We Need No Introduction

I looked at Bam, who looked hopeful, and then back at Lee and the guys. “Less fights, sure,” I responded.

“Are you two friends again?” Knoxville asked.

I sighed heavily. “No.” I could hear Bam’s heart drop from here. “He’ll have to work his way up,” I said lightly. “We’ll first start out as acquaintances.”

“I can live with that much,” Bam said. “It’s a start, right?”

“Of course,” Leana said. “It’s a start,” she repeated him.

It was silent for a moment and smiles were shared all around the room.

“Why are you all so smiley for?” I asked.

They all came at me, particularly at once and I yelped. Like they were all one big brain. Everyone was on my bed now, practically cheering.

“What the fuck?” Bam yelled next.

“We’re oh so happy, Bammy!” Knoxville said a little too… girlie.

“That was creepy,” Matt said.

I laughed. “Okay, guys. Get out. I wanna talk to Bam alone.”

Everyone stood up and walked out quickly. “Use protection!” were Jimmy’s parting words as he slammed the door shut.

“I hate him sometimes,” Bam said.

I scoffed. “Try having him over all the time.”

“Why does Leana never go to his place?”

“She does, just not as often.”

“Oh,” Bam said with a nod. “So what did you wanna talk about?”

“I want to lay some ground rules.”

“… Ground rules?” he asked almost unbelieving. “When did you want to set rules of any kind?”

I looked at him with a slight glare. “Since now, now listen. Don’t piss me off at all.”

“How about slightly anger you? Cause it’s bound to happen.”

“Whatever. Don’t piss me off like last time, don’t do pranks-”

“I can’t mess with you!?”

“Not ones like you did!” I exclaimed, losing my temper, but immediately drawing it back.

“Fine, check. No horrible pranks that could get you kicked out.”

“Right. Next, act like a human, for fuck’s sake. Try to be nice. Let’s just… have things like they were before you got me kicked out.”

“I can do that,” he replied. “Wanna go to the skate park?”

“Bam,” I said as I looked at my clock. “It’s after seven and it’s raining.”

“So?” he asked. “It’s still open, and we can deal with the rain.”

“I don’t want to skate out in the rain!”

“What?” Bam laughed. “Don’t want to get your hair wet?”

I pushed him, making him land on the floor. “Ow!” he exclaimed.

“They’re fighting again!” Zacky exclaimed outside my door.

“They’re listening again!” I exclaimed right back. Bam snickered from the floor and I shook my head. I laid on my stomach, looking down at him. “What’s so funny?”

“Why do you care if they listen?”

“It’s annoying.”

“Well you’re annoying,” he said with a smirk.

“Hell if I am!” I said. “I’m not annoying! How am I annoying?”

Bam laughed. “You’re not annoying.”

My jaw dropped. “Then why did you say I was annoying.”

“Guys, come listen,” Zacky called to, who I assumed, everyone else.

“These walls are paper thin, Baker!” I said. “You’re not inconspicuous!”

“Neither are you!” Zacky said right back.

“I’m not trying to be,” I replied. Bam just continued to laugh from the floor. “Why are you still laying there? Why haven’t you got up?”

“I’m comfortable. Your carpet is plushy.”

“Plushy?” I asked. “Since when did you use the word plushy?”

“Since now. Why can’t I use the word plushy?”

I shrugged. “Cause I said so. You saying it is weird.”

“Why?”

I chuckled. “Because you don’t seem the type to say plushy.”

“Plushy! Plushy! Plushy! Plushy! Plushy! Plu-”

“Okay! Okay! I get it! I’ll shut up now.”

“Thank you. I’m glad my point is across.”

“Go away!” I yelled to the door.

“Why?!” Ryan asked right back.

“Because she’s trying to mend a friendship!” Bam answered.

I sat up and leaned over, turning on my radio at full blast. I motioned for Bam to follow me as I crept out the window and into the cold rain. Once we were both out, I shut the window back.

“Thought you didn’t want to get wet?” Bam asked with laughter in his voice.

“Oh ha-ha. Very funny.”

“I’m confused,” he said as we began walking.

“About?” I asked.

“Why did you sneak us out if you were against skating?”

“They were getting on my nerves. I was trying to have a private conversation with you and they were making it non-private. I like my personal space… it’s sorta like that. I hate it when people violate it.”

“Like I do all the time!” he said happily.

“Exactly.”

“So where are we going?”

I shrugged, putting my hands in my pockets. “I don’t know… where have you been the last two weeks anyway? And why were you gone?”

“I was over at Ville’s-”

“Ville’s!?” I exclaimed, stopping both of out movements. “Why did Ville lie about you being there, then?”

“I asked him to. I didn’t want anyone to know where I was, even though Ape and Phil did… I needed to be alone for a while. That’s why I was gone.” We started to walk again. “I never asked, how’s your arm?”

I laughed and looked at the now puffy pink scab. “I got the stitches taken out last week.”

“I have to admit something though.”

“What?”

“It was really cool watching you fly off like that.”

“Bam!” I exclaimed, smiling a bit as I slapped him in the arm.

“What?!” he exclaimed. “It’s the truth!”

“I could’ve gotten my head split open and I could’ve died!”

“Oh noes! No one wants that to happen!”

I laughed. “Sure they don’t.”

“What do you mean? Who could hate you?”

“You.”

“I never hated you. I don’t think I ever could.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. I just couldn’t.”

I nodded. “So where are we going?”

“This was your idea.”

“Yeah, I know, but I don’t know where we’re going.”

“Hm… why not hide out for a while, make everyone freak out?”

I smiled, looking at him. “Sounds like a plan.”