Best Thing In Town

“You are coming Jade!”

“No Tony, I don’t want too!”

“It doesn’t matter if you want to or not, this isn’t a wanting matter. You’re coming, alright?” Tony sighed down the phone.

We’d been arguing for the past twenty minutes now on whether or not I was going to be going to my parent’s house for a ‘family’ meal. I didn’t want too. Tony wanted me too. Apparently Erin wanted me to be there. My Father had said he missed me and wished to see me, and Tony had said that my mother seemed surprised that was going and had a bet on with him that I wouldn’t turn up; therefore for Tony to win the bet, I needed to turn up.

“Or what?” I demanded.

“Or I’ll reschedule it to be at your apartment!” He raged finally “Which means you’d have to cook and spend money on alcohol and food and all that jazz. So you’re coming because I want to win twenty damn dollars and you’re bringing Alex because I can’t do with the lesbian chat. I suggest you get your ass to his house and ask him if he wants to come, or I’ll text him myself.”

“How about I stay at home and cook for myse- wait when did you get his number?” I gasped. My family we’re supposed to get involved with this kind of thing and Tony is an idiot who would warp Alex – I couldn’t deal with two idiots, hell no.

Plus, what does he mean get my ass to his house… Hello, I’m Jade Perry: Miss ‘Let’s get myself constantly lost because I don’t know my way around the place I’ve lived almost all of my life’

“Last week, whenever it was I rang, we exchanged numbers – I reckon he’s ‘gonna be around for a while you know,” I could hear the shrug in his voice and rolled my eyes; of course he would have and I suppose his friends are idiots “anyway be at Mom and Dad’s for around seven, alright?”

He put the phone down, meaning I was no longer in a position to argue.

Dammit.

It’d been a week, a full week since Alex's ‘3 in 1’ date day. I did text him and rang him throughout the week so it wasn’t like I was being a bitch and I had made an effort which everyone should be proud of, but for some reason we hadn’t seen each other.

I think it’s because I’m quite phobic of relationships, friendships, opposite-sexes, boys that show an interest in me… or I’d just scared him away which was definitely a possibility. I mean, I do sometimes resemble a troll.

Also, Robin still hadn’t come home since the night everything was forced out into the open. Then there was the issue that everyday since Tony had spoken to Alex about the wedding plans being put into action he’d rung me. I ignored him though… that was until the abuse texts came… rude boy, he’s a very rude boy.

And for the record I am not a ‘hairy minge’ nor am I a ‘frog-eyed bull’. Tony however, is a rude bastard and I still don’t understand how he is getting married.

So all-in-all I’d had a pretty lonely week.

But I don’t mind being alone, for being alone means; I have a legitimate reason to wonder around my apartment in only my underwear, I don’t have to make an effort with anything and I don’t have to go outside. I can stay in and watch TV, or movies, whilst stuffing my face; lonely is most definitely fun.

Well, speaking of only underwear I looked down at my body. Yep, definitely half naked and because I was a good sister I was going to go and ask Alex if he would like to come to dinner at my parents house. So I needed to get dressed. I needed to make an effort. Jesus Christ why is everything so hard?

Groaning as loud as I could because that was acceptable when alone, I slumped to my bedroom and pulled on some clean clothes, scraped my hair back into a bun. There was no point making much of an effort now if I was only going to have to make myself presentable later on. I grabbed my keys off the bedside table and tucked them into my back pocket.

Being small was brilliant when there was a rush in town and in Towson there was always a rush. I was able to weave in and out of crowds effortlessly, it was just there was a case of I never really knew where I was going. I knew where Alex lived though; it was just a case of remembering landmarks I’d seen in the car and following them.

I managed to make it to his house in one piece after half an hour of walking and maybe, maybe I got lost once and had to ask for directions, but sh. There was a slight problem though. I couldn’t remember what number Alex lived at and had to wonder the street a few times until I was able to recognise his house, but I finally did!

Without any hesitation I walked up to the door and banged three times before taking a step back, waiting to meet my fate.

“Oh Jesus Christ!” I squeaked covering my eyes immediately with my hands.

“Jesus Christ yourself,” I peeked through my fingers. Behold! Vinny happened to have answered the door and he happened to be topless and it was nice but gross at the same time.

“Do you own any t-shirts?” I cried in horror “Put whatever that thing is away! And pull your pants up, you are not a bad man you’re a grown man!”

“Why are you moaning like you don’t like it?” He cried back in horror “And my pants are on properly thank you very much! If you don’t like it, don’t look!”

“Because I don’t like it!” I responded “Well they obviously don’t fit and I wish I didn’t have to look but you’re stood with everything out! Do you own clothes?” I put my hand down and screwed my eyes up so I didn’t have to see him.

One might say I was a prude. Others would simply state I was a girl with a big mouth that didn’t like seeing topless men because of these things called hormones. Both are debateable.

“Yes I own clothes but it’s acceptable to not wear them at home!” he argued back, but I couldn’t say anything seeing as I’d been practically starkers for the past week.

There was a sense of freeness when in hardly any clothes. I would have been completely naked if I wanted to but I had a damn ass creepy peeping Tom in the opposite block of apartments that would have found an excuse to knock on the door if he’d happened to catch a bit of boob when I walked past the window.

“But it isn’t your home,” I frowned. Unless I did have the wrong house. That would be quite bad I suppose.

“Well done, I feel like we’re really getting somewhere here babe,” ouch your sarcasm is rude “Might as-well be though?” He shrugged “I practically live here with Alex.''

Oh well, I’d opened my eyes to see Vinny running hand down his tanned, toned stomach and then moved it up to his hair, running it through the messy brown strands.
I think I was drooling.

Shake yourself out of it girl, “Well is the actual home owner in?” I crossed my arms across my chest and narrowed my eyes in his general direction.

“Alex?!” Vinny shouted loudly over his shoulder.

A few minutes past before I could hear Alex shouting a response, followed by some rummaging and banging and then he appeared in the doorway “What?” he asked Vinny and Vinny, being Vinny just pointed to me before slipping away.

Alex being the dumbo he is followed Vinny with his eyes. He then slowly turned looking as confused as I’d felt when Vinny had appeared topless “Oh,” he exclaimed “I wondered who Vin was arguing with!” he then laughed.

“Me?” I shrugged.

“Well, unless someone else was here…” Alex smirked looking over my shoulder. With my height, it wasn’t difficult.

“His topless-ness was quite off-putting,” I frowned avoiding any eye-contact. It was strange how weird things between us seemed to be after almost a week of not seeing each other.

“Hmm,” Alex hummed.

The next thing I knew he’d walked out of his house and wrapped his arms around my body. Without an argument I sunk into his chest, inhaling his scent and it was then I realised I might have actually missed his presence “I missed you,” he whispered almost like he was reading my thoughts “strange as it is,” he chuckled slightly shaking us both.

“Me too,” I admitted against his chest.

“Wait, what was that?” Alex pulled away slightly and sarcastically gasped.

“I’m not going to say it again,” I pouted, pulling his body back against mine.

“Once was more than enough sweetheart,” he said honestly “sorry I haven’t seen you much. I’ve been busy, I’m such a lousy friend!” he scolded himself and I frowned, hitting his chest lightly in disagreement.

“It is completely fine; you don’t have to explain yourself to me!” I laughed “I’ve had a perfect time on my own, it’s amazing the things you can do when no-one is around!”

Alex pulled away and screwed his face up, looking me up and down slowly “Do I even want to know?” he asked with a smirk.

That deserved another slap on the chest.

“Oh that’s gross, nothing like that you dirty animal!” Alex shielded himself with his arms and fell into a giggle fit “Stop laughing at me!” I cried, still trying to hit him.

“Okay, okay, okay," he mumbled reaching out. He then grabbed my wrists and stopped me. “Anyway, to what do I owe this pleasure of seeing your face anyway?”

“Hardly a pleasure,” I scoffed “but I’m here of Tony duty… apparently he has taken a massive… shine to you,” I frowned and Alex smugly grinned. “So,” I trailed off, using one of my many talents which happened to speaking masses of words at once, ta-dah “wouldyouliketocometomyparentshousefordinner?” I asked all in one.

“What?” His eyebrows furrowed. He was a slow person.

“Would you,”

“Me?

“Like too…”

“Like too?”

“Come to my parents for dinner?”

“Come to your parents for dinner,” he nodded his head slowly. I was expecting a no, or a ‘not today’ but instead he carelessly shrugged and slung an arm around my shoulder “Yeah alright babe, what time?” he smiled.

“Urm,” I was stunned “you want to meet my parents?” stunned was the word.

“Yes?” Alex questioned.

“Urm, would you pick me up at like half six and we can urm, drive down there or whatever… yeah?” Stutter, I must have gained a stutter.

“Alright,” Alex pressed his lips to my cheek, something that was becoming a regular occurrence “see you later.” He smiled and then slipped off back into his house, leaving me left to wonder home stunned and shocked and confused as to why someone would willingly enter the death trap of my parent’s house, but then again the poor guy probably didn’t know what he was getting himself into.

Poor guy, he’d never speak to me again afterwards.

I got home quicker than I’d gotten to Alex's and set into getting ready, I needed to look absolutely perfect for my Mother to even allow me into her house. That therefore meant: Shower, hair, eyebrows, make-up, suitable clothes, make-up, smelling fresh and looking like the darling angel I really was.

So far I’d managed to shower and pluck my eyebrows and with the shower I smelt fresh.

It was six pm.

I’d wasted a day… doing nothing.

Although, my shower was almost an hour long…

I still had to do my make-up and find suitable clothes; also I had to find out if I really did smell fresh. Awkward if I didn’t. I sighed and opened my wardrobe, nothing was appealing out to me so I grabbed a plain white dress; it had all that lacy shit around the bust and arms? You know the kind I mean, the posh kind that I would never ever wear unless I was going to my parents. I pulled it on, I frowned, I rolled my eyes and I tied my hair up into a bun. I then did my make-up, taking extra care to not smudge anything.

I then stole a pair of Robin’s white heels because she owed me and she wasn’t here and I didn’t bloody own any heels!

“I did knock; I don’t think you heard me though!”

Queue a scream; a very loud scream.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” I shouted, Alex had let himself in, not that I minded at all… it was the making me jump part I disliked.

“I did knock I promise!” He argued. I breathed in deeply, eager to catch my lost breath from screaming the neighbourhood down and took this time to see if Alex had realised my parents were top notch bastards that would scrutinise his every move and his outfit. He seemed to have the hint.

“You look dapper,” I complemented his black skinny jeans. Oh and he even had a plaid shirt on. It was red though… that was a little strange and he had white converse on… oh well.

“Same could be said about you,” he grinned “although dapper? How old are you again?” he smirked “And I like your legs…” I looked down at my legs and then back up at Alex.

“Boys,” I scoffed.

“Men,” he corrected.

“Boy,” I rolled my eyes.

“Man,” he emphasized wrapping arm around my waist.

“Oi,” I gasped “touchy feely, less of!” he pouted and dropped his arm from my waist. I poked my tongue out at him and then pressed a kiss to the side of his cheek “C’mon we best get going,” I sighed and wondered to the door. I say wondered, but really I was trying not to fall flat on my ass.

“Man, by the way!” Alex called behind me. I just shook my head and laughed.

The car journey was relatively short. It seemed I didn’t actually live that far away from Mother and Father Dearest, oh? Alex seemed surprise too, especially when I had to cut his (very good) singing session short to point to the huge house.

“Are you nervous babe?” I’d carefully managed to get my way out of the car and now I was stood staring at my childhood house whilst holding my breath “It’s a bloody big house,” he let out a low whistle “I think there are some things you’re not telling me…” he trailed off.

“I’ll tell you anything you want to know…” I whispered, my eyes had now drifted to the door. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw the curtains twitch “Shit,” I cursed reaching out to grab Alex's hand.

“It’s alright Jay," Alex whispered with a slight worried frown.

“You’re walking into a death trap!” I hissed “C’mon she’ll be out here in a moment,” I tensed my shoulders and braced myself. Holding Alex's hand as we walked down the long windy path to reach the front door, I would have walked across the grass. My heels didn’t like that idea though, so pointless path it was.

We we’re almost at the door when it flung open “Jade!” an obnoxious, loud, nasally, ridiculous, every other bad word under the sun, voice shouted.

I smacked a huge ass fake smile on my face “Mother,” I tried to sound as enthusiastic as she did. I didn’t however.

“Look at you,” she frowned as we approached her “you’ve let yourself go love, your hair now looks so ratty and dead,” clearly ignoring the fact it was in a bun “and your legs… they’re not looking as good as they used to!” I frowned, for a lazy girl I thought my legs were pretty toned.

Alex obviously noticed my frown and squeezed my hand.

See, maybe now everyone will understand that my Mother is a World Class Bitch and maybe, cross my heart, they will cut me some slack.

“Oh, and who are you?” her voice rose an octave and her nose was ten feet up in the air.

Alex dropped my hand and offered it my Mother who just glanced at it in disgust “Alex Gaskarth,” he greeted politely, completely ignoring the fact she was being rude. I wondered for a moment if I was anything like my Mom? I definitely got my rude side from her, I think Alex realised this too.

Anyway, that was the first time I’d ever heard Alex's last name. Gaskarth, it was posh. Alex Gaskarth, it kind of has a Bond feel to it.

The name's Gaskarth – Alex Gaskarth.

“Jade, why didn’t you bring your girlfriend?” My Mom asked, completely ignoring Alex. Which was extremely rude and we’ve all learnt only I can be rude to Alex.

“I’m not going to repeat myself to you,” I frowned. The amount of times I’d explained I’m one-hundred and ten percent straight was ridiculous. Plus, by Girlfriend she meant Robin and to be honest even no-one was even sure if Robin was a girl.

“But she’s so pretty,” she looked Alex up and down and frowned “you know we all respect your decisions no matter what!”

“Jesus Christ Mom!” I scowled “The least you can do is introduce yourself,” I turned to Alex. "Gaskarth,” I tested his last name and liked it, he smirked too “This is my Mom Patricia,” I turned back to face my Mom who looked absolutely horrified “Mom this is Alex, now where the hell is Dad?”

“Your language is atrocious young lady; just because you don’t live here anymore it does not mean you can disrespect my rules!” She folded her arms across her chest “And your Father is at the Dining Table because dinner is nearly ready!”

“Brilliant,” I emphasised “that means I get to go home soon.”

I grabbed hold of Alex's hand and stormed my way past my Mother, I faintly heard Alex apologising behind me as I bulldozed through the house towards the dining room. Honestly, I wanted this over and done with as soon as humanly possible.

“This is your home!” My Mother shouted after me. I however chose to ignore her.

“I hope you can eat fast,” I told Alex as I entered the room.

He just laughed faintly.

Notes

Uh oh ;D