Accidentally On Purpose

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

It took me three periods, a bus ride home, and an hour staring at the ceiling to finally get those blue eyes out of my mind. Of course, that was until Elle called me, gushing and rehashing the details of what Lucas had said to her.

"What does this mean?" She sighed and I could hear a loud thump from the other side of the line. "OW, crap!" Elle shrieked.

I laughed, "What'd you do this time?"

"I fell off my bed..." She said and there was rustling and then yelling from her end. "My mom's yelling at me. She thinks I've been jumping on my bed again - THANKS FOR CARING ABOUT YOUR ONLY DAUGHTER! I COULD HAVE DIED! - as if I didn't learn my lesson the last time."

I laughed again, remembering the way her bed had given way and had completely broken. She had slept on a mattress on the floor for three months until she finally convinced her mother that she wouldn't jump on her bed.

"You know you have 2 other sisters, right? And I'm sure your mom knows that too." I said and I could hear the eye-roll in her sigh.

"Yes, I know that. But saying 'Thanks for caring about one of your three daughters' doesn't have the same ring as 'only daughter' does." There was another thumping noise then a far away "Crap!"

I waited patiently, knowing that she inevitably dropped her phone. Elle was hopelessly clumsy and had a knack for dropping, launching, and breaking things.

"Sorry, sorry!" was the breathless voice I heard after a few moments. "I dropped my phone behind my bed. Don't even say it. I'm a klutz, I know."

"Geez, Elle. You're worse than a bull in a china shop."

"Stop!" Elle elongated the 'o' and I laughed again, holding my stomach. "My mom says that all the time!"

"Who do you think I got it from?" I asked.

"Oh my God. MOM, YOU'RE RUBBING OFF ON ALEX! STOP IT!" Elle screamed and I pulled the phone away from my face, grimacing.

"Maybe you should listen to her. You could learn a thing or two!" Mrs. Harden called back.

"Ugh, you two are out to get me," Elle groaned.

"Yep, that's the master plan," Mrs. Harden's voice was much closer this time.

"I bet it is," Elle responded.

"Stick that tongue back in your mouth or I'll cut it off," Mrs. Harden warned. It was a common threat in their household due to Elle's habit of sticking out her tongue when she didn't have a comeback.

"I'm on the phone, Mom. You can't threaten me when someone is on the other line." Elle's tone was filled with sass.

"It's just Alex. She's heard it a million times." Mrs. Harden was even clearer and I suspected Elle put me on speaker phone.

"Not only have I heard it a million times, I've also been told it a few times. It's one of the favorites." I piped up.

"See, exactly," Mrs. Harden said. "Dinner will be ready soon."

"What are we having?" Elle asked.

"Chicken pot pie."

Elle made a gagging noise. "What is your mom making, Alex?" she asked.

"I'll have to see. I think steak." I responded.

"Tell Renee to set an extra place! I'm coming over!"

• • •

Elle arrived a half hour later. My mother had already set a place for Elle. Elle was a staple at family dinners, especially when it was steak, her favorite meal. It was assumed that she was eating with us.

"Man, Renee, it smells delicious!" Elle didn't bother knocking, but instead waltzed in.

"Thanks. Dinner will be ready in 15 minutes." Mom responded.

"Okay, I'll just go down to Alex's room." Elle responded before noticing me.

"Elle! I'm in the living room." I called out and her face peered around the corner, finally spotting me with my sister on my lap and my dog at my feet.

"Elle!" Ana's response was instantaneous when she saw Elle and wobbled over to where

she was.

"Uh oh Ana! Do you need the sillies shaken out of you." Elle grabbed Ana and flipped her upside down, holding her there until Ana was squirming with giggles. Elle flipped her back over then sat her down on the couch.

"Hey, Alex," she said.

"You know, I knew you were coming over the minute your mom said pot pie. I don't know why you bothered asking what we were having." I responding, picking up the Dr. Seuss book that had been discarded and put it on the end table.

"Just knowing my choices. I didn't want to be stuck with something I hated." Elle flopped on the chair across from the couch and I rolled my eyes.

"You would have come over anyways. There's nothing you hate more than chicken pot pie."

Ana jumped onto Elle's stomach, making her grunt.

"I tell my mom that and she doesn't care! I mean torturing her second daughter with her least favorite meal! The horror."

"Quit the dramatics. What did you think of that quiz in math. That's the real horror."