habits

five

"good morning spence." my dad said, putting a plate of waffles in front of me.

"hi dad." i replied, shoving waffles into my mouth.

"excited for your first day of school?" he asked me and i shrugged. "are you taking payton to school?"

i gave him a weird look. "dad. no."

"well we used to when you guys were younger so i just thought—"

"this isn't middle school anymore." i cut him off, finishing my waffles.

"i have to go to school. i'll see you at what time?" i asked.

"i'll probably be home around seven tonight, sweetie." he replied.

"okay dad, love you." i smiled, walking out the door.

getting to school was weird. i hadn't been to this high school since 2017. i waited for selena to show up so i didn't have to walk into school alone.

"hi mami." selena smiled, hugging me.

"hey bae." i replied.

"so...did chris ask you out yet?" she asked.

i shook my head. "he got mad at me for telling payton he looked good. like can i not be nice to payton?"

"apparently you can't be nice to payton, spence, don't be nice to him anymore, because you and chris are end game." selena pouted.

"i'm allowed to have guy friends." i told her.

"yes but payton is your ex." she reminded me.

"my 'ex'. whatever we had was a childish game." i sighed.

"four years of a childish game, okay spencer." she rolled her eyes.

"i have to get to class." i huffed.

-

payton caught me outside when school ended.

"hey spence!" he smiled.

"hey payt." i replied.

"what's up?" he asked, walking next to me.

"well i'm about to go home and probably binge some netflix how about you?" i laughed.

"joining you in watching netflix at your home, if i'm allowed." payton smirked.

"yes you can come watch netflix with me." i rolled my eyes.

we arrived back at my house, payton drove separately so that way i wouldn't have to drop him off at the school.

"you guys aren't living in the same house as before?" he asked.

"no, my dad thought it would be too hard." i shrugged, walking inside.

"this house is nice though." payton smiled.

"thanks payton." i laughed.

we were laying on the couch watching outer banks because apparently payton had refused to watch it before.

"i just don't get the hype. john b isn't even that attractive!" payton yelled.

"he's hot, but jj is hotter." i shrugged.

"of course you find them hot." he laughed.

"you're a straight male so i know why you don't like them." i said. "they're extremely attractive and you're having a hard time accepting that."

he threw a pillow at me, "you're a turd."

"nice comeback." i rolled my eyes.

"maybe i do think they're hot and i'm comparing myself to them. did you ever think of that?" payton whined.

"don't compare yourself to them, payton." i sighed. "it just makes you more sad."

"i just don't know how i'm supposed to find myself attractive when those are the standards." he laughed.

"deadass payton, i saw you in a tik tok where a hella fine guy was like 'how am i supposed to feel attractive when these are girls standards' and you were like the third person he put in there. so shut up." i said.

"really?" he responded.

"yes payton. so many girls have crushes on you and wish they could be your girlfriend. you're attractive silly." i laughed.

"thank you, spence." he smiled.

around nine pm, my dad arrived home. it was a late night for him which means he was really tired. before payton left, he helped me get a bowl of ramen made, with breadsticks and a salad so my dad had dinner when he got home.

"hey dad." i smiled as he walked through the door.

"hey pumpkin. did you make me dinner? wait, that's so nice of you." he smiled back, giving me a kiss on the forehead.

"payton helped." i told him.

"oh? so payton came over and you didn't ask?" he laughed. "i'm just kidding, it's fine."

"i got worried for a second." i chuckled.

"you know i love payton. he's welcome over any time."

-

for the next few days, payton was coming over to do homework, help me decorate my room, watch netflix, or literally just hang out.

selena played volleyball so she would hang with us depending on what time her practice was. it was really a fun time, i was slightly enjoying being in north carolina again.

payton and i were sitting on the couch watching avatar when someone knocked on the door. i opened it to see selena.

"selena?" i asked, laughing.

"practice got cancelled so i came to hang. you're watching avatar? count me in." she yelled, jumping onto the couch next to payton.

i walked back in and sat on the other side of selena, laying down.

about twenty minutes after selena got there, another person knocked on the door.

"the fuck?" i responded, getting up and checking the door.

oh my god, it was chris, gauge, bryce, and mariano.

i opened the door to let them inside.

"guys, holy shit." i started crying. i hadn't seen them since the end of july.

i hugged them through my tears and i couldn't stop crying.

"we missed you so much. not all of us were able to come, but you know your faves had to show up." bryce smiled, giving me another hug.

"hi." chris said.

"hi idiot." i laughed, giving him a hug.

i brought them into the living room where payton and selena were still sitting.

"when worlds collide." i screeched, laughing.

"why are you crying?" selena asked me.

"bruh, i haven't seen my roommates since july what do you mean 'why are you crying'?" i laughed.

"I guess that's fair."