Chapter 38

       "It's weird how bored I always get in the summer," Orchid said, attempting to read a book but she was always getting distracted every so often. "Like you'd think I'd have a lot more fun because of all the free time. It's probably because I have, like, almost no friends so I can't have that stereotypical summer before university that everyone has."

       "Or you could be bored because you've been coming here every day and there's only so much we can do," I said from where I was sitting at my desk.

       "No, that's not it," Orchid said. "I'm just going to blame it on the fact that I pretty much have no friends. I think you're my only friend, but you're also my boyfriend so that doesn't count."

       "Why is it that you don't have any friends?" I asked. "You're one of the sweetest girls ever."

       "Awe, you're so nice," Orchid said. "But it's probably because all I do is hang out with my brothers and they can be a bit intense."

       I furrowed my eyebrows. "They? Isn't Nolan the calmest person ever?"

       "I wouldn't say calm, exactly," Orchid said. "More like quiet. And yes, I guess I was talking about Alan. Most people get a headache if they spend too much time around him."

       "He's not that bad."

       "You're only saying that because you're his best friend and you don't have to live with him." Orchid placed a bookmark on the page she was on before she closed the book and sat up on my bed. "Hey, I just realized something that's completely unfair. Alan has a best friend, and Nolan and I don't. I think that means you shouldn't be best friends with Alan anymore. At least until Nolan and I find something."

       "I'm pretty sure Nolan is perfectly fine just having Jerome in his life. Hasn't he said that he prefers less friends because more is too stressful?"

       "Okay, then you have to wait until I get a best friend."

       "Sure. Just know that Alan will probably throw a hissy fit if I tell him we can no longer be best friends."

       "I'm fine with that. One second thought, maybe not. He threw a hissy fit yesterday because our dad wouldn't let him cook the bacon we had. It ended with the stove on fire."

       "What? How?"

       "Alan ended up trying to cook spaghetti because it's his second favourite food, but he was still upset that he couldn't have bacon and forgot about the boiling pasta so it caught on fire."

       I was silent for a bit. "The pasta in water... caught on fire? How?"

       "Beats me. It's Alan we're talking about. He's constantly catching things on fire. Part of me is starting to think he's a pyromaniac." Orchid scooted closer to the edge of the bed. "Hey, is there something that has been on your mind recently?"

       I furrowed my eyebrows. "What makes you think that?" I didn't think I was acting any different recently, and it wasn't like I could do a good job at expressing my emotions. If something was on my mind, it was rare for people to figure it out.

       "Because you've been asking me to come here every day," Orchid said.

       "So what? I can't hang out with my girlfriend every day?"

       "It's not that. Of course you can. It just always seems like you've got something to tell me, but then you decide against it. That, and I'm really good at reading people."

       "That's surprising," I muttered. Orchid furrowed her eyebrows and I soon realized what that sounded like. "Sorry, that has nothing to do with you. I'm just surprised you could read me."

       "Why?" Orchid asked.

       "It... has to do with what I've been wanting to tell you," I said. "So, yeah, I guess you're right. There is something that has been on my mind. It's just... hard to talk about. I don't think I've ever talked about it. Like, actually talked about it. Just brought it up when I need to."

       "What is it?" 

       I still couldn't find the words to explain everything to Orchid, so I took the easy way out. I unlocked my cell phone and opened a page explaining alexithymia. I handed my phone to Orchid. "Here. I have this."

       Orchid grabbed my phone and quickly read the page before saying, "Oh."

       "Oh?" I repeated. "Just... oh?"

       "Well, what do you want me to say?"

       "I don't know. That I'm different, I guess."

       Orchid snorted and handed the phone back to me. "Everyone is different, Atticus. I don't think anyone should tell someone they're different. Besides, you can't expect every single person on the earth to be neurotypical. Thank you, for telling me. I know it's not the easiest thing to talk about stuff that isn't 'normal'."

       I got off of my computer chair and walked over to Orchid, giving her a lingering kiss. "Thank you for being so understanding. So how about we do something to get that stereotypical summer you want?"

       "As cool as that sounds, it's too hot outside," Orchid whined, laying back down on the bed. "I like the summer, but I don't like being in the heat for too long. It sucks because most of my family does like the heat. Nolan is the only sane one and likes the cold with me."

       "It's not too hot outside," I said.

       "Atticus, it's summer and we're in Florida," Orchid said. "It is that hot. Ooh, how about we run away somewhere cold? As a bonus, it will piss of our parents."

       "Our dads," I corrected. "Our moms are the mature ones and aren't the ones forcing us in a whole Romeo and Juliet situation."

       "Yeah, that's true," Orchid said. "So how about it?"

       "I don't think either of us have enough money to go somewhere cold," I said. "And I would rather not piss off my dad on purpose."

       "How about on accident?"

       "Running away to somewhere cold is doing it on purpose."

       Orchid huffed. "Then I don't know how to spend summer before we start university."

       "We'll think of something," I said.

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two chapters left! i just hope i can figure out what to write so i don't take months to update again... i'm going to try finishing this at least before february ends. hopefully.