When Trouble Meets Trouble

[ C h a p t e r - T w e n t y - T h r e e ]

“Sure you did,” Jonah replied as he placed his hands on his knees and coughed up a few more laughs.

“I did," I muttered as he grabbed my bag and placed it onto the blue, leather couch. I sat down on the couch and crossed my legs Indian style. “Let’s get started before I embarrass myself even more.”

~~~

We worked on the project for about an hour, completing half of it. I sighed when I stared at the finished half. He’d been writing while I read off paragraphs. He would take out the important information and make small notes. All we have to do now is type it up and add in pictures.

“I’ll type it and add in the pictures,” I told him as I placed the books into my backpack. He was rolling his wrists around as he looked at me with a confused face.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll do it,” he explained and I shook my head.

“I’ll do it; I mean, you wrote all of that. I might as well make myself useful and type it,” I shrugged as I looked at the four pages of writing. It came from 8 books, most of which were 24 pages long.

Jonah sighed when he realized I wasn’t going to give up the papers. I placed my bag on my shoulder as I went to stand up. “What are you doing?” he queried.

I turned to look at Jonah. “Well, leaving,” I shrugged.

Jonah furrowed his eyebrows. “But you didn’t even eat dinner. My Aunt’s cooking right now.”

I looked at him. “I don’t want to be a burden; your Aunt and Uncle have to cook for 7 people already.”

“Actually, Georgia, West, and the twins are going to eat out for dinner,” Jonah persuaded and I stared at the carpet.

“Is it okay with your Aunt and Uncle?” I asked. The last thing I want to be is an intruder.

“Trust me; they’re perfectly fine with it,” Jonah replied while I nodded.

“Okay,” I sat back down on the couch and placed my bag beside me. Jonah handed me a controller and turned on the XBOX. I stared at the screen in a trance and began playing the game intensely. I occasionally punched him whenever he knocked my player down. He would constantly complain.  

“One more game?” Jonah asked as I glared at him. He beat me twice out of three games.

“Yes. Don’t expect to win this time, Davis,” I sneered.

“Davis? Since when are we on a last name basis, Princess?” he asked me.

I stared at him. “Since when do you call me Princess?” I questioned. I haven’t heard that nickname for a while.

“Do you not want me to?” he inquired and I shrugged.

“I’m not a princess, and that's an overused nickname; choose something original,” I retorted and he visibly bit his lip. I averted my gaze awkwardly.

"Melon?" he suggested a few seconds later. 

"What?" I asked him. 

"Melon, it's original and cute," he told me as he swore under his breath.

"I'd rather be called princess," I muttered.

"Melon it is," he nodded with a grin. 

***

After we finished eating dinner, it was only 8 o’clock and my curfew wasn’t until 11. I decided that I liked Diane and Gregory; I see where West gets his sense of humor from. They also didn’t interrogate me; they asked casual questions which consisted of my grades and hobbies. Maybe it’s because I’m just Jonah’s friend and I’m not his girlfriend. I wish I could add the word ‘yet’ to the end of that sentence.