Shiver

Chapter 4

Brayden's POV
I wake up exhausted, in no way motivated to go to work. Unfortunately, I have no choice. Reluctantly, I get out of the semi-warm water, relishing  the only slight warmth I get in my life.
After brushing my teeth and grabbing my beloved life juice, *cough cough* coffee *cough cough*. I walk outside, and immediately stop.
"Oh sweet baby Jesus." It is humid. And when I mean humid, I mean humid. My hair immediately sticks straight up, and my clothes stick to my skin. It's disgusting, and I honestly don't even know how people expect me to walk all the way to work.
Oh my goodness.
My friends are right.
Wait, what friends?
I am the king of complaining. I complain about everythi- oooooooh.
No wonder I have no friends. I complain a lot.

*Time skip by simple fact of walking to work in the humidity. Trust me, there was a lot of complaining.*

I finally get to work, drenched in sweat. Great. Now I get to smell disgusting for the rest of the day. I'm so excited.
"Hi Brayde- wohhhh." May crinkles her nose. "Did you have to walk to work?"
"Unfortunately," I grumble, trying to hide my very apparent disdain of my stench.
"I'm sorry." May says, sounding genuinely sympathetic. "You know," she twirls a piece of hair around a finger. "I could give you a ride home if you like."
I almost jump with excitement. Almost.
"Really?" I ask, hoping she isn't joking. I'm in no way wanting, or mentally prepared, to walk home in this ugly, horrible heat.
"Yeah, no problem."
I almost squeal, but I don't, because I don't want to get my free ride home taken out from under me.

*Another time skip brought by the fact that Brayden spaces out for most of the day. I swear with this guy. You can never get him to pay attention.*

"Ready to go?" May's chipper voice brings me out of my thoughts. I look at my computer and see I've gotten barely anything done today. Oops.
"Yeah, lets go."
"Ok!" She proclaims, almost jumping.
"But first, can you grab my arm, so that I can tell my friends I've been touched by an angel?"
"Uhhh.... sure, I guess." I brush my hand against her arm, completely confused by the weird request. However, I'm not going to complain, as May is giving me a free ride home, saving me from having to walk in the ugliness of the humidity.
We walk out of the building, and to her little blue Volkswagen bug. It's cute, kind of like May.
What?? Those are different thoughts coming from me.
"Where do you live?" May asks, turning on the car and kick starting the AC.
"Uhm, you take a right on Peach, a left on Prejudice, and then you'll be near my neighborhood. I can direct you from there."
"Ok!" Her cheery voice sings out. We leave the parking lot, turning onto England Avenue. "So how come you always walk? I mean, I live like five miles away, I could drive you."
"Oh I don't know," I say, chewing my lip, "I guess it just never crossed my mind. I mean, I don't live that far, and it's good exercise."
"Interesting." She mutters, smiling at me. "Oh crap, I think I'm lost. Can you give me directions, maybe to your heart?"
"Yeah, just turn around up here, get on December Road, and then you can loop around to Peach."
*Note from author* Brayden didn't hear the last part of May's sentence, either by choice, or because he's pretty much deaf. *Continue reading*
"Oh ok, thanks." May's smile falls a little bit, though I have no idea what I did to upset her so quickly.
The rest of the ride is pretty silent, apparently because I have already done something to piss May off and make her not like me anymore. What else is new?
"Ok, we're here!" May's chipper voice is back, my hopes along with it that I may not have totally blown in with the first friend I might have made in thirteen years.
"Oh. Thank you so much May!"
"Yeah, no problem!"
I get out of the car, gathering my stuff and walking away. I get about two steps before the window behind me rolls down.
"Wait," she says, seeming hesitant. I turn around and see her writing something down on a bright orange sticky note.
"Here," she says, handing my the sticky note.
"What is this?" I ask, trying to make sense of the numbers on it.
"It's my phone number, in case you ever need a ride to or from work. You know, if it's humid or something."
Duh. It's a phone number, stupid.
"Oh! Thanks! I might take you up on that once in a while."
"Feel free!" She says, smiling again. "Bye Brayden," she says, rolling up her window.
I wave, and then head inside, eternally grateful for not having to walk home. The humidity has gotten worse, and by the time I walk the ten steps to my front door, I'm sweating buckets.
Maybe I should move.
I set my stuff down on my chair, and then go to the kitchen, pulling out ingredients to make my famous potato casserole.
After eating, I do some simple work, thinking about the day. I actually have a smile on my face when I do. I might have made a friend. Me. Made a friend. Yay!
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*Face palms* Brayden, Brayden, poor oblivious Brayden. I wish I could help him, however I'm heartless, and he's inspired by a friend, who would also be completely oblivious to someone hitting on her. As always, comment and vote, and check out my new story, Il Mio Amore. Thanks!!