Catherine
“Will you stop laughing?”
I tried to sneak past each room holding one end of the crate. Morgan, on the opposite side, continued to laugh so hard tears rolled down her cheeks.
“There’s gonna be chicken shit all over everything.”
I shrug. “Not my problem. I remember once before Clayton said the best part of the prank would be seeing Eli clean up the mess.”
“That was a room full of balloons, not chickens.”
“This is only two.”
I reached Clayton’s room and pulled out the bundle of keys I had snatched from Elijah’s dresser.
“Two really big ass chickens,” Morgan corrected, still laughing and looking around to ensure no one caught us.
When I found the key I placed it in the lock and twisted. Hurrying inside we set the crate down on the floor. “Let’s hurry so we can get out of here unseen.”
“I think we should hide in the closet and watch this unfold.” She hunched over holding her stomach and fits of laughter still racked her body. “Can you imagine him coming home to two chickens in his room?”
“Yes, I can, which is why I chose this prank. I told him I would pay him back, this is me doing that.”
“Don’t you understand how this prank thing works?” I began unfastening the crate as she stood behind me, rambling on. “It is a constant back and forth repay and pay it forward. They will never stop. It doesn’t even matter if you outdo the last person, you will still get it back eventually.”
I knew that, I understood the play of the game. “Clayton thinks I’m bluffing. He thinks I’m just some girl that got pissed and said a bunch of shit, but I’ve now moved on. So I gotta do this to prove a point. I know this doesn’t end it.”
“Wait,” Morgan said just as I started to lift the lid, which only made me jump in surprise.
Looking to my left, I found her backing up toward the door, her hand held out in front of her. “What?”
“You aren’t letting those things out while we’re in here, are you?”
“And how else would you suggest I do it?” I tried not to laugh but frankly the fear on her face over two chickens was hilarious. You’d think I had a crate full of rattlesnakes instead.
“I don’t know,” she said while looking where my hands rested on the lid. “It’s just that they’re going to start flocking around, and what if they attack?”
“Oh my god, you aren’t that person, are you?”
“What person?” She wrinkled her nose, looking between me and the chickens.
“Scared of animals.”
“No.” She waved me off, yet her eyes were still frantic looking. “Though I never had one growing up.”
I began to lift the lid and she backed up further, only making it harder not to laugh. “Run,” I shouted and she did, but not before running smack into the door as she forgot we’d closed it behind us when we entered.
She mumbled “damn” before twisting the knob and bolting like her ass was on fire. I found myself wondering how she would react to a chicken being set loose in her room.
Oh the possibilities.
***
I sat on the lawn, just outside Perry Hall. Somehow I had managed to completely psych myself out over the exam I had today. It could have been related to my change in routine and lack of concentration.
We were to move this weekend and the only thing I had to fill my room was two laundry baskets full of clothes and myself. I was embarrassed, and allowing myself once again to feel like the world was crashing in around me.
Studying had been at the bottom of my list and now I was paying for it.
A large shadow cast over me and I looked up into a familiar face. “You cramming too?” The blond guy from my history class took the initiative and sat down across from me without waiting for an invite. “I’ve been panicking a bit myself.”
I still had not said a word, wondering where he was going with this. We’d been in the same class for months and next to our one conversation about my A and his well, hell I don’t even remember what grade he got, we’d never spoken.
“Connor,” he said, holding out his hand.
Without taking it I nodded. “Blake.” It still felt weird introducing myself by my first name, but Eli was right, I shouldn’t forget my father just because my mother forced me to. This was my new beginning and in this round I’d be Blake, my father’s daughter.
“So you’re with Red?”
“If you mean are we a couple then yes, we are.”
“You must be something special if you tied him down.” He leaned in closer. “I’ve never seen him with one girl longer than one night. Don’t take that the wrong way, I mean, I’m not saying he got around.”
Oh my god, what is wrong with this guy?
“Just saying that he must really like you.”
“He really loves her.” I smiled without even turning around. I knew his voice, also Connor looked like he was about to puke, so that confirmed Eli was standing behind me. “Is there a reason why you’re harassing my girl?”
I looked back at him and narrowed my eyes. “He isn’t harassing, he’s just…” I paused as I looked back at Connor. “What is it you’re doing?”
“Talking,” he began to stand. “We were just talking.”
“Are you finished?”
Poor guy, I honestly felt bad for him. He nodded, stepped backward, and almost fell on his ass as he tripped over his own bag that had managed to get tangled around his ankles.
When he was scurrying across the lawn, I looked back again just as Eli was moving to sit beside me. “You are so mean.”
“Aw, do you have a soft spot for the boy?”
“Maybe I do,” I threw back and he laughed.
“Sorry, sweetheart, but I know your type, and Connor is not that.”
“What’s my type?”
He leaned in and pressed a very over exaggerated kiss to my lips. “Me,” he shrugged, “I am all you need.”
“Yes you are,” I agreed as I went in for another kiss.
“After all,” he pulled away, taking the chance for me to get another kiss, “where else would I find a girl who could harass my brothers the way you can?”
I smiled, knowing he was referring to the little present I left for Clayton. Or should I say the two presents?
“Chicken shit everywhere, sweetheart.” I covered my mouth to hide my laughter. “You should have seen him running around his room chasing those little bastards. He’d catch one and then the other would come at him like it was trying to protect his friend. Clayton squealed like a girl so many times you’d think there was a pack of baby pigs.”
“That makes me very happy.”
He chuckles. “So does this make you even?”
“Not even close.”
“Babe, you’re beginning to scare me.” I’d have thought he was serious if he hadn’t leaned in to kiss me once more and allowed me to feel his smile against my lips.