1487 words

┌─────────────────┐

-ˋˏ " I guarantee it won't last long, " ˎˊ-

└─────────────────┘

•| ⊱✿⊰ |•

𝒀/𝒏

"Ray did WHAT!?"

"Calm down Emma, he slept on the couch. He babysat Alex for me and ended up being here late, so I offered him to sleep here." Me being tired, assured my overly-excited ginger friend over the phone.

"WOAH WOAH WOAH! WHAT DID I MISS? WERE THE TWO OF YOU NOT JUST FIGHTING LAST WEEK?"

"Yes, and we still do fight. But we're friends now, I guess? I don't know. Sorry I haven't talked with you lately, I've been busy, I've got a new job." I said as I opened up my bedroom window, inhaling the fresh smell of summer.

"Congratulations that's awesome! But I CANNOT forgive you for going a week without telling me that a BOY- No, not just A boy, but RAY! RAY slept over your house."

"Emma, it's not a big deal, honestly."

"Ughhh, but it totally is!" She groaned.

"It's not. If you think I have a crush on him or something, I don't. And you're one to talk about not telling each other things..."

Emma went quiet for a moment. "What do you mean?" I could practically hear the panic through the phone.

"I mean you not telling me about your little crush." I picked the peelings off of a clementine, slipping pieces of the fruit into my mouth.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Emma cut the bullshit. You like Norman, don't you?" I swept up the peelings with my hand, forming a pile.

"Would it be wrong if I did?" She gulped.

"No, of course not. You'd make a cute couple if you ask me. Also... I think he likes you too." I carried the peelings and dropped them in the tiny garbage can sitting beside my small desk.

She gasped. "He does not!"

"Oh, he definitely does."

"Gahhh! You're making me blush just thinking about him."

"Oh, you've got it bad." Laughter escaped my lips.

"Urghh, I know, I know. And look, I know you don't like him, but... wouldn't it be awesome if you and Ray were dating, and Norman and I were dating? We could have double-dates!"

"That would be pretty fun I guess, but that'll never happen."

Emma sighed. "Yeah, I know... Let's never bring up this phone call again, mkay?

"Okay." I responded.

"Good, Talk to you later!

"Bye." I placed my phone on my nightstand and sighed, biting my nails. I walked downstairs into the kitchen. "I must say, I'm glad you're around the house more mom."

"Me too! I really missed you kids." My mother smiled and sat at the small dining table, patting the seat next to her. "Sit, sit! Let's do some mother-daughter gossip."

"Uhm, okay?" I raised an eyebrow and joined my mother at the cedar table.

"So, that babysitter. He's cute." The forty-some-year-old woman bit her lip to hide her smile, mixing her tea around with a teaspoon.

"Mom, he's 17. A bit too young for you, don't you think?" I joked around.

"Oh stop, you know what I'm getting at. Is he your boyfriend?" She placed the mixer down.

"NO." I spat out.

"Jeez, no need to yell. He's just around a lot."

"Because he's the babysitter. Ew, I hate him, gross." I made a face of disgust.

"Mhmm, okay."

"What?"

"Nothing... Nothing at all." She hid her smile behind her cup of tea.

I groaned and pushed myself out of the chair. "I'm going to Emma's."

"Okay, don't be out too late, your first day of senior year is tomorrow remember!"

"Oh, right. I forgot." I said as I walked out the front door.

It didn't take long for me to arrive at Emma's house, I knew that my best friend along with her family wouldn't mind that I came over so suddenly, as to them I was like a second daughter.

"Y/n! I was just about to call you!" The ginger greeted me with a hug.

"You were? Why?"

The ginger opened the door wider to reveal the familiar two boys standing in the hallway. "Because these two knuckleheads just showed up."

"Oh, Norman, Ray, hi!" I greeted them.

"Good to see you again!" Norman waved.

"So, are you excited for school tomorrow Y/n?" Emma asked as she closed the door behind me.

"Yeah, a bit nervous though. But I feel better knowing that I'll at least have 3 familiar faces with me."

"Right! This is THE friend group, the four of us are going to be that friend group everyone aspires to be!"

"Right. Maybe the three of you can be that group, I'll happily cheer you on from the shadows."

"Make that two, I'll be joining Y/n." Ray chuckled.

"Okay, what's going on with you two?" Norman looked back and forth at Ray and I. "Why are you being so nice to each other?"

"What can I say, Y/n and I have been getting along." A smile appeared on the boy's perfect lips.

"And this happened... how, exactly?" The albino Inquired.

I shrugged. "I dunno', he's been around a lot because he babysits my younger brother. That's all."

"I see... Well, I'm glad you two finally getting along!" He smiled.

"I guarantee it won't last long," Ray added.

"Oh, it definitely won't. We'll be in a fistfight by the end of the week." I laughed.

"You two are so complicated." Emma groaned. "Anyways, did you come over just to bother me? Or..." She tilted her head and stared at Norman and Ray.

"Oh Emma, we know we aren't bothering you. You love us, don't deny it." Ray smirked.

"You're right about that." Emma giggled. "But really, why'd you come so suddenly?"

"We actually just wanted to know if you guys need a drive to school tomorrow, I just got a car, surprise!" Norman smiled and waved his hands in the air.

"HUH? A CAR!? That's great Norman!" Emma cheered.

"Yeah! So I was thinking the four of us could all go to school together, every day."

"That sounds like fun!" Emma grinned.

"It does, that'll make the mornings a bit better," Ray exclaimed.

I nodded in agreement.

"Then it's settled. I'll pick the three of you up every morning for school."

I became distracted when I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket. "Oh, one second guys." I clicked the green button and walked into the other room. "Hello?" I spoke.

"Hi sweetheart! So, how's Emma's?"

"Uh, good?" I spoke, obviously a bit weirded out as my mother rarely called to check in when I was at Emma's.

"That's good! Anyone else show up?"

I could practically feel my mother standing beside me, nudging me with her elbow. I sighed, "Yeah, Ray and Norman showed up. How'd you know that anyway?"

"Ooh! Mothers intuition, I guess. Well, since Ray's there, mind asking him to babysit Alex after school tomorrow? I'll be working all day."

"Oh I have tomorrow off from work, I'll be home-"

"Great! Thanks honey! Okay ba-bye now, have fun!" My mother cut me off and hung up.

I knew what my mother was doing, she was trying to hook up Ray and I.
I groaned.

"You okay?" Ray stood in the doorframe, leaning on the spruce wood entryway.

I turned my head back and looked at him. "Oh, yeah. I'm fine, mom's just being annoying." I smiled.

"I see. Must be a mom thing, mine's the same way."

"Must be." I sighed, "Are you free after school tomorrow? Mom is working, I tried telling her that I'd be able to watch Alex but she insisted that you watch him."

He chuckled. "Yeah, I'm free."

"Good."

"Hey you guys, do you want me to drive you home after school too? Emma already agreed to it." Norman and Emma joined us in the living room.

"No thanks, I enjoy walking back from school rather then walking to school." I replied.

"Same here." Ray added.

"Oh, okay then."

"Hey, I hate to say it but it's late and we have school tomorrow, I'd better get going."

"Aw, okay. I'll see you tomorrow morning!" Emma frowned and hugged me.

"I'll be going now too," Ray spoke.

"Same, sorry Emma." Norman patted her on the head.

"Awww, dang it! Oh well, bye you guys! Walk safe!"

"Bye!" The three of us shouted as we made our way out the door.

We had a light conversation as we walked down Emma's road, just about school. Nothing special. Norman and Ray went down one road, and me down the other. We said our goodbyes and arrived at our houses safely.

Jeez, how did so much happen within the span of a week? I stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep.

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, but there wasn't much more to add!

•| ⊱✿⊰ |•