We Gamble With Desire

After hanging up, I set Sebastian on the floor and headed towards Alex and my bedroom; the room that needed the most attention. Frantically I stuffed dirty clothes in laundry basket to be washed and clean clothes in the drawers. Grabbing a few empty water bottles and plastic movie wrappers I made my way down to the basement to our laundry room, which doubled as a music-practice room.

In the small, somewhat depressing, white room I shoved clothes in our machine and prayed I’d have enough time to finish cleaning the house.

Back in the kitchen I scrubbed the granite counters and finished the dishes from this morning’s breakfast. Sweeping the floor quickly as Sebastian yelped at my feet.

“Baz, if you don’t like the broom why do you come by me?” I asked him as if he could respond to me. He barked happily up towards me then pranced over to his food bowl which was practically empty. “Oh, it’d probably help if I gave you some lunch.” I leaned down into the bottom cabinet where we kept the extremely large, heavy, bag of dog food. After giving him two cupfuls of dry food I closed the bag and the cabinet and let him eat.

Straightening up the living room I folded the large black fleece blanket, which was always draped over the couch, and put the pillows back in the corner of the grey couch. Sebastian, now finished with the food in the kitchen, decided to jump up onto the couch, messing up the pillows. “Sebastian, I just fixed that.” I complained as I moved him off the couch. I turned my back to take the empty cup off the table and he jumped back up. “Sebastian, no off the couch!” Looking hurt, he jumped off and walked, with his tail between his legs, to Alex and my room. After disposing the cup in the dishwasher and straightening the coffee table, I went to my room to get ready.

“Sebastian? Where are you bud?” I called into the light green room as I looked for the small dog. “Sebastian?” I asked again looking under the bed and behind items when I couldn’t find him. “Where’d you go?” I wondered aloud, slightly worried.

Walking into the hallway I called for him again “Baz?”

When the little dog didn’t come out of his hiding spot, I figured he was moping after being yelled at and went into the bathroom to get ready to pick up the boys.

I turned on the shower without looking inside the plastic fish curtain, that Alex insisted we have. A moment after the water came on I heard a yelp, followed by Sebastian scrambling to get out of the tub. Being too small to jump up without help I came to the rescue, pushing back the curtain quickly and picking him up. I laughed at the sight, “Poor baby, no wonder you didn’t come when I called you.” I grabbed one of the towels out of the cabinet and dried him off.

With the door closed I knew he wouldn’t be able to get out and drip around the house. “Just give me ten minutes Baz, relax.” I said as I climbed into the shower.

Once I was through with the shower and drying my hair I walked into the bedroom, towel wrapped around me. I pulled out a small grey sweater dress and purple tights from my closet and put them on quickly grabbing my brown bag and black boots, I rushed back into the bathroom to get dressed, put eyeliner and mascara on, and to throw my hair up in a messy pony tail.

As I reached the small entryway to our house I switched the stuff from my usual purse to the phone I had grabbed earlier; making sure I had my phone, Ipod and keys I opened the door, only to find Sebastian whining at my feet. “Sebastian, I gotta go.” I said trying to get around him to open the screen door without him leaving with me. Slipping between my feet every time, I wasn’t having much luck. “Ugh, you’re so spoiled Sebastian.” I said picking him up. “Come on.”

In the car, I put Sebastian down on the seat next to me and pushed the key in the ignition. With the sound of the car starting up Sebastian got up on the window to look out. I opened the garage door with the push of a button and plugged in my ipod for music; setting it to Fall Out Boy’s Get Bust Living or Get Busy Dying.

After the fifteen minute drive to the airport I parked the car on a close spot to the door on the first floor, cracked the windows a bit for Sebastian, grabbed my keys and ipod, and headed for the cross walk to the pickup section.

Not even two minutes after I got inside Alex called me, “Spencer guess where I am!”

“Umm, the moon?” I asked laughing.

“No, you’re allowed one more guess.”

“Uh, I don’t know Alex; where are you?” I said sitting down in the uncomfortable plastic chairs near the escalators.

“I am home!”

“You’re at the house Alex.” I asked, although it came out as more of a statement, through clenched teeth.

“No, not yet; I’m ridding down the escalator. Oh my god I see you!” He waved excitedly “Oh, bye.” He hung up and ran up to me, shoving his bag into Zack’s stomach. He pulled me close into him hugging me until I couldn’t breathe. “I missed you.”

“Can’t breathe.” I said before he looked down and released me. “I missed you too!”

“God, you’re even hotter than before.” He said smirking.

I smacked his arm lightly. “Shut up.”

“Sorry, I cannot tell a lie.”

“Oh, alright Honest Abe.” I laughed at him and he pulled me close again.

“You really are beautiful, Spencer.”

“Lies.” I whispered as he leaned down to kiss me lightly.

Just before we could let the kiss turn into anything Jack Zack and Rian surrounded us. “Seriously get a room.” Zack said shoving Alex’s bag back at Alex.

“Ouch dude.” Alex said holding the heavy bag, pretending to be seriously hurt.

“You deserved it Lex.” I said hugging Zack tightly.

“Spencer!” Jack yelled loudly.

I cringed at the volume of his voice in my ear, people around us starred at the screaming boy. “Jack, inside voice.” I giggled at the idea of Jack actually ever listening to that.

“Sorry, I do not comprehend your words.” He joked grabbing me and hugging me tightly.

“Dude, let her breathe; it can’t be healthy.” Zack said from behind me.

“Don’t kill my girlfriend Jack.” Alex said seriously.

He let me down, looking hurt. “You didn’t hurt me Jack; you’re not strong enough.” I joked; his scrawniness was a good cover for his actual strength.

“Rian, you look sad.” I noticed turning to the last member of the band; thankful he wasn’t going to hug me like Jack and Alex tended to do, with his muscles he could probably break something.

“Nah, I’m good.” He said, trying to look normal.

“No you’re not; she’ll be home soon, promise.” I said, knowing he missed Kara being here.

“I know.” He said smiling at me, as the other three boys joked around waiting for their luggage.

“I’m not Kara, but I do give good hugs.” I said opening my arms attempting to cheer him up.

He chuckled and bent down to hug me, tighter than normal. “Come on; let’s make sure Jack and Alex don’t force Zack onto the conveyor belt.” I laughed with him and walked over to the three rambunctious boys.

After grabbing their large bags the five us headed out towards the car. “Oh, by the way Baz is in the car.” I said looking up at Alex. He nodded, setting his in the pile Rian was hurrying to stuff in the trunk he walked to the front door to hold his puppy.

Once the trunk was loaded and closed Rian, Zack, and Jack filed into the back seat and I climbed into the driver seat.

After at least ten minutes of music Rian asked, “Why is Sebastian in the car?”

“Because Sebastian spends way too much time with Alex, he’s turning into him.” I said, staring accusingly at the dog.

“What’d you mean?” Alex asked, looking hurt.

“Alright so I was cleaning the living room today, and I was fixing the couch; folding the blanket and setting the pillows in the right spot and Sebastian kept jumping on the couch, after I pushed him down, and messed them up. So after the second time I yelled at him a bit and he scurried off to our bedroom” I looked at Alex for a moment then back at the road. “to pout.”

“Oh that sounds like Alex.” Rian said laughing.

“There’s more; So after I come to look for him but I can’t find him in the room, I give up decide to take a shower, so I turn on the water without looking and then I hear a loud yelp, Baz had been chilling in the shower, hiding. And then after when I was leaving he refused to let me leave without him, so I took him.” I finished as we pulled into the driveway at our house.

“That doesn’t sound like me.” Alex protested.

The four of us, and even Sebastian, looked at Alex like he was crazy. “Yes it does babe.” I grabbed his hand and squeezed it lightly, as we chuckled.