More Than Just Best Friends

03| BIG WORDS.

•AMETHYST•

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

I groan and feel around for the snooze button on the alarm clock and press it like I have been doing for the past thirty minutes. Squinting at the bright red numbers on the annoying contraption before me, I mutter an incoherent string of colourful words when I check the time.

8:07 AM.

Bleh.

I crossly roll out of bed when I am unable to fall asleep again, and cast a glance at Sam, who is sound asleep. I know I've said this before, but I repeat: I swear that girl can sleep through an earthquake. My eyes widen when I pick up my phone and see the reminder lighting up the screen.

It's Blaze's birthday today.

Crap.
My fingers fly across the screen as I text him a quick Happy Birthday. He responds almost immediately, thanking me and telling me that there'll be a party at his house later on in the day and that I should come over and help him set up the place.

With an eye roll, I tell him that I'll ask my parents, and place the phone down. I slip my feet into my purple flip flops and step into the room's adjoining bathroom, then throw my braids into a messy side bun and brush my teeth. I quickly wash my face and pat it dry with a paper towel when I am done, and step out of the room when my tummy begins to growl.

Under normal circumstances, today's supposed to be a school day, but we've been given a week off for some reason I can't bother to remember.

"Hey there monkey. Sleep well?" my dad greets when I enter the kitchen. "Yeah, I did. Where's Mom?" I ask, opening the top shelf and taking out the box of Frosted Flakes and a bowl. "Work. Is Sam up?" I shake my head and dump some of the cereal into the bowl, before opening the fridge and taking out the milk. "Don't you have work?" I ask, returning the milk to the fridge after pouring some over my cereal.

"I'm not going in until ten. Don't you have school?" he retorts, cocking an eyebrow as I shove a spoonful of my breakfast into my mouth. "Busted," I chuckle, shaking my head. I then remember what Blay had asked. "Hey Dad?" I call. "Yeah monkey?" "So it's Blay's birthday today," I begin, quickly munching another spoon before it gets soggy. "I know," he states casually, taking a sip of his coffee.

I fight back the urge to roll my eyes. Of course he does. Sometimes it feels like my parents love Blay and Grayson more than they do me. "So.. He says he's having this party tonight and..." I trail off, hoping he gets the hint. "Yeah, I know. He already asked me, and I said you can go." "Oh," I say with furrowed brows, wondering why he didn't tell me. Then again, I didn't wait for his reply so it's mostly my fault.

"Well, I gotta go get ready for work. See you later, monkey," he says, getting up from his seat at the island and ruffling my hair before walking out. I quickly finish my breakfast and rinse out my bowl, then take slow drinks of water before returning to my room and picking up my phone. I'm not surprised that Sam's still asleep, I doubt she got any sleep last night.

My phone is lit up with a text from Blaze, telling me he already asked my parents and they've given me permission to come, and asking me to be there before midday. I roll my eyes yet again, before telling him that I'll be there.

•GRAYSON•

"So when exactly will Ames be here?" I ask Blay, who looks up at me from the game controller in his hand with an amused smirk plastered on his lips. "What? I was just asking," I say, shrugging. "I was just texting her, she says she'll be here soon. Listen, I'm not blind. I see how you've been looking at her. What's up?" he asks, with the slightest undertone of sincerity in his voice. I sigh and rest my head in my hands before talking.