Worth Taking The Risk (6 page)

“Keller!”

“Ambrose!” I ran to my best friend and jumped on him, wrapping my legs around his waist while he did a small circle and buried his face in my neck. All I could do was laugh. I haven’t seen him in years and now he’s here! He pulled his face away and looked at my face. His eyes were blue as ice, his dirty blonde hair was a mess and I always liked to point out that he looked sexy. A grin slowly spread itself on his pretty face and he set me down.

“You’re taller and prettier than I remembered. How’s Ed?” he kept both of my hands in his.

“He took it hard but Maggie is helping him a bit I guess, but none of that sad stuff. Look at you! Since when did you grew so much muscle? I bet all this people are drooling over you. Even though that tan looked sexy on you.” I made a tsk sound and was delighted when Ambrose turned a light shade of pink. He was a lot paler than I remembered.

“Its what writing does to you.” he was taking literature as a main career. I guess that kept him in doors too much.

“Yeah, well I’m glad your back. Where are you staying?”

Ambrose flashed me a flirty smile. “I was hoping you would rent me a spot on your bed, last time I had a good time.”

I slapped his arm and laughed. “Yeah after you beat me up with my own pillow and made me sleep on the floor, freezing.”

“You’re never going to forget that. Well maybe we should see how it goes this time. I might let you stay in bed and wrestle a bit.” Ambrose winked.

I kissed his cheek. “Lets not get into details honey.”

“What ever you say my lady.” he kissed me right on the lips. Making noise as he did so. Our lips just touched and then he smiled. I sighed, if he wasn’t gay I would’ve married him already. A
cough brought us back to reality. I turned around to see an amused Nathan, a challenged Alan and a pissed Mitch. Seriously what’s wrong with him?

“Uh this are Nathan, Alan and Mitch.” I pointed to each of them. “Guys this is Ambrose.” my best friend nodded.

“Who’s the kid you baby sit?” Ambrose looked around expecting a replica of Michael Brooks, the other kid I baby sat.

“There he is. Mitch Gaynor.”

“What?! You swore you’ll never do this again. Remember what happened when Grayson did to you on-” he shut up when I gave him
the
look. “Sorry. But we will have to talk.”

“I’m still hungry.” I walked to the kitchen, Ambrose and the guys following. I put more plates and they each grabbed a slice of pizza. At first no one talked and unlike Mitch’s comfortable silence this was awkward!

“So…I was wondering if you wanted to hang out? I stay at Maggie’s place.” Ambrose broke the silence.

I visibly winced. “Cant. Chad is there and last time I saw him I kneed him pretty bad. He got hit with a crutch too.” I mumbled.

Mitch looked up more interested In the talk now.

“Wait. Hold your horses baby, you’re not with Chad anymore?”

“Nope.” I popped the p.

“But why?! You made the perfect couple. I mean he’s hot.” Ambrose accused. Alan started choking on his pizza and we all turned to him. His face was red and he was trying to drink some soda.

“Did you just say a guy was hot?!” Alan pointed a dirty finger at Ambrose.

“Do you have a problem with it?” Ambrose got up, clearly he’s taller and more well built than Alan. If there was a fight I would bet my life and all my belongings for Ambrose.

“You’re gay.” Alan murmured.

Nathan smacked the back of his head. “Don’t mind him, he lost a few brain cells on our way here.”

I chuckled. “Figures.”

“Hey!”

“Mitch its time for your exercises, lets go.” I got up and stood next to him.

“I don’t want to do them.” he turned all his attention to me.

“I let you go by with not getting into the pool but you still have to move that leg somehow.”

“We walked to the park and back! I even helped a kid! Two actually.” Mitch stood up and got near my face, I didn’t even flinch as his tone.

“So? I didn’t ask you to help the kids. Stop whining.”

“Whining?! Did you see that girl she was a terrorist! You even agreed to all that shit.”

“She was pointing her camera at us! I wanted her to leave but you had to go and let her take her pictures!” I snapped back. What a pointless argument, this has nothing to do with exercises but apparently Mitch wanted to discuss it so let it be.

“So now its my fault?! I didn’t see you fight it off when I kissed you, in fact you agreed to everything she said!” Mitch accused. There was no more annoyance in his eyes in fact they looked amused. Yeah what a weird guy.

“You kissed him?!” someone said in the background. Mitch and I turned around and yelled a shut up in unison.

“You didn’t do shit either! Now get going, if you’re not going to exercise then shower!” I pulled his arm but he didn’t bulge.

“You don’t have to come with me!” he turned red from anger. Now Mitch is pissed because I’m bossing him around.

“Yes I do, I’m going to make sure that you shower.”

“Desperate.” I heard Ambrose mumbled but decided it was best to ignore him at the moment. He’ll get his share afterwards.

“You’re not going to see me shower!” his eyes turned wide.

“Of course not you idiot! I’m just going to keep alert so I don’t have to pick you up from the floor again.” I snapped.

“I didn’t ask for help and I can shower by myself.”

“Right, do I care? Wrong. Now shut up, suck it in and start walking.” I pointed to the stairs.

“Bitch.”

I smacked the back of his head. “Idiot.”

“Whore.”

“Shit face.”

“Suck my dick.”

“Asshole.”

“Are you always this stupid or are you making a special effort today?” Mitch nearly tripped me with his own crutches. I gave him the really? Look.

“I don’t know what makes you this dumb but its really working.”

“Dump pussy.” Mitch smirked.

Really? “Fucking dick.”

“Would you two stop playing and just shut up? I’m trying to eat!” Ambrose yelled.

The whole way up Mitch and I glared at each other.

--

“You’re still here?”

“Where would I go?” I stood up from his bed. He wore black pants and a red shirt, messy hair and the tips still wet.

“I don’t know? Maybe hang out with your boyfriend?” he sat on the stool and dropped his crutches.

“Ambrose isn’t my boyfriend, his my best friend.” I frowned. To tell you the truth I wish he was straight.

“Right, that’s why he kissed you.” Mitch started to grab some paint and stared at the white canvas. Still I haven’t seen any of his work. Is he good?

“He’s gay.”

Startled he looked at me. Yeah Ambrose doesn’t look gay one tiny drop. “You say it as if you wanted him to be otherwise.”

“Damn right. He’s hot.”

Mitch smirked. “Who was that Grayson guy?”

I stiffened visibly and I swear I saw a tiny hint of worry in Mitch eyes. Not possible, I must’ve imagined it. Deciding not to give it much care I shrugged and looked out his window. It’s a beautiful day, we should be outside instead of making a crowd inside the house. “Some guy I used to take care of.”

“Older than you?”

“Yeah.” Mitch stared intently at me. Eyes penetrating. “What?”

“Did he…?” he waved a hand at me.

“Huh?”

“You know…?” he waved his had again and I stared blankly at him.

“Sorry I cant crack your ingenious code. Can you explain it with apples?”

He rolled his eyes. “Why did you looked panicked when Ambrose started talking about him?”

“It’s really none of your business, Mitch.” I said a bit agitated. Why? I have no idea.

He snorted. “I want to check if you have any criminal marks. Who knows? A serial killer might be baby sitting me. And here I am, innocent and defenseless.”

Ha! Yeah right. Every time I try to imagine him looking innocent and defenseless I cant help but come in with a blank canvas. Mitch Gaynor is anything but those two things. Even in crutches he manages to look invincible, he can even beat you up with those. About the other part, innocent. No. He had this sexual vibe all around him.

“He got in a crisis. Uh he had a mental problem and I guess the voices in his head said I was bad so he wanted to kill me.” I shivered remembering how wild his eyes looked, how he held the knife and ran after me. Thank god he didn’t mark me. I only got a few bruises for falling over things.

“Girl.” Now that I think about it he rare calls me by my name. “Girl!” Mitch said louder and finally got my attention.

“Huh?”

“I seriously doubt your intelligence.” Mitch shook his head.

“Hey!”

And he gave me the middle finger. I could only gawk at him. What the heck? “You’re an infuriating guy Mitch.” I snapped.

“Says the whining bitch.” with all ease he brushed some paint onto the canvas.

“You miserable excuse of a man.” I felt my blood start to boil. Why cant we have a normal conversation. Not once, not even once, have we had a decent conversation. Not even when we met. In fact he slammed the door on my face, it’s a wonder he hasn’t done that. Yet.

Angered Mitch grabbed his crutches and got near me. “What did you say?”

Uh, hit a sore spot. “Miserable excuse of a man.” I said each word slowly. His eyes turned feral. A park of guilt made me regret my words but remembering the ass Mitch has been all this time I smiled.

“You wouldn’t know that would you?”

I shrugged. “Wouldn’t doubt it though. You’re an ass.”

Once again his eyes hardened. “Don’t judge if you don’t want to be judged.” he was a few inches from my face.

“Psh. I don’t give a fuck what people think.” well only my dad, he’s all I have.

“Sometimes one small and innocent rumor can ruin your life.” Mitch said in a low voice. A hint of sadness coated his voice and I was left alone in his room. He didn’t slam the door, or yell. He’s not pissed. Mitch is upset and its all my fault.

Chapter
9

Guilt was eating me. I kept glancing at Mitch but he practically ignored me. He didn’t even smile at Alan’s stupid jokes or Nathan’s silly faces after each of them. Ambrose kept talking but I only pretended to listen. Eventually he noticed something off and worry took over his joyful eyes.

“What’s wrong honey?” he placed his hand on top of mine.

We are currently seating in the living room. Mitch was seating across from Alan and Nathan. Ambrose and I sat on the same couch, Mitch was a couch next to Ambrose. The TV was off and they kept talking and joking. Everyone except Mitch and I. What did he meant when he said that?

“Keller? Are you okay?” Ambrose waved a hand in front of my face.

It’s okay when Mitch is pissed because I don’t know, its sort of normal I guess. But upset? It the first time I see him like this, truly sad. To say the truth I don’t like it one bit. Much less to know that I made him feel that way. Practically I ruined his day and everyone’s for that because Mitch is acting like the damn jerk he’s with me daily. I’m sort of used to it but his friends? They haven’t seen him in a while and now I ruined the visit.

“Earth to Keller!” Ambrose yelled and I felt all eyes on me.

“Huh?”

“Are. You. Okay?”

“I’m fine.” I frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You expect me to buy that shit?” Ambrose gave me the ‘really?’ look.

“Its true!” he shook his head. “How about we do something fun? I’m bored.” I changed the subject. It damned worked. Alan, Nathan and Ambrose started arguing if we should play Xbox, or go on guitar hero, karaoke or dance dance revolution. The last one was completely out of the question. Mitch cant dance with those crutches. We all smacked Nathan’s head for that idea. His face turned a light shade of his already red hair. Cute. I looked over at Mitch who looked bored, I walked over to him. Opened my mouth to make small conversation then apologize some how.

“Let’s just play guitar hero.” Ambrose said after the awkward silence.

Great way of interrupting my grand apology to Mitch! Alan and Nathan went upstairs to bring the whole set. Ambrose got the microphone, Mitch got one of the guitars, Nathan got the drums, Alan and I grabbed the remaining guitars after a useless argument.

We started playing and I forgot how soothing Ambrose’s voice could be. He should’ve been a star but he just liked to sing if he got writers block. The boy is a genius. Wonder if he’s got a cute boyfriend.

After around an hour of playing it got boring and tiring. So we went back to talking and doing nothing else. Two hours later we were all gathered around the big TV watching ’What happens in Vegas’. we’ve all seen the movie but we felt like laughing and its been a long time since I watched it. It brought good memories.