Chapter 15 The million, scratch that, billion dollar answer

"What is that?" I asked out loud as I point a finger above us to connect imaginary lines, star by star. He remains silent. Wow, he could've grunted if he didn't want to talk to me. I turn my head to the right and immediately, my tiny frown was replaced with a little smile when I knew the reason why Langston didn't answer me. Reed Edward freaking Langston is actually sleeping beside me. His hair is scattered fluffily around his head, his eyebrows twitched for a second before returning to its relaxed form, and his mouth was slightly ajar. Aww, he looks adorable! I need to capture this moment, like seriously. But before that... I grabbed my sharpie in my left pocket, silently thanking my lazy lab partner for forcing me to bring the sharpie home. I took the cap off and felt an evil smirk crawl to my face. I drew a fake mustache, and started thickening it, and put a huge, gigantic mole right under his right eye. Perfect. Now, I really do need to capture this moment. Firstly, I can use this against him, second, it's just too cute to be wasted! Smiling, I took my phone from my pocket. I unlocked it and went to my camera app. Smirking, I took a picture of Langston for 5 times, before opening the photo editor I usually use in editing different blog covers. I went to the stickers option, then slid down a kitty ear sticker and paste it right above his hair, then, I also slid down whiskers and some paw prints then scattered it around the picture, Excellent. I laughed silently before adding a cherry on top, no pun intended. I added a text that says "I'm cuddly and cute!" I muffled my laugh when Langston started to move. He groggily rubs the part under his nose, which by the way looks like he's rubbing his Mustache! I bit my lip and with a smile, I locked my phone. Wait...  WHAT TIME IS IT? I look at my phone and almost died. 11 pm. I am expecting the cops to come out, or even at least the sounds of sirens to appear because gosh, our parents are probably so worried right now. But there was just silence. I look at Langston and an idea formed in my head, again. I'm in the zone! I stood up silently, before running towards his kitchen. I opened the fridge and grinned evilly when I saw the innocent, delicious-looking whip cream can. HUAHUAHUA! Jogging back outside, I sprayed the can of whip cream on his right and left palms, before bending down to his face. We were so close, literally. I blew his forehead and his eyebrows squinted before doing what I've wanted... "The fuck...?" Langston's eyes opened when he felt the sticky, yet creamy, whip cream on his face, "Chloe?" I smiled widely, standing up, "Hey!" "Why were you so close to me?" Oh, crappy poop. "You were going to kiss me, weren't you!?" He accused while pointing a finger at me, a teasing grin forming on his face, then he frowned immediately when he noticed his sticky hands. "Not quite," I smirked while he groaned loudly and ran back inside the cabin, which I bet somewhere in the comfort room. "CHLOE!!!!!!!" And I bet he noticed his newborn mustache. - and a big fat mole! I jogged back inside and waited in the kitchen. Grabbing a shiny apple, I took a bite, then I haven't heard the crisp sound, I took it off my mouth and frown when I saw a bite mark, No wonder it was shiny, it's made of wax! Yikes, I put the apple back to its place and glared at the other wax looking fruits beside it. I think it's the other way around though... I heard thumping beside me, which caused me to turn around and bit inside my left cheek to hold my laughter. Langston was there, glaring at me. "Hey, you!" I cheered, He glared harder, "Don't 'hey you' me, Porter." I pouted, "I thought we agreed on Chloe?" "Stop changing the topic." He snapped. "Okay!" I raised my arms in mock surrender before taking a sit on the stool in front of the island. "Why did you put whip cream in my palms?" "Coz it's fun. Duh." I rolled my eyes playfully, just to make him angrier. Hey, we may set a truce earlier, but you can't blame me! Old habits die hard! He continued glaring, but this time, he asked, "You didn't do anything else... right?" Oh... So he didn't look at a mirror. "Yup." I lied cheekily. - A white lie, not a total lie. I'm white, and I lied. I think that kind of works. I fish out my phone and groaned, before saying loudly, "It's late. We should leave." He nodded before using a tissue to wipe off the whipped cream on his forehead. Wait, he should really use water on that, but then he'll see his face... Nah, I've somewhat heard whip creams could be moisturizers. Ish. I was just about to walk outside when I remembered something. I looked at him and asked, "By the way, why do -well, did- you hate me?" Langston stopped doing whatever he was doing before raising both his eyebrows, "Ah, the million-dollar question." "Billion," I corrected, "Billion-dollar question. And I'll get a billion-dollar answer." He smiled, "Then I believe we should go back inside, it's getting chilly." It's late, and we really should head back home now. But getting nagged will only happen once, I might never get the chance to ask the question again. And so, I nodded and started walking back to the back door. I lay down on the mat with Langston beside me. "So?" He laughed, "You're so impatient." "And you're not answering my questions." "I'm not not answering your questions." "You so are." "I'm not." "Wait, what?" "What, what?" I sighed, "Stop delaying." "I'm just trying to buy time." I rolled my eyes, "Potato, Potahto." He smiled, which is starting to irritate me because time is running. I exasperatedly said, "Tell me!" He chuckled before nodding, then put on a poker face, "Remember 3rd grade?" 3rd grade? "3rd grade?" He nodded before saying with this look in his face, "February 14, that valentine's day." Shockingly, I did remember what happened on that day. And people, that look just shouted Flashback time! FLASHBACK, FEBRUARY 14, 2006: "Good morning Mertano Elem. Students! It's time to smile, grin, wink, or even hug the one you love! It's Valentine's day and that means the day you'll show your courtesy to someone!..." I rolled my eyes at how mushy teacher Stella sounded. Well, she's a teacher and our principal, our lovesick principal. "Hey, Chloe!" I turn around and was shocked to see the Italian transferee 'Ivan' was jogging towards me. "Oh, hi!" I waved a little before asking, "Ivan right?" His smile dropped a little, "It is E-van." He said with his Italian accent. "Ah, Evan." I laughed, This time, he wasn't smiling, "E-van, as in I-van." He dragged out the 'E' part which made me say "Aah, Ivan." His smile appears again, "Si!" "What do you need?" I asked while closing my locker. "Have you seen your dearest friend, Archel?" I grinned mischievously, "Archel? Archie? Oh, I saw Ian Turner talking to her earlier." His smile dropped again, "What?" I laughed hysterically, "I'm kidding, just kidding. Archie's in Math room, she had a question with teacher Daina earlier," His smile reappeared again, "I'll see you later! Bye!" How cute? I turn around and walk to the cafeteria, and frowned a little when I saw heart-shaped balloons floating everywhere. Great, how can I eat mom's sandwich if I want to vomit from all this lovely Dovey stuffy?  I walk towards the long line and waited. I saw a few of my friends and they waved at me as they passed by. "What can I get you, youngster?" Instead of the nice, warm, and caring question, I looked up to see a grumpy lady, with her eyes frowning. Yes, her eyes are the ones that are frowning, Still, I smiled kindly. "One cookies n' cream shake please, a medium." She just nodded at me and started making the shake. Not too long after, she gave me my shake and I paid for it. I turn around and was walking towards my usual table when I saw a familiar-looking kid in my usual space. "Reed?" I asked with a grin and wave. He turns around and he smiles at me, "Hey, Chloe!" "What are you doing here?" His eyes widened, "Uh... Well... Uhm... I'm waiting for Ivan," I 'aah' and said, "Ivan's going to the math room, probably going to confess his undying love to Archie." I chuckled. He frowned, "Why are you laughing? Is it bad for a boy to like someone?" My eyes widened, "No! It's just cute," His frown wasn't gone, instead, it went down further, "Cute? What's so cute with a boy who has a crush on someone?" "It's adorable." "Adorable!?" My eyes widened, bigger, "Calm down! I'm just saying that-" "YOU should never laugh at someone just because they like someone!" What? "No!" He stood up angrily. What's his deal? "I'm leaving." He said angrily, "Fine," I said, getting mad, which made me throw my arms in the air. Which caused my shake to fall down from the tray. "My shake!" "Aah!" I heard a shrieked and gasped when I saw Reed on the ground... I don't know if I should laugh or not, Reed just shrieked louder than a girl! Everyone surrounding us got silent. Reed stood up with a grunt, "Let me help you wipe your shirt- aah!" Being the clumsy me, I accidentally slip on my own shake and this time, I came down alone. Well, with Reed Langston's pants. Oh, macaroni! I covered my mouth from laughing when I saw his boxers, IT WAS A HELLO KITTY BRIEFS! Everyone around us laughed, pointing at Reed with teasing grins. "Reed loves hello kitty!" Someone shouted which made everyone laugh and Reed's face to get redder. -if that's humanly possible. I have a feeling that this would start a beautiful friendship, Note the sarcasm. End of flashback. "Right... 3rd grade.." I trailed off, while he nodded, "Sorry about that." I apologized, "But where did you buy those briefs anyways?" Langston's face flushed, "It was mom's present. It would be rude if I didn't wear it," U-huh? I just smiled cheekily instead of saying uh-huh. I looked at the time and gasped, "Crappy Spinach!" I gasped and immediately stood up, "We have to go!" Langston groaned and rolled into his stomach, "Why?" Why? "It's freaking 11:21 in the evening, Langston. We have to leave!" He groaned a no which made me purse my lips. Ah, so he wants it the hard way, then... "Up to your feet, Chicken." "Not happening," "Stand up, Bad Boy!" "Seriously?" I smirked, "Come on Eddie," His shoulders tensed and immediately stood up, giving me a glare. I smiled with victory, "Come on bavanos! Everybody let's go!" I sang Dora's song before locking arms with his elbow and literally hopped inside the cabin towards the door. When we got out, Langston locked the door and hopped on the bike, turning the engine on, then I hopped on to. Reed asked, "Isn't it Vamonos?" "SHH!" I shushed him for speaking nonsense. 1 MINUTE LATER: "WHERE ARE WE GOING!?" I patted his lap 3 times, "Going home!" I repeated, "Where are we going?" Then I patted his lap again for 3 times, "Going home!" Then I said with finality, "Where are we going? Goooooing home!!!! Whooo!!" I raised and flew my arms above me, "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" I frowned slightly before pinching his thighs, "What the fu-!" I pinched his thighs again, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU WOMAN!?" Langston shouted, it's a good thing the mountain isn't crowded, though, it is creepy. "What is wrong with what?" "Why did you fucking pinch me!?" Pinch. "Argh! Goddammit, Chloe!" "I thought we agreed on Porter?" "No, we agreed on Chloe and- wait! Why the hell were you pinching me!?" "Oh. That." "Yes, that." I shrugged, "You see, I'm having an experiment." "... What does that have to do with pinching my thighs?" "Well, my experiment is about you actually." "... I'm not your lab rat you know?" I cheekily grinned, "Yeah, just my lab chicken," "You know that sounds weird, right?" "Nope. Anyways, it's about you, or me, not going to say any bad words, or cuss for a week. And if one of us cussed, that person would receive a pinch." "Are you shitting me?" "No, I'm not," Silence. "Is saying shit counted?" "Yes," I nodded, "Unless if you'll have an acceptable reason why shit is not a cuss," "It's the other word for Poop," "Reasonable." "What about fuck?" "No." I shook my head, "But it's the other word of se-" "NO." Perv. He just laughed. We arrive at my house after an hour or something. I turn around and faced Langston. This is awkward. I mean, a girl coming back home at midnight or something... With a boy... While both of them are like waiting for something.  Deja vu for every cliche movie ever? Yes. Yes, it is. "Well, I'll go now," I said awkwardly. "Yeah..." Silence... With my arms still around Langston, he finally broke the silence. "You can't climb down, can you?" "Nope, nope I can't." He chuckled before climbing down the gigantic bike, before wrapping his arms around me and carried me down. Being clumsy as always, my legs cannot carry my body which made me slip, so technically, if Langston wasn't there, I'll literally fall, head first. The arms around me tightened, which made me look up and straight to Langston's face. Then I was mesmerized by his eyes, did you know Reed Langston has this hypnotizing green eyes? Then I felt my face moving on its' own. Going near. Going nearer. Nearer, Nea- "Chloe?" I heard dad's booming voice, which made me jump from shock and immediately got out of Langston's tight embrace. "Dad." I nodded. He looks past me, "Reed? Nice to see you here," "Oh, I just dropped Chloe here... Yeah... Well, good night sir. Night Chlo!" I nodded while smiling sheepishly, "Night." "It's morning son, morning." Oh, dad... "Morning," He fumbled a bit before climbing up back to his bike, "Morning." Then he drove off. I gulped before looking to my dad, "I can explain." He raised his right hand, "No, you won't be grounded, don't worry." Then he started sighing out words, something about millennials and something. "Dad?" He sighs again, "Just go to sleep. It's school day tomorrow, well later," I felt my jaw drop, "Really?" "Yes, now, good morning. Bid your mother goodbye, she's in the living room." "Okay," I nodded before giving him a hug, then went inside the house. I walk towards the living room and found my smiling mother, sitting on the couch. "Hey mom," I kissed her cheeks which made her smile wider. I asked, "Is there something wrong?" She turned to look at me, "Is there?" "No...?" She just continued smiling, "Will I be expecting little Chloe or little Reed running around?" Oh my God! "Gosh no!" I stood up, "Night ma." I can't believe her.  "Morning hun, morning." "MORNING!" Then I went to my room. Before drifting towards the darkness, my last thoughts were, was I just about to give my first kiss to Reed Langston? It's official, I'm nuts.