seen from Hong Kong SAR China
seen from United States
seen from Indonesia
seen from Canada
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Finland
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from India
seen from India
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from India
seen from India
seen from Singapore
seen from China
seen from China
seen from Germany
Wow!
Colorful Hearts
is one today!
I really need to get back to that story. Those poor characters have been frozen in time for so long. I have ideas and some stuff has been written it’s just there’s one part that needs to happen and I can’t seem to get the words to translate to paper lol.
Anyhoo... if you enjoy AU’s this one is fun. lol
Love and Light!
Glitchy💚
WattPad gets new chapters first.
Colorful Hearts Ch. 12
*Ring*
Jackie had just finished lighting a few candles when her computer started ringing at her for attention. Glancing at the old clock on her wall she smiled to herself, realizing who it could be.
*Ring*
Walking to her desk and pulling her plush computer chair out and sat down. Clicking her mouse she answered the video call. A comforting familiar face popped up on her screen with a genuine smile.
“Hey, Jack. There are two new commissions on the site. Did you see?” She was looking away from the camera. Probably looking at the website inbox on a different monitor.
To most it would have seemed rude but to Jackie it was just how her relationship with Robynn was. It didn’t matter that they didn’t see or talk to each other every day. When they did get to talk it was like not a moment has passed since their last conversation. It would be considered extremely strange to those that didn’t know them. Even to those that did didn’t seem to fully grasp the concept of their friendship. The two had never met in person but together they ran a very successful business. Robynn handle the website and the books of commission and projects while Jackie created. To them it was fate that had brought them together. Tech Science and creativity working together to bring fiction into reality as they put it.
Jackie shook her head, the messy bun slowly coming undone. Robynn saw her silly action and laughed while moving her webcam to show the other monitor. Just like Jackie had suspected their website was in full view on it. Squinting her eyes she got closer to her own monitor to read what she was showing her. It was two commission requests for a new item she had created that had yet to have its debut on the site. Bat wings that could be tied onto any shoe with laces. She had showed them off unofficially not long ago along with a few other pieces that she had gotten the guys to wear.
The guys.
Phelix.
Her mind began to wonder. Thoughts of the other night clouding her mind yet again. As her mind wandered about Phelix, Robynn continued talking about the commissions and their specifics. It wasn’t until after she had finished reading the notes on the orders that she noticed that Jackie wasn’t paying any attention to her.
“Jackie…” the voice sounded distant. “Jackie.” Another pause. “YO JACK! SNAP OUT OF IT!” That time Robynn shouted and clapped her hands close to the mic on her headset. That snapped Jackie out of her daze and back to reality.
“What? Huh? Sorry, what did you say?”
“Okay,” Robynn sighed, “spill. You don’t space out like that over nothing. What’s up?”
Jackie looked away from the camera, looking down at the keyboard. She noticed it had glitter mixed with dust in between the keys. She really need to clean it before it affected anything.
“Jackie…” this time Robynn didn’t have to shout. The concern in her voice was louder than any battle cry every could be.
She looked up from her keyboard to look up towards her own webcam and looked at Robynn. She didn’t say anything. She just locked eyes with her friend. Hoping that she would drop the subject. But she knew better. Robynn would start to worry and slowly get her to talk about what was running through her crowded mind. She was amazing that way.
“Come on, Jack. You know you can talk with me about anything and everything.” Her voice was so comforting. Like a warm blanket right out of the dryer.
Jackie nodded her head. She did know. She’d always known. Even before the business they created together. Since their first emails to each other on a blogging site she knew that Robynn was someone she could talk to no matter what the situation. It was like fate had created this crazy path through the internet for them to cross. What they had was special.
She opened her mouth and then closed it. Robynn didn’t rush her. She didn’t have to. She knew Jackie was just sorting her thoughts out. Jackie grabbed a pen from her pen pot and started messing with it. Removing the cap then putting it back on. It was a tick she had developed over the years when she was nervous or overwhelmed at her desk. She always had pens around so it was helpful. She would focus on the pen and breath.
“I think I’m starting to develop real feelings for Phe. And not just friendship feelings but…” her rushed words just stopped.
“Romantic feelings,” Robynn finished.
More nodding. She really needed to break this habit of losing her words. She made a mental note to look for other ways of communication that didn’t involve using your own voice.
Robynn smiled at her long distant friend; in the back of her mind she wished, once again, that they lived closer so she could hug her friend. She could tell that she really could use it.
“I was wondering when you would face the facts.”
Jackie tilted her head to the side and looked at Robynn in a very confused way.
As if reading her mind she said, “You and Phe have always had a different relationship. Yeah you two are great friends but it’s always been different.”
“How?” Jackie asked quickly.
“Well,” Robynn took a sip of what she was drinking, “When you talk about him you smile differently. Like you really like remembering whatever it is you are remembering about him.”
“I smile when I talk about Marco and Ethyn too,” she said almost defensively.
“True,” Robynn laughed. “But it’s a special smile. Like the kind that hurts but you don’t mind it because it’s about someone special.”
Jackie was about to say something to counter what Robynn had said but she had raised a hand stopping her words.
“Jackie, why are you so afraid of this being a real thing?”
Was she scared? Jackie took a moment to think about it. Really think about it.
If she allowed herself to give in to these feelings what could happen?
“Jack…”
Robynn’s voice made her refocus on her.
“Talk it out with me. Please.”
Jackie nodded her head. “If I let this happen, let my feelings come out about Phelix, it could be both a good and bad thing.”
“How so?”
Sighing Jackie answered, “We live in the same house. That’s both good and bad. We’ll see each other a lot. But maybe too much.” Her words started to get faster, “Then he might grow to resent me. We have a lot of the same friends, especially in this house. Also a good and bad thing. They may grow to be annoyed if we get to couple-y. What if they don’t like us together? What if they think it’s awkward? Or if we break up what happens then? Does he move? Do I? What then?!”
Her breathing was labored.
“Breath, Jackie.”
She heard her but Robynn sounded so far away. The pen in her grasp felt like it was about to snap in half.
“Just breathe.” Robynn’s voice was getting closer. The panic was dying down. The grip on the poor innocent pen was loosening. “I don’t know exactly what you are feeling but I can tell that the thought of trying something new and it failing is scaring you.”
Still unable to use her words Jackie nodded her head.
“But if I’m remembering right starting this friendship and business was also something new and very scary. I was a stranger.” Jackie looked up towards her screen to see Robynn looking off into the distance, recalling the beginning of their friendship.
“I was a random person answering your very vague post about looking for a website partner,” she laughed remembering the very suspicious post on tumblr of all places. “But look what that crazy post created. A friendship that most people find crazy and unreal. A very successful business that’s coming up on its three year anniversary. Which by the way we need to post a few pictures of the pieces that will be debuting with the coupon code.”
A smile was creeping onto Jackie’s face. Robynn’s words were true.
Instead of focusing on the actual matter she nodded her head and picked up her phone to pretend to text. “I’ll ask Ethyn and ask when he has a time slot for a photo shoot.” She gently placed her phone down and mentally took a note to ask Ethyn for some photo time. He’d do it for sure. He loved photography. Any chance to use his camera he took.
Robynn laughed and checked something off on a notepad she had in front of her. She loved working on her computers and tablets but nothing replaced the joy of checking something off on a physical to do list.
“But really, Jack. Talk to him. You know you want to talk with him.”
Jackie was about to say something but Robynn continued.
“It’s going to be scary and it’s a risk but isn’t it worth taking?”
Jackie thought on what she just said. Was it worth taking? She thought about the night she shared with Phe. It was sweet and every time she remembered his forehead against hers, the look in his eyes, her heart fluttered.
If she could take the risk of starting not just a friendship but a business with someone she had never met why was it so hard for her to take the risk to give these feelings she was having a chance.
“Jackie…”
The silence was getting overwhelming for Robynn. Jackie looked up and gave Robynn and genuine smile. “I’ll talk to him.”
“It’s going to be okay, my dude. I’ll be here for you no matter what.”
With that assurance Jackie finally felt like she really could, without a doubt, talk to Phelix. Even if it didn’t go like she imagined at least she had someone in her corner with support.
After a while the two began to get back to their so called meeting. Catching up on their personal lives and finally discussing the upcoming anniversary sale.
Jackie had been working on new wing designs as well as finalizing the designs that she had created and had the boys wear a few weeks back at a show she was asked to be a part of. While the boys were on her mind she remembered to text Ethyn before she really forgot and he got busy with another project.
Reaching for her phone she actually used it to text Ethyn.
Jackie: Hey Ethyn! I need a favor please! Involves you and your camera.
She hit send and placed her phone back on her desk knowing that the boys went to the movies and was unsure if they were out or not. She returned to talking with Robynn about the orders she had been talking about before she got distracted. As Robynn was going into detail on the orders Jackie’s phone began to vibrate.
It was Ethyn.
Ethyn: I think I already know and of course. We can talk about the details when I get back. Be home soon.
Be home soon.
“They’ll be home soon.” Jackie hadn’t realized that she had said this out loud until Robynn replied to her.
“You don’t have to talk to him the moment he gets home. You take your time.”
“You’re right,” Jackie let out a breath she had been holding slowly. “Let’s get back to work. Also Ethyn said he’d take the photos.”
“Perfect!” Robynn smiled and continued typing.
As they were finishing up their meeting Jackie heard the door open and shut.
“JACKIE WERE BACK! WANNA GRAB DINNER WITH US?!?” Marco shouted.
“Is there a need for the yelling!?” Ethyn shouted at Marco just as loud.
Jackie laughed, “Will you both stop shouting before we get a noise complaint from the neighbors!”
Robynn laughed as she waved, “I better get going. But call me anytime. Okay?” She raised her eyebrows at Jackie.
Nodding Jackie waved back, “Talk to you soon Roby.” And with a few clicks their call disconnected.
As she got up from her desk there was a knock on her door.
“Come in…”
Slowly the door opened and Phelix was standing in her doorway, a smile crossed his face. Fully facing him she gave him a sweet smile in return and it faded a bit when she saw a bruise on his forehead, “How was the movie, violent?”
He looked at her confused, head tilting to the side. She gestured to his forehead and he quickly realized what she meant.
“Uh,” he stammered and laughed nervously. “Nah, just bumped my head. Wasn’t paying attention.” He cleared his throat and changed the subject. “Wanna go to dinner with us?”
He looked so not himself but she brushed it aside.
“Yeah, just let me freshen up a bit. Just got done with my meeting with Robynn.”
“You look perfect.” The words left his mouth without thinking. His face blushed a deep red as Jackie giggled, hiding her face in her hands.
“I’ll be out in a bit.”
“Right.” Phelix began to close the door and almost got his hand caught. She managed to see him take his hand away just in time which made her laugh.
‘I’ll talk to him soon.’ The thought crossed her mind as she pulled her hair down, fingers running through her dark waves.
‘Soon.’
She looked at herself quickly in the mirror giving her reflection a smile and tossing her hair from side to side to give it some volume. After blowing out the candles she lit, she grabbed her jacket from the closet as she walked out of her room to meet up with her roommates. Her friends.
“Come on, Jackie! Before Marco eats the neighbors,” Ethyn laughed as he joked, holding the front door open for her.
Stepping outside she saw Phelix in the driver's seat waving at them to hurry up and get in. She laughed at the sight of a grumpy Marco in the passenger seat.
She walked over to the car and got in. She took a deep breath and let it out quickly.
“You okay back there?” Phelix asked as he looked at her through the rear view mirror. He took in her image, her dark hair, crystal blue eyes...
Marco quickly answered the question with a growl that wasn’t meant for him, interrupting Phelix’s mental note taking of Jackie’s appearance, “She’s hungry. Hurry up and drive!”
That made Jackie laugh a bit but when she saw that Phe was still looking at her she smiled and nodded her head to assure him that she was fine. He nodded back and put the car in reverse and backed out of their driveway.
Jackie’s heart felt like it was doing flips in her chest but she enjoyed the feeling. Change was coming and she was excited about it.
Colorful Hearts Ch. 6
*knock knock*
No answer.
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
Still no answer.
*BAM BAM BAM*
“Come on, Jackie!”
The door swings open.
“What!?!”
“Your music's too loud. Mind putting on headphones?” He pointed at his ears for emphasis.
She looked at Phelix and then behind her to the old fashioned clock she had on her wall. It was 3:30 am.
“Shit I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how late it was. I’ll keep it down.”
She was about to close her door but he stopped it.
“What are you working on?”
She let go of the door and ran her fingers through her hair to push it out of her face to see him better. He seemed actually interested.
Opening the door she stepped to the side allowing him to see her room better.
“Come on in.”
He cautiously stepped through the door into her room. Lit with candles and green and purple fairy lights. Music playing loudly. The room was definitely an expression of Jackie. He’d never really been in her room. None of them had. They’d seen it on moving day when they helped her set things up but other then that her door was mostly closed and they respected that. She was the only female in the house after all. But she never let that hold her back. She butted heads and held her ground better than any of them.
She was a good addition to their small group.
She closed the door behind him and went over to her desk where her computer was and lowered down the music.
“Sorry again about the music. I got so lost in what I was doing I didn’t notice the time.”
“Understandable…,” he did a small turn taking in the room around him. “I can see how getting lost in here is possible. It’s like another world.”
Her laugh caught him off guard.
“Well it’s my world.”
“True. It’s nice. Cozy. I see why you hold up here.”
“You make it seem like I never leave my room. I hang with you guys a lot.” She was annoyed at what he said.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I mean you only work here.”
She looked at him confused.
He walked over to her desk and pulled out the computer chair and sat down.
“Ethyn works in the living room and at the kitchen table if its not covered in food after one of Marco’s feasts. I even take a few hours to work and code on the couch.”
Swiveling from side to side, he added, “ You should work out there sometime. We’d love to see how some of the things you make come to existence.”
She walked over to her unmade bed covered in pillows and blankets and sat on the edge.
She shrugged at the idea. She had never worked on any of her projects or commissions in front of anybody. She felt like she would get in their way.
“I know that look.” He waved his hand at her direction. “And no you would not be in the way. It’s your home, Jack. Take advantage of it.”
Jackie seemed to be debating inside her head so he turned towards the desk.
It was covered with scraps of paper with or without writing and doodles, pencils of every color, and a few bottles of nail polish.
From her computer he could hear the ending of a song that was playing and a new one starting.
“Having fun snooping, Phe?” She had snuck up behind the chair and loudly whispered into his ear. Surprising him enough that his hand spasmed a bit and knocked a few pencils off her desk.
“Geez you crazy glitch. You are going to make me hurt somebody.” He reached down to pick up the pencils that he managed to drop while sticking his tongue out at her.
She returned the action laughing at the nickname he had given her a while back. He learned that she had a lot that made her who she was. Add to the fact that her personality and tastes were constantly changing so calling her a glitch made sense.
After returning the pencils to her unorganized desk he took a glance at her computer to find out the name of the song she was listening to.
“Phantom? What kind of song is that?”
He turned up the volume to listen.
“I'm your sunshine, whoa
I'm gonna burn down your parade
I'm a shooting star
That wish you wished you never made
Wish you wished you never made”
The song faded to an end.
He faced her again and saw that she was starting to mouth along with the new song. When she noticed she stopped.
“What? It’s a good song. All his music is good.”
Phelix just nodded.
“Don’t judge.”
She reached over him to lower the volume back down.
He stopped her.
“Not judging. Promise.”
She pulled her hand back slowly. Watching him as he listened to the song that was playing.
“I really know that I should relax
But we've got you on in a relapse
Yeah, when you're awake
I shiver and shake
You're a bad idea and I need you to stay.”
“Dream alone.” He read the name of the song out loud.
“It’s one of my favorites. The drum beat is awesome.”
Her head was bobbing along with the beat of the drums. Hair flowing in every direction.
“All the songs really.”
She caught him staring not at the screen but at her. Awkwardly she reached over to her computer and finally lowered the volume.
“Don’t wanna wake up everyone in the house,” she laughed.
“Right,” he agreed pushing the computer chair away from the desk so he could stand.
“Should probably get back to my own room.”
“Yeah,” was all she said. Her voice sounded unsure.
But before he stepped away from the desk he saw a pair of green wireless headphones, grabbed them and handed them to her.
She took them and laughed.
“Night, Jackie. Don’t stay up too late.”
“Whatever, Phe.” She rolled her eyes at him as he walked towards the door to leave her room.
She watched him stop as his hand touched the doorknob; opening it slightly. He turned to face her, “Send me a link to that album. I wanna hear more.”
She shook her head and he looked a bit taken aback at her refusal.
“How about I work in the kitchen tomorrow night and we can listen to the album together?”
His confused look was replaced with a genuine smile.
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Night, Phe.”
He waved to her as he closed the door behind him.
Colorful Hearts Ch. 13
The Chinese restaurant they frequented wasn’t crowded considering it was a Saturday Night. Only a few tables and booths were occupied. Taking a seat at their usual booth they all routinely looked over the menus as their usual waitress went to retrieve their drink orders.
“One of these days she isn’t even going to ask what we want. She’s just going to bring it out.” Jackie somewhat jokes.
They ate at the restaurant so often that the hostess never asked if they wanted a table or booth; she knew. As for the waitress, she already knew what they wanted to drink but always asked just in case.
“That will be the day she gets a twenty dollar tip from me for sure,” Ethyn laughed as he crunched on a fried wonton.
The other two boys nodded in agreement as they munched on the wontons.
Jackie shook her head at them but in the back of her mind she knew that having a spot like this was nice. It was the restaurant that they didn’t even have to say the name of but knew it was the one they would meet up in if they had agreed to meet for dinner. Every family had a restaurant that was the family gathering place. The Bamboo Garden restaurant had become theirs.
As their drinks and soup came Ethyn started a new conversation.
“So Jackie, when did you want to shoot?”
Wiping her mouth with a napkin she replied, “Soon. The anniversary sale is supposed to launch in two weeks.”
Ethyn looked over towards Phelix. Without Jackie noticing he got a very interesting idea.
“That’s extremely soon. Do you have models lined up?”
Jackie looked up from her soup bowl and shook her head.
“What are the designs?” He asked.
Pushing her bowl away she replied, “It's a few different collections. I wanna get a few shots of the Heathers outfits. Which reminds me,” she snapped her fingers at a thought that crossed her mind. “Please ask Miko if he’s willing to not just be behind the camera but in front. I want pictures of both the Veronica and JD outfits. Plus the punk outfits and the new wings I’m designing for this launch. And maybe a few others I’ve been working on. ”
Ethyn nodded. The mental notes he was taking were visible on his face. He took photography very seriously. But a devilish grin crossed Ethyn’s face that no one really saw.
“For sure I’ll ask Miko. It’ll be a great help since you want this done soon. I don’t know how I’ll manage to get models for this gig. Getting friends to help will be great.” Slapping Phelix’s back unexpectedly, causing him to somewhat choke on the food he was trying to swallow, he casually commented, “Hey, wanna help out? We know that the clothes fit you.”
Phelix was in a bit of a shock. Trying to recover from the choking fit he was having. Jackie looked over at him with her crystal baby blue eyes and he knew that he couldn’t say no.
He didn’t verbally answer. Phelix just nodded his head yes as he sipped on his iced sweet tea slowly. A sweet smile crossed Jackie’s face, while a visible devilish grin was on Ethyn’s.
“Then it’s settled!” Ethyn clapped his hands together, “This is exciting!”
With a puzzled look on her face Jackie asked, “Why is this exciting?” Her head tilted to one side.
Ethyn quickly came up with an excuse for his outburst of excitement.
“Anytime I get to spend with Miko is exciting. Didn’t get to see him much this week.” Letting out a tiny sigh of relief that no one would notice he took a sip of his soda.
Miko was Ethyn’s boyfriend and camera assistant. Jackie nodded and smiled. She really liked Miko. They all did. He made Ethyn happy and helped lighten the load his side job as a photographer consisted of at times. The two had met on a shoot that consisted of a few local photographers that the college that Ethyn worked at put together. Since Ethyn was a professor of photography, he had been asked to join. His assistant that day had been Miko, a PA that had been asked to assist. Everything after that was basically what you’d expect. Two photography nerds falling in love with each other.
No one would say it out loud but the other three in the group really envied what Ethyn and Miko have together. Marco was always talking to someone one but never committed. Jackie seemed to always be moving and no one seemed willing to keep up so she never bothered. While Phelix was the the closeted hopeless romantic. He longed for a relationship but never made it known… until now. He was trying at least.
“Any specific location in mind,” Ethyn asked.
Jackie nodded enthusiastically, “The wooded area of the park. I want the colors and designs of the outfits to stand out. Plus it looks really nice out there this time of year and there’s a few stone walls close by. Options.”
Phelix just watched as she spoke to Ethyn about what her vision for this photo shoot looked like in her head. He could listen to her talk for hours. She was so passionate about her work, it was mesmerizing. The trance he was under broke when Ethyn’s phone vibrated on the table.
Picking it up Ethyn announced it was Miko, “Yay,” he exclaimed catching everyone’s attention. “Miko says that next Friday is clear and that the weather is going to be nice. A bit overcast but with the right lighting equipment and editing it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Great, I’ll let Robynn know so she has a heads up,” Jackie smiled as she took a spoonful of soup.
Ethyn’s phone buzzed again. A slight confused look crossed his face.
“Miko says he has an idea and wants me to ask if you are up for a surprise…” He raised his eyebrow on the word surprise.
Puzzled and cautious Jackie questioned, “What kind of surprise?”
Shrugging his shoulder he replied, “Don’t know, just says he has an idea and wants to know if it’s okay to execute without giving details.”
The group at the table got quiet. Jackie was one for creative outlets but when it came to her actual products she hardly gave free reign. She reached for her phone and began to type. A few seconds later her phone chimed and the typing continued.
“Robynn?” Marco asked.
Without looking up from her phone she nodded.
As much as she loved and trusted the boys that sat with her she only ever really trusted Robynn with making decisions involving her creations. When the guys had found out that Jackie had not only started a business but added a creative and website director they all but fell back in shock. She had always been a lone wolf when it came to her projects and commissions but they were happy she was expanding. Getting help to run the site was the logical step and they were proud she realized it ahead of time.
A few text messages came and went by the time Jackie finally looked up toward Ethyn and nodded yes.
“But if I don’t like what’s happening day of I have the artistic liberty to scrap it.”
Her face was stern, he knew she meant what she said.
“I’ll let Miko know.”
He quickly tapped something out on his phone.
“Done and he knows that if anything is not up to your standards it will be a no go.”
“Thank you, Ethyn.” She gave him a sweet smile and continued to munch on the wanton she had on her plate.
The table was quiet for a moment. That is until Marco’s booming voice interrupted the silence.
“So next Friday?” He looked towards Ethyn for conformation.
Ethyn could only nod, his mouth full of soup at the moment.
“Cool, I got nothing going on that day. Mind if I come along?”
Jackie took the liberty to answer, “Oh my gosh yes! You can help with the laptop. Robynn wants to video chat in during the photo shoot. Plus the Red Heather outfit was made for you. This is perfect!
“At your service, Jackie,” Marco smiled as he sipped his soda and slightly side eyeing Phelix. Thankfully Jackie was too busy making notes on her phone to notice.
Ethyn and Marco were up to something. Phelix mentally made a note to himself to ask them what they thought they were doing.
Jackie’s voice brought him out of his mental note taking, “So it’s settled! It’s a roommate affair now!”
They all nodded in agreement as Phelix lifted his soda glass, “A roommate affair.”
Colorful Hearts Ch. 3
“I’m going to leave you three here and go eat on my own,” Marco threatened from where he stood near the front door.
Ethyn didn’t even get up off the sofa or turn to face Marco as he huffed, “We are starting a new tradition, Marco. Family Dinner Night? Remember? You can’t go out alone on family dinner night!”
“Then pick somewhere!”
“You don’t need to shout, Marco,” Jackie spoke calmly, hoping that a calm voice would encourage the others to chill out.
“Well I’m hungry and you three are taking too long to pick a place,” he growled as he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.
It had been only a few weeks since they all moved in and finally settled into their new home together. It had been Jackie and Ethyn’s idea to start a tradition of eating together at least once a week. They all had busy lives of their own and catching up was hard sometimes. This had seemed to be the best way to make sure they kept up with one another. Jackie’s reasoning being that they all had to eat eventually.
“How about Russian Roulette?” The suggestion came from Phelix who was casually leaning over the back of the sofa.
“Please tell me you don’t have your gun on you or in this apartment?” Jackie wasn’t a fan of the idea of one of her friends carrying a gun. Let alone it being in the home of all places.
Phelix chuckled, “Don’t worry, Jack, my gun is safe in my lockbox at the station.”
“I don’t even get why you have a gun. You specialize is cybercrime. Why do you need a gun? Are you supposed to shoot the computer?” Ethyn questioned sarcastically. Jackie nodded her head in agreement with his statement. Why a cybercrime specialist needed a gun was puzzling.
Phelix ignored him as he stood up straight and reached for his back pocket, pulling out his phone. “I’m talking about Restaurant Russian Roulette.”
The other three looked at him with confusion. Seeing their faces he continued to explain.
Typing his code to unlock his phone he explained what he was talking about.
“It’s kinda what it sounds like, just no guns.” He turned his phone to where they could see that he had opened his map app to show all the local restaurants in the area. “All I gotta do now is swipe up and down a few times,” he looked away from his phone as he swiped up and down with his thumb. “Jackie tell me when to stop…”
She waited, counting up to 10 in her head, “Okay, stop.”
Phelix stopped and looked at where his thumb had landed. He tapped his phone one more time, turned his phone towards his friends again and announced, “Looks like we are going to a Chinese restaurant called Bamboo Garden.”
He turned his phone back to himself and read what the screen had to say.
“Not bad,” he reported. “It has a decent rating and it’s not far from here.”
“Alright then, let’s get going!” Marco exclaimed as he turned to open the front door.
Ethyn hopped over the couch and followed him with Phelix not far behind.
“Hey wait for me!” Jackie shouted at her roommates as she grabbed her bag and keys off the entryway table and rushed out the door. “I’m driving!”
Colorful Hearts Ch. 8
“Are you ever going to try anything different?” Marco asked Jackie as she twirled lo mein noodles onto her fork.
“It’s my favorite thing here,” she exclaimed as she stuck out her tongue towards him.
Ethyn and Phelix laughed at their exchange. A moment later Phelix’s phone buzzed and rang violently. Before reaching for his phone he rolled his eyes.
“Phe, you know the rules,” said Ethyn. “No phones during our weekly dinner.”
With his phone now in his hands Phelix looked at them all apologetically, “Sorry But gotta bend the rules. That specific vibrate and ringtone is work.” He opened his lock screen and began to tap and swipe away on his phone. A look of dread crossed his face
“Everything okay, Phelix?” Jackie asked.
He finished typing something and then with a frustrated sigh he put his phone away.
“It’s nothing. Just got the email for the charity softball game.”
“The cyber unit has a softball team?” Ethyn asked.
“Yeah, normally I just give a donation but this year they want me on the team.” Phelix ran a hand through his hair. They had all learned this was a common sign that he was having an inner monologue that would end with him doing something he didn’t want to do but knew it was for a good cause or reason.
“Are you any good?” Marco questioned as he took another bite of his food.
Phelix shrugged his shoulders. His face conveying that he might be but what does it matter.
“When’s the game?”
Phelix looked towards Jackie with a bit of confusion. He wasn’t expecting her of all people to ask that question.
“Two weeks from Saturday. But you guys don’t have to go.”
“What if we want to go?” Said Jackie.
“Softball and baseball hold good memories for us.” Ethyn added.
“Really?” Both Marco and Ethyn managed to say together.
Jackie nodded, “Yup.”
“That’s where we kinda met and got to know each other.” Ethyn smiled recalling the memory in his mind.
“At a baseball game?” Phelix’s voice louder than he expected it to be and filled with disbelief. He knew Jackie and Ethyn pretty well. Or so he thought. They weren’t sporty people.
“I can see the wheels turning in your head, Phe,” Jackie laughed. “We didn’t go because we wanted to go.” Jackie looked at Ethyn.
“Yeah. We went because other people had invited us.” Ethyn paused for a moment to recall something. “Jackie went because a guy asked her out. What was his name… oh yeah Nathen.”
Jackie nodded and laughed. “Yup and Ethyn went because a girl asked him,” she rolled her eyes. “She was a friend of mine too. Her name was Monica.”
Marco and Phelix could see the smiles on their faces. The memories that were bringing up made them happy.
“If you two went with other people how did you two end up getting to know each other?” Marco questioned.
“Well,” Ethyn began, taking a sip of his diet soda. “First of all, let it be known that we were told we were meeting in front of the administration building.”
Jackie tried to hold in her giggles but failed. Ethyn turned to her and with a look of frustration he rolled his eyes at her, “We were!”
Through her giggles the words “I know,” squeaked out.
“Thank you,” Ethyn sighed and continued. “We were supposed to meet outside the administration building and from there we would head to the game. Simple. Right?”
He looked to Marco and Phelix for some sort of confirmation to his statement. They both nodded and mumbled their agreement, mouths full.
“Wrong!” Ethyn practically shouted.
“Shhh! We aren’t the only ones in this restaurant, you know.” Jackie hushed him.
“Oh please we practically keep this place running.” Ethyn waved his hand in the air nonchalantly.
Jackie gave him a stern look and he took the hint and lowered his voice.
“Anyways…,” he continued. “I headed to the front of the building to wait. It was past 7 so most of the staff were already going home for the day.” He took a sip of his soda and looked to Jackie to add her side if she so pleased.
“I had a meeting in the office that afternoon so I walked out of the building with the counselor as they headed out for the evening. When I made it out to the front steps I saw Ethyn sitting down with his earbuds in. We didn’t know each other then so I kept my distance and sat down on the opposite side.”
“It wasn’t until almost an hour had past that I took my earbuds out and checked my phone,” Ethyn continued. “I had no messages. I guess I made a funny noise and it caught this one's attention.” He gestured towards Jackie and she stuck her tongue out at him playfully.
“You basically growled. But I still asked him if something was wrong. He explained his situation and we both came to the conclusion that we were waiting for the same people in a way.” Jackie shrugged her shoulder and took a bite of her food.
Marco and Phelix were both invested in their story. So much so that unlike Jackie, who had managed to take a few bites of food while telling her story, their food remained untouched.
“You see, we both knew Monica and Nathen but didn’t know each other,” Jackie explained.
Taking a bite of food Ethyn commented as he shrugged his shoulders, “Small world.”
Jackie smiled, “Lucky us.”
Ethyn smiled and nodded as he continued, “So, I decided to text Monica and see what was going on. In my head, something must have happened. She was usually pretty punctual.”
Ethyn’s statement made Jackie choke on her drink as she tried to stop herself from laughing.
“You’re kidding, right? You can’t be talking about Monica Meyer. She was the most scatterbrained person I knew back then. Probably even to this day.”
“She…,” Ethyn paused. He couldn’t bring up the words he wanted to say. He attempted it but it all came out in stutters. He sighed, “Fine. She was and probably still is but whatever. Not the point. My point is that socially she was dependable.” His gaze went to Phelix and Marco and shrugged his shoulders, “She liked to party.”
“At a baseball game?” Marco mumbled over a bite of food in his mouth.
“What he means is she was a massive flirt,” Jackie said bluntly.
Ethyn eyed her and she just shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly as she munched on the fried wonton.
“Anyway, when she did pick up the phone…”
“After calling her 5 times,” Jackie interrupted with a sly smile.
Ethyn continued, “Like I was saying, she finally answered me and said she didn’t remember the plan to meet at the admin building and that she was already at the game.”
“Seriously?” Phelix asked.
“Yup. Thankfully I had a car. I offered Ethyn here a ride to the game if he was still interested in going,” she sipped her drink as she continued. “I almost backed out but…” she paused to think of the right words to say. “I guess you could say I was curious of the situation. Nathen had already left for the game too. Forgetting that we most definitely made plans.”
“So we made it to the game and it was like we didn’t even exist,” Ethyn chuckled. “Monica and Nathen were sitting awfully close together and didn’t even notice us when we told them ‘hi’.”
Marco and Phelix had no words. They just stared at Ethyn and Jackie as they continued their story.
“It’s not like we didn’t try to get their attention but there was no attention left to get. They were so focused on each other. It was somewhat creepy.” Jackie playfully shivered to add emphasis to her words.
Dramatically Ethyn added, “So in my true fashion I…,” long pause, “decided to eat my feelings.”
“And as much as I enjoy greasy food it was a bit too humid to enjoy anything. So I drowned my feelings in sugary sodas.” She nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders.
“The rest of the night we spent together.” She looked towards Ethyn and smiled at him. Recalling that night.
“She watched me eat and didn’t judge me. We made fun of the players on the field.” The last statement Ethyn made had Phelix worrying. If they came to the game would they make fun of him?
“Don’t worry, Phe, we wouldn’t do that to you.” She winked at him from across the table. It was like she read his mind which made him blush a bit.
“That night was a lot of fun. Unexpected. But so much fun. When we parted ways that night he added me on social media and I did the same.” She leaned over a bit to place her head on his shoulder, “we’ve been close ever since.”
The action got a smile out of Phe and Marco. They knew Jackie and Ethyn were close and it was nice to see a friendship like theirs had a weird start. It made sense in a way.
“We’ve had ups and downs,” Ethyn leaned his head onto Jackie’s, “but we’ve worked through it. It’s what best friends do.”
Jackie moved quickly as she giggled, causing Ethyn to reel back. “ Okay this is getting sappy.” She lightly placed her hands on the table looking towards Phelix, “So! Do I need to make shirts or does the Cyber Unit have shirts for sale?”
Colorful Hearts Ch. 7
“Can you pass me that big knife over there?”
That’s what caught Phelix’s attention to whatever it was that was happening in the kitchen. He saved all his files before closing the tabs, gently placed his laptop on the coffee table, and headed towards the kitchen.
“Here you go, duder.” Phelix could see Ethyn handing Marco of all people a very large and sharp knife that he had only ever seen Jackie use.
“Thanks, man,” he gave Ethyn a slight head nod and began cutting into something.
Phliex knew this was awkward for him to be doing. Watching his two roommates do something from a slight distance but he didn’t want to intrude.
“Can I ask why you are frying that up? I didn't think you could do that.” Ethyn questioned.
Pieces to the puzzle. Whatever they were doing was something only they would do. Not much of a clue but it was something.
“Just an idea, really. Jackie won’t eat this raw and I don’t want her to be left out of this awesomeness.”
Phelix tilted his head as he took in the new information he gathered.
Whatever it is Marco are making Jackie wouldn’t eat raw? The thought confused him. Jackie didn’t eat a lot of things being a picky eater. He doubted that just because it was cooked meant she would eat it. The obvious being sushi. You can cook fish but she still wouldn’t eat it.
Was Marco frying fish?
The thought panicked Phelix. Jackie hadn’t enforced many rules but frying or cooking seafood of any kind was an absolute no go. Before he could fully think it through he rushed into the kitchen and opened the back door then flung himself over to the sink to open the window. He quickly grabbed a kitchen towel and began to fan the room with it. All the while Ethyn and Marco just stared at him.
“Did you forget or are you just that crazy?” Phelix questioned the two of them.
No answer came. The two just continued to look at their friend as he frantically waved a towel in the air.
Phelix let out an overly frustrated sigh, “You KNOW Jackie hates fish. Why do you think cooking it will change that?”
Marco looked at Phelix puzzled then looked towards Ethyn, who hadn’t gotten up from the table, for some sort of translation. It took a moment but Ethyn finally put it all together.
“You think Marco is frying fish?”
Phelix nodded his head and continued to fan the room with the kitchen towel.
“He thinks you’re frying fish,” Ethyn chuckled. “That’s why he ran in here, opened the door and window, and started fanning the area like a crazy first time fan dancer.”
Marco began to laugh loudly.
“I’m so glad you think breaking the one rule Jackie has ever asked of us to strictly follow is funny to you.” Phelix finally stopped fanning the room. Taking steps toward Marco and pointing a finger in his face. “I don’t know why you even thought that cooking it would make her want to eat it!”
“Take a deep sniff would ya, Phe.”
The suggestion from Marco came as a surprise.
“What? Why?”
“Just do it, Phelix,” sighed Ethyn.
Phelix looked at the both of them and did as they requested. When he did his nose didn’t smell the scent of fried fish. He’s senses were greeted with a sweet and fruity scent.
His face must have given away his surprise because Marco turned away from him and grabbed the pan from the stove that he had been using.
When he presented what he was making
Phelix was taken back a bit.
“Is that…,” he stopped himself. It couldn’t be what he thought.
Marco’s raised eyebrows seemed to encourage him to finish his sentence.
“Is that… pineapple?” He asked cautiously.
“Yup,” Ethyn answered from behind him as he closed the door and window that Phelix had opened.
Phelix dropped the towel he had in his hand on the floor, surprise and confusion taking over. “Wha.. why? Why are you frying pineapple of all things?”
“There was a sale,” Marco replied as he put the pan back on the stove and gestured to the counter on the other side of the kitchen. There sat a few more uncut fresh pineapples. “And since Jackie won’t eat them raw I thought frying them in a little butter would entice her to at least try it.”
He shrugged his shoulders and continued what he was doing. Taking the already fried and caramelized pineapple out of the pan, placing them on a plate and frying a few more pieces.
This was such a Marco thing to do.
Then the sound of the front door opening and closing caught their attention.
“I’m back! Where is everyone?” Jackie asked loudly, returning from her weekly visit to the post office.
“Kitchen!” Ethyn shouted.
She walked in and placed her bag on the kitchen table. Taking a deep breath she asked with a sigh and a smile, “Oh my goodness what smells so delicious?”
The boys took a moment and looked at one another but it was Phe that answered her in a somewhat disbelieving sounding voice.
“Pineapple.”
