Chapter 6

Weeks passed by after the party and the ride that I gave Lucy. I thought that it was the last time I’ll be hanging out with her. I was wrong.

She started hanging out with us. And as time went by, she became more clingy and more annoying. I don’t know how long I can stand her, but I’m so close to changing places with her and hang out with her cheerleaders instead.

Lexi and I were hanging out in my backyard, dipping our feet into the pool as the sun peeked under the white clouds. It’s our typical Saturday activity. We either hang out here, or go to the mall to watch a movie. Sometimes we hang out with Kayla too, if she’s not with her best friend.

“Should we even go and watch a movie?” Lexi asked, wiggling her feet in the water.

“I don’t know. Is there any good movie showing?” I answered back.

“Toy Story 4. That’s it.”

“Wanna watch it?”

“Meh. I already did,”

“I haven’t watched it…” I trailed off, hiding my face away from her knowing that she will flip out.

“You WHAT?!” She exclaimed.

“What? I’m busy reading books, okay?” I shrugged.

“It’s part of our childhood and you didn’t bother to watch it when it was released?” She said, mouth hung open. I gave her a sheepish grin. She rolled her eyes at me and stood up. “Get dressed and meet me at your porch. We’re gonna use your car too,”

I stood up, feeling the cold breeze hitting my wet feet and shivered. I rolled down my pants and followed her order. “Why my car?”

“Cause you haven’t watched Toy Story 4 and didn’t even make time to watch it… Also my car doesn’t have much gas,” She admitted.

“Fine. But you’re paying for the tickets and food,” I said sternly.

“But why m-“

“I’ll pay, but you’re gonna pay for my gas-“

“Tickets and food it is!” She yelled, running inside of her house.

I shook my head as I chuckled. Lexi loves to use my car. She said she loves getting free rides from me and from Kayla. But to be fair, she’ll be the one to buy our food. She’s very wise. She knew that treating us is a lot more cheaper than using her car and buy gas for it. I chose to wear my school’s team shirt, black cargo pants, and my Timberland boots. I took my keys from my drawer, went downstairs, then locked the front door cause no one is home. My parents went out on a date and I didn’t need to ask for permission. We all have a spare key of the house, so we’re good to go.

When I got to the porch, Lexi was already there, leaning on my car while waiting. We took off and went on our way to the mall. I turned on the stereo and a song that I recognized was playing. Lexi turned up the volume and we started singing along at the top of our lungs.

We arrived on time at the mall, 10 minutes before the movie starts. I told Lexi to buy us snacks and drinks while I buy the tickets. Whenever we go to the movies, we have this tradition. We would complete all the seats starting from A1 to J20. If someone took the seat we were supposed to get, we’ll take the next seats and we’ll come back for the same seat numbers on our next movie date.

“Two tickets please. F11 and F12,” I said to the girl behind the cashier.

“12 is taken. The only available seats in F are 4, 11, 14, and 17,” she read on the computer while chewing her gum.

The thing about our tradition is that we can’t change letters unless there’s no seat available. We’re fine if we don’t sit next to each other. My best friend got our food in her hands and stood by my side.

“Are you fine with 11 and 14?” I asked the girl beside me who’s sipping on her drink.

“We’ll take it,” Lexi said to the girl with a smile. The girl pressed bunches of keys before handing us our tickets. We thanked her and went to the cinema 4, where Toy Story 4 was showing.

We handed our tickets to the guy who’s in charge and tore it in halves. We took the other halves again to put it in our planner along with the other movie tickets. I turned on the flash of my phone to see clearly in the movie theater. I have glasses, but I barely use it. I only use it at school and when I’m at home reading books.

“D… E… F! What number should I sit, Lex?”

“11. I got the ticket for F14,”

I nodded even if she couldn’t see me. I excused myself from the people to my designated seat. Before I could sit down, a voice spoke. “Amber?”

My eyes widen to see a black haired girl. “Kayla! What are you doing here? Who are you with?”

She pointed the girl sitting next to her with her thumb. My eyes jumped from her to her hand then to the girl si- oh fuck.

Her eyes beamed when she looked at me while my eyes narrowed in annoyance. Yes, her presence alone is annoying.

“Babe! I didn’t know you were gonna watch Toy Story 4!” Lexi said in a whisper. She pushed me aside to hug Kayla. Before she could sit down, I tried to take the seat beside Kayla, but Lexi was too fast and beat me to it.

“Lexi!” I huffed.

“Go sit beside Luce,” she pushed me to Lucy’s direction.

“Hell no! I was here first!” I hissed, pulling her arm so I could sit.

“I wanna be with Kayla!”

“But this is my seat-“

“I payed for the tickets and food!” She complained.

“We used my car,” I reminded her.

“And I appreciate it!” She grinned.

“Lexi!” I snapped, smacking her on the head.

“Amber, are you my girlfriend? Cause I want my girlfriend to sit next to me,” Kayla interjected.

“But this is my-” I got cut off when a hand pulled me and made me sit on F14. I glared at the bitch.

“Let it go. You won’t win.” She said calmly.

“Bu-“

“Shh. The movie is about to start,” Lucy pushed my cheek with her index finger. I let out a huff and crossed my arms.

The movie started and none of us spoke another word. Though between the movie, I started to feel a little colder because I forgot to bring a jacket. Lucy saw that I was shaking, so she removed her hoodie and gave it to me. At first I was being stubborn and told her that I didn’t need it. But we all know her. She didn’t let it go, so I accepted it. It also lured me to snuggle my head inside of the hoodie cause of the coconut scent.

“You always forget things, don’t you?” She smirked.

“No shit.” 

She also offered to hold my hands to keep me warm, but I obviously declined and said to her that I’ll be changing seats with the dude beside me who’s ogling her. That made her keep her hands to herself and gave the dude a glare.

The movie was amazing.

I should’ve made time to watch this. The four of us were laughing throughout the movie, and Lexi, Kayla, and I cried at the last part. Lucy even had to wipe my tears cause I didn’t bring a handkerchief with me. As we left the theater, the lovebirds went to the restroom and I was left with you know who of course.

“I can’t believe you haven’t seen all Toy Story movies!” I said in disbelief.

She shrugged. “I never thought about watching it all,” She admitted.

“I’m saying this to you now. Go watch it all,” I commanded.

“I’ll watch it on one condition,”

I eyed her for awhile, thinking that she’ll say something crazy. “What?”

“I’ll watch it all if… You watch it with me,” Her mouth shaped into a broad grin.

“You’re crazy,”

“For you?” She grabbed the laces of the hoodie and pulled me closer to her. “Yes, I am,” she winked.

“Insane. That’s what you are. You’re insane. Have you been going to therapy sessions?” My eyes widen at how close we were, feeling my cheeks heat up.

She rolled her eyes, pushing me away. “You’re also annoying, you know?”

I grinned. The two joined us after and we were talking about where to go next. Lucy said she needed to go home cause she needs to babysit. I wanted to go home, cause knowing the couple, I knew that they wanted to bond more and I really wasn’t in the mood to be a third wheel again.

“Hey guys, I should get going too,” I blurted.

“Why? Are your parents home already?” Kayla asked, hooking her arm with Lexi.

“No. I just don’t want to be the third wheel again.”

“Is it okay if you take Lucy home? We used my car,” Kayla glanced to Lucy to see if she wanted a ride from me. Lucy turned to face me, waiting for an answer. I didn’t say anything.

“You two have fun, okay?” Lucy hugged them before putting her arm around me and I didn’t bother to shrug her arm. The past few days, I’ve gotten used to her flirting and being clingy with me. I still get annoyed and bothered by her, but she doesn’t really care.

We began to walk after I said goodbye and hugged the couple. “I didn’t even say yes,” I said.

“You didn’t have to. I figured that when you don’t answer, it means yes,”

My eyebrows raised up. “Didn’t know you were observant,”

“I am. I like getting to know people, and I always observe their mannerisms, body language, everything,” She gave me a smile as she shared her thoughts.

We reached the parking lot and I unlocked my car and started the engine. I drove away from the mall and let Lucy turn on the radio as she put her feet on the dashboard. I just realized that my parents weren’t home yet and I would be all alone at home, and that’s something that I never liked. Sure you can do anything you want and it’s fun when you’re home alone, but I get easily bored.

“Why did I even leave?” I muttered to myself, which Lucy heard cause she snapped her head to me.

“What do you mean?” She said in curiosity.

“Nothing. It’s just that I forgot that my parents are not yet home, and I’ll be bored to death,” I honestly said.

She cocked her head to the side, biting her lip as she’s in trance. “Do you want to go to my house and help me babysit?”

“You babysit?” I asked in surprise. I didn’t peg her as the babysitter type.

“I babysit a pet,”

“Huh. Weird,”

“So?”

I thought about it for awhile. I didn’t really wanna go home yet, and like I’ve said, I’ve been hanging out with her and somehow got used to be with her. But this time, it was just me, her, and her pet.

I sighed as I made my decision. “Sure.”