My Almost Best Friend

Chapter 25

Chapter 25:

"California was so fabulous!" Claire sighed. "I just wish I could visit all the time!"

I glanced at my watch in 6th hour. Only 10 more minutes until I could escape Claire's endless California stories, and go home. Wait, I'd be going home to the devil. Maybe a few more stories wouldn't hurt anyone...

"So anyway," she said finishing up her water skiing story, "How was Seaside? Same as we remember it?"

"Well the candy shop's paints a bit chipped, but the candies are still the same."

Laughingly she said, "Remember when we thought the pound candy was free and tried to take 10 pounds of it!"

I laughed at the memory, "Your parents were so mad about spending 30 dollars on candy!"

"I know!" she laughed.

"Girls, are you on task?" Mr. Reagan asked sternly, placing his clipboard on the desk.

"We finished already," Claire said flashing him one of her million dollar smiles. He nodded and continued down the aisle. How Claire has always managed to remain the teachers pet has continued to remain a mystery to me.

I don't know what I heard first. The chime of the bell or the scuffling of students packing up.

Either way I was happy to leave the classroom.

I sort of trudged through the hallways, as I wasn't really in any rush.

I had just rounded the corner when Trevor's hands touched my shoulders.

"I saw you coming this time," he grinned. "So I had to protect myself."

Oh gee I'm so flattered at being considered a walking terror.

But there is something special about his gentle hands pressed on my shoulders, that I can't ignore. He still hasn't removed them and he continues to look into my eyes and smile.

"So listen," he says, his hands sliding down my arms and stopping at my wrists. I'm struggling to keep my emotions under control.

"I know we had decided on doing pizza or something later this weekend, but as I thought about my empty schedule today, I figured, Hey! Why not go out tonight?"

"That sounds perfect," I smiled, barely breathing.

"So how about I pick you up for NYPD around 7?"

"7," I said once. The time that felt close now, but that I knew I would spend hours staring at the clock for.

"Okay," he grinned. "I'll see you tonight then."

"Until then."

========================

I probably had spent about 3 minutes after he'd gone to practice before shaming my stupid side for not remembering I rode the bus!

You'd think that after riding it since kindergarten I wouldn't be having these problems, but I was wrong.

"Almost missed the bus again, huh Bree?" Anthony laughed as I barely reached the seat.

"Only me," I smiled.

"No but really, where have you been lately?" he asked a little bit more seriously. "I stopped by your house to invite you to a family barbecue Saturday and your mom said you were out with friends."

"She doesn't lie," I shrugged, teasing him for being so skeptic.

"Friends, huh?" he questioned, an eyebrow raising.

"I do have some you know!" I laughed.

"I'm guessing you were with Amarys?" he sighed.

"Yup." And Mike, Brett, Zach, and Trevor, but I left them out if it.

"Fun," he said quietly.

The bus hit my stop with a screech.

"See ya Anthony," I called over my shoulder, heading down the skinny walkway.

Walking across the lawn to my house, I new something was up as soon as I saw that the lights weren't on. I picked up my pace and wrestled through my messy front backpack pocket for the house keys.

My hands wrapped around the knob of the door and I let the door swing open.

The instant I stepped through the door I felt the dark ash engulf me in it's arms.

I sprinted towards the kitchen where it seemed to be coming from.

It was hard to see anything so I had to feel my way along the counters.

The only thing standing out from the utter black room was the fire beginning to brew in the corner of the room.

Kneeling in the ground now, I felt around for the open pantry door and up for the extinguisher protected in glass.

I coughed and sputtered on the thick air trapping me.

My hands seemed to fumble around for a moment before grasping the metal handle, which I instantly discovered was locked.

I had no other option but to follow my instinct and break the glass.

I sucked in what little breath I had and broke the small panel of glass with a tightly clenched fist.

I let out a small cry of pain but could waste no time. I snatched the fire eatin guider and turned released it all along the rising fire.

I stood there screaming in bewilderment and wouldn't release the handle even after I was sure it was gone, until Ethan pulled my hands back.

"Bree!" I heard him shout. "Let go!"

I released my firm hold on the thing and he set it gently on the center island.

It was then that I noticed the tiny cuts and blood slowly dripping down my hands and forearms from smashing the glass.

"Come here," he said gruffly as he wet a rag.

I pressed it on my skin and he went to get the bandaid box.

Our small sentimental sibling moment was interrupted by the blaring smoke detector.

"Well it's about time that thing went off!" he yelled sarcastically. "We could've died!"

I climbed up the table and disarmed it

"Go open all of the windows and doors," I commanded. "I'm going to find somewhere for this to go." I pointed to the singed trash can.

The cause of the fire.

As I dragged to the side of the house I wondered what had caused the fire.

I decided to sift through the items in the bin. Burned or unburned I knew what I was holding in my hand. It was undeniable. This little cigarette had almost burned our house down. And I knew exactly who had caused it.