, mocking me. 

After more distraction than help from Grayson, I hang up on him to change. I had eventually decided on a blouse with some simple jeans. Didn't need a Grayson for that, after all. 

I look at the clock and see that Ethan could be here every minute. I spray some perfume on that I found and head downstairs to wait for him. 

The doorbell rings and I open it up to find Ethan. He's dressed casually, with seemingly the only difference being that his hair is styled a bit more than usual. 

'Well, my lady, you ready to go?' 'One sec', I say. I walk inside and turn the lights off before I lock the door behind me. Ethan opens the car door for me, immediately a huge grin appears on my face. 

'Okay, too bad you didn't go for the dress, but I must say your ass looks rather good in these jeans as well.' I hit his arm. 'Your inner fuckboy is showing, better calm yourself down.'

'I can't when you're around', he nearly whispers. I feel my cheeks getting just the slightest hotter when I hear his comment but I pretend to ignore it. I just hope to survive tonight.