We finished most of the junking by nine, and we stepped back to survey the work. My temper had improved. I had gone from downright furious to a slow simmer.
“That’s it.” Mateo said. “Now we just need some paint.”
“I can get that.” Celeste said hurriedly.
That still didn’t redeem the fact that Mateo had let her break into the secret early. “Yeah, and maybe, just maybe, a good mopping.”
“I can do that.” Celeste said hurriedly.
“We might also need somebody to lick those windows clean.” I pointed at the windows that peeked out at the street, ten feet above ground level.
She glanced at me. “Are you testing me or something?”
I didn’t reply.
Mateo grabbed the soccer ball off a pile of cleaning supplies we had amassed. “But first, let’s try it out!”
He dropped the ball, cradled it on his foot, and then shot off towards the center, trick-dribbling like mad.
I sighed. If only.
Celeste jumped out to join in, and he passed the ball to her. I watched as they kicked it back and forth, and inadvertently slipped into studying her style. While I had at first thought that she had lacked the basic skillset, I revised the opinion. She had some skill, it was just buried too deeply beneath some mental block, and weirdly enough, she seemed nervous.
Then I realized she was conscious that I was staring intently at her, and I looked away with a small shake of my head. I grabbed an expired Gatorade, and sipped at it experimentally. Not half bad. Not like the one I had tried yesterday, which had almost made the toilet I poured it into choke.
She wasn’t bad looking at all. Her blond hair was struggling to get loose from her sloppy ponytail. Her eyes were wide and disarming, her form athletic and graceful. Her skin was almost as pale as the moon, and seemed to glow similarly sometimes.
I shook my head, my normal scowl returning. I stormed back into the office, and buried my head in the couch, frustration making me grip so tightly to the cushions I felt one rip.
They burst through the door, sweaty and smiling. “Five stars, bruh!” Mateo said. “Slick and smooth! We know how to pick ‘em!” He just then seemed to sense my mood. “What up, bruh?”
“Nothing.” I said, more worn out than anything else. Tired of fighting myself, fighting my fears, and fighting my friends. Celeste took what normally would’ve been a good guess at the reason for my disposition. “I’m sure your leg will heal up soon, Alejandro.”
Why did her saying my name make it sound special? She was wrong, so wrong. My leg would never be fine. I would never be fine. I was damaged goods.
Technically I didn't say it. I've spent like $5000 in the last 24 hours, and I never wanna swipe my credit card ever again.
Oh right, of course, strikethroughs. Good heavens! Please tell me it wasn't all Jurassic merch! I didn't get a credit card, I prefer cash of debit. I like spending too much to have a credet card. XD
And the fact I typed it. No, it was 90% car stuff. I'm the proud owner of an '08 Ford Focus. Mine is both.
Unfortunately, it both does, and also has pointy teeth. ![[nerd]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/CCtiBbSMRtImQAQydMtT.png)
Call it a gift. 
