Not All Sunshine And Rainbows

Chapter 3: 72 hours and the 23rd of July

It's been 72 hours without Jake. I didn't realize how much we talked and hung out until now. I've been bored beyond reason.

Netflix, Hulu, and Adult Swim can only be entertaining for so long, and the video games I play are either two-player or story-based. I've already finished one game, but I can't play Lego Batman or Jurassic  Park without Jake. I tried to invite James over for Mortal Kombat, but he excused himself after one special. I guess he's not a big gore guy.

I couldn't keep watching Adventure Time, but I binged all of Gravity Falls in one sitting. I even watched the Film Theory videos on the series. I finally understand the hype. Mabcifica is life.

I tried to learn how to crochet, or is it knitting? I don't know, but either way I failed, so no Mabel-style sweaters will be made by me. I did successfully bake peanut butter cookies though. That was fun, maybe I'll try making bread today. 

Regardless, I need to get off the couch. I used to go to the gym everyday, but since the coffee shop I've been avoiding James, (except for Mortal Kombat, I was desperate that day) and James usually works out at about the same time as I do.

Maybe I'll just go to the gym early today. It's only 6 in the morning so I'll still have the whole day to do whatever I'd like.

Then again, the couch is pretty comfortable.

I could always go to my sister's place too. She lives 5 minutes away if I jog. Her apartment complex has a gym too. Ya, that's it. I'm gonna go visit Sarah.

I send a quick text and put some normal clothes in a bag with my other usual gym stuff. I throw on a t-shirt and shorts and I head out. Trap music is playing in my earbuds and going to do something productive is making me pumped for the day. 

Five minutes passes like 30 seconds, and I'm there.

I take out an earbud and knock three times, loud, then quiet, then loud again. Last time I forgot and my sister was scared half to death. I pull out my key and open the door, prepared to say hi and grab the keycard for the gym. 

Instead of a college student vegging out on tv though, I see my sister in a rather compromising situation, attempting to put a shirt back on and shoo someone away. I give her some privacy and close the door for a moment.

She opens it in a few seconds and I can feel my eyes go large when I see another girl walk behind her to grab her purse and leave. My face is definitely red, but my sisters is even more so. I lean my head to the right, trying to get a better look at the person behind her, and she leans right as well. 

Silence envelopes us for a few seconds as she continues blocking the view of this mystery girl.

"So what's up dork?" she laughs lightly and punches me lightly on the shoulder.

"I dunno. Why don't you tell me big sis?" I laugh just a small amount and punch her shoulder as well, although it's more of a light push than a punch.

Her face turns a deeper shade of red and she attempts to look nonchalant, "Just uh," she puffs out her cheeks as she considers her words, "studying." She nods her head and I can hear the girl behind her stifle a laugh.

"Ok sure, studying. You sound like a teenager from some coming of age film, but sure. How was studying?" I raise my voice and tilt my head towards the girl who is now sitting at my sister's dining room table scrolling through her phone.

The mystery girl doesn't look at me but responds, "Studying was phenomenal," she smirks and my sister's face, which was returning to a normal color, flushes red again.

"You're not gonna quit are you Eric?" I shake my head no and she sighs, "Fine, come in," she opens the door up and gestures towards the inside of her apartment.

"I was gonna go workout, mind if I grab a snack and take the keycard?"

"Sure, but since when do you go to my crappy gym?" She chuckles a bit and tosses me the keycard.

"Uh just trying something different. Since when do you have 'study' sessions at 6 in the morning, with girls?" I walk into the kitchen and grab a couple granola bars as my sister tries to stutter out a believable lie.

She fails to come up with anything, and as I walk back out I hug her briefly and put my hand out towards the mystery gal. 

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Eric."

"I'm-," She puts out her hand to shake and we both freeze. 

"Amanda," I finish. Damn I really can't escape the coffee shop fiasco can I?

"How do you two know each other?" My sister asks, she seems less curious than I'd expect.

"Oh just ran into him with his boyfriend the other day at work," Amanda says dismissively. She goes back to scrolling through her phone as me and my sister stare at each other.

"Oh?! Eric has a boyfriend~" Sarah says teasingly. She sounds like an 8th grader who's friend just got called down to the office. 

"So. Who's this mystery man? lil bro?" She has a giant grin on her face and I can't help but laugh.

She pokes me, "What? What's so funny dude? Come on tell meeee."

Amanda gets up, "I should go now. I have class soon, and it looks like you two need some sibling time."

"Aww ok babe," Sarah kisses her cheek, "let me know when you get off please."

"yep I'll see ya later S."

That was weird. I guess they're dating? I was under the impression they were just uh "study" buddies.

The door thunks and I can't help myself. "So when are you two moving in together?" I keep my face as serious as possible, but it doesn't last long. In a couple seconds I break and let out a chuckle.

"So, about that. I've been meaning to tell you I swear-"

"She's your new roommate isn't she? Were you two," I struggle to find words, "ya know.. before she moved in or..?"

"Uh before" she says, almost whispering. She rubs the back of her head a bit.

"How long?" There was still smile on my face but a softer one.

"I mean that's not important, a while I guess, I dunno," Sarah shrugs to add emphasis

"That's a lie. You know," My sister keeps track of everything, there's no way in hell she doesn't know.

"I really don't, it's casual."

"Mmhm. Sure," No it's not, she doesn't do casual, secretly gay or not.

"Ya, casual."

"Can I see your phone?"

"Sure," she pulls it out of a pocket and hands it over, "why?"

"Just checkin' something," I give her a mischievous look as I click on the calendar app on her phone.

I scroll through the month and see July 23rd has quite a few emojis and dots covering it. The whole day is planned out. My sister seems to realize what I'm looking at and tries (and fails) to grab her phone.

"Ericcccc, give it back," she looks and sounds like a toddler throwing a tantrum but I gotta know.

I open the description of the day.

Holy shit.