The Gold and the Forest

XIV

Chapter 14: Grow Up

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Declan came over to visit and found Carl just sitting on the sofa, staring into space. He tried waving his hand in front of his stepbrother, but was met with limited response.

"Hello? Earth to Carl?"

A sigh.

Declan patted Carl's face, each pat increasing in intensity.

Carl finally came to his nerve's end and pushed Declan away.

"Not funny." He muttered, closing his eyes in annoyance.

Declan sank into the sofa beside him. "What's up, dude?"

"Nothing." Carl cut the conversation quickly.

Declan hissed. "That's cruel. You can't just act like that and not tell me what the pretty girl did to you."

Silence ensued.

"Listen—you knucklehead, the last time you acted like this, you were in love with Bonnie."

"I'm not in love with anyone."

"Oh yeah?"

Carl inhaled sharply. "Declan, what do you want from me?"

Declan turned his head and stared at him intently. "It's bro-bonding time."

"It is not."

"I will force it to be bro-bonding time." Carl folded his arms, shaking his leg in increasing irritation. "C'mon—let's talk about girls."

Carl breathed in, reading to cut the conversation again when Declan interrupted with an obnoxiously loud rant.

"Last April this girl that sat in front of me dropped her pencil and it rolled next to my foot. I picked it up like a good Samaritan—right? Now get this—I give it to her with like the best smile my face can muster—and this bitc—this respectful young lady tells me: 'ew, did you step on it?'"

Clan rolls his eyes. "She literally went, 'ugh, boys ruin everything.'"

"So, I tossed her stupid pencil out the window and I got sent to detention. But—get this—she got sent there with me for making a big fuss about it. Haha, get fucked."

"I guess after that session in detention, she really warmed up to me or whatever." Clan snickers. "Before I knew it, she was confessing to me."

Carl looked at him in mild surprise.

"No—I went out with her friend instead."

Carl smacked him on the head.

"Ow!" Declan rubbed the spot Carl hit and pouted. "What was that for?"

"Since when did you—"

"Exactly!" Declan stands up. "We never talk about girls, Carl."

"We don't need to."

"But I want to."

"Clan—"

"I just want to be a good bro!" Carl met the frustrated eyes of his stepbrother.

He sighed. "You are one. Grow up, you're not a freshman anymore."

"You grow up." Clan shot back. "You're not a junior anymore."

Carl froze up. Declan relaxed, sinking back into the sofa. He smacked Carl on the arm.

"You still close up on people." Clan mumbled. "Stubborn."

Do we really have to grow up so soon?

---

Sean was absolutely gobsmacked to see Vivi standing there in front of his doorway. He held out his hands. "What's this?"

"An apology." Vivi admitted. "Maybe not a sufficient one."

Sean smiled. "That's up to you, Vivi."

Vivi inhaled in. "I'm sorry—if you'd accept me back, I still want to work here."

There was a moment's pause, and Vivi heard her own heart pound.

"Of course, Vivi."

Relief flooded her system and she looked up at Sean, a small smile on her face. She went to hug him.

"Same shift?" He asked.

"Yeah." She nodded.

"Are you still going to be mean to a certain someone or has that been resolved?"

Vivi was shocked into pulling back and she offered a half-smile. "I mean—no promises."

Sean sighed into his hand. "That is not what I wanted to hear but I'll take it."

---

Going back to work and meeting each other in uniform was a strange encounter for the two. Carl had no idea how to really act.

Maybe I really should've talked to Clan about it. He mused, cleaning up the tables. Although Declan's lectures/lessons were usually distasteful and bothersome, he has probably said something valuable that Carl would have gotten if he was paying attention.

Vivi, on the other hand, has calmed down significantly. Instead of jumping into his face, she's more cautious. Carl was reminded of the way she was in high school before they really got to know each other. There was a big contrast between her with and without impulse control.

For some reason that makes her a lot more respectable. Carl goes to work without fear that something will be thrown in his face.

It was back to the cautious distance they had in the beginning.

---

"We need coffee."

"How did you get my phone number—"

"My treat."

He couldn't say no to free coffee. He grabbed his bag and headed out of his last class, meeting her gaze at the main entrance. She grinned cheekily.

He sighed, hiding a forming smile, and turned to start walking. "Which one are you going to drag me to this time?"

She hopped into step beside him. "This really nice one that my friend recommended. It opened up a few days ago."

He made a noise of acknowledgment in his throat.

"Do you like my dress?" She twirled in front of him, giggling at her own antics.

He tried to step past her but she blocked his way, laughing as she bumped into him.

He sighed. "Vivi."

"Forrest."

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