Too Close [Wattys2015]

Chapter11: Kinda Comfy

"The names Branson," The little boy extends his hand towards me, smiling and I see he's missing one front tooth.

Suddenly I have an urge to say awwww, but I push it down and shake my hand with him. "Hey Branson, my name is Ivory."

He wrinkles his nose. "Just like the jewelry my grandma wears?"

Before I can speak, Branson turns towards butt hurt jerk. "Hey." Butt hurt jerk says. "I'm Collins."

Branson wrinkles his nose again. "What kind of name is that?"

I laugh.

Collins- I mean- butt hurt jerk looks at the kid. "What's up with the name Branson?"

"Branson is an adorable name!" I protest.

Jerk face rolls his eyes. I smirk at him, annoying him further. Jerk face sticks out his tongue, I mirror his actions.

He playfully scowls at me, I mirror his actions again.

Branson looks between us. "Are you guys dating?"

Our heads snap his way, shocked. "Ew!" I say.

"Gross!" Jerk face, my new nickname for butt hurt jerk, says after a moment.

Branson gives jerk face a small smile. "Good you don't wnay cooties!"

"Yeah I really wouldn't." Jerk face whispers back, I smack his arm.

"Ow!" He rubs his arm.

"Are we gonna play a game or not?" I huff.

Jerk face seems amused at my reaction. But Branson smiles. "Yeah! Let's play hide and seek!"

"In here? Not many places to hide." Jerk face looks around.

"Yeah," Branson laughs. "Because you're soo big you can barely fit in anything!"

I like this kid.

"Now you count first, Ivy!" Jerk face says.

I look at him quickly. "Ivy?"

"Sorry, it just slipped." He says, turning away quickly with Branson in front of him.

Weird butt hurt jerk face, I think and start to count.

"1...2...3...4...5" I count. "Can I stop counting?" I yell.

No answer.

Smart kid. . . And jerk face.

I sigh, keeping my eyes closed shut."6...7...8...9...10...11...12...13..."

"14...15...16...17...18...19...20." I finish, opening my eyes.

I look down the slide that butt hurt jerk and I slid down earlier to see it empty.

"Ready or not, her I come!" I say loudly.

I look behind a trash can, no one. I look behind a chair, of course, no one.

"Man where are you guys. . ." I mutter.

I hear a shuffle not far away from me, I whip around to see Branson running away from me and towards where I was counting, the base.

I run after him, but he beats me. "Miss me, miss me, now you gotta kiss me!"

I chuckle. "Can't, little guy, I gotta go find him." I tip toe away and look for the jerk.

"Collins." I say, instead of saying what I wanted to call him with prying ears and all. "Come out, come out wherever you are!"