Running Into You

Chapter 15

Henry

We walk back into the house through the kitchen entrance and I can hear yelling and loud crashing from the living room. "Oh come on that's cheating," I hear my sister.

"Hey, stop that. You won't get away with that," I hear Caleb yell. I walk in and see the large TV has a video game playing that looks like Mortal Combat. Caleb and Piper are on the couch. Piper is bouncing all over the place pressing her buttons frantically while Caleb's shoulders are going up and down in quiet laughter.

"Well, Caleb I see you found your way."

"Yes, I did Coach Barnes," Caleb says without taking his eyes from the TV.

"Coach? Are you on my brother's football team?" my sister pipes in still pressing her buttons also not looking from the TV.

"Yes, he is. Do you just let any strange boys come in the house when they come knocking?"

"No, silly, he said he was here to see Emma."

"You have a lovely home, Coach Barnes, thank you for letting me come over."

"You're welcome anytime Caleb."

I feel Emma's arms wrap around my back and hug me tight. She whispers thank you in my ear.

"Ah ha," my sister squeals with delight, "do you want another round?"

"If you're up for it."

"Are you kidding? Henry never plays with me anymore. He's an old man now. We used to be the best Call of Duty team out there."

"Call of Duty huh? Let's see what you've got."

"Okay," my sister squeals as she goes to the menu to change the game.

"Do you guys want me to order some pizza?" I ask.

"Make sure you get one with all the veggies," my sister reminds me.

I look over at Emma, "Is pizza okay with you?"

"Yeah sure."

"What would you like on your pizza?"

"Veggie pizza sounds good to me."

"Caleb?" I ask a little louder, but I don't take my eyes off her face.

"Something with meat."

I nod and head back into the kitchen. I take my phone out of my pocket to make the order on a Pizza Hut app as I take a seat at the bar.

"Your sister is very sweet to entertain Caleb like that."

"Are you kidding? My sister needs constant entertainment. He's doing me a favor."

"I thought she painted and took pictures to entertain herself."

"She does, but she enjoys people too."

"She's very bubbly."

"She can be, but not always. She's in spirits today."

I order two large pizzas and have them delivered on my phone and then put my phone back in my pocket.

"Do you want to see my room?"

"Sure"

I take her hand in mine and lead her back to the foyer to go up the stairs. At the top of the stairs there are three doors to the right and three doors to the left. There is a pair of French doors that open out to a balcony that looks over the backyard in the middle. All the bedrooms upstairs have a door that walks out onto the balcony that stretches the length of the house. The three doors to the left are mine, Pipers, and a bathroom in-between while the three doors to the right are my parents, a bathroom, and my dad's office. We head to my room which is the room at the far end of the hall. I open the door and watch her face as she takes it in. It's what you'd probably expect of a teenage boys room to look like. There are plaid sheets on a four poster queen bed with a dresser and desk. Other than posters of football teams and colleges on my walls and a shelf of old trophies there's not much else. On each side of my bed is a night stand with a lamp and a digital clock on one side. She walks over to my bed and runs her hand up one of the long post before she sits down. She takes in her surroundings quietly. Finally she looks over at me and smiles.