Seize The Day

“Let's go buy some paint!” Cassy screamed in my ear. I pulled my pillow over my head grumbling. “Wakey wakey sleepy head.” Cassy said jumping up and down on my bed.
“Ugh, what fucking time is it?”
“Its 10 am bitch.” Cassy said jumping and landing on her butt next to my face. “I also called Jimmy and asked if we would help us paint.” She said cheerily.
“Why?” I asked slowly moving the pillow form my face, the sun was streaming through the windows, I really need to put up my black out curtains because these white sheer ones didn’t do shit.
“Because we are not painting this entire place with only the two of us.”
“True,” I said rolling out of my bed landing on the floor; I crawled over to my dresser pulling out some old jean shorts and my grey We Came As Romans shirt. I showered and got dressed and we went to Home Depot.
We picked out some pastel green for the living/kitchen area to make the room even brighter. Cassy picked out purple to paint her room and I picked out a peacock green to do an accent wall in my room. We also picked out chalkboard pain to paint a wall in the kitchen so we could draw and write on it. When we pulled up to the house there was a green Corolla out front with Zacky, Matt, and Jimmy leaning against it. “Good morning,” Jimmy smiled and greeted us as we slid out of my Tahoe.
“Nothing good about it.” I grumbled I was tired and didn’t really feel motivated to paint, I guess it was a good thing Jimmy dragged along some of the guys.
“Oh somebody is grumpy.” Zacky said smiling at me.
“Oh she’s always a grumpy pants in the morning.” Cassy said making a pouty face.
“Hey, I didn’t wake you up; you could have at least retuned the favor.” I said unloading the paint from the back of my truck.
“Meh.” Cassy shrugged grabbing the paintbrushes.
We hauled the paint and the brushes into the house. The guys did most of the painting in the living area while Cass and I tackled our bedrooms. We finished painting around four and everyone was complaining they were hungry. “We should go get something to eat.” Mat said sitting down and stretching out on the couch.
“What do you feel like eating?” Zack asked from his spot on the floor.
“Why are you wanting to go out, we have a perfectly capable beautiful woman who can fucking cook.” Cassy said pointing her beer at me.
I blushed a little because all the guys turned and looked at me. “Uhm, I could make pasta.” I said turning and opening up our pantry.
“Chicken alfredo!” Cassy said excitedly getting up from her chair and walking to the kitchen.
“We don’t have chicken or alfredo sauce.” I said moving food around.
“I can run and pick some up.” Zacky said standing up.
Cassy started to laugh. “She doesn’t like other people buying ingredients.” She said looking at me with her goofy little smile on her face.
“Then me and her can go and you put the water on.” Zack said.
“Hey that’s my car and my cousin.” Jimmy said looking between me and Zack.
“Yup they’re going to have crazy monkey sex in your car while going to buy chicken and alfredo sauce.” Cassy said looking at Jimmy. “Just give them the car keys.”
Jimmy handed Zacky his car keys and I followed Zacky out of the house. “Uh where do you usually go to get ingredients?” He asked climbing into Jimmy’s car, for someone so tall this car was quite small.
“Wal Mart is fine.” I said I felt awkward I always had a small crush on Zacky he was my favorite kind of guy, covered in tattoos, dark hair and bright eyes.
“Is there something on my face?” Zack asked with a small smile on his face.
“Oh god no!” I could feel the heat rising to my face, “Sorry.” I whispered looking at my hands.
“Hey it’s all good I know I’m fucking sexy aren’t I?” He said chuckling as he turned into the Wal Mart parking lot.
“Modesty is obviously not one of your traits.” I said climbing out of the car. We walked in and I grabbed a hand basket and headed to the meat section.
“So why don’t you like other people buying ingredients for you?” Zack asked picking up some chicken breast.
“Cassy says that but truly I’m not like that, I’m only like that with her because she just throws shit into a cart and squishes everything.” I said taking the chicken from his hands and putting it in the basket.
“Ah a carless shopper.” He said laughing taking the basket from me. “It’s heavy I’ll carry it.” I looked at him, “What?” He asked.
“It’s nothing” I said. I’m sure he was only trying to be nice I hated that he kind of undermined my strength. I walked toward the sauce isle. “What type of alfredo sauce to you guys usually eat?” I asked looking at the variety we had to choose form.
“it’s whatever you guys use. We’re men we’re not very picky.” He said smiling at me.
“Okay that is very true.” I picked up a jar of Ragu. “Let’s go before Cassy starts to chew on the couch.” I said Zacky kind of laughed, probably imagining her chewing on the couch she acted like a rabbit sometimes so it wasn’t that hard to imagine. We checked out and headed back to the house. When we opened the door all I saw was Jimmy and Cassy fighting over what kind of pasta to use and Matt was sitting on the couch watching them. I walked up and smacked his arm. “Are you enjoying this?” I asked setting the food on the island.
“It’s like watching children.”
“No I want Angel Hair!” Cassy yelled holding up the box she was holding.
“Well I want fettuccine!” Jimmy yelled back shaking the box in his hand.
“Okay, okay enough both of you.” I said walking between them grabbing the boxes. I put them both behind my back and looked at Matt. “Pick a hand.” I said.
“Right hand.” Matt said looking amused.
“Fettuccine it is.” I said putting the box on the counter Cassy pouted and walked and turned on the TV putting the Lion King in Jimmy shuffled over and sat next to her and Matt Joined them.
“Do you want some help?” Zack mumbled in my ear.
“Sure,” I said turning around, I hadn’t realized how close he was. “Oh uhm you can cut the fat off the chicken.” I said turning around and moving away.
“Okay can do.” Zacky said pulling the chicken out of the plastic and putting it on the cutting board.
We finished cooking and served the others while they watched the movie. Zacky grabbed his plate then grabbed my free hand and led me out to the back patio. “What? What’s wrong?” Zack asked looking at me. Truthfully I didn’t know usually I was really relaxed around people even if I found them attractive.
“Nothing,” I said smiling and sitting down.
“Are you sure?” Zacky asked sitting down across from me, he looked a bit concerned.
“I’m okay I swear.”
“Homesick?” He asked looking at me intensely.
I looked up at him a bit shocked, maybe that’s what it was. Maybe I actually missed Maryland. But the more I thought about it the more I doubted that’s what it was. I never had many friends in Maryland and I was really happy to be in my own place and finally my own person. I pursed my lips and shook my head. “No it’s not that I just…” I paused looking at Zacky, “It’s just something about you.” I said looking down and twirling my spaghetti. Zacky smiled and we continued our meal in silence.
Zacky helped me do the dishes and once the movie was over the guys left.
“So where did you and Mr. Vengeance go?” Cassy asked sitting at the bar stool.
“We went out back to eat so we didn’t disturb your movie watching.” I said drying my hands.
“What were you doing that would disturb our movie watching?” Cassy asked wiggling her eyebrows.
“Talking,” I said throwing the towel in her face. “Goodnight Cass.” I said walking to my room and shutting the door.

Notes