The Art of Getting By

Chapter Two

"I'm sure he's just busy, keep trying." I mutter.

"Yes. Anyways, I called you in here because I want to let you know that you'll be helping me and Donna set up for the party on Sunday so don't make any plans." Yeah? Don't bother asking mom. I've always done what you wanted why would I stop now? I wonder what she would actually do if I said I had plans.

"Uh, I already had plans with Ethan." I test, rubbing a hand over the back of my head, waiting to see what she says.

She doesn't skip a beat, "Great! he can come too. In fact invite him to the meeting while you're at it." My mom's been trying to get Ethan to come to church ever since I'd met him. You'd think she'd have gotten the hint after sixteen years.

"Yeah..I'll do that." I lie, because I am one hundred percent against putting Ethan in a position of discomfort. I mean my entire life was a position of discomfort so I know how that feels. Why would I put someone else through that shit? Resigned to my ill fate I give myself one last glance in the mirror. My phone vibrates in my pants and I know it's Ethan calling. "Right well. I'm heading out for a while."

"Don't stay out too late." She mutters as she turns back to her planner, probably writing down all the crap that needs to be prepared. I nod a silent affirmation because I know that she most likely won't even notice if I come back late anyways.

As soon as I shut my front door behind me there is a series of obnoxious honks and I hop down my front steps to see Ethan warding off an over excited Ady in the seat next to him. "Stop honking! Jesus woman give me some breathing room!" He wails as he bats her hands away from his steering wheel. Neither of them notice me as I walk up. Typical Ethan and Ady, always arguing.

"He's taking forever though!" She whines, and motions to break past Ethan's arm barrier.

Ethan ninja chops her hands away, "We've been here for five fucking seconds, chill out!"

Aw man, how I missed their nonsense. I creep up to the window and deliver a series of wraps with my knuckles. Ady lets out a horrified scream and wraps her arms around Ethan's shoulders burying her face in his chest. Ethan doesn't seem all that disturbed by the fact that Ady's freckled arms are wringing the life out of him. In fact, I might say he's kind of enjoying it. The loud click of the back seat being unlocked signals me to enter, and as I squish into the car as Ethan lectures Ady on being over emotional. Of course, she isn't listening to him. She turns to me with wet eyelashes, her eyebrows knitted together in anger.

"Danny Walker what the hell is wrong with you!" Damn, girl can't take a joke. I wasn't even that loud, it was just a polite knock. Women. I offer Ethan a raised brow and he just shakes his head in resignation.

"Good to see you too Ady." I grumble.

"It would have been better if you hadn't have tried to give me a heart attack." She lectures.

"I'm deeply sorry madam that was not my intention." I lean back in the seat to get comfortable. I know Ady won't be upset for long, she can't keep grudges at all. She gets over excited too fast. Maybe Ethan and I are lucky in that way, because she would have probably dropped us so fast if she was any other girl. We can be...somewhat annoying when we get together. "So where are we going?" I question Ethan as he pulls expertly out of my driveway in one fluid motion.

"Well I was thinking drop by the grocery store, pick up a twelve pack...maybe some vodka I don't know. I'm feeling some hard liquor." Damn, Ethan always knows just what to say. I'm not one to get knock out drunk but I could totally use a strong drink right about now. The week has been a really wrecked one. I withdrew from classes, got kicked out of my dorm, was molested by my mother's best friend, and had an extremely weird encounter with my brother's teacher. It only seems like it's going to get more stressful from here on out. I mean just living at home is a trigger. "After that we can head over to Wilfrith Community. One of our classmates over there is throwing a party and invited us."