Chapstick Boi

15 - Fag Bug

Jordan's POV

Monday mornings are crap enough as is, being strangely nervous, isn't helping. I'm just getting picked up and dropped off by the Maguire sisters for the next six weeks. "Spooky."

"Hmm?"

Jayden picks a handful of leaves from a low hanging branch, tearing the green surface to tiny pieces. "You're tapping again." I apologise for the nervous tick, fisting my shorts pocket.

"Social anxiety getting the better of you?" He expects my nod, understanding how I struggle to form friendships especially with new people. "At least I know them though. Maybe not as well as I know you but you're a special case."

He overreacts a feminine giggle, looking at me coyly, "Nawww shucks."

The weather is bearable this morning but at seven o'clock it was still too unnaturally humid, hence my decision to wear black shorts. "What was the car she said they had out front? Cherry? Sherry?"

"It's not a Frankie Valli song Jay, she said Chevy as in Chevrolet. Y'know the utes with a tray." The gradual realisation that registers in his face reminds me of a sloth. "Oh yeah, I remember now."

Mom dropped us off at the Post Office, a supposed five minute walk from the Maguire's double storey house. "She said it's two levels," I count her descriptions on my fingers, "without a fence, red Chevrolet-"

"Really hot next door neighbour?" Jayden interjects, stopping dead in his tracks but I don't realise till I pause a few paces ahead. "Don't remember getting that." I follow his line of sight to a twenty-or-so year old guy, combing fingers through his golden brown hair.

Jayden is speechless. Stiffer than a metal infused board, "Talk to him." I say butting hips with his.

"Are you insane?!" He whisper yells, adjusting loose clothing. "Come on, I don't have a chance in hell with somebody like that, he's straighter than..." Jayden is at a loss for an appropriate analogy.

"...candy cane." I finish, knowing he won't risk landing a hit in the presence of someone he finds attractive. "I think I see their house up ahead." He says shyly in an effort to remove himself from the situation.

Not until he two houses ahead does he look back noticing my absence, "Hey!" I call to the stranger, Jayden freezes gripping chunks of hair like a mad scientist mouthing, 'don't don't don't, no no no'.

"Yeah?" The guy waltzes into view from behind a soil filled wheelbarrow. "See my friend up there?" I ask in a low voice, making a one sided shoulder shrug in Jay's direction. He nods skeptically, resting blackened hands on his hips.

"He thinks you're attractive but he's too shy to say anything so, can you do me a favour, shake my hand and smile so he thinks I was just introducing myself." God knows what possessed me to do this because I don't.

To my relief he seems chuffed, chuckling heartily in disbelief, "Alright," we shake formally after he wipes his hands, he has a firm grip, "in case it comes up later, I'm Noah and your friend is..."

"Jayden. I'm Jordan. JJ if you can't remember." No one calls us that but who cares he gets the gist.

"Thanks for playing along, Noah." I salute him, walking backwards, "Bon voyage." Ok, Jordan that was unnecessary.

I'm wrenched by the collar when I reunite with Jayden, "What. The hell. Did you say?" He seethes like an animal.

"Chill, I just complimented his handiwork and asked his name, that's all." If his eyes could speak, they'd say, "Bullshit" and they'd be one hundred percent correct. "As if." He releases me, the next few houses we pass seeming further away from our intended destination.

"What is his name?" Jay asks in a hushed tone, is tease him an pretend I didn't hear what he said but I didn't have the heart. "Noah."

A fluro pink Beetle is parked on the cobblestone driveway of a two storey house. "There's a gay car." I point to the polished tire rims.

"The fag bug." We snort a laugh.

"Maybe we passed it?" Jay asks squinting in the slowly rising sun blinding our vision. "Probab-"

HONK

We jump so far and high from the fag bug it could apply for a record in Ripley's believe it or not. Rhea snickers leaning against the open driver seat window, one hand on the horn. "Jesus Christ." I'm shaking from the scare as I lean forward, hands on quivering knees however laughter manages to escape me.

Probably because if I don't laugh I'll cry. "I couldn't have set that up perfectly if I wanted to." Today she's in fitting sports tights, a relaxed tank top on her shoulders. "Demi, they're here!" She calls to the upstairs window.

"We're taking this car?" The uncertainty in Jayden's voice couldn't be more transparent. "No way, it's ugly as."

"Oh thank God, I thought I was the only one that thought that," I say still slightly breathless from the horn, my heart beat throbs in my toes. "Looks like it belongs in Lazy Town don't ya think?"

Just then Demi descends the staircase looking radiant and effortless in loose track pants and off the shoulder shirt revealing a bra strap. "I would but considering this is my car and a present from my dad in my favourite colour, I'm inclined to disagree."

Demi angles her head as she speaks, stressing every 'my' and 'favourite' I felt like a massive ass. Rhea on the other hand is bitting the inside of her cheek, hiding behind luscious long locks while Jayden bites his clenched knuckles.

"I'm sorry."

"Ah, it's fine, we best be goin' now." She huffs acting cool about the situation. That's doesn't mean I am deaf to the venom laced in her speech.

Jayden pats my back sympathetically, "Lazy town." He sneers enjoying the misfortune far too much then cussing colourfully after I kick his shin.