Wandering Fireflies

Chapter 12: Take Me To Your Best Friend's House

Song: Tongue Tied by Grouplove

It turns out that our school takes gun threats really seriously. So, we were basically out of school until they found out who was behind the threat. Though it wasn't until the first week of April that we got word that school would start again the following week.

Now technically, teachers weren't supposed to give us work, but that didn't stop them. They posted on Google Classroom everyday with new topics we were supposed to learn by ourselves. Jerks. Don't they have a life?

That didn't stop me from having one though. Zaavan and I spent everyday at each other's houses. We spend half the time doing schoolwork (I have to practically force Zaavan) and the rest doing whatever.

Today, we were at Zaavan's house, waiting to go see the fireworks at the park.

"So what do you wanna do?" he asked.

"I dunno? You choose. It's your house."

"But you're the guest so we should do what you want to do."

"Well you're the host so technically you should have planned something for us." Yep, we do this everyday.

"Okay, how about we play PS4?" he suggested. At that, my eyes grew wide.

"Uh, sure," I mumbled, rubbing the back of my neck. I looked away so that he couldn't see my face. Zaavan raised an eyebrow. During the past few weeks, he's gotten pretty good at telling when something's off.

"What's wrong?" I hesitated, not wanting to bring this up again. It didn't matter though, because he already knew.

"Does it have something to do with your aunt?" he asked cautiously.

I sighed, knowing that he wasn't going to let this go. "It's just...she bought me a PS4 for my birthday, but I stopped using it. It just kept reminding me of her." He hesitated for a minute and I knew what was coming next. Come on Zaavan, don't do this...

"Is she still..."

My breath caught in my throat. I just nodded.

"Listen Vance, you can't keep living like this..."

"The last time I checked, this was my life so yeah, I'm pretty sure I can." I hated when he did this. Somehow, every time things are going well, he had to bring her up. How does aunt Lucy manage to ruin everything?

"So can we just watch a movie instead?"

Zaavan shook his head in defeat. "Okay, Fine. What should we watch?"

"A horror movie?"

Zaavan broke into a smile. "Yep. You know it." Zaavan loves horror movies. I prefer action movies, but hey, I didn't mind. I was watching for Zaavan's sake after all. He got his laptop and took his place beside me, on his bed.

"Then you pick the movie, kid," I said, ruffling his hair. I wonder what kind of shampoo he used. His hair was always so soft and silky.

He scowled at me. He hated it when I did that. "Come on bro, stop that." He said.

"Aw, you're so cute when you're mad!" I joked sarcastically while laughing. His face turned beet red, probably from anger.

"Seriously Vance, stop touching me." For some weird reason, his voice was shaking.

"Fine, just hurry up and pick a movie already." Zaavan gave me one last glare before looking for a movie.

"There. How about Carrie?"

"Sounds good." As we watched the new version of Carrie, I couldn't help but look at Zaavan. Every time we watch a horror movie, his whole face lights up and he always has on a goofy smile. And a real one - not the fake kind that I see him give all the time. He was kinda cute, like a little kid. I can't believe how lucky I am to have him. He's my best friend, how did I ever hate him?