Things End, Deal With It

twenty one

August

My punishment of being grounded finally ended yesterday. I'm free to do whatever I want yet I haven't left the house. "Mom?" I call through the house. "Mom!"

"Yeah?" She yells back while coming down the stairs.

"Do we have anything for lunch?"

"Uh, maybe? Get off your ass and go look." I turn around to look at her, and all I see is her feet as she steps up the last step.

"Damn." I get off the couch and go into the kitchen. I find ham and take it out along with Miracle Whip. I open the wheat bread and get out two pieces. I make my sandwich, put everything away, and grab the chips. I go back into the living room with my food and sit down at the couch. I eat my food while re-watching American Horror Story: Murder House. I just felt like rewatching all the seasons before the new season came on in October. Don't judge me.

"Okay, honey." Mom comes down the stairs while putting her earrings in. She takes her phone, keys, and purse off the counter. "I'll be back at midnight. Here's some money." She hands me a twenty and a ten dollar bill out of her wallet. "Get something for dinner. I love you." She kisses my forehead and rushes out the door.

"Mom, you-" I start to shout, but she bursts back through the door.

"Forgot my shoes." She laughs crazily, grabs her shoes, then walks right back out the door.

"Okay?" I question my mother, even though she's long gone. My phone buzzes, and I unlock it, reading the text from Nash.

(bold is Nash, italics is Cheyenne)

hey

you're ungrounded today right??

hiiii, and actually it was over yesterdayy

oh.. do you wanna hanf out today?

hang**

haha, sure. I'll come over there

do you need me to come pick you up?

of course,

ok

be there soon, love you

I live you

love* ((:

I quickly finish up my sandwich and chips, clean up, and run upstairs to get ready.  I go to the bathroom, wash my face, and brush my teeth. I re-pin my hair in a ponytail and head into my room. I look through my closet for something to wear. I pull out a plain black t-shirt and toss it onto the bed. I take a pair of black shorts out of my dresser and toss them over there as well. I find a new pair of underwear and a clean bra. I get undressed and then dressed in fresh clothes. I grab my makeup bag and rush into the bathroom.

"Hello?" I hear Nash call through the house then the door closes.

"Upstairs in the bathroom!" I call back. I get out my mascara, eyeliner, and lip gloss. Nash comes through the bathroom door and sits on top of the toilet seat.

"How much longer?"

"Like five minutes. Shut up." I kick his leg and get back to my makeup. I put on my eyeliner and then the mascara. I finish off my lip gloss and put it all away. "I just have to get on my socks and shoes. C'mon." We go into my room, and I get out knee-high sock and my combat boots.

"Why so much black?"

"Nash. Why even ask? Atleast I have white socks on."

"Sorry, sorry." I put on my socks and shoes.

"Now, let's go. What are we doing today?" We go downstairs, I grab my phone, and we head out the door.

"Uh, whatever you want to, I guess."

"Should we go somewhere for my birthday?" We get into Nash's mom's car.

"No, no," Nash replies as he starts the car. "I have something planned for your birthday."

"Oh, you do?" I wiggle my eyebrows.

"I always do." Nash pulls out onto the road and speeds through the neighborhood. "We could go get something to eat, if you want."

"I just ate."

"What did you eat?"

"A sandwich." I turn up the volume on the radio. Some weird song is playing so I flip through the channels and try to find something.

"What else?" Nash puts on his blinker and turns down Eastern Avenue.

"Chips, Nash. Geez."

"I'm just worried."

"I'm fine now." I huff and keep flipping through stations.

"Okay." I finally just stop on some station because I'm tired of looking. "So, do you just want to go to my house?"

"Can we go somewhere else? Like the park or something?"

"Yeah." We drive to the usual park and pull up. We get out and walk around. "Let's go to the swings. You like the swings." I laugh and grab his hand, dragging him towards them. There were two kids there; a little girl and a boy. The boy was about 10 or 11, and the girl 4 or 5. The girl was trying to push the older boy on one swing, but she didn't have enough strength.

"Do you want some help?" I ask the girl, and she looks up at me.

"Yes, please." She smiles a super cute smile, and I smile back. I help her push the boy, and once he gets going a bit, she insists on doing it herself.

"Good job." I tell her and sit down on the swing next to them. Nash steps up from where he was leaning against the post.

"Need a push?" he whispers in my ear.

"Sure." I hold onto the chains, and Nash pulls the swing back and pushes. I laugh loudly and start pumping my legs. Nash continues pushing as I go higher and higher. I keep laughing, then the girl starts laughing and clapping her hands.

"Come on, Ari. We have to go." The boy takes ahold of her hand and leads them away from the swingset. I close my eyes and feel the wind whip around me. Suddenly, I'm stopped, and Nash wraps his arms around me. I lean back to look at him, and he kisses me. Our mouths mold together, and I smile. He lets go of me.

"Sorry. I just had to."

"It's fine." I get up from the swing and wrap my arms around his neck. I pull him in for another kiss.