22.8 Awkward

Breanne groaned as she answered the door and found the grinning ginger on the porch for a second time that week. His shirt, however, made a better impression. It had long sleeves. Maybe he did get cold. Or, maybe the visits to the Pancakes residence weakened his alien disguise. Oh, no. Vampire. Right. Maybe those visits to the Pancakes residence weakened his powers.

“Short stack! What’s happenin’!”

Breanne inhaled a long breath. You’re supposed to be nice, she told herself, being mindful of her parents who were near. “You’ve missed dinner if that’s what you were after.”

He swatted at her. “I’m not a total mooch. This is a social visit.”

Her stomach churned at the thought of hanging out with him. But, between the churning, butterflies flitted around too. No one had ever asked her to accompany them anywhere. Ever. She either invited herself or arranged the outing. He had not asked the question yet, and she hated the excitement anticipating it created.

“The film museum is free tonight! I’m meeting some people there. Wanna come?”

So he did have friends. Why, then, did he keep bothering her? Surely he enjoyed their company more. He needn’t worry about her social well-being. If she wanted to have fun and hang out, she’d do it! But, boredom had been a bit of a problem lately. She took more walks than usual just to get away from the house. Ugh! Why was she even considering this nonsense? Movies weren’t even her thing. And who were these people? Hopefully more delightful than him.

She shrugged. “Yeah. I guess.”

“Sweet!”

She almost regretted her decision as soon as they left the house. He yammered on the entire way about how he’d always wanted to go to the museum, but it was too expensive, how much he loved movies, and how he wanted to be an actor when he was a kid. She learned many things about him that evening and didn’t care. At least, that’s what she told herself.

When they arrived in Del Sol Valley, that feeling in her stomach returned. What if there were no friends and he just said that to get her to hang out with him? She didn’t know him that well. He could be a bad person! She fell for his schemes and didn’t even see it coming. If only she told her parents where she went and that she even went somewhere. It’ll take them weeks to find her body now.

Up ahead, their destination shined brightly among the rest of the glitzy venues, and her stomach settled but only for a brief moment. A few familiar frames stood at the door. A thin, pink blob with blonde hair and a muscular, golden-brown masterpiece with brown hair. Oh no.

“What up, peeps!”

Josh greeted everyone, and they stepped inside to get out of the cold air. Phoenix and Kaiden exchanged nervous smiles as Breanne brushed past them. Two other females were among them. One of them even wore the same jeans as her. Sadly, the new woman wore them better. Who were they? The jean impostor seemed to hover near Kaiden a lot. Maybe she was the rebound.

The other woman was a surprise. She didn’t seem to know Kaiden, and Josh couldn’t get anyone so beautiful if he paid her! It didn’t matter who she was. The night was already ruined and probably wouldn’t recover. They could do whatever they wanted together. Breanne planned on looking at the dusty, old junk and jetting as soon as possible.

“Hey, Josh,” Kaiden said.

His soft voice still made her grin. Darn that Josh! Why did he have to invite the two people she evicted from her life?

“This is my friend, Kelly, and her sister, Mariah.”

“I hope you don’t mind me inviting her,” Kelly, formerly known as jean impostor, said.

“No! The more the merrier! I’m Josh. Good to meet both of you.”

The museum was much smaller than Breanne anticipated. Not too many places to go and hide. Surely her sins weren’t weighty enough to warrant that level of punishment. The worst part about it was she couldn’t understand why she felt anything at all. Previously, she decided Kaiden was not worth wallowing in pity. And, Josh, she definitely didn’t care about him, but …

“Yoooo! This is the campsite from Cowplants vs. Garden Gnomes VIII! I can’t believe I’m seeing this in real life!”

“You really know your movies,” Kelly said.

Breanne sighed and walked away. There was no way she’d entertain that nonsense. Not with them.

At the end of the hall, there was a huge exhibit she could not wrap her head around. It looked like a part of town she would never be seen in. Not even while dead. Her mother probably spent loads of time in dangerous alleys that looked just like it. Whether the monstrosity was stripped away from a movie scene or not, who cared to stand here and gaze upon it? The whole museum made zero sense.

“Are you enjoying this as much as I am?” Mariah asked flatly.

Breanne glanced at her gorgeous, golden face. Her eyes were as green as her mothers and heavily squinted by boredom. “Probably less.”

Mariah snorted. “I should have known not to accept an invitation from my sister with her corny friends. But, it’s Friday night, and I have no date.”

This woman was clearly on a different plane, but Breanne saw something she thought she could connect with. Maybe the night wouldn’t be a complete waste.

After wandering around listening to Josh spill every ounce of knowledge he had about every piece in the museum, Kaiden suggested they go across the street to the Bongo Kongo Club for drinks. With a name like that, Breanne knew it wouldn’t be her style, but maybe a drink would bring her a little joy. Sure enough, she and Mariah snorted upon walking in. The lounge looked like her little sister’s decorated it. How were grown people supposed to enjoy themselves in a place that looked like the set of Freezer Bunny & Friends?

“Hey dudes, let’s sit over here and chill for a minute,” Josh said.

Everyone followed him to a quieter corner of the lounge and took seats, Kelly next to Kaiden, Mariah next to Kelly, and Phoenix next to Kaiden, of course. That Pink Pixie pain in the plum still looked longingly at him with those jealous green eyes. Her ridiculous attire didn’t help Breanne’s opinion of her either.

“So, how do you all know each other?” Mariah asked.

Though Breanne was grateful for someone to break the awkward silence, that wasn’t exactly the question she wanted to answer. “Oh. Uhh, we grew up together. We’re neighbors.”

“And those two dated,” Phoenix said with a sly smile.

“Oh ho ho! What do we have here?” Mariah quipped.

“A recipe for disaster, that’s what,” Breanne said.

Her new friend laughed, and Breanne couldn’t help but join in.

“For real, dude bro?”

“Yep,” Phoenix chimed in. “They were together, like, half of high school.”

“Look, guys! I don’t think this is healthy conversation,” Kaiden said, eyes pleading with Phoenix.

Breanne wanted to knock the smugness off her face.

Mariah stifled more laughter, and Kelly looked like she wanted to disappear. Josh looked not-so-pleased with the news as well.

“I agree,” Breanne said. “I think it’s time we get those drinks we came for.”

Everyone verbally agreed in their own way and hurried toward the bar. She couldn’t help but glance over at Kaiden and his new toy. They whispered to each other. Breanne couldn’t decide if Kelly looked upset or if she just found their company awkward. However she felt, Kaiden looked like he tried to placate her. In an evil way, Breanne took pleasure in it.

Kelly ordered some espresso drink, and Kaiden followed her lead with coffee. Breanne shook her head at him. He still needed someone to make decisions for him. Maybe she and Kelly should become friends so she could point out what the poor soul will have to deal with in the future.

Josh and Phoenix ordered beers. Barbaric drinks for two barbarians. It was obvious why Phoenix looked like she’d rather be anywhere else, but what was Josh’s problem? He didn’t seem like the kind of person who was easily thwarted by awkward situations. After all, he always found ways to turn her negative interactions into something positive.

“Hey, Breanne. Do you know how to get free drinks all night?” Mariah asked.

What an odd question. She wasn’t aware that was something she could do. “Uhh, I suppose not.” Though she wasn’t one to drink to get drunk, perhaps whatever skill she was about to learn would be a useful one.

“It’s all in the eyes. If the bartender thinks you’re beautiful, exploit it! Catch him by the eyes and don’t let go. Hold him in a dangerously sexy stare until he’s all yours. At least until your next drink comes, heh.”

There was no way Breanne would be able to pull that off, but it was flattering Mariah thought she could. Her new friend ordered champagne. It was so refreshing to meet someone else who appreciated the finer things in life.

“So, Phoenix, I heard you did a comedy show last weekend,” Kaiden said. “How’d it go?”

Kelly gasped. “You’re a comedian?”

Phoenix chuckled nervously. “No, I aspire to be a comedian. I only went to a talent showcase and did a routine I wrote.”

“You don’t have to land a paid gig to say you’re a comedian, Phoenix. If you make people laugh on purpose, then you’re a comedian.”

She hesitated a bit, probably still stuck on her feelings for him. “I appreciate the encouragement and will try to remember that.”

“I will try to remember not to accept invitations from Josh,” Breanne whispered to Mariah while Phoenix proceeded to say how well the show went.

They snickered between themselves but not quiet enough.

“What are you guys laughing at over there?” Josh asked with a bit of attitude.

“Ok,” Kaiden said. “This has gone beyond weird. You ready to go, Kelly?”

“Mmm hmm! Yep! Sure am,” she said a bit too quickly.

“Josh, thanks for the invite. Ladies, nice to see you again. It was great meeting you, Mariah.”

“I’m sorry, dude bro. I really goofed this one up. Next time I’ll ask Boss Lady Pancakes to do background checks so I know everybody’s story!”

“You leave my mother out of your shenanigans!”

“Breanne, chill,” Kaiden said. “He’s just joking around.”

“I’m not inept, Kaiden! I recognize humor, and I still don’t want him joking about my mom!”

“Ok, ok, short stack! I was just–“

“And stop calling me short stack!!”