Father Wright came to see me a few weeks ago asking why I dropped from choir and I told him it was for my babysitting job, which was mostly true. I just left out the details about Aaron, the golden boy.
My mom just dropped me off at the Miller’s home so I can babysit Chase. I am actually the only one here right now. Mrs. Miller’s mom is dropping Chase off after his karate class. Penny keeps sending me iMessages of different outfits for Aaron’s party tomorrow. I don’t want any part of her big bright idea to finally do the deed with him at the party. I think she is making a mistake, but it’s her life. I do my best friend duty, scroll through her choices, and tell her to go with the red sweater and black leggings. She always looks great in red.
She offers to come over and hang with me while I watch Chase but I don’t know how they would feel about my having a friend over. I tell her no and pop my ear buds in and read until Chase gets here.
When he gets in, he is hungry so I let him decide the toppings for our pizza. There is a twenty stuck on the refrigerator for us to have one delivered. The kid has such weird taste for a four year old. We end up getting mushrooms, double cheese and Canadian bacon, with pineapple on his half. I hope he doesn’t get sick, but he orders weird combinations all the time.
I send him up to his room to change clothes while I get Chutes & Ladders ready for us to play. It is his favorite and I don’t mind it much because he is so sweet. He never gives me any trouble. He comes running down the stairs and flips over the back of the couch and screams, “highya” in my ear.
“I’ll get you, you little monkey,” I call out chasing him around the coffee table.
“Never, I am the super dupererest fastest boy in the world.” He laughs and starts running faster. If he keeps this pace up, he will be out before the pizza gets here.
After he gets winded, he flops down on the couch in his Superman pajamas. “You all right there speedy?”
“Fine,” he puffs out breathing hard. I go into the kitchen to fix him a cup of juice and the doorbell rings. Must be the pizza.
When I get to the door Chase has already beat me to answering it.
“Chase, buddy you can’t go opening the door without me saying so okay. Never know who is on the other side.”
“Sorry, Katie,” he says with a frown.
“It’s okay, this one time. Okay.” I scruff up the top of his hair and go to pay the pizza guy—Kai.
I didn’t know he was delivering pizza. I shrug and reach him the twenty.
“Hey, Chase,” Kai greets him giving him a high five with his free hand.
“Thought your band was playing this weekend?” I ask out of curiosity.
“Tomorrow.” He hands me the pizza and Chase tries to pull him into the house.
“Dude, you should totally play Chutes and Ladders with us.”
“Maybe some other time, I’ll tell Khloe-bug that you said hi.” Kai fist bumps with him.
I wave bye at Kai and take the pizza into the kitchen to fix Chase and me a plate.
“How do you know Kai?” I begin my inquisition.
“He is so cool. He’s Khloe’s rock star brother. She goes to my school and he came in one time and sang to us. It was wicked!” Chase exclaims with pizza flying out of his mouth.
“Okay, wild man.” I reach him a napkin to wipe his sauce-covered mouth.
We finish eating and play three games of Chutes & Ladders before his parents come home. I use their home phone to call my mom and get no answer. I hate it when she does this to me. She could have let me drive myself, but she refuses to be without her car. I call one person I know I can count on, Becks.
Mr. Miller pays me and I have to pry Chase from my legs so I can get out the door. He only let go because I am watching him again tomorrow night.
Becks is waiting for me by the curb in his grandpa’s Cadillac. The thing is like a boat on wheels but I’m not going to complain about a free ride.
“Thank you so much for coming to my rescue. I’ll make your grandpa some cookies or something for lending you his car.”
“It’s no big deal Katie, my family loves you. I told you anytime you need a ride just call me.”
When we get to my house, Becks is looking at me weird. “Are you okay?” The face he is making I am afraid he is about to hurl.
He wipes the palm of his hand against the thigh of his corduroy pants. Licking his bottom lip, he suddenly comes across the bench seat of the car and tries to cram his tongue down my throat. I jerk back immediately. “What the hell was that Becks? Please just don’t even say anything. You’re my best friend…I need you to stay that way okay.” I don’t even give him a chance to say anything that was awkward and unfortunate. I thought he had a thing for Penny? I scramble out of the car, as he looks shocked and devastated.