25. On Wednesdays We Wear Pink
I stopped by my house to get some things before heading over to Shannon's after school. I decided I'd just spend the weekend at her house. I wasn't in the mood to run into my mom anyway.
"Oh this is going to be so fun!" Shannon gushed as we plopped down on the couch.
I on the other hand was very nervous.
"I'm excited," she said. "Why aren't you excited?"
"Excited about you orchestrating a long night of me being around a guy who turns me into a bag of nerves? Gee I could jump to the moon right now," I grinned sarcastically.
She rolled her eyes. "Morgan, you hang out with him all the time."
"I know I do," I groaned, falling back onto the couch. "It's just..."
"It's just what?" she chuckled.
"I really like him," I sighed. "I didn't realize it before but now that I've admitted it I can't do anything about it. And I just...he makes me nervous. Like, really nervous. And the good kind of nervous you know, I guess I don't want to screw it up."
She broke into a full grin and wrapped her hands around me. "Aw Morgan, you're so cute!"
I rolled my eyes and got up. "I'm not cute, I'm pathetic."
"You have feelings," she said.
"Feelings," I remarked, making a face. "Ew."
"Don't worry, you'll be fine," she laughed.
Then the doorbell rang. My eyes widened and I looked down at the black Michael Jackson t-shirt and grey shorts I was wearing.
Shannon rolled her eyes. "We're just going to sit down, eat pizza and watch movies Morgan, you don't need a ball gown for that."
I nodded. "Right."
She proceeded to open the door but stopped and turned back to me. "Take your hair out of that bun."
"What? I thought you said I look fine!" I hissed frantically.
"You do," she shrugged. "Just take it out."
I pulled off the band holding my hair together as fast as I could.
"There you go," Shannon smiled, fluffing the hair that fell to my shoulders. "Let those gorgeous curls fly free."
"Okay."
She proceeded to go but turned back again. "Wait, you go open the door."
"What? Why?" I asked.
"Because he'll want to see your face," she replied, grabbing my arm.
I pulled myself from her grip. "Well what's wrong with your face?"
"Nothing," she said in exasperation. "It's just not yours."
She grabbed my hand again but I pulled away again too. "See, you said tonight wasn't a big deal yet here you are making me nervous!"
"It's not a big deal, and you don't need my help to be nervous," she hissed, pushing me towards the door.
I backtracked and pulled her in front of me. "Well it's your house, you go answer!"
"Morgan Nicole if you don't answer the damn door..." she threatened.
"You'll what?" I challenged.
She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the door. She was freakishly strong I'll give her that.
"Let me go Shan!" I struggled. "He's still going to see me anyway."
"See this...is why...I invited...them over," she said as she used her strength to haul me. "You would...never make...a move!"
"Maybe I don't want to make a mo-"
I was cut short when she opened the door and practically threw me outside.
Fucking bitch.
I stumbled but caught my balance before gravity could do its work. I lifted my head and brushed my hair out of my face, meeting Aaron's raised eyebrows and Justin's amused expression, with a sheepish smile.
"Hello!" I laughed embarrassingly before clearing my throat. "Um...I mean...hi."
"Well hello to you too," Justin smirked.
"Hi," Aaron simply said.
And there go the butterflies.
Really Morgan? Just like that? Wow, you are sad.
"Um," I said, composing myself. "Come on in."
I walked them through the corridor and then to the living room, where Shannon was seated with a smug smile on her face.
Fucking bitch.
You already thought that.
And I'll think it again.
"Nice of you boys to join us," she said. "Welcome to my humble abode."
"Sweetheart there is nothing humble about this entire neighborhood," Justin laughed.
"What are we here for again?" Aaron asked her.
"We're slaying dragons and we need some muscle," she deadpanned and I chuckled.
"Are you ever not sarcastic?" Aaron asked.
"Do you ever lighten up?" she teased.
Justin and I laughed. It was amusing watching Shannon pulling Aaron's legs.
"Sarcasm is my first language Aaron," she winked. "That's part of what you'll need to understand if you want to be a part of the dream team my girl and I got going on here."
She linked her arm with mine and smiled.
Aaron arched an eyebrow. "What else do we need to understand?"
"Oh well we offer sacrifices to the friendship gods every week, we may not slay dragons, but we do slay ogres," Shannon began. "Oh, and on Wednesdays, we wear pink!"
"Hilarious," Aaron remarked dryly, but I could see the smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Did you just quote mean girls?" Justin asked.
Aaron looked at him and chuckled.
"Hey," Justin shrugged in defense. "It's a good movie."
"Let's get this show on the road shall we?" Shannon said, punching Aaron lightly on the shoulder.
~~~
Shannon was devious, I'll give her that. And she had recruited Justin in her little expedition. The two of them seized every single opportunity they could get to make sure that Aaron and I were left alone together.
Talk about your best friend embarrassing the heck out of you.
"Justin, could you help me pop some popcorn?" she asked.
"Why the hell do you need help popping popcorn?" I asked her.
"Say no more milady," Justin agreed, getting onto his feet.
They both went into the kitchen and Aaron let out a soft laugh. We were sitting side by side on the floor at the foot of the couch.
"What?" I asked him.
"We have weird friends Morgan," he told me. "Sometimes it's best not to question their actions."
I smiled and shook my head, and attempted to put my hair back into a bun.
Aaron held my hand. "Don't, I like it this way. You have pretty curls."
"I look like I was tossed in the middle of a hurricane, but okay," I joked.
He shook his head. "They're beautiful."
"Uh...thanks," I chuckled softly, trying my best not to sound flustered.
He chuckled and I couldn't help myself from staring at his beautiful beautiful face.
Yeah I've got it bad.
"Are you checking me out Morgan?" he teased with a smug smile.
"Definitely," I answered without thinking. "I mean...oh shut up."
He laughed. "Has anyone told you how adorable you are sometimes?"
I rolled my eyes, pretending not to be affected by the fact that he called me adorable.
I stood up.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Bathroom," I chuckled. "But it's nice to know you'll miss me."
He smiled and shook his head and I went to use the bathroom quickly. I sat on the couch this time around because let's face it, my heart beat couldn't take the situation at hand.
Shannon and Justin came back into the room with a bowl of popcorn in Shan's hand.
"That took an awfully long time," I said, giving them both a look.
"Oh hush," she said and Justin laughed.
~~~
"Okay, so on to important stuff," Shannon said, sitting down on the floor. "What to watch."
The four of us actually had more fun than I thought we would. Right now I was sitting on the couch, Justin on the armchair, and Shannon and Aaron on the floor. Only that Aaron was sitting in front of me, leaning his back against my legs.
That didn't give me butterflies at all.
And I was playing with his hair, which he didn't seem to mind.
"Oh! We could watch a chick flick," I suggested.
"No," Aaron and Justin said at the same time and I stuck my tongue out at Justin who could see my face.
"Okay, what about a reality show?" Shannon asked. "Love Island anyone? U.K. of course, that's the best version."
"No," they repeated.
Shan rolled her eyes. "Hey, don't knock it till you try it."
"I know what that shit is believe me," Justin said. "My mom watches it."
"So does mine," Aaron added.
"So no," they both said.
We sighed and brought up more suggestions. In the end we decided on X-Men, which I didn't mind.
I rose my legs and sat crisscrossed on the couch, placing my hands on my thighs as the movie began.
Aaron looked up at me with a faint smirk. "Who said stop?"
Heart palpitations in three...two...one...
Instead of collapsing onto the floor, I just looked back at him and smiled.
Go Morgan!
About an hour into the movie Justin got a text and then looked at Aaron.
"Now?" Aaron asked.
"Kinda," he replied.
"Now what?" Shannon asked, her eyes still glued to the tv.
"We have to go," Aaron said.
"Why?" I asked suspiciously, my hand falling from his hair to his shoulder.
"Uh, it's an emergency," Justin answered.
Aaron squeezed my hand when he got onto his feet.
"Come over again sometime," he told me.
"You guys are terrible liars," Shannon chuckled. "But okay, I won't hold you hostage here."
Aaron chuckled. "We'll see you both later."
Justin shot us a thumbs up in agreement with Aaron's statement.
"And then there were two," Shannon joked once they were gone.
"That was weird right?" I asked, getting off the couch. "Them leaving like that."
Shannon shrugged. "It seemed like whatever it was is important."
"Yeah but..."
She sighed. "Morgan, don't read too much into it. I think we both know if given the opportunity Aaron would have spent the entire night here with you."
I rolled my eyes. "You owe me for doing all that by the way."
She smirked. "No honey, you owe me for that quality time I just gave you."
I shook my head, a smile on my face nevertheless.
She grabbed the tv remote. "Now, why don't we distract ourselves by watching some hot guys on an island?"
I didn't object.
~~~~~~
I had a fun, drama-free weekend at Shannon's. But sadly it was Sunday and I needed to get back home before my mother thought I was planning to run away.
Before I went home though I took a little detour and stopped by Aaron's house. Anything to keep me away from home for a little longer.
I rang the door bell and Aaron came to answer.
"Hey," he smiled.
"Hey," I responded. "Is this a good time? I'm sort of avoiding my mom so..."
He chuckled and stepped aside. "It's always a good time Morgan."
I smiled and stepped inside.
"Morgan!" Ayana beamed when she saw me.
I smiled at her but then my smile dropped when I saw her hair.
"Oh you poor poor child," I said. "Who did this to you?"
"If you mean my hair, thank Justin for that."
I looked up and saw him kneeling beside a small book case he was trying to put together. Aaron went over and joined him.
"You gave her a man-bun?" I asked him.
"Hey," he defended. "It's not a man-bun. She's a girl, and her hair's in a bun. Therefore it's a girl-bun."
"Spectacular observation," Ayana said and I chuckled at her sarcasm.
Just then the door opened and Aaron's mom walked in.
"I'm home!" she sang.
"Mommy!" Ayana yelled as she ran I to her mother's arms.
Her mom dropped her bags and picked her up. "There's my little Einstein."
She saw her hair and paused. "I'm out of the house for half a day so you decide to give my baby a man-bun?"
"It's a girl-bun according to Justin," Ayana said.
I laughed softly.
His mom's eyes flickered to me and she smiled. "Morgan, nice to see you again."
"Likewise Mrs. Smith," I replied politely.
She put Ayana down and waved it off. "Oh you don't need to be so formal. Call me April."
I chuckled. "I can try, but if my grandma heard me call you by your name she would probably knock me into another dimension."
She laughed. "I like your grandma."
"Interesting seeing that Aaron has a girl over again though," she teased. "For a second there I thought I was going to have Justin as a son-in-law."
"Heard that!" Aaron said.
"So did I," Justin added. "And besides, if I did bat for the other team, do you ever think that Aaron would land someone like me? I mean...look at me. I am way out of his league."
Aaron just rolled his eyes.
"Not that I would mind though," Mrs. Smith...I mean April, gushed. "Justin loves my little boy!"
"You're doing it wrong you asshole," Aaron groaned.
I looked over and saw him snatch the instruction manual from Justin.
Justin snatched it back. "Fuck off, I know what I'm doing."
"Language," April warned.
"Not my fault he's an idiot," Justin said.
Aaron smacked him on the back of his head. "Not my fault I'm friends with an idiot."
"And don't worry about me," Ayana added. "I'm already familiar with their irresponsible use of profanities."
"Oh boy," April said, turning to me. "I'm a good mom, I promise. At least that's what my therapist tells me to affirm every day."
"Um..." I trailed off, not knowing whether she was being serious or not.
"Just kidding," she laughed. "I don't go to therapy, I tell myself that on my own. Self confidence."
"You are a good mom," Aaron said and kissed her cheek as he came over to pick up a screwdriver off the couch.
"Then why are you trying to undo the effort I put into training young minds?" she asked, patting Ayana's head.
Ayana looked up. "I don't think I need much help when it comes to my mind."
Her mom smiled at her and then at me before whispering, "Self confidence, I taught her that."
I laughed.
"Well, I'm going upstairs because I don't want to be here when one of them stabs the other in the eye with a screw driver," she continued. "Oh and Justin, tell your mom some tantrum throwing kid broke my phone at the hospital, so I'll find another way to call her."
"Yes ma'am," Justin sang.
April gave me a smile before going up the stairs.
"Where are the screws?" Justin asked, searching around himself.
Aaron rolled his eyes. "You lost them?"
"Well if I knew where they were I wouldn't be asking, would I?" he replied.
Aaron just sighed. "I think we have a pack or two in the shed, I'll go look for them."
"Morgan, would you mind assisting him?" Justin asked me. "My boy here can be as blind as a bat sometimes."
"I'm starting to wonder why I haven't actually stabbed you with a screw driver yet," Aaron retorted.
"Bro," Justin chuckled. "If that's your subtle way of saying you want to screw me, I'm not into dudes, sorry."
I laughed while Aaron just shook his head.
"Come on Morgan," he beckoned.
I followed him out into the backyard and into the tiny shed. It was dark, and musty, and there were cobwebs everywhere.
"Safe to say nobody's been here in a while," he remarked. "You can search over there."
I nodded and got to work.
"Hey," I said to him. "Why do you and Justin up and leave just like that all the time? Like Friday night. What do you boys do?"
"Oh um...I just help him out with some stuff," he said dismissively. "No big deal."
I nodded. I knew he was lying but I didn't ask ay more questions. Just because I was curious didn't make it any of my business.
I thought of another dreaded question but asked it anyway. "And um...how's Clarissa?"
"Clarissa?" he asked, sounding a bit surprised that I would bring her up.
"You just haven't mentioned her a lot since you guys went out and I just wanted to know. You don't have to answer though, it's none of my busine-"
"Morgan," he said amusedly, cutting me off. "Clarissa's fine."
"Oh, okay," I said softly.
He chuckled. "But if you must know we are good friends, and we're going to stay that way."
I won't lie, I was bursting with joy on the inside.
This is your chance Morgan! Tell him how you feel.
"Oh, sorry about that," I said, trying not to sound happy about it.
"Don't be," he told me. "It's for the best, trust me. Besides, there's no point going out with her when I-"
"When you what?" I asked, wanting to know what he was going to say.
He shook his head. "Nevermind. The whole dating thing's never been for me anyway."
My heart dropped. "Why not?"
He shrugged. He was about to respond but then he caught sight of something.
"Yes, found it," he said, holding up a box of tiny metal screws. "Come on, let's get back inside."
Damn it.
I forced a smile and agreed, following him back into the house.
Telling Aaron how I felt was going to be a lot harder than I anticipated.
A/N
I just finished a math exam and I'm just gonna go pour myself a glass off wine and wallow in despair.
Moving on from my sad life...
What do you think Aaron was going to say?
Oh and Morgan was right...we haven't run into Clarissa in a while ;).
I ain't gonna tell you what to do! :)
- amani