“So you hate the kid, and then suddenly you guys are making out on your couch? The fuck Lionel?” Andy Cali asked me as we sat in my room. I shrugged. “I told him about my fingers,” I said, staring at them.

                I sighed. “It’s weird. I feel so close to him, but I barely know him,” I said. Andy Cali shrugged at me and searched my eyes. I hated it. Andy Cali could read me the way I could read other people. I didn’t like that. I liked to think I was closed off from everyone.

                “You think you’re in love with him,” Andy Cali said and I nodded even though it hadn’t been a question. Andy Cali let out a round of amused laughter and shook his head at me once he had managed to stop laughing.

                “Lionel, you don’t know what love is. You’re too independent. Too wild spirited. You can’t hold down a relationship and you know it,” he said simply. I sighed in frustration.

                “I know. But maybe this time is different,” I said hopefully. I had tried for a few relationships back in Florida, but I hadn’t been able to hold them down. Andy Cali was right. I was way too wild and independent for relationships. But I really, really liked EJ. Possibly was even in love with him. But that wouldn’t mean anything if I couldn’t even hold down a relationship with him. Yea we were basically together, but I hadn’t actually asked him out and I was honestly a little afraid to. And I was rarely afraid of anything.

                “Do you think I could do it Andy Cali?” I asked quietly. Andy Cali shrugged at me. “Maybe. I don’t know Lionel. Maybe you’ve changed since coming here. Something about you has definitely changed. And if you really love this bastard, then maybe you could do it,” he said with another shrug.

                I sighed. “This sucks,” I whined as Mr. Cali opened my bedroom door. “What sucks?” he asked curiously. “Relationships,” I grumbled and he laughed.

                “It’s just because no one likes you Lionel,” Andy Cali said and smirked at me. I rolled my eyes and chucked my broken phone at him. He ducked and it just barely missed hitting his shoulder.

                “You shithead!” he whined in annoyance. “Andrew David California!” his dad snapped. “Watch your language!”

                Andy Cali rolled his eyes. “Sorry dad,” he grumbled and picked my phone up. He threw it at me and I caught it with my good hand and checked it. Damn. The screen was even more cracked than before. I sighed.

                “Come on Andy; we’re going to look at houses again,” Mr. Cali said and motioned for Andy Cali to get up. Andy Cali sighed and got to his feet. He gave me a short wave. “See you tonight Lionel,” he said before following his dad out of my room.

                My dad entered a few minutes later and glanced at my phone. “Come on; we’ll go pick up a new phone for you. You can pick it this time,” he said and I hopped up and walked over to him.

                We walked out to the car together and dad pulled out of the drive way, Dave and Brian’s “Red Rover” playing. I mentally rolled my eyes. My parents liked Dave and Brian for some reason that I didn’t understand.

                Still this song reminded me of the girl I had asked out when I was in the 3rd grade. We had dated for about 2 weeks before “breaking up”. That had been the first girl I had ever kissed. Andy Cali had actually been the first boy, but we had been drunk so I wasn’t sure if that really counted.

                We pulled up at the store and dad and I walked in. I smirked a little as I saw EJ sitting and scrolling through his phone.

                “Hey you,” I said, going over to him. He looked up and glared. “The fuck are you doing here?” he asked in annoyance. I sat down next to him as my dad began to talk to one of the employees. I could see EJ’s mom talking to another employee, showing the guy her phone.

                “My phone’s broken, remember?” I said and pulled out my iPhone. “You’re such a spoiled brat,” he said, shaking his head at me.

                I grinned and gently brought my lips to his. “We need to hang out,” I said simply and EJ nodded in agreement. He had his bandana back on today.

                “When and where?” he asked me as he responded to a text message. I put on a thoughtful face before shrugging. “My house, tomorrow? Andy Cali and his dad have been house hunting so they won’t be there, and my parents will be working,” I said with a smirk.

                EJ shrugged and nodding after thinking for a minute. “Okay. What time?” he asked. Now it was my turn to think. “Uh…11-12 sound good?” I offered and he nodded again. “Yea,” he mumbled and cleared his throat.

                He glanced at me with his exposed eye. “You’re going to make me take the bandana off, aren’t you?” he asked quietly. I smirked wider. “I would like it if you did, but I guess I can’t force you,” I said with a casual shrug.

                He sighed. I kissed him again before getting up and going over to see what phone I wanted to get. EJ’s mom walked over and he got up. He glanced at me and I winked at him. His mouth twitched into a slight smile before he followed his mom out of the store, both of us excited for tomorrow. I was going to ask him out, and pray I could keep a relationship for once in my life.