Chapter Ten:

"So what book are we looking for anyways?" Asked Dennis, as we follow Dani in the bookstore. The place is called Coffee and Books, and it's pretty much self explanatory. The smell of coffee lingered in the air faintly, and when I turned my head to the café corner, I saw that Dani had already ordered herself a cup.

"This place is pretty cool." She said, as she smiled up to me and Dennis. Then, she looked around. Dani took a step, a little quick glance at me, and she breathed in as if the smell of coffee's therapeutic to her.

I felt the same way, and I thought it was cool that she too find the place pretty cool.

"It's our hipster, hangout spot." Said Dennis. "Be honoured that we included you."

"You've included me?" Asked Dani challengingly as she held the cup of coffee to her mouth. "Since when?"

"Uh." I said stupidly. I felt as if I've been put on the spot. I mean, what should I say? We've just recently met her after all. Besides, I don't think it's right to just categorize our new friendship, so I just opened my mouth and changed the subject. "Good coffee?"

I am so great at communication.

Dennis snorted a laugh, and Dani tried not to laugh at me, but her smirk says otherwise. We moved on to walking down the aisles, searching for a book of interest. Dennis went to the kids section, and flipped through nursery picture books. I followed him, curious of what he's looking at.

"Is it for Samantha?" I asked, thinking about her little sister. With a grin plastered on his face, he asked,

"Hey Mave, what does a pig sound like?" His grin so wide, he looks like he's squinting. Dani happened to appear right beside me, still sipping her coffee and stared. Again, I felt like I've been put under a sudden spotlight. I didn't think.

"Uh, moo?"

Dani burst out laughing, she almost spat out her coffee.

"What the fuck." Said Dennis as he too, had started to laugh.

My face felt so warm, that I'm pretty sure that it's crimson red now. I rubbed the back of my neck and turned around to hide behind an aisle of books. I could still hear Dani and Dennis still laughing at my stupidity, and all I could do was hide my embarassment. I should go out there and laugh with them! Or I could've defended myself and say that pigs can moo too.

"Stop laughing at me!" I told them, still in hiding while scanning the bookshelves for any interesting titles.

"Alright, alright." I heard Dennis say. "Okay what about this one," He continued, still reading that stupid picture book. "What does a horse sound like? And no Dani, I asked Mave, not you."

"Fine you sassy kid." Dani retort.

"I am not sassy, I am determined. There is a difference."

"Do I really have to make animal sounds?" I complained, as I run my palm on the book covers. "I don't like it."

"That says a lot about you." Said Dani, who appeared at the end of the aisle and leaning on a shelf. She has this mischievious smirk on her face, and I so badly want to slap it away. "By that, I meant how you are in be-"

"Don't you think you're being a little inappropriate?" Appeared Dennis beside her, and he too leaned on a shelf. I have no idea what they were talking about, so I looked a bit confused. Dennis waved it off and stared at the picture book. "Now come on, what does a horse sound like?"

I sighed and stared at him hard. He looked like he was waiting for me to say something funny. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.

"Easy." I said. "Hee-haw." I added nasally effects and felt proud of myself.

Dennis and Dani slowly looked at each other, then at me, then together again, then like in slow motion, they started to laugh. They laughed so hard, there were tears in their eyes. I practically stomped my foot on the ground in frustration because they're making fun of me again.

"The fuuck." Guffawed Dennis as he held on his stomach for dear life.

"Mave, that's... That's a-... Oh my god, you imitated a donkey. Horses neighs- Oh dear god this is too funny!"

"You guys are making me look stupid!"

"And you aren't?" Dennis blurted out, and approaching me with tears in his eyes from laughing too much. "I'm kidding, woo oh man! Best laugh I've had in a while. I'm definitely gonna buy this book now. At least I can show Samantha and tell her the story of how you thought-"

"Ha. Ha. Ha." I cut him off, mocking him with my laugh and tried to hide my reddening face. "Have you picked a book yet, Dani?"

She made a little hum sound, and picked out one from the shelf. She turned the cover, read the back and narrowed her eyes. "This one!" She said. "I've been looking for this book since forever! They don't have it online and so..."

"Which one is it? Mave probably owns it already, I bet." Dennis said, peeking from behind Dani and squinting at the title.

Dani immediately turned around and hid the book behind her. She looked shaken up, and I stared at her curiously and in confusion.

"What's wrong?" I asked, taking a step forward and glancing at her book.

"It's... uh, it's the kind of book that you wouldn't like." She replied, as she pursed her lips.

Dennis scoffed and waved a hand. "Bruh, Mave reads everything." He said.

I nodded my head and gave a smile, because it's true. I might as well have my own library, because my book shelf in my room isn't the only one.

Dani sighed and held the book in front of her. She hesitated a bit, and I raised an eyebrow, knowing far too well which book it is. So I just gave her a smile, because I do own it but in a different edition.

"This particular book is in a category of-"

"Smut?" Asked Dennis excitedly as he swiftly snatched the book. "Oh boring, it's about some fantasy blacksmith chick." He added, as he looked at the summary.

I snorted a laugh and shook my head in disbelief. That's what I thought the book was about too at first, but as I read further... I was very wrong.

"No, Dennis." I answered him, rolling my eyes, and took the book back. "And yes, I have this book already."

Dani gave me a look of shock, and I just can't help but laugh and put the book back from where it was.

"You do?" She asked, her jaw dropped.

"I do. So you can borrow mine if you want." I said.

"Yes." She nodded, still giving me that same incredulous expression.

"What?" I asked her. "What's wrong?" I asked again.

"Nothing, I just didn't expect you to... Have that kind of book." She said.

I chuckled.

"Trust me, I didn't either." I said, grinning as I remember my surprise at a certain part. "But meh, it's a good book."

"You liked it?!" She asked, very loudly I might add. Dani seemed to catch herself and cleared her throat.

"I did like it." I said, now frowning. "Is there a problem? I thought LGBT based books are your fav-"

"Nevermind." She said too quickly. "But can I borrow it?"

Dennis was giving Dani an odd look, and then he stared at me.

"Maverick, can I please borrow your book?" I said, trying to imitate Dani. "Be more polite, geez. But yes I'll gladly let you borrow." I added.

"I don't know 'bout you guys but I'm paying for this book out now. And didn't you say that you have a party to go to?"

"Oh right!" I nodded, as I remembered the Dubois' party. "A gathering, I think."

"It's more of a welcome party, really." Dani commented, sighing and shrugging her shoulders.

"I'm not invited?" Asked Dennis as he held on to his chest dramatically. "Just kidding, our family is going too."

"Really?" Asked Dani, who suddenly looked excited. "This is so great!"

"Not really." Said Dennis who gave me a careful stare. "I heard that the Foundlands, and Sanvedras are coming..."

I perked up and frowned.

"For real?" I asked, and Dennis nodded, giving out a soft sigh. "Shit... things are going to get so awkward."

"We could just chill in my room during the party." Said Dani.

"We could do that too." Nodded Dennis.

"Alright then, it's a plan." Dani said, as she held my gaze as if to comfort me in some way.

We dropped Dani off to the Dubois' place, and promised her that we will attend the said party later.

"Don't forget the book!" She called out as she walked backwards.

"I won't!"

"Bye bitch!" Said Dennis. Dani gave him the middle finger in return.

We backed out the driveway, laughing our ass off. Then Dennis gave me a ride home, and on the way he said,

"I really like Dani."

"Me too."

"She's badass, man."

"I know right? She's pretty cool." I said, chuckling.

"Awe, look at you go. Making a new friend and all."

"Shut up and just be proud of me." I said, smiling sheepishly and slapping his arm.

"You know..." He started, and tapped his steering wheel.

"Hm?"

"We could just ditch Tom and Nat, and make our own squad." He said.

I froze in my seat and stared at him. I felt my eyebrows scrunching up in a way of confusion, and bewilderment. Did he really just say that just now?

"Dennis, what are you trying to say?" I asked, my hands on my lap as I looked ahead on the snow-covered road.

"I'm just saying... They seem to be happy together, and they know that we are not happy with their 'relationship'. I think it's just going to give us a hard time if we keep in touch."

"I can't do that. That's a bad idea." I told him. I actually felt kind of hurt that Dennis said that. "Natasha is my best friend, I can't just cut her out of my life."

"Well Tom did it to me." He said, his voice sounding angry. "Natasha too... But-"

"I don't want to do what you're suggesting." I told him firmly. "Natasha and I may have our disagreements, but I know that we would make it up, and fix things... That's our thing."

"But what if the damage was so bad that it can't be fixed?"

"Dennis, are you alright?" I asked, touching his arm. It's like his mood suddenly changed. From happy and content to angry and frustrated.

"I'm fine." He lied, and shrugged. He didn't want to talk about it, I could tell. But I pressed on either way, knowing that it's probably worth a shot to make him fully honest with me.

"Are you sure?" I asked softly, my hand still on his arm.

"It's okay." He said as he pulled over the side of the curb infront of my house. "I'll see you in Dani's place later, alright?"

"Okay." I said. I stared at him with concern and leaned forward to give him a hug. "It's gonna be okay, and I'm always here if you need anything."

He chuckled.

"Alright, alright. Now get out of my car woman, or else your mom would think that we're making out." He pointed out to a window and sure enough, my mom stood there with her arms crossed.

"Jesus." I said as I pulled away and opened the car door. I got out and waved at my mom.

"See you later Maverick!"

***

Hi. It's been a while, I know. You might think, "Oh Jean is slacking, where are my updates at?" Well, I've been lazy, yes that's true but I've also been very busy in school. By lazy I mean that I preferred resting than updating. But since it's Feb break at the moment, why the hell not update ya know? So here ya go. You're welcome.

Comment on what ya think (I read them all)

Unedited