Page 202 of Scrimmage

“I think he does.”

“Then why is he still here? Like, I’m actually jealous. If he was sitting in this room I would be writing a manifesto dedicated to him.”

Koda is really here? “He probably feels bad. The way it ended was really explosive and fucked up. He read the letter from Damien. After he left, Cole showed up.”

“Can we not call him Cole? Can we call him Blown-Out-Brains Chance?”

“I think that might turn heads,” I giggle.

“Dead Chance?” she offers.

“Yes, Dead Chance it is.”

“Anyways, you both have a temper. You might be a hot head, but Koda is like a bottle of Diet Coke with Mentos. I think that letter just threw the candy in, and you blew up at the same time. I’m not taking his side, but that idiot feels some kind of way about you.”

He left me at the house that day. It’s not his fault. I’m not stupid enough to think that, but there’s still tension. We broke up. I told him it was over in the most final way possible, and if he’s been camped out here, then it’s not for the right reasons. The door flies open, interrupting us.

“Ashy!” Alexi shouts, rushing to my side. He grins. “You look like shit.”

“You look like you ate shit,” I quip.

“Basically. This fucking hospital food is like eating old peanuts on a plane.” He falls into the chair next to the bed. “So, Ashy, I was thinking we could all have movie night Friday.”

The great thing about Alexi is that there’s never an obstacle. It’s a great quality, and a terrible one. It means that people usually overlook how you really feel inside. I can see that he’s been in some sort of turmoil, but this is his way of trying to remedy it. There’s no way he thinks we’ll still be here Friday, but his optimism is appreciated.

“I doubt they’ll let us get away with that.”

“Fuck ‘em.”

“Have you even been home?”

He ignores me. “Your little brother, too. He seems kinda crazy.”

“Sinclair will be there, especially if he’s not invited,” Penny snickers.

Alexi’s smile widens. “So Friday? Us, Clair, morphine, and Barbie?”

I try to hide a smile. “Sinclair will kill you for that nickname, but morphine and Barbie sounds like a fucking party.”

“Perfect. I’m picking Rapunzel, because I don’t want to listen to you two argue. I’ll sneak in some popcorn.”

“How are you gonna do that?”

“I dunno, tell them I’m pregnant or something.”

That makes me and Penny laugh, but I wheeze because it fucking hurts. Alexi looks like a kicked puppy.

“How are you feeling?” he asks.

“Like I’m already tired of people asking me that question.”

“Glad you’re feeling like yourself,” he chuckles. “I just wanted to say hello before I head home. Make sure your brother wasn’t pulling another fucking prank. You should get some rest because Friday, it’s on. Love ya, Ashy.” He stands up and backs out of the room doing finger guns.

“Sinclair has been pulling pranks?” I snort.

She wraps a hair tie at the end of the braid. “I would call them attacks, but you know Alexi. ”

“Has Alexi really been here that much?”

---