When A Dragonfly Dies

Ch.10-

I threw on a pair of black ripped jeans, a maroon shirt the missing shoulders, and my black combat boots.
I gazed at my reflection in the mirror and cringed.
My hair was still tangled and my face looked pale.
"You look nice. But.. your hair tho." Foster walked up to me and gently tugged at my hair.
"Want me to brush it?" He asked.
"Sure."
Foster grabbed a comb and began to work through the knots.
"Ouch!" I winced.
"Sorry."
He gently brushed through my hair until the tangles were gone and he French braided my hair.
"There. Now you look even cuter." Foster said, taking a long look at me.
"Thanks. I wouldn't have expected you to be so good at doing hair... well, I mean girl hair." I smiled, examining my hair in awe.
"Yeah, well I used to do my younger sister's hair." He responded.
"Yeah. I used to help Nova with her hair. She hated getting her hair done. I remember she would fidget from the moment I would start to the moment I would end." I smiled at this memory.
"Oh. What was Nova like?" Foster questioned as he leaned against the sink.
"Oh she was amazing! She had clear blue eyes that could light up a room. Her lips were small and pink and they always had a smile on them. Her hair was platinum gold. And she loved nature. It was one of the only things she genuinely liked. I miss her. There's not one day that goes by that I don't think about her. Her laughs and cries. Her hands, and her toes. I love her so much. I will never stop loving her. Never."
"Wow. She sounds like a really great person. How old was she?"
"She was fourteen. It's so sad that she died at such a young age..."
Foster patted my back and began to speak.
"I'm so sorry Aria. I know it must hurt like crazy to have someone you love leave you so soon."
I nodded and smiled at him.
"Didn't you say she had episodes like Nolan?" He asked.
"Oh, yeah. Sometimes she would get really angry at my mom. And she would go into a fit of rage to the point that she would hurt herself and other people. So usually I had to restrain her." I stated.
"Oh..."
Nolan walked into the bathroom and frowned.
"What?" Foster questioned.
"I can feel my stomach acids eating away at my organs. I could eat a village." He moaned.
"The fuck?" Foster flipped his hair.
Cole walked into the room and placed a hand on my head.
"You ready shorty?" He asked me.
"First off, don't call me shorty. Secondly yes, I am. And we'd better get going soon before Nolan's organs are consumed." I snickered.
Cole shot a creeped out smile to Nolan.
"Anyways, where do you guys want to eat? I was thinking-"
"PIZZA!!" Foster shouted.
"Ow, my ears." Said Nolan.
"Shut up."
"Guys, we're not eating pizza." Cole cut in.
"YES! I DEMAND THAT WE HAVE PIZZA!"
"ANYWAYS, Aria what would you like?"
"How about we have some Spanish food? Maybe Chipotle?" I suggested.
"Okay! I'll call a cab." Cole pulled out his phone and began pushing in the numbers for the cab company.
I walked into the living room and plopped onto the couch, crossing my legs.
Foster walked in after me and sat beside me, putting his arm over my shoulder.
"Um, hi." I said awkwardly.
"Sorry for saying you had a big butt. And flipping you off. And poking you with a stick. And telling you to suck a-"
"It's fine Foster. As long as you don't do that again. " I laughed.
"Would it be okay if I...liked you?" He stuttered.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Umm. I don't know. Your too bold....maybe?"
The horn to the cab beeped and Cole walked into the room and told us to get our butts downstairs.
We went downstairs and took our seats in the taxi.
"Where ya heading?" The cabbie asked in a raspy voice.
"The closest Chipotle, please." Cole said, leaning back in the seat.
The cabbie nodded and sped off.
I gazed out the window at the buildings zooming past.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Foster staring at me.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer." I joked.
Foster pretended to snap a picture of me and we laughed.
"Oh brother." Nolan muttered.
"Shut up." Foster retorted.
"WHY DON'T YOU. YOU SMUG LITTLE ASSHOLE!" Nolan shouted.
"What the fuck is your problem?" Foster whined.
"You know I get bitchy when I'm hungry." Nolan said.
"Will you guys be quiet? Gosh, your so annoying." Cole mumbled.
"I take offense." Nolan frowned.
"Here we are." The cabbie groaned in annoyance.
"Sorry.." Cole apologized, handing him the money.
We got out of the cab and made our way into the restaurant.
"So.. this is it, huh?" Foster commented.
"Yup. What, you've never eaten here?" I questioned.
Cole shook his head.
"Wow. You've been missing out! Come on, let's order."
After we ordered, we sat at a table and began to eat.
I glanced up from my burrito and cleared my throat.
The boys looked up.
"Yes miss Aria?" Cole pushed his hair back.
"Well, I just wanted to say that you guys are truly the most interesting people I have ever met. And, I love you." I smiled.
And for the fist time in forever, it was actually real.
"We love you too girl." Nolan said with a full mouth.
"Dude, chew with your mouth closed." Cole grunted.
Nolan swallowed and bowed his head.
"Sorry."
As I continued eating my burrito, I felt Foster's leg brush against mine.
I raised an eyebrow and rubbed my leg against his.
Then he kicked me.
I kicked him back.
Nolan looked under the table and grinned.
"OH, FOOTSIES? I WANNA PLAY!" Nolan cheered, wildly kicking his feet at us.
"STOP!" Foster demanded.
Nolan frowned and rested his cheek in his palm.
I looked at Cole.
His eyebrows were furrowed, indicating he was deep in thought.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" He asked me.
I nodded and we walked out the front door.
"Yes?" I playfully pinched his cheek.
"Why are you flirting with Foster?" He asked firmly.
"I- I wasn't!" I stated.
"Well I feel like you were."
"Well I wasn't. He was flirting with me. I don't like him that way. Trust me, he's too... well, I think you know. And besides, why would I make out with you, tell you I love you, and then go and flirt with your cousin?" I asked him.
"Your right. I'm sorry, I just.. I don't know. I know we haven't known eachother for long, but I really really like you. Your so beautiful and amazing and you treat me and my cousins like kings. It's been a hard road for all of us and as long as we stay together, I think we won't be in as much pain."
I smiled at him and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
Cole pulled me into his arms and squeezed me against his chest.
"Your such a sweetie." I sighed.
I looked over and saw Foster staring out the window towards us with a disappointed look on his face.
"Um, Cole."
"What?"
I ticked my head towards the window and Cole turned his head.
"Oh." He let go of me and we awkwardly walked back into the restaurant and took our seats.