Incognito

All Good Things

"Because I was with Ditto Incognito." I state, not seeing how this could resolve anything. He furrows his eyebrows as if I just told him the sky was purple or something. "DI is apparently buddy-buddy with my parents. Don't worry, I don't get it either."

"Of course he is." Ryder searches around the neighborhood for something to look at, unmistakably angry. Although, I should be the only one angry right now. "That son of a -"

"Hey!" I slap his forearm before he could finish his sentence. "He is my friend and if you want to be mine too then you'd have to accept the fact that DI is actually a good guy."

"But he isn't, Lori. I know he isn't. I have this feeling about him and I just think there's something sketchy about him."

"Oh, hush. You know nothing about him, so you wouldn't know. Besides, you're just jealous."

"It doesn't matter if I'm jealous or not. It's the fact that this guy comes out of nowhere and he suddenly becomes your go-to guy." He shivers. "It's like you're dating."

"No, in fact, it's not. And if you must know, he hasn't pulled any tricks on me." My mind goes back to the few times that we've interacted in that way. I realize quickly that what I said might just be a lie.

"Oh, really? Because I haven't forgotten how he told you how much he liked your hair braided."

"You were listening to us?" My mouth drops, horrified and disbelief is written all over my face. "How could you!"

"What else am I supposed to do? It's not like I can control these things." He wiggles his ears with his hands sarcastically.

"Yes, you can. I honestly can't believe you." I turn my heels and make my way back to my house but then recall that I just sassed my parents which means that they wouldn't be happy to see me either. I let go of the door handle and look back at Ryder. Huffing, I point towards his house.

"Go." I command without looking back at him. Sure, I caught him by surprise but it doesn't stop me from marching that way. Out of all this time, after almost four years, I'll be entering the house I learned to love and to loathe.

When I first stepped into the infamous house Ryder calls a home, I didn't expect to see everything the way it was before. I swore there would be boxes or things swapped around. But I've been wrong, everything is the same, to the exclusion of the layers of dust. My fingers immediately trace the entrance table and watch as it makes a line.

"I know what you're thinking. But I actually haven't found a maid yet." He tells me, his voice soaked with guilt. I rub my fingertips together and watch as the clump of dust falls. A scoff escapes my lips.

"You're telling me, a superhero that can fly at super speed can't clean his own house?"

"Hey," He raises his arms in defense. "You said it, a superhero is only made to fulfill his super-sized duties."

"Oh, please." My eyes examine the living room as we enter it, filling the blank spaces from my memory. The white couch that faces the broad fireplace is still draped with a fur blanket. The rug is has an unanimous faded wine stain under the leather seat adjacent to the couch.

"I guess since you're now my house guest that I should ask you if you want anything to drink."

"That's more of a statement than a question." I laugh, but notice the embarrassed look on his features and decide to soften it up. "But a glass of water would be great."

As he gets to it, I wander into the dining room. The metal and glass chandelier is not on, but the window carries enough light in. There's a few abstract pictures on the wall, all touching the subject of silverware. His house has always been modern.