FATE

12. Marshmallows

JONAH

"Why did you buy so many packs of marshmallows?", I ask as I study a pink packaged bag of marshmallows in my hand.

Hailee shrugs as she takes out a bag of chips from the big brown paper bag in front of her.

"I like marshmallows", she says without looking at me.

"Yeah but isn't this too much for one night?", I ask, dropping it on the counter and staring at her.

She shrugs nonchalantly and ignores me as she reads the instructions on a bag of corn.

"For 3 - 5 minutes...", she says softly to herself.

I roll my eyes with a heavy sigh, placing my elbow on the kitchen counter and supporting my head with my palm as I watch her. Her hair is packed into a messy bun and her eyebrows are creased in concentration. The blue shirt she's wearing is much too big for her.

"You're making popcorn?", I ask and she nods in response. "What the fuck?"

"What?", She drops the corn and look up at me in confusion.

"Are you pregnant?", I ask, standing still and staring at her.

She freezes, "What the fuck Jonah?", She yells, "you're such an asshole!", She grabs a bag of marshmallows and throws it at me.

I laugh as I catch it. "You're the one buying all these Marshmallows and chips and making popcorn like you're throwing some small party"

She flips me off, "leave me alone Jonah", she says, "I'm not pregnant"

"Well good"

She grabs a plastic spoon I hadn't realized was lying in front of me and swats my arm. It doesn't hurt but I mouth a small 'ouch' at the sting.

"Go away", she says.

"You're weird"

She ignores me and turns to open the fridge behind her. "There you are"

"What's that?"

She closes the fridge and turns to wave a bottle at me. "Jack Daniels"

I squint, "How do you keep alcohol in your family fridge?"

"Relax, I put it in there before I went out to buy the snacks. My parents haven't been home since then", she says as she drops the bottle on the table.

"Well at least there's alcohol"

"Yeah but not for now, maybe later"

I nod in reply.

"Was your dad home today?", She asks.

"Yeah", I say, "with stupid Ginger"

I roll my eyes as I remember coming home to school to find my Dad and Ginger in the house again. Luckily, the framed picture of my mom which I returned to its space on the wall, remained there. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't see it there again.

I did a good at ignoring them this time however and it helped that he didn't say anything to me besides to words, "oh you're back" and "how was school?", to which I muttered a dry "fine" and escaped to my room to clog my ears with music.

"I wonder how long this one will stay", Hailee says, breaking into my thoughts, "two weeks? Three weeks? Maybe longer", she looks up at me, "she could be your new step mother"

I lean in, "I will fucking move out if that happens"

She chuckles, "you need to consider these possibilities Jonah"

"I don't have a problem with him doing whatever he wants", I say and I mean it. Whosever's life he tries to make a living hell next is none of my business. "I just don't like the hair"

"It makes her presence so obvious"

"And it's not even flattering"

She chuckles and nods as she studies my face. "What?", I ask.

"Are you ever going to call him out on how much of a deadbeat asshole he is?"

"No", I say quickly.

"Jonah, we had this conversation last year"

"And the year before that", I raise a finger, "my feelings are still the same. He's going to suffer over not knowing what he did and maybe, just maybe when I'm older and willing to move on from all of this which I highly doubt, I'll call him out on how much of an asshole he is"

She holds a blank expression on her face, "You're right, he deserves it", she says nodding and rubbing circles on her thighs through the black leggings she's wearing.

I can't help but chuckle and shove her lightly.

"So, Louis gave me some pills. They're new and apparently are supposed to take me to paradise or some shit"

I laugh at how she mockingly says the word paradise, "what pills are those?"

"I don't know, they're in my backpack so I'll show you later. I'm not taking them without you around though"

"He probably just wants you to loosen up. You know he likes you right?"

She scoffs, "yes but he's my friend. I don't see him any other way"

I chuckle, "you're mean"

"I don't want a boyfriend when I have you. Love is so overrated"

She stands up and walks out of the kitchen towards the living area. "Unless you decide to have a girlfriend of course", she adds.

"Yeah, that's not happening"

"Never say Never Jonah"

I roll my eyes as we sit on the couch and she grabs the remote on the center table to turn on the television. She switches through channels slowly.

"When are you going to make popcorn? I'm hungry"

"I was going to do that but now I feel too lazy", she trails.

"Who got you pregnant Hailee?", I ask with a serious tone in my voice, "Tell me. I won't judge you"

"Twat!", She grabs a cushion and beats me lightly with it.

I laugh, using my hands to protect my face.

The doorbell rings and I frown as I stare at the door.

"Are you expecting anyone?", I turn to ask her.

She shrugs and smiles sheepishly earning an eyebrow raise from me. I stand up and walk towards the door, opening it.

Brooke's golden-brown eyes stare back at me. Her hair is packed and clipped at the back; a small lock of hair falls across her face. She is wearing a black skirt with black thigh high boots to match. My hoodie is hung over her arm and she plays nervously with the hem of her red shirt with the other.

"Collins?"

She raises her hand to tuck the lock of hair behind her ear. I find myself wishing I could have done that for some reason.

"Hi Jonah"