It All Started With A Pen

Nice Bra

I'm in our kitchen, making breakfast, when the doorbell rings. What is someone doing ringing the doorbell at 7am? I flip the pancake and walk over to the door, smoothing my hair out and running my hands over my sweatpants and crumpled "DUUUUDEEE" shirt with Squirt the Turtle on it. My hands touch the brass knob and I pull it open.

"Um?" I'm cut off by Bex squeezing through the door, holding a huge basket in his hands.

"Hey," he says with a nod. "Nice shirt."

I cross my arms over my Nemo shirt and eye the gift in his hands. "An explanation would be nice?" Bex has been showing up at our apartment at random times in the day for the past few weeks for Zara, leaving poor Dean all alone. It's a surprise they're not dating yet. He's never brought anything before, besides his undying love.

"Oh! Yeah, sorry. Well..." He sets the basket on the table and blushes. "I'm planning on asking Zara to go out with me..." He trails off, watching my face.

"What? Oh my gosh really?! Yes! Finally, Zarex is a thing!"

I stop at the weird look he's giving me and give him one back. "What? She's my best friend. She acts like it's a fling but trust me She really wants to be exclusive."

He smiles at that, a perfect grin that breaks across his face.

"So," I ask, handing him a plate with some pancakes, "What's the plan?"

***

"Ashley!" I hear my name yelled and I shoot Bex an excited smile, standing up and walking towards a sleepy Zara.

"What?" I call as I see her holding KK in her arms.

"Tell your dog to stop waking me up at 9AM by licking my face! I will not hesitate to kick her out!"

I roll my eyes. That's a lie. "Where KK goes, I go. You wanna lose half the rent? Be my guest."

"Oh, so you piss in bushes, too? Interesting development of character, I'm not too surprised though, knowing you," she says with an annoying grin.

"Okay, well, I made pancakes but I guess you don't want any. That's fine," I state, knowing that'll get her.

She hurries over to my side. "You know I'm joking, I love you and I love your dumb dog," she says, patting KK on the head. "Now, where are those pa-oh? What's this?" she says, finally spotting the 2-feet-tall basket on our counter. Yes, my best friend is so observant.

"You had a special delivery this morning."

She reads the tag with a frown. "'Will you...?' Will you what? Will you be a stripper? Will you bake me a cake? Will you suck my dick? What does this mean?"

Bex walks out from where he was sitting by the couch, shielded by the bookshelf. "Will you go out with me?"

"I- What? Um," she stutters, staring at the basket full of fruit shaped into flowers, and then back at Bex.

"I know it's sudden but I really like you and you know you like me too," he says, shooting her a cocky grin.

"That sounds like a love song." She rolls her eyes. Wow, even Bex can't make Zara Marlen stay speechless for long. "Yes, I'll go out with you, you weirdo who comes into my house and eats my pancakes."