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Accordance (Significance #2)(4)

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“Thanks,” I said and tussled the strands of hair by my chin. “It’s really short.”
“Not that short.” He pulled it back for me like it was going in a ponytail and showed me I could still put it up if I wanted to, barely. “See?”
“Yeah,” I said as he released it and ran his fingers through it instead. I shivered and smiled in shy embarrassment. “So, you like it? It’s ok, really?”
“I love it. You look more...grown up.”
“Thanks.”
“Do you like it? Are you happy?”
“Yes. I do and I am.”
He ran his hands down my arms.
“You are really soft and sweet smelling for someone who claimed to have been tortured.”
I laughed and pushed his chest a little playfully.
“It was torture. Next time, you come back with me.”
“Next time?” He leaned forward closely. “Are you saying you’re going to let me spoil you again?”
“We’ll see.”
“Hey, that’s progress as far as I’m concerned,” he said grinning and took my hand to tow me to the receptionist to pay.
I balked when she said my total.
What! Did we just buy a used car I didn’t know about?
He laughed and covered it in a cough as he gave her his credit card.
Spoiling doesn’t come cheap, my love.
Caleb...It’s too much-
Don’t start that again. I thought we were making headway here?
That was before I realized you’d have to sell a kidney to get me a haircut.
Maggie, Maggie. Money is just paper.
To you maybe.
He smirked and signed his receipt and we got in the Jeep and headed to the beach house. Bish and Kyle were in the den, playing video games together.
“You two aren’t supposed to leave without me, you know,” Bish spouted, not taking his eyes from the screen. Kyle screamed in battle rage and Bish yelled back as his avatar was decapitated. “Oh! Come on, man!” He threw the controller to the couch cushions. “Yes? I’m waiting patiently for an excuse,” he said all smart elect like as he stood and turned to glower at us. But his glower soon turned to surprise and then a small smile. “Maggie? What did you do? You look...gorgeous.”
“That’s what I said,” Caleb spouted happily.
“You cut your hair?” Bish said and came to stand in front of me. “Why? I mean, I like it but, why?”
Kyle glanced at me over the couch back and did a double take. I immediately blocked his thoughts.
“I just wanted something new.”
“Well, you got it, really.” He let a few strands run through his fingers. “It looks really good on you, kid.”
“Thanks. Ok. How about some supper now? I’m starving,” I said trying to steer the thought process away from me.
“Well,” Caleb said. “I started supper but it burned when I was...I forgot about it I guess when we were getting ready.”Crap. Was it because of me?
It’s ok.
“I’ll order a couple pizzas,” Caleb said.
“Better order a few. I’m starved,” Kyle said, coming to stand beside me. He turned to look at me and smiled. “You do look really great.”
“Thanks. I’m just glad they could fix it.”
“Fix it? What do you mean,” Bish asked quirking a curious brow.
“Uh...just that it was so damaged. They did some treatments on me.”
“Is that why you smell so good,” Kyle said and circled me. He smelled my hair from behind. “Mmmm.”
“Kyle, stop.”
“What?” he said innocently.
I turned and looked him in his eye. My gaze didn’t waver. I pleaded with him silently and saw him soften.
“Please, Kyle. It doesn’t have to be this way.”
I saw him about to speak but Caleb returned so he sighed and went back to the couch. Bish shook his head at me.
“Ok. Pizza will be here in thirty minutes or it’s free,” Caleb announced.
“What kind did you get?” Kyle asked, back to playing his game.
“Four: one pepperoni, one pineapple ham, two with everything.”
“Did you get one everything with no black or green olives? Because Maggie hates them,” Bish volunteered.
“I can pick them out, Bish. It’s ok,” I assured and gave him a funny look.
“Actually,” Caleb started and threw his arm over my shoulder. “I got one pizza with no olives. I knew you hated them.” He kissed my temple and smirked. “So Bish,” he turned to him and nodded his head toward Kyle, “what do you say we kill each other?”
“With pleasure,” Bish said but his smile was playful as they both made their way to sit by Kyle. Caleb threw himself on a huge brown suede beanbag and Bish sat in the club chair. “Set us up, Kyle.”
“Oh, yeah!” Kyle yelled animated. “I haven’t whipped you in Halo in too long, my friend.”
“In your dreams,” Caleb rebutted and looked to me. “Maggie, you in?”
“I don’t know how to play.”
“Come here.” He scooted back a bit and beckoned me to him. I sat between his legs and he wrapped his arms around me to show me the controller. “You can watch me this time and then we’ll add you next go round. K?”
“K.”
I wasn’t about to complain. I had the best seat in the house. They played for a while and then I heard the doorbell. I whispered to Caleb that I’d get it and he muttered a response but was so into the game, I may as well have not been there. I laughed under my breath and grabbed the money he’d set aside on the table to give the delivery man. I opened the door and saw a guy, about seventeen, maybe eighteen. 
“Hi. $27.50.”
Well helloooooo pretty lady.
“Here you go,” I said and tried not to roll my eyes.
“Need change?”
I got some change for you.
“Nope, thanks.”
“Hey, is Caleb here?”
“Uh...yeah. Hold on.”
I took the pizza, placing it on the table and did roll my eyes as I heard his next thought.
Even better from the back.
“Caleb. The delivery guy wants you,” I called.
“Huh?” he asked still not looking at me.
“He asked if you were here.”
He placed the game on pause and looked pensive.
“Oh. It’s probably Chris.” He went to the door and I didn’t follow but I stood where I was. I could hear their thoughts anyway. I didn’t need to be close.
“Hey, man. Long time no see,” Caleb said and they did some strange handshake, bumping fist and snapping thing. “So is Zeke home from school?”
“Yeah, he’s throwing a major rager at the pier tomorrow night. I wanted to see if you’d come.” He looked over at me and clucked his tongue in appreciation. “And bring all that goodness with you.”
“Hey,” Caleb barked, “that goodness is mine.”
“Sorry. Nice work, man. Kyle here too?”
“You know it,” Caleb replied begrudged.
“Cool, bring him. Eight o’clock.”
“Ok. We’ll see. Thanks, man.”
“See ya.”
Caleb shut the door and turned to see me watching.
“That’s Chris. He’s the little brother of a guy we used to hang out with when we came here in the summer.”
“Uhuh,” I gave him a raised eyebrow look and cocked my head in jest. “And...all this goodness is yours, huh?”
He laughed.
“You little eavesdropper.” He hugged me to him. “And yes. All mine.”
I just giggled and went on my tiptoes to kiss him...just as Bish came around the corner with Kyle on his heels.
“I thought we agreed to cut that out,” Bish muttered.
“I didn’t agree to anything,” I said as I handed him a plate and heard him grunt.
We took our plates to the den and they resumed their game, while eating. It was strange to watch them. They didn’t even look when they took a bite. It was just mindless automation.
I texted Beck as soon as I was done.
Hey. I’m still fine. I’m actually in California with Caleb. Long story but it was necessary for safety reasons. I’ll call you soon, Love.
Once Caleb was done eating he got me to sit in between his legs again and showed me how to work the controls. I received my answer from Beck.
Awesome! California?! Holy cow, Mags, you are gonna be so tan. Call me soon.
Kyle added me as a player and we started again. I was killed in like seventeen seconds. Kyle.
“Dude, take it easy on her,” Caleb scolded. “She’s never played before.”
“No prisoners,” Kyle mumbled as he shot someone, poking his control forward with each gunshot. “Oh yeah, take that New York City.”
I realized that was Bish’s name on the game.
“I’m tired anyway,” I said to Caleb. “Can I just sit here?”
“Yeah.” He looked down at me. “You want me to go to bed with you?”
“No, you play. If I fall asleep, you’ll be here with me. It’ll be ok.”
“Why don’t you just go lie down on the bed by yourself, Maggie?” Bish said and though his eyes were on the game, his voice was puzzled. “Or the couch in the other room? It’s not rocket science.”“I’m fine here. Thanks.”
“Whatever. Caleb can’t be comfortable like that. And I never pegged you as the clingy girlfriend,” he said in a mocking tone.
I had no idea what to say. I always looked nuts-so, everything I did, to Bish. He thought I was naïve and immature and now clingy because of this echoling thing and Caleb not being able to leave my side. I just snuggled into Caleb’s chest and tried not to think about it.