Chapter Twenty-Five - Buddies
"I don't think this is a good idea, Oskar," I glumly replied, trying plant my feet firmly on the stoned boardwalk while Oskar grabs both of my arms, dragging me towards his own house.
"Don't worry about it."
I could just about imagine him enjoy tormenting me while he clasps on my hands as to not let me go. This is a very bad idea. Just minutes ago, I ran away with all my might—which was a surprise with my heart beating out of my chest like crazy and my mouth all caught up in a pant since I've never ran this fast for the entire 16 years of my existence.
Blame my laziness and passive body.
I was never going to that house, even if I have to jump onto the garbage disposal to hide myself from Oskar. But then unsurprisingly, he caught up and lunged at me grabbing my waist.
"Your mother will kill me," I emphasized on a threating tone just to make him realize the grave of situation that his mother will impale me. In fact I could imagine her chucking a knife at my direction.
"She won't," he assured me, which wasn't assuring at all.
He trailed off. "When I went home, my parents had a talk and they decided....."
Divorce? I swallowed the lump on my throat while I waited in nervousness for his answer. If that was what it had come to, then maybe it was for the best.
People who fight and become miserable with each other are better off separated from one another.
He slightly squeezes my hand, as if for affirmation.
"----to go on a counseling."
He stops on his tracks and I halted, my shoe making a slight clack on the ground. He turns to look at me and smiles in relief. I couldn't help but let out a breath of relief whilst he tries to find the right words to say.
"I was so relieved I fell down to my knees and cried," he lightly chuckles. "---I went home expecting that one of them left and that divorce was to ensued—but it wasn't."
"I'm glad for you Oskar," I genuinely remarked, giving him a slight nudge in the shoulder.
"Ever since that day, my parents have become nicer towards each other," he added. "---they first started seeing each other eye to eye and then they decided to go on dates every Friday from now on."
"That's good news, Oskar. Hopefully it keeps on getting better and they'll start to support you like they should be."
He stares at me for an awkward second, then opens his mouth.
"You should stop saying nice things out of a sudden, Avery," he murmurs. "---you make my heart race when you do that."
I paused, taking the second to process his words, then my cheeks turned red by what he just admitted. Is he joking? He surely must be!
"Wha----"
He breaks into laughter, removing both of my hands in the process while he lifts his arm and hovers it to his face, trying to hold his laughter or he'd face my wrath for humiliating me.
"I was joking."
"Jerk!" I hissed, my cheeks still riled up while I slapped him playfully in the arm and he still resumed heaving in laughter as his shoulders bobbed up and down like a camel with its humps. 
It honestly irked me but since he's in a good mood, I might as well let it slide.
Just this once, I promise.
"You were so stiff a while ago that I decided to cheer you up," he grins, remnants of his laughter. "—see? You're back to normal now and good as new."
"Idiot," I snarled, crossing my arms. "-----how about I smack you right across your head? It might do you more good than harm. I promise I'll be gentle."
"Eh....No thank you."
"Oh come on! It'd make me happier?"
"You're such a sadist, Avery."
"Tch. Says the one who's a player."
He chuckles. "Between you and me, I wonder who's the player."
I scoffed, giving him the eye. "What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing."
"That was clearly something!" I screeched, grabbing his sleeves and shaking him like a child throwing a tantrum.
"You read between the lines too much."
"Well you're...you....ugh! I hate you."
"You keep saying that, Avery. Is that how you express your affection to me?" he cheekily grinned, flattering his eyes like a disgusting geezer. It's seriously not cute.
"Ew."
"Ouch," he croaked, placing a hand on his chest like someone shot a bullet right on his chest. "--that's gotta be the most painful thing you've said to me."
"Even more than my snarky and cool remarks?"
"You could say that."
I cackled like an ugly pig, musing on his misery. "Seems I'm on a roll today."
"You gotta tone it down, Avery. My heart can't take much of your oh so mean remarks."
"And miss out on your misery? Nah."
"I swear you're getting more evil the more I spend time with you," he eyed me as we take a turn to the left and his neighborhood was in front view, lavish houses lined up like an eye sore and I felt so poor just looking at it.
"But you enjoy it deep inside, don't you?"
"Maybe."
I shake my head. "You're seriously deranged."