Chapter Fourteen

"This seems pretty decent," Skylar mused as she took a seat in the cafe she'd forced me to go to. "What do you think?"

"I think that it's too early to be outside and that if you ever force me out of my house at such an ungodly hour again just for you to have company whilst drinking coffee then I might have to take back the spare key I gave you to my house."

There was nothing wrong with Cookie Creel, a newly opened café that was local to our neighbourhood. It was brightly lit, warm and the smell of coffee hit you upon entering. I'd already visited the cosy shop with Parker and therefore knew that the cookies they sold were outstanding with crisp edges and soft chocolate filled centres.

Parker had now made it a habit of his to drive me to and from school (making sure to park farther down my street because of my mother's severe disliking toward him seeing as she was still under the impression he was a lunatic criminal that not only caused me to get into trouble with the police, but threw a brick through our window - which of course wasn't the case, at least not the brick throwing part) and we'd caught sight of it as we drove on one journey home. We shared a cookie, most of which ended up on the floor seeing as he'd taken it upon himself to start throwing crumbs at me. Long story short, it blew out of proportion and became a war. I remember my two bites being nice though before we were eventually thrown out for acting so immaturely. I hoped to god none of the staff recognised me.

Not particularly wanting to tell Skylar I had in fact already been here (and with Parker no less), I decided to stay quiet and munch on the white chocolate chip treat I'd purchased. She knew Parker and I hung out together everyday at school but she wasn't quite aware of how much time we spent with one another out of it.

Skylar eyed me over the rim of her mug of caffé mocha. "There's something you're not telling me."

Again, I decided to stay quiet.

"Fine, be that way. If I thought you were going to be so grumpy I would have reconsidered this outing." She raised one of her perfectly plucked eyebrows, waiting for me to start talking.

"Then you should have listened to me when I warned you I would be." I grumbled.

"Who thinks eleven in the morning is early?" She crinkled her nose in confusion and I groaned.

"Just because you're an early bird doesn't mean-" I stopped mid-sentence, the cookie I was swallowing lodging in my throat causing me to sputter crumbs over the front of the unsuspecting Skylar's shirt.

"What the heck Flor-"

"I thought you didn't have any friends?" Hayden said in lieu of hello, that ever present hostile glare on his face as he approached our table with Matthew in tow. He planted his hands on its surface, his short sleeves sliding farther up his toned arms to reveal more tattoos peeking out from underneath the thin material of his shirt.

"What made you think that?" I asked after having composed myself. Wiping crumbs from my chin, I sent Skylar a look that said I'd explain later. She seemed too preoccupied ogling Hayden to pay me any attention. I wasn't surprised seeing as he had that brooding look that made her weak at the knees.

"Parker said you were a loner." He had a cigarette wedged between his lips despite the large anti smoking sign behind him. I watched as he blew pretty, grey clouds of toxic fumes into the air.

"Did he now?" It peeved me off more than it should have. "Has he said anything else I ought to know about?"

"Look!" Matthew pointed enthusiastically out of the window by our side. A squirrel darted out of the shroud of trees that were growing in the park on the opposite street. We all turned back around to look at him in confusion. His happiness had died down considerably. "It was only an eastern grey. I prefer the black squirrel." He sighed in disappointment.

"Nothing that springs to mind," Hayden ignored Matthew's bizarre outburst and sent Skylar a brief, uninterested glance before returning his moody gaze back to me. "The point was that I was expecting to catch you alone."

"I'm busy." I snapped.

So I had finally admitted to myself that I enjoyed Parker's company, but his friends? The two that had shoved me into the back of a car at one point to host an intervention? Not so much.

"Well you'll need to make time for us at some point because we aren't leaving until you let us talk to you." He replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

"But you said we could go to McDonal-" Matthew stopped talking after the sharp look Hayden sent him and he crossed his arms stubbornly, messy blond hair falling into his eyes. He reminded me of a little kid, a stark contrast in comparison to the intimidating Hayden. They made an odd pairing.

I idly wondered if that was what people thought when they caught sight of Parker and I together, an unusual pairing. A relatively intimidating tall boy with dark clothing and a short fused temper strolling next to a short girl with long hair and a smattering of freckles across her nose. I probably looked like Matthew did now; a child.

"So you're Parker's friends?" Skylar finally found her voice. She was usually confident when it came to the opposite sex but then again, neither of the boys went to our school (according to Parker they were dropouts) and I didn't blame her for being taken aback by their striking good looks. I might have been too if it weren't for the kidnapping incident. It had tainted my opinion on them, however, I did find Matthew the least insufferable out of their group. "I'm Skylar-"

"I don't care." Hayden rudely cut her off with an exasperated sigh. "For fuck sake Flora, just get off your fat ass and-"

"Right!" I exclaimed as I hurriedly stood up, chair legs squeaking across the tiled flooring. We were attracting unwanted attention and the area had slowly been filling up with smoke. My lungs felt as though they were about to shrivel up and die. "I'm sorry Skylar, I'll be back in a minute. I just need to talk outside with them for-"

Hayden snagged my hood and used it to drag me out of the café before I could finish my sentence.

My lungs felt as though they were slowly but surely coming back to life after sucking in a few deep breaths of fresh air once outside. After a few moments I was convinced that I wouldn't be faced with death that day.

Hayden let go of my hood as soon as we were on the street and didn't bother beating around the bush with the topic of conversation. "You need to stop hanging around with Parker immediately."

I sighed. "We've already been through this. Remember that cute little intervention you set up?"

"I wasn't the one that set it up but yeah, I remember. I should have taken Axel more seriously. Parker should have ditched you ages ago so now it's your job. You need to do the ditching for him." He thrust his phone toward me, Parker's name already on the screen and calling. "Fun's over."

I closed my hand around the phone, not knowing quite what was happening. "Won't this look weird? Calling him from your phone?"

He shrugged. "A phone is a phone. Just break up whatever it is you guys have going on."

"There isn't anything going on," I frowned. The thought of Parker pressing his lips against my own that one time popped into my head followed by his confessions after I picked him up drunk, his blunt admission of his feelings in the truck and our handholding moments. I forced the images to disappear. "So I don't understand what you're telling me to stop."

"You don't freak out as much when he touches you," He stated. "And he touches you quite a lot these days. Don't think I haven't noticed."

"I noticed that too!" Matthew chimed in, proud of himself to have made a contribution.

I paused, uneasy. "If he had, how would you know that?"

Hayden just shook his head. "Whatever it is you guys have going on," He repeated. "End it."

"What do you want Hayden?" Parker's voice filled the air and it took me a moment to realise it was because he'd been put on speaker phone and had answered the call, not because he was actually there. It was a disappointing realisation for only he possessed the power to ward off the pests. His voice wouldn't help anything if I needed him to get rid of the boys by my side. Another realisation was to do with Parker's voice although it was less disappointing, more confusing. It didn't sound as soft as I remembered it. It was as if it had been coated in armour, firm and emotionless.

Hayden looked between the phone and I, widening his eyes as if urging me to respond. He didn't seem to notice anything difference.

"Uh, hi." I replied unsurely. "It's me? Your good ol' buddy bud bud."

"Flora? Honey, what are you doing with Hayden's phone?" His tone had completely changed, concern blatantly obvious and my familiar Parker was back. Hayden muttered some rubbish under his breath about loss of masculinity. "What's wrong?"

"You see, your friend here is telling me to break up with you. I've kindly told him that there is nothing to break up but he isn't really the listening type." I childishly stuck my tongue out at Hayden as he glared at me. He ran his hands down his face as if in extreme distress. "He interrupted me whilst I was trying to eat a cookie which is quite honestly the height of inhumanity and-"

"What has he said to you? Can he hear me? Give him the phone right now. I swear to fuc-"

Hayden snatched the phone from my grasp and switched off the speaker, pressing it to his ear and stalking off muttering curse words into the device.

"He didn't think that plan through very well." I mused.

"He doesn't think things through, he likes to act on his thoughts. Axel is always the one with the plan. Sometimes Parker if he feels like being sensible." Matthew sighed as he plopped himself down on the pavement outside of the café. He looked up at me through his blond curls. "Face it, he's going to be on that phone for a while."

I nodded in agreement, joining him on the dirty paving stones. "I didn't think Hayden cared about much. I got the vibe that he didn't really give a crap about anything the last time I saw him."

"Unless it has anything to do with him. This does so he cares."

I stared at him, confused. "How do Parker and I have anything to do wit-"

"Look! A black squirrel!" Matthew leaped up, breaking into a sprint across the road and into the large park that had a small creature scuttling up a tree. I was left staring at his back until it disappeared behind foliage.

I had been waiting a while before Hayden's conversation rose in volume.

"Well she's getting in the way!" Hayden hissed loudly as he paced a couple of metres away from me. "You know this is selfish! You're only thinking of your-" I strained to hear what he was saying but it was hard when he was just out of earshot. "-an't do this. Are you even thinking about what this means for us? You know what, fuck you!"

I didn't bother hiding the fact I'd eavesdropped as he stormed my way. "What was that about?"

"It's got nothing to do with you."

"Yes it has."

He glared at me. "I'd watch your tongue. Parker is the only thing keeping me from whacking you across the fucking head." He paused. "Why are you down there?"

I stood up, sending him a scowl that I hoped matched the ferocity of his gaze. However, I highly doubted I could muster up something as intimidating as that. He was always so angry and his face never failed to show it. "I'm not Glenda the good witch of the North! I can't just magic up a chair to sit on, can I?"

"What? Actually- never mind. I don't want to know and I don't have time. Just go back to your annoying friend." He scratched the back of his neck and scrunched his eyes shut as if the sun was shining in them even though the sky was slate grey and there was little light to be seen.

I hesitated, unsure of whether I should head back inside seeing as I'd left Skylar by herself for quite some time or if I should try to push Hayden further in the hopes to get him to explain what he so clearly didn't want me knowing. The good friend that I was chose the former and I turned on my heel without another word.

"Sorry I took so long- hey, wait! Where are you going?"

Skylar threw her bag over her shoulder, lips pursed into the expression that I knew meant she was less than impressed. "Something's come up. I have to go."

"But you said you were free all day? That was the point of you-"

"I have to go." She repeated hotly, leaving the café without another glance in my direction.

Just as I had concluded that it was only her being a bit of a drama queen, my eyes caught sight of the three empty mugs next to my cold, half filled one. She was irritated I had left her alone.

Heaving a sigh, I sent her an apologetic text (there wasn't really much else I could do at that moment) before grabbing my jacket and leaving.

***

"Sounds like it's her time of month to me." Parker shrugged. "Red river is probably flowing. Wouldn't worry about it. Chicks are always like that."

I shook my head and tried to ignore his comment. "Skylar isn't ever like that with me. She's upset and she isn't answering my calls."

"Well maybe-" He stopped. "You know, if you're wanting my expert advice then I'd suggest you stop doing that. It's extremely distracting."

I stood up from my hunched over position. "I'll have you know that yoga is said to reduce anxiety and manage stress. If you don't wish to see me find my inner Zen then I suggest you leave."

"Who told you that bullshit?"

"Google," I hesitated. "And Doctor Greene."

"Your therapist wants you striking poses in skin tight yoga pants?" His eyes were fixed to my legs. "This better not be done in his office. How old is this guy again?"

"I don't know, mid thirties or something?" I stretched my arms skyward and lunged forward, legs trembling slightly seeing as I had about as much muscle as a blobfish. So far, yoga was tiresome and I wasn't feeling relaxed. My legs were screaming in protest at the positions I was forcing them to go into and I just wanted to crawl into bed. "He's an annoying therapist, not a pervert. This was a suggestion."

"A pretty bad one."

"Did you not appreciate my Modified Crescent Lunge?" I asked before mimicking the next move the chirpy yoga instructor shouted at me to do from my television. I bent my back forward and held onto my shins for the Halfway Lift.

"I have to say that I'm liking this one a lot more than the last. Yeah, you know what, you should keep doing yoga." He paused a moment before adding, "Just definitely not in front of your therapist," Another pause. "Or anyone other than me for that matter."

I stood up immediately and felt colour flooding to my cheeks. It was all fine and well striking simple shapes by myself but with Parker sitting on the sofa behind me as I posed before my television with my backside trying to reach the ceiling, it suddenly dawned on me that yoga was indeed not the best choice of activity when around him.

"Don't stop on my account, I was enjoying the view." He sent me a playful smirk.

"What was that advice you were offering?" I said with haste as I sat beside him on my sofa.

He let out a disappointed sigh before a thoughtful look came over his face. "Why do you think she's upset with you?"

"I abandoned her for basically twenty minutes."

He frowned. "My friends sometimes leave me waiting for over two hours and I'm never annoyed with them."

"Yeah but that's because you're-" I tried to find the right word. "Peculiar. Not of this world. Lets just say I'm in the wrong. You're the only person I can ask other than my mum so come on, be my advice guru and tell me how to get her to listen to me."

He beamed. "Is that because you think I'm out of this world good looking?"

"Focus!" I threw a cushion at his face but he deflected the blow easily.

"Right, right." He huffed. "Well you've said sorry already, there's not exactly much else you can do. Wait until she calms down a little and then try to talk things through face to face. Seems a little harsh to go off on one when it was Hayden's bloody fault for dragging you out like that. A good friend would listen. Maybe something else is upsetting her too?"

I nodded, absorbing his words. Seeking words of wisdom from Parker wasn't something I'd had much faith in but as per usual, the boy was full of surprises. Finally I said, "Four and a half stars."

"Huh?"

"Your advice. It's worthy of four and a half stars. Congratulations, that's pretty high in my books." I gave him a little round of applause which he quickly shut down by snatching my hands up in his and planting a kiss on each of my palms. It was another habit he'd taken up since our little talk in his truck. Of course, he claimed that it was strictly for exposure therapy purposes. I reckoned he was just happy to have an excuse to show his gentler side (not that he would admit it because clearly he had his macho façade to maintain) and obviously it was an excuse to touch me without getting a punch in the nose for doing so.

If my life were a movie and I had to sit through an hour and a half of watching the couple make cute little displays of affection like Parker did with me, well, honestly I'd probably proclaim that it caused bile to rise in my throat. I doubted I'd even make it to the end. In real life? I hated to admit that I found it kind of nice. Probably the reason why I'd never once told him off, just sat a little rigidly whilst he did it in the hope that I'd eventually become used to the small spontaneous gesture.

"What would it take to get five stars?" He hummed against my skin before letting my hands go.

"Hm," I thought it over for a moment, unsure of whether we were still speaking of advice - I had a feeling that we weren't but I had no idea what the alternative was. I played along anyway. "Something impressive. I guess I'll know when I hear it."

"Challenge accepted."

-_-_-_-_-_-

He looked over the abundance of photographs plastered to his walls. The bulb above him flickered, causing flashes of light to dance across the many faces of Flora Montgomery. When she had lounged outside in her garden on that sunny afternoon during June in her thin tank; when she'd gone shopping with her friend Skylar even though it had been snowing, her woollen hat pulled so far down that it almost covered her eyes; and not so long ago when she'd ran out into the night in nothing but her pyjamas. It didn't matter where she was or what she wore, Flora was beautiful in his eyes.

She made every photograph perfection. He couldn't understand why she didn't have countless admirers tripping over their feet in a desperate attempt to gain her affection first. Those long legs, her soft brown hair that ran like a river of chocolate down her back and not to mention her green-brown eyes. Those eyes - large, luminous and bright - that seemed as though at times they radiated shafts of warm light. Every shot of her should have been faultless but a fairly recent development in her life, much to his annoyance, had disrupted the flawless streak of his work. A development that he could scarcely stand.