Right Where I Belong

“Alyssa come on, get up! I want you to come with me.” McKenzie said knocking on my bedroom door.
“Why should I? Besides today is my day off, why would I want to spend it with your boyfriend and his annoying twin brother?” I half yelled; sleep still over taking my body and mind.
“I’ll buy you a mocha frappe.” McKenzie half sang, I sat up and ran to my door throwing it open.
“Deal!” I said turning around grabbing a pair of jeans from my closet and slipping them on, putting a bra on I grabbed the first tank top to touch my fingers. It was a white tank with a black heart on the front, it was simple and cute. I grabbed my favorite heels, purple roses and skulls were all over them. I quickly did my makeup and grabbed my purse.
I walked into the short hallway that leads to the open kitchen and living room of the Apartment.
“Ready?” McKenzie asked as she grabbed her purse and phone. I took in McKenzie’s appearance; she wore a simple black tank with a gray cardigan. I was surprised to see her wearing jeans, along with some cute gray flats. Lately she had been in a high heel mood. Natural make up covered her face and I noticed she wore her simple locket that her mother had given her as a gift in high school.
Double checking I had everything I would need I nodded, “Yeah, let’s head on out!”
* * *
“I know he’s your boyfriend and all, but why the hell do I have to go with you?” I asked McKenzie as we drove to her boyfriend’s house in Glendale, CA from our place in LA.
“Because I want you to come, besides Joel likes you and so do the rest of the guys. What I don’t get is why you don’t like them.” She asked looking at me for a second as we stopped at the stoplight.
“Hold up, first I never said I didn’t like them, I actually do like them, but what I don’t like is how Benji always picks on me, does he not have anything better to do? Second I just find it awkward after they found out that I don’t like their ‘Good Morning Revival’ CD.” I said mentally sighing remember the day that came out to Joel and Benji. Of course Benji had a few things to say to me and I had some things to say back.
“I don’t get why either, considering you have two favorite songs off that album.” She said taking a sip from her Starbucks coffee. Sure I had two favorite songs off the album, but everything else was just okay compared to their older stuff and now that Cardiology was out, I had really fallen in love with that album.
I sighed slumping down in my seat slightly and drinking from my Mocha Frappe, “How in the hell do you go from The Chronicles of Life and Death which to me is totally perfect of them and has like this darkness to it to Good Morning Revival which is practically the polar opposite! White does not do them justice.” I said defending myself. I didn’t care if they thought I was wrong, but it was my opinion.
McKenzie sighed, “Let’s just agree to disagree.” She said pulling into Joel’s driveway. I nodded in agreement and stepped out of the car. I grabbed my purse heading in, not even bothering to wait for McKenzie who was fixing her hair and makeup in the review mirror. I opened the front door without even knocking and walking into the entry way.
“Joel we’re here! Your crazy girlfriend is in the car fixing herself up!” I half yelled not sure where he was in the house.
“In the Kitchen Alyssa” Benji called, I rolled my eyes it figures he would be here. I made my way back to the kitchen and as Joel was about to say something, McKenzie entered the house.
“Nice ditching me Allie” McKenzie smacked my arm playfully.
“It’s not my fault you take forever to fix yourself up, Joel already loves you for you, I don’t think he’s going to care if you have a hair out of place.” I slurped up the last of my mocha frappe and walked past Benji to place it in the trash.
“Do you have enough purple on? Benji asked I knew he would say something about what I was wearing. It wasn’t even that much, just my nails and shoes.
“It’s not that much; Mr. All I wear is black.” I retorted I could see McKenzie and Joel shaking their heads. For some reason Benji had it out for me from day one, I hadn’t even sat down when he made his first comment about what I was wearing.
“I don’t wear that much black, Allie.” Benji said leaning against the counter keeping his eyes on me.
“Whatever I’m not arguing with you today, it’s my day off and I’m going to enjoy it.” I said turning to face my two friends. I heard Benji sigh behind and then watched as he passed the three of us heading outside into Joel’s backyard.
“Can’t you two ever get along?” Joel laughed getting himself water from the fridge.
“Why are you asking me? I have been nothing but nice to your brother and he is the one always starting shit!”
“Go apologize.” McKenzie stated in a motherly tone, what was this bullshit. I looked at her confused; there was no way in hell I was going to apologize to Benji for something he started.
“Hell no, if anyone has to apologize it’s him.” McKenzie sighed and shook her head.
“If you apologize I will buy you another Mocha Frappe.” She said smiling, Starbucks was my weakness this month it seemed, McKenzie dangled it in front of me every chance she got.
“Fine, I’ll go apologize for something I didn’t even start.” I said walking out onto the patio. Benji was doing something on his phone.
“You better not be tweeting about me.” I half joked, though I was actually serious, I didn’t need hundreds of fan girls hating on me and sending me death threats.
“I’m not, don’t worry.” Benji looked up, his eyes connected with mine.
“Look, I’m sorry for what I said, it was wrong of me. But in my defense you know how to push my buttons sometimes.” I sighed “and I don’t get why you hate me.” I muttered that last part as low as possible so Benji wouldn’t hear, but from the look on his face he heard me.
“I’m sorry as well. I don’t hate you Alyssa.” He said putting his phone back in his pocket.
“Then why do you always pick on me? It’s not even that friendly sometimes Benji.” I stated kind of roughly. I wasn’t really in the mood for an argument nor did I feel like this conversation was going anywhere.
“I don’t know I just like to joke around. You shouldn’t take what I say to heart Alyssa.” Benji smiled a little knowing full well that I actually cared what he thought of me. I shook my head looking at my freshly painted fingernails.
“Benji, you know I care what you think about me.”
“Why? Why do you care so much, you shouldn’t care what others think of you?” I rolled my eyes.
“You don’t get it, I don’t give a fuck what some random chick thinks of me as I’m walking down the sidewalk, but I have to interact with you because your brother is dating my best friend. So, yeah, I kind of care what you think about me.” I finished in a huff, just as Benji got a call on his cell.
“Sorry to cut this short Allie, but I got to take this.” He said standing up and walking inside. I placed my head in my hands, taking slow deep breaths; I didn’t understand how Benji and I got into these situations.