05.
1139 Words
I woke up with a slight headache but felt good after Daniel asked me out last night. As I looked for Joshua, I saw him leaving a room, buttoning his shirt, followed closely by Harper. Gross.
I turned toward the sunlight streaming in, noticing my brother asleep, looking a lot like Dad, who left us for some unknown reason last year. We haven’t heard from him since, and Mom won’t talk about it.
I got out of bed, stretched, and checked my phone. I had a message from Madison:
Madison: Hey girl, how was the party? I heard Harper hooked up with a hot college guy.
Me: The party was great, and yeah, it’s true.
Madison: Anything else interesting?
Me: Oh, Daniel asked me out.
Madison: Really? You should’ve told me sooner!
Me: But I’m not going.
Madison: What?!
Me: Remember? I want to give him a taste of his own medicine. ;)
Madison: Okay, I’ll pick you up before he does. What time is he coming?
Me: Around 2.
Madison: I’ll get there at 1:30, then swing by Maya and Carmella’s.
Me: Sounds good! What about Maya and Eric?
Madison: We’ll find an outfit so he knows she exists on Monday.
Me: Cool.
I brushed my teeth and went to the kitchen, where Mom was sipping coffee and scrolling on her laptop, her light brown hair in a bun.
"Morning," I said as I opened the fridge.
"You need to clean the bathroom and vacuum. I have work at the office," she said, closing her laptop. "Tell Joshua to mow the backyard; the neighbor asked him to do their lawn too."
I pulled out the almost-empty gallon of milk. "Mom, we’re about out of food." I closed the fridge after grabbing two eggs.
"Make a list and go later. I won’t be back until around 7," she said, leaving some money on the counter.
After she left, I fried the eggs, and Joshua came in, rubbing his eyes.
"How was her?"
"She was alright," I shrugged.
"Mom said you need to mow the lawn and the neighbor's too."
"Great, I’m going back to sleep," he grumbled and grabbed a glass of milk.
Someone knocked on the front door as I finished breakfast. I opened it to find Liam.
"Hey, Liam, what are you doing here?"
"Is your brother home? My father's not the patient type."
"He just went back to bed. Why don’t you mow the lawn?"
"I have lacrosse practice on Saturday mornings."
"I'll wake him up. Want some eggs? I have leftovers."
"Sure, my mom didn’t make breakfast. She sleeps in on Saturday mornings," he chuckled.
"You're lucky; mine doesn't cook for me," I complained.
"Oh yeah, I saw her leave earlier," he said, eating an egg with toast.
I went to my room and shook Joshua awake.
"What?" he mumbled into his pillow.
"You’ve got five minutes to mow the neighbor's lawn. You know Mom hates calls when she’s at the office."
"Am I getting paid for this?"
"Ask his son; he’s in the kitchen."
He got out of bed, changed into sweatpants and a T-shirt, and went to brush his teeth.
°*°*°*°
Daniel: I'll pick you up in an hour.
Me: Okay.
I grinned; it was 1:10 PM. Madison would be here soon, and Joshua wouldn’t be home, so it’d be quiet when he arrived.
I showered and got dressed for the evening, putting on some dangling earrings and makeup.
My phone rang.
"What's up?"
"I'm almost at your house; you better be ready," Madison said.
"I'm good, actually." I grabbed my small purse, putting in the list, Mom’s cash, and some of my savings for a few jeans.
"Good, be there in two minutes," she hung up.
I closed my bedroom door, grabbed my house key, and locked the front door behind me.
I heard a horn honk and turned around, gasping.
"Wow!" I covered my mouth as Madison stepped out in skinny jeans and a white crop top with heels.
"Yeah, that was my Christmas gift from my parents, who never made it home for Christmas," she explained.
"Ouch."
"It’s fine. I had my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins to keep me company," she shrugged. "Besides, I’m used to it."
"Any siblings?"
"An older sister who's a sophomore at New York University," she replied. "What about you?"
"One older brother, just two years older."
"Cool, is he single?" She grinned.
"Yes, and he's off-limits."
"I know, let's go," she laughed.
°*°*°*°
My phone buzzed repeatedly.
Daniel: Jordan, where are you? Answer me. If it’s about Harper, we’re done. I want nothing to do with her.
Daniel: Please respond; are you sick? Liam said he saw you leave, lock the front door, then went to the back.
I had paid Liam to keep quiet.
Daniel: Are you planning to surprise me? ;).
I rolled my eyes while Madison drove with Maya and Carmella chatting in the backseat.
"Aren't you going to reply?" Maya grinned.
"Call him on speaker, and I’ll talk," Madison ordered. I complied.
"Finally, where are you?" Daniel demanded upon answering.
"Oh hey, Johnson, enjoying your evening?" Madison chuckled.
"Maddie? Where's Jordan?"
"Last minute change; she’s going out for an evening of fun with me and the girls," she laughed.
"And she couldn’t tell me earlier?"
"Like I said, last minute thing. Maya, are you done trying on those pants?" she yelled.
"Almost," Maya grinned from the backseat.
"So where is she now?"
"Oh, she's out front flirting with the clerk, who’s handsome by the way."
"What?!"
I bit my lip to suppress a laugh.
"I think they’re exchanging numbers too," Madison added.
"So Jordan stood me up and ditched me. Thanks, Maddie," he said before hanging up.
"Uh oh, he's angry. Good luck getting back on his good side," Madison remarked.
°*°*°*°
Daniel's POV
I was furious—Jordan stood me up, and now she was flirting with some guy at a store. I could picture her lips on his right now. "Ugh," I hit the steering wheel.
Then I remembered Ava was in town for the weekend. We’d hooked up a few times at parties when we were drunk, but I knew she still liked Eric.
I drove to her house and rang the doorbell. "Coming!" she yelled. Moments later, she opened the door in shorts and a tank top.
"Daniel? What are you doing here?"
"Are you doing anything now?"
"Nope," she shook her head. "What’s up?"
"Wanna go for a ride? Maybe grab a meal and then come back here?"
"Sure, give me five minutes," she nodded and closed the door.
I was ready for a fun evening. If Jordan wanted my attention, she’d have to work for it.
- Writer
