Evan had awoken to the feeling of hot breath on his face. It smelt of toothpaste and faintly of Cheerios and he opened his eyes to stare right back into wisteria. Azizah sat upon her knees on his floor with her face resting close enough to his so that he went immediately cross-eyed trying to focus. According to Azizah, Evan had slept in and, with it now being seven in the morning, the abomination found herself unable to wait a moment longer.Â
Evan would have argued this if it wasn't for the fact the mattresses Nolan purchased would be delivered at the new house sometime between eight and twelve. Getting dressed, he had yawned before shuffling over to the Xanzhar's and being fed apple cinnamon pancakes. He almost fell asleep half-way through them but the sound of static in his inner-ear reminded him he needed to wake up.Â
Once back over at his own home, Azizah and Evan made short work of packing up his room. There was little Evan actually found himself wanting to keep. Most of it were either things he had outgrown or no longer had any attachment. Clothes were packed and then the question of whether or not he had outgrown band posters posed. This sparked a ten minute debate as to what it meant to be an adult and Evan deciding on two large posters that could be framed and passed as art. One of them was, of course, Bob Dylan and the other Neutral Milk Hotel. In Evan's opinion the latter looked better than some of the others and the former needed no explanation. Bob Dylan was the greatest song writer to ever walk the Earth and the boy would gladly fight about it.Â
Once his car was loaded up and his room was nothing more than a half-empty shell of memories and clutter unwanted, Evan kissed his mother good morning and promised to be back Sunday before heading out. Azizah followed in her truck and cried just long enough to get her feelings out without being noticeable when they pulled up to the new residence.Â
The house, being freshly blessed just the day before smelt of rose incense and gleamed from the cleaning it had received. Still, despite practically seeing his reflection in the wooden floorboards, there would be sweeping and dusting of his own. Azizah, dressed in a muted yellow 1950's house dress, kicked off her black ballet flats before exploring every nook and cranny the house had to offer. As she moved from room to room, she occasionally muttered her approval. Silence hit for a solid ten minutes before she re-emerged with a handful of teeth cupped in her palms. Claiming she had found them in the air vents, she rejoiced at being told she could have them and slipped them into her pocket to be enjoyed later.Â
The two friends bickered and laughed like siblings as they set about moving boxes in. With the only things brought being that which would go into Evan's room, they were deposited there and then pushed against the wall. As the two worked making the cabinets and doors child proof, music played from speakers and the sound of a tooth being crunched on occasionally broke the silence between songs. A break was taken when the mattresses arrived. Argument ensued over getting the bulky objects into the appropriate rooms and, once managed, they lay atop one and grinned satisfied at the comfort.Â
A trip to the store was managed which took longer than expected as they weren't exactly sure where the closest one existed. Upon finally being found, essentials were purchased as well as shower curtains, towels, and comforters. Picture texts were sent to Nolan for approval and, at receiving input, decisions made and two shopping carts made their way to checkout.Â
As the day faded into late afternoon, Evan and Azizah struggled with getting the last child-proof lock on the stove.
"Push. No, push against it. Harder, Azizah." his brows furrowed as he tried to get the clasps to line up.
"I'm pushing harder than childbirth here, Evan! What more do you want from me?!" She grunted. Â
"I want you to do better! Gah, maybe if stoners ate something healthy instead of Cheetos--"
"You wanna go down this route? Diet ain't got shit to do with this, Mr. I-can't-go-to-the-gym-'cause-The-Mummy-is-on?" She glared. I ran twelve blocks for yo ass and you calling my game weak?"
Seeing the clasps line up, Evan grabbed his screwdriver. "Hold it! Don't let go!"
"I'm about to squeeze your head off your scrawny white body if you tell me what to do one more time." She growled through clenched teeth but gave a sigh of relief as the thing was firmly fastened. "I do not remember it being that hard the first time we safety proofed the house."
"Your game got weak." he shrugged and laughed as she pushed him. As Azizah moved over to the stereo, Evan put tools away. "So what time are Nolan and Miles supposed to be here?"
"I told them seven so soon." she shrugged, skipping through some songs in search of something that spoke to her. "Why? My company not good enough for you?"
"Yeah, you're boring as hell too. I only came for the food. Oh! I love this song!" Reaching for the volume, Azizah turned it up. Closing her eyes she swayed to the music before singing along. Reaching for the broom, she circled around the empty room.
Smiling, Evan relaxed into her voice. Having taken choir since she was young, Azizah was good. Better than good. Better with possibilities if she were actually interested. But the thing with the abomination was, if it took effort, it was rarely worth it. Evan supposed everyone coped with things differently.
Hearing the door open, the two stopped what they were doing to turn eyes to the two entering.
