❝ YOUR LIFE IS
EXCRUCIATINGLY DULL ❞

–

I shifted my weight as I stood stiff by the doorstep, fiddling with my cold, ice bitten fingers. I wasn't sure why I was so nervous, or why my heart was rapidly beating through my chest. Maybe it was because I really wanted to make a good impression on Two-bit's mother. If I was gonna be friends with him, I could have his mother hating me.

With rivulets of sweat running down my temples, I adjusted the hem of my shirt and tentatively knocked on the oak door. Eyes flickering to the ground, I rocked on the balls of my feet and waited for somebody to answer. I could hear footsteps hastily running to the entrance from behind the divider as the feminine voice hollered something inaudible. Probably an I'll be there in a sec. Suddenly, the towering door flew open and behind it stood a beautiful woman, probably in her late thirties.

"Sorry. Hi, can I help you?" She asked, inhaling sharply. She appeared to be in a hurry as she bounced up and down, her perfect blonde ringlets falling in front of her eyes. In her arms was a little girl with large icy blue eyes. I smiled kindly at her and hung my head, shuffling on my toes.

"Two-bit must've not told you, I guess. I'm Holly Randle, Steve's sister. I offered to babysit and he said that was fine. Said he was gonna tell you." My lips twitched upward. I would be talking to Two-bit about this later.

"Oh!" The woman perked up, adjusting the child in her arms. "Steve's sister? He's a kind boy."

"Yeah." I smiled, bending and twisting my fingers. I bit my lip and sniffed awkwardly. My eyes flickered to the child in her arm, fatigued, head rested on her mother's shoulder.

"It's nice to meet you, Holly. I'll have that boy's arm when he gets back here, believe me. Never uses his head. Thank you for being so kind." She smiled, opening the tattered screen door wide. I entered hesitantly and took in my surroundings. It looked almost similar to the Curtis household, only better put together. Understandably, seeing as one of the places was run by three boys.

"I won't be gone for too long. An hour at most, I just need to run some errands." She handed the child off to me. I uncomfortably took her in my arms, wondering silently if there was a specific way to hold a toddler. "So I should be back by, about six, I'd say." She glanced at the watch on her wrist and nodded her head. I smiled and raised my eyebrows, bopping the child up and down. She giggled and clutched onto my long sleeve shirt, gazing up at me with her big blue eyes. Scrunching my nose, I gazed down at the three-year-old and stuck my tongue between my lips.

"She likes you," the woman said, grinning. "By the way, my name is Karen. I'll see you later, Holly. Thank you!" She called as she crossed the threshold, strolling out towards the minivan. I watched through the window as the headlights flickered on, her car pulling from the driveway.

I flipped the three-year-old on my lap so that she was straddling my knee. She giggled as I bopped her up and down, holding onto her hands with my soft fingers. I made faces, pulling at my cheeks and scrunching my features. Whispering softly to her, she laughed and clutched onto the hem of my shirt. When she settled down, I pulled her into my chest and grabbed the TV remote, turning it to the children's channel. Some show I'd never heard of before flickered on, and soon enough Julie was intently watching the program, her tiny little fingers pulling and tugging at my thumb.

After feeding her some breast milk that her mother had left in a bottle, I brought her to her crib and laid her down. Her lids were drooping and heavy as I carried her up the stairs, so it wasn't too hard to get her to fall asleep. Once I could hear her faint snores, I ducked out of the room and shut off the lights. I returned to the television and flicked it on to some random station.

Their house was nice. As nice as you could get on the east side, that is. The interior design isn't something you'd expect from the outside. But as I walked in I could tell that their mother put a lot of effort into the design. I doubted I could find a single speck of dust dirtying the area. There was a pristine bookcase shoved in the corner of the living area. It was filled with various books, from classics to young adult to children's. Getting up from my warm spot on the couch, I hobbled over to the oak shelf and picked out one that caught my eye. It was some classic since those were the ones I enjoyed the most.

I began to read it, pacing around the room. I bit mindlessly on my nail as I read the first few words of the prologue. Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door. My heart almost stopped in my chest as I plopped down on the couch, startled. I didn't answer. They kept knocking. Normally I wouldn't have been so timid, but most people didn't get knocks at night time, let alone when there was no more than a babysitter and a child home.

I shriveled up into the couch, suddenly frightened. Maybe it was Two-bit or his mother. But why would they knock? It could be one of the boys. Or somebody trying to sell something. Hesitantly, I rose from my place on the couch and inched towards the door.

Then it stopped. Not for long. A male figure shoved his face up against the glass finger, his hand over his eyes, peering in. Then he caught sight of me and scowled. Dallas. I furrowed my eyebrows and angrily marched to the door, flinging it open. He trailed and crossed the threshold, shoving his hands in his jean pocket, not even giving me the time of day.

"What are you doing here? You psycho!" I crossed my arms over my chest, whisper-yelling at the boy. He winced and flipped his shoes off, one of them hitting the clean white wall, leaving a brown mark behind. I scowled at him and threw my hands in the air.

"Came to visit," he answered simply. I shook my head and tightened my jaw, turning to the side. There was no way I was letting him stay. Two-bit's mom would be pissed, and I was making it my mission to have her like me.

"No. No, leave. Out," I ordered, pointing to the door. He spun and laughed, scratching the lining of his jaw. He only entered the house further. "Dallas!"

"What? Calm down. You won't get in trouble."

"I barely know her, I don't want her hating me cause I let some delinquent into the house!" I urged, holding my hand out toward the door. Dallas eyed me and began to laugh, a smile wider than I've ever seen before.

"Your words hurt me. A delinquent, really? Her own son is a delinquent. I'm sure she won't mind, sweetheart." He walked further into the house, not turning to look at me as he eyed the interior.

"Don't call me that." I tilted my head, hot on his heel.

"Never bothered you before." He grinned.

"That was before, when I could tolerate you. Now out." I demanded. He furrowed his eyebrows and puckered his lips, blowing out sharply. Shaking his jacket off, he threw it over the sofa without care and plopped down, his arms outstretched on either side of him. Crossing my arms over my chest, I shifted my weight from one foot to another. He made himself comfortable, throwing his head back and resting it on the couch.

"Come on, baby, don't be so high maintenance."

"Don't call me that," I repeated, tightening my jaw.

"Baby or high maintenance?" He asked. I shot forward, marching over to where he was sprawled on the couch.

"Both!"

"Karen loves me, man. Don't worry about it." He lit a cigarette, waving his hand as he dropped the lighter against his chest. Smoke rose into the air. I coughed dramatically and swatted the smoke that rose from the weed.

"You better not be lying," I said, furrowing my eyebrows. "And don't smoke."

"Would I ever lie to you?" He asked, squinting his eyes, ignoring my demands. Raising my eyebrows, I snatched his cigarette and held it between my two fingers, not knowing what to do with it.

"Does the sun rise and fall?" I marched into the kitchen, hot on my feet, and wheeled the window down. Dallas followed on my trail, a smirk on his face.

I threw the weed out into the yard after taking a quick puff, watching as it fell into the dirt. I then closed the window and flipped on my heel, only to see he had lit another one. I eyed the stick between his fingers as smoke filled the room. I glowered.

"Am I gonna have to throw that whole pack out there, Winston?" I leaned my weight on my left foot and cursed under my breath.

"If you care enough," he said through a puff of smoke. "But I'll just go get them again."

"You're impossible," I sighed, shifting my weight. He snickered and leaned against the counter, weed dangling from the corner of his lips. He took it between his fingers and lowered it to his side.

"What's it about me that you hate?" He asked, squinting his eyes. He then began to rummage through the cupboard. He pulled out a bag of chips and sat at the dining room table, popping the bag open.

"Didn't we do this before? And don't steal her food."

"Yeah, but now that you actually know me," he propped his feet on the table, "what is it? Huh?"

"The fact that you do stuff like this." I shot back, a sardonic contorting my features. He jerked his head back, amused, then dragged his tongue across his bottom lip.

Raising his eyebrows, he responded. "What? Put some excitement into your life?"

Crossing my arms over my chest, I furrowed my eyebrows and took some chips from him. After shoving them in my mouth and placing them back where they belonged, I responded. "My life is perfectly eventful without you. Can you leave now?"

"Your life is excruciatingly dull. And no." He tilted his head forward, standing from the seat.

"You're an asshole." I squinted.

"I know," he drawled. Releasing a puff of smoke from the corner of his mouth, he rolled down the window and tossed it into the dirt. "Wanna get out of here?"

"Sorry, I have responsibilities," I retorted, "know what that feels like?"

"Can't say I do. When's she getting home?"

I sighed, checking my watch with a roll of the eyes. 5:50. "Ten minutes, so get out of here before she sees you."

"Ten minutes," he hummed, leaning against the stove. He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his jeans. "You and me are gonna do something fun."

"You and I."

"What?"

"You said you and me. It's you and I. Basic grammar, Dallas. It's not that hard."

He rolled his eyes, a deep chuckle coming from the back of his throat. "This is what I mean. Who the hell worries about grammar?"

"Anybody. Grammar is important, Dallas. Without it, how would we communicate? It's the basic structure of human relation."

Dallas cocked his eyebrow and shook his head. Plopping in the dining room chair, he blew a puff from his mouth and rested his temple in his palm. "Those letters to your grandma must be really good. Like a letter to the president. No errors."

"I don't make errors." I smiled confidently.

"I don't doubt that." He grinned, shifting in his seat. "Now stop putting it off. I'm taking you out tonight."

"If you think we're going on a date, Winston, you're delusional."

"Was the first one that bad?" He winced, a grin hinting at the corners of his lips. I threw my hands in the air.

"We never went on a date!"

"Okay, alright. Not a date. Just a hangout."

"Is this another one of your attempts to relieve me from my dull, habitual life?"

"Your words, not mine." He snickered, lighting another weed. I rolled my eyes heavenward and leaned against the fridge, hitching my chin and biting the insides of my mouth. I would have continued on about how I personally enjoyed my routinely life, but I figured he'd just come back at me with something nonsensical.

Suddenly the door opened. In came Karen, her purse around her arm and an exhausted look on her face. She caught sight of Dallas in the dining room, a wide smile appearing on her lips.

"Dally! How nice to see you. How have you been?" She asked, placing her purse down. She hobbled into the room and put her hands on her hips. Dallas sent a fleeting smirk in my direction then turned back to the mother.

"Great, Karen. How was your day, huh? Long day at work?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He blew a puff of smoke from his mouth, the woman disregarding it. I stood in awe.

"Oh, exhausting, to say the least," she huffed, rolling her eyes. She then caught sight of me leaning against the plain white fridge. "Oh, you two know each other, then. Friends?"

Dallas tilted his head towards me. I was tempted to flip him off, but didn't want to make a bad impression on Two-bit's mother. He then turned back to the middle aged woman. "Yeah, good friends. We're pretty close." He shoved the weed between his parted lips.

"Good! Well then, thank you so much, Holly. You've been a real help." She smiled warmly and tilted her head, cheeks tinted a rosy pink.

"No problem, mam," I said, nodding. "I put her to bed. She was tired."

"Good, thank you. And don't call me mam. Makes me feel old," she said with a slight laugh. I nodded and smiled, trudging up beside Dallas. There were a few moments of silence before she perked up. "Oh! I almost forgot. My apologies."

She began to jumble around in her purse. Dallas eyed me. I then realized what she was doing, as she held out a wad of cash. I shook my head and held my arms up. "No. No need, I was really just helping out Two. Thank you, though."

She took the cash back, her lips parted. "Oh, oh! Thank you. Very much. I hope to see you again, Holly. Maybe you could come back some more. She seemed to really like you."

"Sure." I perked up. "I love children. Julie is adorable. Thanks for having me, just ask Two-bit if you need me again."

She nodded and turned around as Dallas and I trailed to the door. "Sure thing. Dallas, you're always welcome as well."

"Thank you, Mrs. Mathews," he said, smiling kindly. I furrowed my eyebrows at his change in personality.

"Anytime. You two have fun now."

"Oh, we will. You have a nice night," Dallas replied, placing a hand on the small of my back. The woman noticed and smiled, sending a wink my way. A crimson blush rushed up to my cheeks as we ambled out the door.

"Dallas!" I smacked his shoulder. He shot back and eyed me.

"What?"

"She thinks we're together, probably. You idiot."

"What? Don't want that reputation?" He asked, his lips curling upward. I nodded my head.

"Of being your girlfriend? Yeah, not really."

Dallas placed a hand over his heart. "You know how to break a man."

"Oh, shut it." I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. He caught up beside me and threw an arm around my shoulder. "So what's your big plan? If I even decide to consent this."

"It's a surprise," he murmured. I furrowed my eyebrows and placed a hand on my hip.

"Why? Cause you know I won't go along with it?"

Dallas turned to me, amusement flickering through his dark, ominous brown eyes. "Sounds right."

"If I end up in a jail cell, Winston, I swear to god. I won't be happy." I glared, trying to keep up with his pace. I wasn't sure why I was going along. Last time I'd done something with him, I got pummeled by the one girl I held a deep animosity toward.

"If we do, you can write me an angry letter of complaint. Use those big words you always do." He grinned, snorting under his breath. I smacked his shoulder.

"Don't doubt it. I'll get out my dictionary and everything." I said, a smile adorning my feature. His eyes flickered down to me as he laughed in short huffs.

"Believe me, sweetie. I don't doubt it."

It was silent for a few moments. I couldn't believe I was actually going along with him. My lips parted, a soft groan coming from the back of my throat. Dallas stared, his hand around my back, holding me close to him as I sighed.

"Fine. Fine, whatever." I rolled my eyes, shifting my weight. "But if I end up dead or in jail, I'll kill you."

"Can't kill me if you're dead."

"Don't underestimate me." I shot back, holding onto my shoulder with my left hand. I ran my fingers up and down my arms to control the goosebumps that had formed.

A look of satisfaction washed over his features as he pulled me close. It was getting dark. We walked side by side to god knows where as he tugged me along. I wasn't about to ask again. I tried to convince myself it would be fun, but a voice in the back of my head was telling me to get the hell out as fast as I can.

Maybe I wouldn't end up dead. Maybe I wouldn't spend the night, or a few days, or a few months in jail.