The white van came to a stop.
Without
a word, Phyre opened the door and got out of the van. She glanced at
the gasoline station and walked to it, trying to push strands of hair
behind her ear.
She entered the convenience store and realized that Simon followed her.
"I'll get us Gatorade," Simon announced. His sneakers squeaked on the white floor as he walked to the counter.
Chocolate... I want sweets, Phyre frowned to herself. She grabbed ten Reese's from the shelf and went to the counter.
"Ya'll gain weight there, sweets," a male voice beside her said.
Phyre jerked her head to her left and saw a tall guy around
her age. He was wearing white shirt and baggy faded pants. Not too thin
and not too fat.
"Bradley," she breathed. She forced a smile and walked away from him.
"Long time no see, sweets," the guy said almost sweetly. "Phyre Oasis, may I join your trip?"
"Hey Bradley!" Simon said cheerfully, patting the guy's back.
"Simon, man," Bradley greeted him with a light punch on the shoulder.
Phyre was about to push the glass door open when Bradley cut in. He opened the door for dear Phyre and followed her outside.
"So, you asked if you could join us?" Simon said, gulping down Gatorade.
"I was hoping you'd let me," Bradley sighed. "If Phyre will let me."
Phyre's eyes flicked to Bradley's face and examined him. She looked away and said, "Alright."
Bradley smiled and glanced at his watch. Two in the morning?
"I forgot to buy coffee. Be right back," Phyre sprinted back to the store.
"Who's driving man?" Bradley asked.
"Phy--," Simon yawned widely.
"Who?" Bradley asked again, "sorry I didn't get that."
"Phyre," Simon replied. "Get your stuff now, we'll leave once she gets coffee."
A minute later, Phyre arrived. She paused walking to sip from the cup and headed to the driver's seat.
When she opened the door, she was surprised to see someone seated on her place.
"Uh.. Do you mind?" Phyre said uneasily.
"I'm driving," Bradley said with a smile.
"No, let me drive."
"Get some rest, sweets,"
"Stop calling me that,"
"Go on and sleep,"
"No, just please--"
"Wow, is that you pleading?"
Phyre stared at him and went around the van.
She
ended up sitting beside the driver. Eilythia moved to the middle
seat beside Stefan and Illuska. Nemo and Simon remained in the
back seat.
Illuska woke up and rubbed her eyes. She yawned and looked around.
"Bradley!"
"That's me," he beamed at her.
"I'd recognize that messy hair anywhere," she giggled.
Phyre rolled her eyes and drained her cup.
...
"How far is Haimes Building from here?" Phyre asked.
"Not very far," Bradley answered. He turned his head to her and smiled.
Phyre stared for a second then looked away. Still in her head is the memory of his hopeless hair...
Bradley's other hand searched in his black backpack. He retrieved the object and popped it in the CD player.
The song started to play... The song Phyre and he knew so well.
Phyre looked at the player. She couldn't believe what she's hearing.
"You still have that CD?" Phyre asked, a bit flattered.
"I couldn't afford to lose it," Bradley said, "the only memory I have of you."
Phyre looked down and tried not to blush but she failed.
No more looking, I have found home...
Satisfied, Bradley smiled to himself.
...
Half an hour later, the group arrived to Haimes Building.
Outside the entrance, a small, fat woman in her forties was waiting for them. She was holding a clipboard and a mobile phone.
She waved to them and waited for the van to stop.
"Hey Mrs. T!" Bradley had rolled down Phyre's window to greet her.
"Mr. Stiles," the woman said affectionately and motioned them to take out their luggages.
Phyre out of the car and shook hands with the woman.
Eilythia woke up and attentively stood beside Phyre.
"Good morning Madam Web," Eilythia managed to say in a series of yawns.
Stefan, Illuska, and Simon started preparing to get off the van.
For a moment, Madam Web looked worried. She glanced at the hallway and hesitated.
"My dears, I didn't know that you're this many..."
"What's wrong Mrs. T?" Bradley asked, on his shoulder hung Phyre's bag.
"I'm afraid I just reserved a room," Madam Web said. "I thought only Phyre, Simon, and Eilythia were coming."
Stefan frowned.
Illuska scowled and scratched her back sleepily.
"May we see the room?" Bradley asked politely and followed Madam Web to the hallway.
"Give me my bag, I can carry that," Phyre said.
"No, let me, or better yet.. Make me."
"Give it to me, Braddie," Phyre demanded, half pleading as she tried to reach for her bag.
"What did you just call me?"
"She
called you by the name she used to call you when you were an item,"
Madam Web teased. She grinned to herself and stopped to open door
number twenty-four. "I remember clearly."
Phyre blushed and hang on to Simon's arm. She's been humiliated enough. Nemo trailed the teenagers.
Stefan smirked and cast her eyes on Eilythia's long hair.
The
door revealed a big room with two separate double deck beds. On the
right corner sat a small refrigerator, and on it, a microwave. Beside
these is a small cupboard where you can store dry goods. Far below the
refrigerator is a door, which leads to the bathroom.
A simple round table with two chairs is in the middle of the room.
"I think we'll fit here, it's too big," Eilythia said, settling down her bags.
"I agree," Bradley said. He replaced his rubber shoes with comfortable slippers and walked around the room.
"What about the dog?" Illuska blurted. She grimaced at the sight of Nemo.
Phyre looked hopefully at Madam Web.
"He can sleep beside me, right 'ol buddy?" Bradley said, as the fat labrador walked to him happily.
Phyre admired how Bradley get along with her pet. She shook her head and got her bag from Bradley, she changed footwear too.
"No other room for Nemo, sorry Ms. Veleur," Madam Web said with a hint of amusement in her voice.
The group fixed their bags and arranged their stuff beside the left wall.
"Mr.
Stefan Branch, Ms. Phyra Oasis, Ms. Eilythia Raksha Hawthorne," Madam
Web murmured as she went through her list, "Mr. Simon Walters, Mr.
Bradley Stiles, and Ms. Illuska Veleur."
Madam Web smiled to herself, "Of course, Nemo."
The labrador wagged its tail at the sound of its name.
"There are extra sleeping bags beneath the beds.
Goodnight everyone! Or good morning," Madam Web chuckled. She went out
of the room and closed the door.
Illuska made sure that she was at least three feet away from Nemo at all times.
"I'm
taking the upper bed," Illuska announced, "away from that thing.
Pleasant sleep everyone." She made herself feel comfortable and slept.
"I
want to take the upper bunk but... I'm not a very.. Er.. Pleasant
sleeper," Eilythia managed to say. She frowned and grabbed her pillows
from her bag.
"Take it. I'll be sleeping below you." Stefan
offered. "I'd catch you if you fall, I'm a very light sleeper."
He smiled at her and waited for an answer.
"You mean it?" Eilythia asked, her eyes brightening.
Phyre zoned out and smiled to herself. Could Stefan be inlove with my friend? Or is it too early for that?
All I know is that Bradley's inlove with you, Simon teased.
Phyre waved him off impatiently and gathered her pillows and blanket.
"I wanna take the bunk below Illuska's" Simon said childishly. "Will you let me take it?"
Phyre frowned. That would mean sleeping on the floor with Bradley!
You did this on purpose, Phyre stuck her tongue out.
Simon winked and settled himself on the lower bed. "Goodnight everyone!" then he closed his eyes and waited for sleep.
Phyre looked at the sleeping bag Simon generously pulled out for her. Hell he did. She pulled the sleeping bag further south of Stefan's feet. She sat on it and placed her pillows around her.
Comfortable, she thought and took out her iPod.
Bradley pulled out his sleeping bag in level with Phyre's.
The lightning dimmed, and Phyre stretched sleepily.
"What are you listening to?" Bradley asked her, who was now lying on his sleeping bag, his head turned to Phyre's direction.
"Coheed and Cambria," Phyre answered sleepily.
Nemo
walked around the room, in search of a comfortable sleeping place.
Phyre got
up to get Nemo's blanket and placed it on the space between her and
Bradley. She patted the blanket, motioning Nemo to lie on it and sleep.
The labrador obeyed and closed its eyes.
Bradley was still looking at her.
Phyre turned her back on him and closed her eyes.
"Hey Simon," Bradley called out to him.
"Yeah?" he answered, not opening his eyes.
I missed your friend, Bradley sighed, taking advantage of the privacy of their conversation.
I knew that, Simon answered and laughed.
"Okay, what are you two up to?" Phyre asked aloud.
"Nothing," the two boys said simultaneously, grinning to themselves.
Currently listening to: coheed and cambria - the suffering
