Ali Chang- Chapter 3
Dylan and I collapse on the love seat. “What a victory!” he says. “I knew we would make a good team.” He elbows me. I smile, as usual. For a while we just sit. I keep sneaking glances at his beautifully chiseled profile. Even though we sit in silence, it’s not awkward. It’s a very comfortable silence. I like it.
“No! Emma, not that hot sauce! This one’s hotter!” Jen says from the kitchen.
“I’m warm enough already! I don’t need hot sauce to make me any hotter!” I rest my hand on my forehead to check my temperature. I wink in his direction. Why did I do that… Oh no… He’s reaching towards me.
He grabs my hand. “Did this happen tonight?” I nod. “Ali! Let’s clean it up.”
I laugh and shake my head. “It’s just a few indents. You know how rocks can be…”
He just looks up at me. I freeze. My breath hitches. I give in, how could I not? His hazel eyes pierce me. I can’t do anything but give in. “I guess I should clean it up a little more…”
“Come on.” He pulls me by the arms and we look for Jen’s bathroom.
“I can do this by myself you know.”
“Yeah, but we’re partners, remember?” I guess I could let him help me. There is no harm in that… I mean, he’s helping me whether or not I like it. Not that I mind… He turns the hot water and lets it run. I put my hand under the faucet. Why do I feel like such a child? I’m 19, I can do this myself. But he wants to help me. That’s a sign right? He opens the medicine cabinet, searching for tweezers and rubbing alcohol. “Alright, switch hands and give me the right one.” He sits on the toilet.
“Yes Dr. O’Brein,” I am extremely serious. He just laughs and tugs me closer. We’re so close. I give him my hand. Oh, his are so soft.
“This may hurt…”
“I’m a tough cookie! Don’t you worry about me.” He cocks his head to the side and raises his eyebrow. I respond by raising both eyebrows and cocking my head. Hah, now we’re even.
I see the small pieces of rubble that embedded themselves into the palm of my hand. Wow, this may actually hurt… He pushes the tweezers into my palm, and I can’t help but flinch. He opens his mouth, but I shake my head. I silence him and he continues to pull small bits of rock out of my hand. His brows furrow in concentration. Slowly he removes all the pieces, leaving my hand bright red from agitation.
“I know the tweezers didn’t hurt you, the little tough cookie, but the rubbing alcohol might sting a little…”
“Dude, I’ve used rubbing alcohol before. This isn’t the first time I’ve hurt myself.”
“Okay, just warning you. As a good partner I think that it is my job to warn you about those type of things. Just saying.” I laugh.
“Bring it!” He counts backwards from ten, why would he do that? Gosh, that just freaks me out more. At one he pours. Holy shit that stings. My hand is on fire! Stay calm, you don’t want Dylan to see you freak out. But the pain… Screw it. “Ah! Man!” I look over at Dylan to see him suppressing a laugh. “Oh, you think this is funny do you?”
He smirks. “A little bit…” I playfully shove his shoulder. My hand rests on his shoulder. Neither of us makes a move to remove it. Instead, my eyes meet his. Oh God, it’s not just me. He must feel it too. I can definitely see it in his eyes. He leans in: closer and closer. It’s gonna happen, I can feel it. My heart flutters. He looks me in my eyes. “We should probably do the other hand before dinner.”
I start laughing. I can’t stop. Why did I think he would like me? I can’t believe how naïve I am.
“Why are you laughing?” He looks confused and it just makes me laugh harder.
I catch my breath. “I’m sorry. Just hit me and I couldn’t stop.”
“Alright… Well if you’re done, want me to do the other hand too?” I nod. He takes care of my hand again. Picking out the pebbles and pouring the rubbing alcohol on it.
“Shit, dude, that stings.”
He smirks, “I told you.”
“I know, I’m just reminding you that is stings.”
We sit in silence for a moment. I see his chest rise and fall with each breath he takes. Oh those muscled; he’s so toned. Alison, snap out of it. Someone knocks on the door. Both our heads whip around.
“I don’t want to know what you two are doing in there, but it’s dinner! So come out right now.” Jennifer says as she continues to bang on the door.
“ We’re coming!” Dylan turns to me, “Sheesh.”
We walk out of the bathroom. Emma looks at me and raises her eyebrow. I just shake my head, nothing happened, unfortunately.
“Alright, have a seat you two.” Jen gestures to the table beside her. “For your first course, we have a chip based salad with m&ms as your croutons.” Emma comes from the kitchen carrying two plates overflowing with chips.
“Chip based salad?”
“Shhh! Just eat, my dear.”
Dylan and I exchange a glance. Should I dig in first? Will that make me look like a pig? No, I’m sure it’s fine. Do I eat the whole thing? Oh god, I don’t know. Just start, Ali, who cares. I take a bite.
“Mmmm… Crunchy.”
“This is special.”
“But it’s good, isn’t it?” Jen and Emma sat across from us. Their eyes beat into ours.
“It’s definitely interesting…” he laughs while Emma and Jen roll their eyes.
“Just eat the damn salad.” And we do. We eat the salad. They bring out the main course. The plate is overflowing with sliced ham, grated cheese and cantaloupe drenched in tomato sauce. Cantaloupe drenched in tomato sauce? This is just ridiculous. God! That is some spicy tomato sauce.
“What did you put in the tomato sauce? My mouth is on fire!”
They grin, “Hot sauce. Very hot sauce.” I shake my head, and I head to the kitchen searching for a glass of milk. When I sat back down they brought out dessert. For dessert they bring out the biggest mound of candy and chocolate I have ever seen.
“Why do you have so much candy?”
“Well I just get stuff, but I don’t always eat it.” She shrugs her shoulders. “Bon appitete.”
Dylan looks up at the two girls towering over us. “Why aren’t you two eating anything?”
“You think we’re going to eat that? You’re crazy. We made some toast with peanut butter for out dinner.” Dylan rolls his eyes. I indulge in the mountain of sugar. Yum.
