Alleyway BxB

II (Arrival)

TUESDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER
MARCELLO LOCKHEART

I reached for the strap of my camera bag by my feet and tugged it to my lap. It had been a few weeks since my last upload and it was time to meet new people, so maybe it was time for a new video.

I filmed an intro that explained our surprise move to California but I just watched it back... and what was with the bags under my eyes? I slept for a couple hours on the plane ride; how did I end up looking like the poster child for insomnia? Whatever, I could just film it again later, but it had to be good. The video could take some attention away from my messy split from Sarah.

The whole world was on my side this time. The evidence outweighed whatever bullshit she spat out to the media.

"I haven't seen that thing in a while." Marcella scooted closer to me and snatched the camera before I could pluck the SD card out of it. She didn't even need play the video, just the sheer thumbnail alone was enough to make her snort. "You look like Isah from last night."

"Cute?"

"No. The sleep deprived part. Why film the intro now? At least wait until you look okay first."

"I wanted to do it now so I could focus on the more important things later... Can't disturb the twins on their special day tomorrow." A couple had hours since I touched down in California but all I had done so far was script and retake that intro five times for it to still look like absolute crap. "How long until the boys come back?"

Another nap couldn't hurt.

She glanced at the clock on the wall as she skimmed through the older footage on the card. It was the final pieces of footage I shot with Sarah for a video I planned to post last night. Even without the break up I could have never posted it. We argued every other minute. "They'll be here any sec-"

And then it happened.

At the click of a lock, the front door swung open and in came the hound that was a bounding Isaac. "Cello!" He exclaimed and charged forward at full speed.

The second he left the ground, I braced every muscle in my body. He was slim but heavy enough to make me grunt at impact. He even had bones sharp enough to hurt; but after six years, I couldn't help but miss my best friend too. "Isaac!"

Although our little baby gang was tightly-knit and exclusive to only the Lockheart and Frazier siblings, Isaiah and Marcella always had their own thing going. Thus, Isaac and I did too, except we were strictly platonic.

I couldn't see myself being with Isaac anyway. We were far too alike to take each other seriously.

Isaac let go of the choke hold and finally gave me space to breathe. "You're a lot bigger in person now. I used to be taller than you."

"Used to," I emphasised as I shoved him off to the side. "Good to see you too."

Isaac patted my chest before he glanced off to the camera in Marcella's hands. "Busting out the camera, are we? Is it another one of your break-up announcements?"

Of course, he'd say that. I sighed. Not this time. "I don't need to announce what the world already knows."

"She sucked, anyway." He hopped off the couch, and grabbed the camera from her, along with the bag. "Now follow me. We just sent Zach to order pizza."

Zach... He's the photography one, I think.

Moving out onto the street, I threw my hood up despite the warm weather. If I remembered correctly, Zach was dating Dallon. I spotted him fairly quickly. He was impossible to miss; everything about him was clear cut from marble. Facial features as sharp as his style. He clearly took care of himself. Amid the chaotic masses of fluff on the rest of the boys' heads, his sandy waves rolled out in meticulous directions.