Perpetually Dreaming

Chapter 11-Hot Goss

((1701 words)) A/N sorry it took so long, im a bit of a trainwreck and I've been dealing with a whole lotta bad recently, but I hope this rushed chapter makes up for it.

Chapter 11-Hot Goss

          The drive to the town was shorter than I remembered. Maybe it's because I let Em drive, and she kinda terrifies me behind the wheel. Like, don't get me wrong, I love her. She's so beautiful and kind and all but... if I have to tell her to get on the other side of the road one more time I'm going to lose it. Being pretty has literally no effect on your driving skills, I've learned. Or maybe it does and she just so happened to put her skill points in beauty rather than driving at birth. Will was in the passenger's seat talking to Em about their dog, Dexter. Ally and Zach, for once, weren't on top of each other. Not that I want them to make out on my nice leather seats, but I mean the the backseat was incredibly cramped. I think I could tolerate it for the leg room.

       Not that Liam and I's relationship-dealio-thing was really a secret anymore, I'm just not one for PDA. And judging by how red he was looking right now as we all sat uncomfortably close to each other, he wasn't either, so we weren't on the table for a makeout in the name of leg room. I made the best of the situation and placed my head on his shoulder, the air conditioning on a little too high for my fancy. I figured I wouldn't need a coat because it's blazing outside, but my jeeps like the arctic circle right now. I would've told Em to turn it down, but I didn't care too much and I was too focused on the whole wrong sided driving thing to speak up about anything else.

        Emily absolutely horribly parallel parked right in front of a fire hydrant, so I took her place in the driver's seat and found somewhere better to park. By that I mean I pulled forward ten feet so I wouldn't get a ticket, but lets pretend that's not what happened and call me a hero. Everyone hopped out of the car and started pointing at different buildings and statues, wondering who made them and if the scratches and sun damage were intentional. I looked around for myself and saw what was either the most aesthetically pleasing bakery or another artist studio, and decided to take my chances with going in.

       The rest of the group decided that they wanted to go see some art, so Liam and I split off to go into the bakery, like you do. Remember kids, if you're traveling with a group, the safest thing to do is split off and not tell them. The crosswalk was about, like... 50ish meters away, so, rather than be smart and walk that way, we ran across the street and nearly got hit by a tiny red car of a breed I'd never seen before. We walked up to the bakery (or art studio) and stepped inside, listening to the little bell on the door chime.

       To our luck, it really was just a bakery. I walked up to the counter, taking Liam's hand in mine, and ordered two coffees and two donuts. And, because my dream is to be known in the father figure realm with my jokes, I turned around and asked Liam, "oh sorry did you want something?" He chuckled and rolled his eyes at me, taking his coffee and doughnut to a booth in the corner, waiting patiently as I explained to the woman working at the cashier what I meant, her not understanding most the things I said because I was going too fast and stumbling over words.

      I sat across from him and sipped my coffee, immediately burning my tongue. Dude, c'mon. I trusted you, you sweet caffeine fluid. What the gosh hecking darn. Don't be like that man. Liam watched as I did that little slurp maneuver in my mouth until it wasn't hot anymore and couldn't help but snort with laughter, causing me to laugh at his snort. It was a disaster. Our obnoxious laughter over my failure to consume and his failure to laugh flooded the small cafe and made the atmosphere so sweet and good.

      That was, until the table in front of us stopped talking. I mean people stop talking to eat, its a cafe after all- okay you know what im just gonna say what happened because you already know. I think. I mean I hope you know because it'd be embarrassing for you if you didn't. Like I mean foreshadowing really came out to play- once again I'm gonna shut up.

      Shelby's black hair whipped around the corner of the booth and made eye contact with me immediately. Her dark eyes bulged out of her head as she looked around the booth and realized that we were both here. Time froze for a second as I tried to figure out what was going on, but Liam nudged my hand and made a "do something you idiot" expression towards me. I sighed and moved to her booth, gesturing Liam to follow suit.

     We slid into the ends of the booth, me beside Shelbs and Liam besides the strange woman from the phone call. The girl looked an odd bit like Shelby, which is weird for a lover, but I suppose learning to love yourself after a breakup is important. This girl had the same face shape and kind eyes as shelby, but lighter hair and more tanned skin. Liam only seemed a little bit uncomfortable in the booth, which was great because the rest of us were all extremely uncomfortable.

     I cleared my throat and gestured to the girl hoping Shelby would explain, but it was to no avail. Shelby was caught up in the very interesting swirl of her coffee and decided to ignore me, or maybe was hoping for something else to come up before she had to speak. Thankfully, the girl she was with spoke up: "You too must be Emily and Will, she's supes jealous of y'all as a couple 'cause you can make it work and she can't even make her cat love her! Im Bea by the way, her sister. Kinda the pride of the family, I'm sure you're sick of hearing about me by now." She laughed to herself like an old French woman before leaving us in silence.

     I was about to correct her about our names before I realized what she said. Sister? SISTER? ITS- wait I mean- SHE'S NOT HER LESBIAN LOVER? SINCE WHEN DOES SHELBY HAVE A SISTER? I stumbled over my thoughts and shoved my entire doughnut into my face to avoid whatever shame talking might bring. Because it'd be a whole bunch. Just a whole bouquet of oopsie daisies would spill outta my mouth.

      Thankfully, that horrible, horrible radar alarm went off. Bea checked her phone and hurriedly shoved her uneaten doughnut into an expensive looking leather purse, gesturing

for Liam to scoot so she could get out, saying, "This really has been fun Shelby, I'll see you when you get back in LA. And have fun you too, but not too much." She threw a wink at us, causing me to almost choke on chocolate sprinkles.

     As the door's bell chimed signalling that she had left the cafe, we immediately swarmed the small black haired girl with a billion questions. "A sister?" "Why'd she come here?" "Why does this sound like the lazy plot to a Harry Styles fanfic?" "How much money to buy our silence?" "Do you really talk about Will and Em that much?"

      Shelby sank down into the booth, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else. Before she could open her mouth to speak, the doorbell chimed again. This time, a very distraught looking Ally came charging toward us. "Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh, Natalia Roxanne Erikson, Zach asked me to move in with him!! How romantic, don't you think?"

     She scootched into the booth besides Liam and began going on and on about how they had been a "little on the rocks recently" but this would definitely save their relationship. I look at Liam, still yet to tell him about what I'd heard yesterday morning in the showers. I really hope that this means they'll stay together, but I also don't want anyone else in my home. My Jades are stressed enough with Ally's music I don't want them wilting because of her yelling.

      Shelby managed to unsink from her spot in the booth, a smug grin creeping onto her face as she realized she evaded questions. I let out a loud huff as I processed everything that was going on. Maybe this is the goddess's way of telling me to take a nap, but I don't have time for that right now, I got the goss. SOMEONE needs to tell Em and Will.

     Chugging my coffee and spilling half of it on my face, I ran out of the cafe with my doughnut being forcefully shoved into my mouth. I recognized the faded blue tips of Em's hair within seconds through the window of the jewelry show, dashing towards her. Maybe I crossed the street by myself like a big boy, maybe that's none of your business. I burst open the door and sputtered out the news, saying, "GUYS GUYS GUYS, Shelby has a sister! And Zach and Ally are moving in together! Isn't that just wild!"

     Will was down on one knee, probably tying his shoe or something. Emily squealed in excitement and hugged me, asking where they were. I took her hand and led her across the street, Will begrudgingly following. Once in the Cafe, Ally began to explain the intricacies of this move, saying he was moving here and how she'd sponsor him for a visa. I didn't question where Zach was, but I knew it was probably somewhere dumb.

     Low and behold, after the group left the cafe we went to the metal working shop next door and found him learning to weld cups. Not gonna question it. We spent the rest of the day exploring the town, passing out as soon as we got home.