Another
“Why do you want to go to camp?” Logan asked as Paul dropped down onto his mattress.
“My dad wants us to, he says it'll be good for us or whatever.”
“So, you’re dragging her into it?” The two of them turned to Jessica standing silently at the end of the mattress.
“She wanted to,” Paul said. Logan pulled the office chair from his desk and sat down.
“What’s wrong with you?” He waved at Jessica. Jessica looked up, seemingly waking up from whatever trance she was in.
“I’m hungry,” she laughed. Logan leaned back in the chair, stretching.
“Go get something in the kitchen. Just ask my mom before you do.” Without a reply, Jessica sprang up and left the room. Logan looked back to Paul.
“What’s with her?” Logan asked again.
“I really don’t know,” Paul admitted. He went on to explain Jessica’s confession of being a homeless and his father taking her in. He left out the detail about her trying to ask him out again, Logan disliked Jessica enough already. Logan twirled around in the chair as Paul went on about Jessica throwing out Crystal’s food.
“What did you want me to do again?” Logan called out.
“Oh, could you make a copy of this paper with your printer?” Logan took the paper from Paul.
“Sure thing.”
6-12-16 11:38 AM. Sunday.
Luis<3: I cant wait to see u next weekend(Yesterday)
You: me too!(Yesterday)
You: Babe I have to tell you something(Two minutes ago)
Crystal stared at her phone screen. No reply. She turned the phone off and put her head down on the table. The house was eerily silent, except for the sound of Beowulf eating in the kitchen. Crystal groaned and got up. She walked into the living room and turned the television on. A football game was on. Crystal sat down at the edge of the couch and watched, it seemed like random noises. Her dad was trying to ruin her life. Why would he let that girl stay in her house? She tightened her grip on the remote. He wants her to go to some stupid camp? Her eyes teared up. The phone vibrated. Crystal fumbled, turning the screen on.
Ruby: Hi(Just now)
Crystal dropped the phone with a long sigh. She took a deep breath and picked her phone back up.
You: Hi(Just now)
Ruby was one of Paul’s friends. Crystal had traded phone numbers with the girl when they worked on a project in the last month of school. A part of Crystal was curious about what Ruby wanted, the rest of her didn’t care. She opened a game and lied down as the loading screen came up.
6-12-16 12:53 PM. Sunday.
Paul followed Richard up the driveway, struggling the hold the drink carrier and the paper bag full of food. Jessica was back by the van, trying to carry the watermelon Richard picked up from the flea market. Richard unlocked the door.
“Freddy, were home,” Richard called out as he walked inside. He noticed Crystal lying on the couch and signaled for Paul to be quiet. Paul walked into the kitchen and put his load down on the table. Jessica stumbled through the doorway with the watermelon.
“Paul, help me out,” Jessica slowly made her way to the dining table. Paul took the watermelon from her and set it down on the floor. Jessica pulled a chair from the table and sat down. “Hurry up, Paul let's eat!” She demanded as she took her drink from the carrier and sipped from it. Paul sat down in the chair next to hers and started taking the items from the paper bag. They’d used a coupon to get 15 small cheeseburgers for 10 dollars. They had to buy the four drinks separately.
“Make sure to leave some for Freddy,” Richard said as he sat down at the far end of the table. Crystal got up a few minutes later, Richard was telling a story about a work buddy who found an alligator in his flooded basement. She looked at her phone and sighed, disappointed.
“How did it get down there?” Jessica asked as Crystal walked to the table.
“We never found out,” Richard said. “We called animal control and they did their job.” Paul noticed Crystal grimacing at the burgers on the table. Jessica had eaten 6 of them already and was on her 7th. Paul had only eaten 3 and stopped. Richard hadn’t touched them.
“Dad,” Crystal walked around the table and sat in the chair closest to Richard. “Do I have to go to camp? Can’t I just stay here with you?”
“I’m going to be working,” Richard said simply. “I don’t like leaving you kids alone.” Paul took another burger. Jessica nudged Paul and whispered something into his ear, Paul shook his head.
“Can we wait until after the 18th?” Crystal offered.
“Camp starts on Wednesday,” Paul cut in. “What’s today?” He took out his phone.
“The twelfth,” Jessica said, getting her eighth burger.
“No more after that,” Paul warned. “Dad and Crystal haven’t even had any.” He looked at the unwrapped burger in his hand and set it back. Jessica nodded as she ripped the wrapping open.
“Why the 18th?” Richard asked.
“I’m going over to Luis’ house on that day,” Crystal explained. Richard thought about that. Jessica leaned over to Paul and whispered something to him, Paul whispered something back.
“You can see that boy when you get back,” Richard assured Crystal.
“How long is it going to last?” Crystal was tearing up.
“You’ll be coming back on July 6th,” Richard said. “Three whole weeks, I think.” Paul did some finger math as Crystal’s stomach sunk.
“Three weeks on the nose,” Paul confirmed.
“I wonder if that’s intentional,” Jessica commented. Crystal started crying, she grabbed the remaining burgers and ran off to her bedroom. Richard got up and walked into the kitchen. Paul took a deep breath.
“Paul,” Richard called out. “Take your sister her drink.” Paul picked Crystal’s drink out of the carrier and got up without a word. He heard Jessica saying something about fish as he walked to Crystal’s bedroom door, it was wide open. The hallway light illuminated Crystal’s bed in the dark room, she was lying down crying into her pillow.
“You forgot your drink,” Paul stepped into the doorway.
“Go. Away.” Crystal sat up and threw her large ball pillow, it hit the door. Paul flicked on the light.
“That guy isn’t going anywhere,” Paul started talking without thinking. “He’s liked you since elementary school, he should be worried about you leaving him.” Crystal wiped her eyes, not replying. Paul picked up the pillow and tossed it back onto the bed. The silence grew painful and Paul offered Crystal her drink. “The ice will melt if you wait too long.” Crystal took the drink.
“Camp is going to suck.” Crystal took one of her burgers.
“Yep.” Paul left the room.