"Are you okay?" He whispers to me.
And I start to nod before I remember that he is the cause of my emotional breakdown.
"Of course not, crazy person! You kissed me in front of your brothers!" I explode glaring at him, my anger at him taking care of my irregular breathing. "Plus you didn't call or text for two whole days, didn't reply my text or calls either. Do you want me to go into fucking cardiac arrest? Bloody idiot." I mutter darkly losing steam. "Making me worry."
"Missed you too Hayden." He smirks down at me and I see red.
"I didn't miss you! Not at all! You annoying, piece of shit bastard..." I don't complete my raging cursing because he picks me up bridal style and makes for the car.
I let out a short high scream, grabbing onto his neck quickly as my balance abruptly tilts. "What the hell!" I beat tiny fists at his annoying chest. "Are you nuts?"
It doesn't even faze him and I'm carefully deposited in the back seat, him sliding in beside me. I just sit there, arms crossed, red faced, fuming and plotting deaths because heads. will. roll.
"Hey Renee." He greets my mom cheerily, she insists he calls her by her first name.
"Hi Virgil." She grins cheerily, starting up the car.
I'm momentarily distracted from my presently annoyed state, I glance at her straight teeth, once, twice... "Mom! Did you eat your paint?" I demand in half disbelief, half exasperation. Half because I know she can actually do something like this.
She looks away from the mirror guiltily. "No."
"Your painting then?" I inquire, ignoring Virgil who's nearly choking from laughter.
"No?" She actually looked scandalized which was a rare for the child that birthed me. "It's a vegetable." she mumbles.
I level her a look, just about done with everything. "Then why does your mouth look like you French kissed a rainbow, a sick one?" I inquire calmly, with patience I am definitely not feeling.
"I ate the scented crayons." She finally admits, eyes down like a two year old.
"Mom!" I exclaim. This is even worse.
"It was only one," she defends quickly, pulling up to the school's parking lot, we were early. "Only the pink one, it smelled like strawberries."
I throw her another look as she parks the car.
"Okay maybe not one but it's all the crayons fault." She says with all conviction.
"Mom, please promise that you'll drive to the hospital right now." I beg her. "Crayons aren't supposed to be inside you, no matter how nice they smell." I tag on, knowing it's useless anyway. She nods.
Virgil and I get out and wave to her.
"Byeee!" She drags it out, waving. "Take care of my baby okay?" She calls out to Virgil.
"Of course Renee, anything for you." He replies smoothly, throwing an arm around me and we both watch her drive off.
"She's going to eat the rest on her way to the hospital, isn't she?" Virgil chuckles.
"Most likely." I sigh before realizing I'm nearly hugging the enemy. "Don't touch me!" I snap, shrugging off his arm. "I'm still mad at you." I glare at him.
He manages to hold it in for ten seconds - yes, I counted, no it's not the longest time he held off - Before he bursts out laughing, pinching my cheeks in amusement.
I slap his hands away, feeling as frustrated as I always do when this happens. It happens every other time.
"You're so fucking adorable when you're mad." He gasps.
"How am I supposed to be properly angry at you if you laugh at me every single time?" I ask in a desert dry voice.
"Hayden! Virgil!" Shana screams running towards us like a human rocket, her pink hair waving madly.
Virgil and I share terrified looks, it's too late to run.