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Chapter 15
In the parking lot, Nick suggested that we try different seating arrangements in the cars for the ride home. (I think he just wanted the back seat.) Nick and Stacie would ride in Kevin's car with Kevin and Howie, while Brian drove Nick's Durango with Deb, AJ, and I as passengers.
We walked to our respective cars. I purposely watched and saw both Stacie and Nick climb into the back seat of the BMW. I smiled as I climbed into the front passenger seat of the Durango. Deb and AJ jumped into the back. As we pulled out of the parking lot, I turned on the radio just in time to hear the first chords of Blink 182's "What's My Age Again?" "I took her out, it was a Friday night…………" I began singing quietly.
When the line, "We were making out, and she took off my pants" came up I heard AJ whisper in the back seat, "Hey, that's a good idea!" I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Deb frown. Apparently AJ saw too. "Well, the first part," he quickly amended.
In response Deb kissed AJ, hard, on the lips. Let's just say there was no more conversation between them the rest of the way home. Brian was concentrating on driving and hadn't seen them yet.
I conversed with Brian most of the ride, trying to cover up the silence from the back. He wanted me to tell him about college. I think he's sorry he never got the chance to go, but at the same time he wouldn't give up his life for anything.
"So where do you go to college?" asked Brian curiously.
"The University of the Arts in New York City," I answered.
"That's cool, what's your major?" he questioned.
"Visual art. I either want to write and illustrate children's books, or do something with graphic art," I replied knowing what the next question would most likely be.
"Hey! How did you know that I was going to ask what you wanted to be?" Brian asked, startled.
"I closed my eyes, and held out my hands to either side. Rocking back and forth I said, "Ommm………ommm………I am the Mystic Melissa. I know all," with a strange accent.
Brian just laughed as he pulled up in front of our apartment building. "Hey guys! We're here," he said loudly, not turning around. He had noticed, he thought I was the one who hadn't! I decided to let him know that I had seen too.
"Come on guys! You'll have to breathe soon anyway!" I said jumping from the car before Deb could catch me, and running towards the apartment building.
Behind me, I heard laughter from Brian, and "Ha Ha! Very funny Geege!" from Deb. I turned and stuck my tongue out at her, then continued walking towards the building.
Suddenly, I heard running footsteps behind me. I turned, but was too late. All three of them pounced and began tickling me. I am VERY ticklish, and began laughing immediately. "Hey!………This……isn't……fair! It's……three……against……one! You're……supposed……to……be……on……my……side……Brian!" I managed to choke between fits of laughter. By this time I was curled up in a ball on the ground, and I was laughing so hard that tears were running down my face.
As Kevin's car pulled up at the curb Brian said, "OK, that's enough."
"Awww…… Do we hafta stop?" Deb and AJ whined.
"Yes!" I said as Brian helped me up. Stacie, Nick,
Kevin, and Howie approached us.
"Whoa! What happened to you?" questioned Howie, taking in my rumpled clothing and tear stained face.
"Tickling match. Unfair odds," I stated, trying to get my laughter under control.
"Oh! I missed it? That's not fair!" Nick whined.
"You guys wanna come in?" Stacie offered, changing the subject.
"Sure," they all replied, accepting the invitation.
"We trooped into the building, up the stairs, down the hall, and into our apartment. The guys made themselves comfortable in the living room while Stacie, Deb, and I got changed.
Of course, I was done first. I emerged from my room in checkered boxers and an oversized T-shirt with my hair in a ponytail, although some of the short pieces of hair were already beginning to fall out. I entered the living room to find the guys sprawled everywhere.
Kevin and Howie were on the couch. AJ was sitting in the chair, and Brian and Nick had thrown themselves down on the rug. "You guys want coffee?" I offered.
"Yeah, some caffeine would be great," Howie yawned.
"OK, you got it," I said as I walked towards the
kitchen.
*********************15 Minutes
Later**********************
I exited the kitchen carrying a tray that had 7 mugs of coffee, sugar, cream,
a glass of milk, and chocolate chip cookies. Stacie and Deb had joined the
group by now and were sitting with their respective boyfriends, well actually
in Deb's case I should say sitting on.
I put the tray down on the coffee table and handed a coffee cup to each person.
"The sugar and cream are on the tray with some cookies," I said, picking
up my glass of milk.
"Thanks," said Howie picking up the cream, pouring some into his coffee,
and passing it on to Kevin. I silently surveyed the group as they passed
the cream and sugar around.
Stacie was now wearing a light green short and shirt pajama set that had
a ladybug on the shirt along with the slogan, "Don't bug me!" She had joined
Nick on the floor. Deb was on AJ's lap wearing Yankees boxers and a blue
tank top.
"Why don't you have coffee?" Nick questioned me.
"I don't like coffee," I said making a face. "I'd much rather have milk."
I reached for a cookie and dunked it in my milk. Then I quickly shoved the
entire thing in my mouth before it could drip on the rug.
Nick laughed. "You're just like a little kid!"
"Look who's talking," I retorted, making the others laugh.
"She's got you there Nick," said AJ.
"My theory is that unless you have a really good reason you shouldn't grow
up," I said smiling.
"I'm with you there," Nick said.
"Hey, Meliss?" Brian asked. "Why did Deb call you Geege when we were outside?
I just remembered that I wanted to ask you that."
I laughed. "It's one of my numerous nicknames. That one developed in seventh
grade. It's actually Gigi, but Deb sometimes shortens it even further to
Geege."
"You have more than one nickname," stated Howie.
"What are the others?"
"Well, there's Meliss, that people automatically say to shorten my name.
Then there's Lissa and Shorty."
"That's cool. Do you mind if we use any of those names?" asked Kevin.
"Of course, why not? You can even come up with your own if you want. I love
nicknames," I replied.
By now they had all finished their coffee and were having a caffeine rush.
"Who wants to watch a movie?" asked Stacie changing the subject yet again.
"I'll make popcorn!" Everyone eagerly accepted the idea.
"What kind of movies do you have?" questioned AJ.
"Look for yourself," said Deb climbing off AJ's lap.
She walked over to the TV and opened the cabinet underneath revealing our
movie collection. The guys eagerly crowded around the cabinet, randomly pulling
out movies and suggesting things. I just sat back and watched the mayhem.
I was actually very tired. I had been a long day, and I didn't have coffee
in my system like the rest of them. They finally decided on "Space Balls,"
a satire of "Star Wars," when Stacie came back with two bowls of popcorn.
"So, what are we watching?" Stacie asked. "I think the guys decided on 'Space
Balls'," replied Deb.
"Yeah! I love that movie! It's so funny!" said Stacie. She placed the bowls
of popcorn on the coffee table and sat down on the floor with Nick so that
they were leaning against the couch. Deb and AJ got back in their original
position, and Kevin and Howie claimed the couch once again. Brian put the
movie in the VCR and after hitting the play button, stretched out on the
floor beside me.
The movie was really funny, and everyone was laughing. I really enjoy that
movie and hanging out with the guys, but I was so tired. Soon I couldn't
keep my eyes open any longer………
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