THEM

Chapter 6: Everett

Authors note: Hey guys! I do want to thank a very good friend of mine for helping me write this chapter, I did have a slight writers block and she was kind enough to help push it away! If you love her writing style like I do please check out her story called sending love. I have a link to it on my announcements page and really hope you guys check it out! Again shoutout to Naomi for producing this chapter or this upload wouldn't be happening!

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Arriving at the pizzeria we get out of the car and for some reason Carson and I run to try and beat each other at the door. Me being taller and having longer legs I, of course, beat her but I was raised right so I opened the door for her and had her enter first.

"No fair!" Carson exclaimed with a pout, although her eyes betrayed her entertainment by our little game, "I would've--"

"Welcome!" a man yelled walking from the back of the store to the front, "How can I help you two this fine evening?"

"Hello," I replied with a smile, "I'm here to pick up 10 pizzas under the name Everett," I notice a stack of pizzas out of the corner of my eye. I assume those are ours. No one else is here and the kitchen seems pretty quiet back there.

The man nods and checks the little note attached to the top of the stack, "5 meat lovers and 5 pepperoni with no soda?" He asks with a glance at us.

"Yep, that's me," I reply with a little laugh. I can only wonder what he thinks we need that much pizza for.

"Alright, just pay right here and I can give you a copy of your receipt," He offers.

I shake my head and reply, "Thank you, but no receipt needed," and pull out my card. I finish the transaction and start reaching for the pizzas.

"Let me help you carry those," Carson offered and also started reaching for them.

"It's fine, I got them," I replied and grabbed the first three, "Maybe you could get the door for me?" I asked with a grin. I don't want her carrying the boxes when they're so hot.

"I know you're strong and all but that's a lot to carry," Carson rolls her eyes but returns the smile. I notice the employee watching us out of the corner of his eye but he doesn't say anything.

"Thank you for the compliment, but I don't think you'll want to carry these. They're pretty hot," I say. I can already feel them heating my arms up.

"Whatever," Carson replies with a laugh, "Just let me carry some alright? I can handle a little heat," Carson insists, "I'll just--"

"How about I help you two lovebirds carry the pizza?" The man butts in with a jolly laugh that makes my ears go hot with embarrassment, "That way you can save your flirting for the car ride," the man looks at me and winks causing me to flush even more. I glance over at Carson and her face is as equally red.

"Sure," I finally say after a long pause. We weren't flirting, were we?

"Sounds good," Carson mumbles before quickly grabbing three of the pizzas, leaving four for the man to carry. All three of us exit the shop and load them into the back seat of my car.

"Thank you," I say as he leaves.

"Of course, now you two get home safe," he replies with a laugh. Nodding to Carson and I, he heads back into the shop before either of us could say anything in reply. Neither of us could look at each other as we stood outside the car in awkward silence.

"Let's get back to my place," Carson says, breaking the tension, "They probably think we went to another country or something," she says with an embarrassed chuckle.

"Probably," Was all I could say with a small and equally awkward laugh. Both of us got in the car and I started the drive back.

Carson was quiet for most of the ride which was fine with me at this point. The music filled in the empty space between us so it felt less awkward and more like we were going on a late night drive together. Would I want to do that with her? I thought, catching myself imagining just the two of us. I glance at her for a moment. The light brought by the city fell on her face as she watched us drive by. She seems pretty cool and would probably be down for that. We could bring Kyle and Kate so she wouldn't feel as awkward.

"You alright?" I ask after another minute. I don't get why she'd be bothered that badly. The man made a harmless joke.

"I'm fine, I'm just enjoying the music," she replied. She looked at me with a smug look, "Are you ok?"

I raised my eyebrows while keeping my eyes on the road, "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You sure? You've been pretty quiet," She replied with a laugh.

I glance at her with a "what?" look, "I've been quiet? You've been looking outside like you're in a sad movie!" I replied with a chuckle.

"Oh like this?" she joked as she laid the back of her hand on her forehead and let out a loud sigh. I just laughed at her, gosh she's really something. I focused my attention back on the road in front of me, and I heard her start to sing along with the music once again. Back to normal. That makes me very happy.

When arriving back at Carson's house she basically forces me to let her carry some of the pizzas, which I comply to avoid the "flirty" behavior that the pizza man had brought up. As we walk into the house I start to really think, were we really flirting with each other? If we were, then why did Carson get upset? Did she mind, or was she embarrassed? My thoughts were ripped from my mind, with Carsons voice "PIZZA!!!"

We walk over to the large table set out in the yard and we grab our pieces before my friends completely demolish the 10 boxes.

"Where do you want to sit?" I ask her while she grabs a Snapple out of the cooler.

"You don't want to hang with your friends?" she furrows her brows.

"Nah, they are kinda lame if you ask me." I whisper so my friends don't get butthurt.

"Okay, um well we can go on the two seater over there." she giggles and points with her plate. I follow her lead and sit on the swing with her.

"Do you know which movie they chose?" I try to make slight conversation.

"I'm not sure, but i think it's a scary movie because Kate loves horror." she shrugs.

"Do you two want a blanket?" Kate walks up to us with a red blanket.

"Oooh yes! Thank you." Carson grabs the blanket from her friends grasp and lays it over our laps.

The movie starts playing and we soon learn we are watching the newest Annabelle movie.

"Ugh, I hate this movie." I hear Carson moan while bringing the blanket up to cover her face.

"Here I'll protect you." I move her to be under my arm and she keeps the blanket near her eyes for whichever jump scares come up.

"Thank you." she whispers as we continue to watch the movie. We stayed like this the entire night while they continued to play horror movies. I have to admit, it was nice to be cuddled up with her. My mind couldn't help but wander to thoughts about us being a thing. I doubt it would happen though. I shake my thoughts from my head and try to focus back on the movie. However, no matter how hard I try, I keep catching myself wandering back to that idea.