Teen Idle

Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, Charlotte. Yeah, none of them are mixed in this mess. You heard of Sex in the City? Well this, this is Celibacy in the Suburbs. And this is my story. A story about how I wanted a love like Cory and Topanga, Ross and Rachel, Sabrina and Harvey. But no, I get one like Carrie and Big. A dysfunctionaly sane on again off again love triangle stretched over many months. My name is Sebastian Campbell, Seb for short, and this hot mess I call a wonderful life starts my senior year at East Northumberland High. Well, actually, it starts in Chicago on the first day of summer after our junior year.

“Taxi!” I shouted once more to no avail.

Whistle.

And like that, there was a taxi at my side.

“You will get it one day.” Ellie said opening the door and smiling.

“After all the times we have been here you would think by now.” I said scotching myself next to her.

We rode in silence as the hustle and bustle of the city echoed around us.

“So,” I finally spoke. “What are you going to do the last week of freedom?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure I will find something or someone to do.” She said with a cocky grin. “How about you?”

“I don’t know, I haven’t talked to my mom, but I think I will probably stay home. Maybe read some books. Maybe eat. Who knows really?”

“Wow exciting.”

“I know right.” I said before looking around. “I think I went a little over board on the shopping.”

There were bags from H&M, Prada, Macy’s. It’s was a little much.

“Yeah, probably.”

“I’ll be working the rest of my life just to pay it all off.” I couldn’t help but laugh.

I really am not an exciting person. For the most part, the highlights to my days are when I reach the climax to a good book. Now Ellie on the other hand, her days are filled with piss and ginger. Ellie is my best and only friend. She is a little thing. Always wore hip huggers and skimpy tops, had a head of brown hair, dark brown eyes. Basically take Barbie, give her brown hair, and you got Ellie.

She was a free spit however. She never went with the normal. She never did what the world told her. And that is why we were friends.

It was 4th grade when we first met. It was Halloween and I wanted to go as Hannah Montana. Well after some coxing from my mom, she gave in and bought the costume for me. Well, this caused some problems even for the littlest of kids. They were ready to fight me, but there was good ol’ Ellie. Kicking ass and taking names. And more importantly, saving my sorry but.

As time went on, we became much closer. Telling each other every and anything. Also with the passing of time went the passing of her mother and the drinks her father would down a night. Before long she was escaping her life and staying with my mom and I. So to say we slowly became inseparable would be an understatement.

We finally came to our stop. After splitting the fare, we quickly made our way inside.

“We’re back!” Ellie shouted as she kicked open the door.

“Kait?” I shouted after no response. We were staying at Ellie’s cousins apartment for the first week of summer.

“What!? I’m studying!” She shouted from the corner of the living room.

“Dude, chillax. We aren’t even back to school yet and you are already cramming.” Ellie said plopping down on the couch.

“Yeah really.” I said sitting on the arm of the chair that Kait was in.

“Well, I would actually like to graduate thank you.” She snapped back at us. I just rolled my eyes. Kait made ever test seem like it was her last. She was something alright. She managed to get the right amount of brains and partying skills. So I guess from her AP classes, they gave summer work.

“You will do fine, you always do.” Ellie said while kicking her shoes off. Kait just carried on, completely ignoring the comment.

“Anyway,” I said getting up. “Imma make some hot chocolate. Anyone else want some?”

“No!” Kait quickly said.

“Yeah, I’ll have some. Thanks.”

“I bet.” I shouted back.

“Can you two keep it down?!” Kait demanded.

We just laughed.

“Can you take five minutes away from studying and just talk to us?” I said handing Ellie her drink before taking a seat beside her.

“Fine.” She sighed pushing her books aside.

“Well if you don’t want to talk to us then don’t.” Ellie sarcastically said as if she was offended. Kait just rolled her eyes.

“What are you doing this last week?” I asked.

“My family was supposed to come up.” Kait started, stretching out slightly. “But my grandma in Nebraska was rushed to the hospital so they are going to spend time with her down there.”

“Oh my God! Is she ok?”

“Yeah, just fell, again.” She said as if it was typical.

“Oh.” What more could I say I guess.

“That sucks man.” Ellie said between sips of her drink.

“Well would you hang with me. I am going to see my family for a couple days this weekend.”

“Sure, I can finally meet your crazy family you speak of, the whole Campbell brood.” She said with a small laugh.

“Yes, yes. But I must warn you they are…well you will just have to see for yourself.” Somehow, I think I might regret this. “Look,” I started after rubbing the bridge of my nose. “It’s not that I don’t want to meet them. I really do. But I don’t think I am ready it.”

“Why?! They are your family and they should be something you are proud of.” She said as if it was only black and white.

“Really? Because these are the people who got kicked out of a funeral home. Somehow I think the rules change when it comes to them.”

“Kicked out of a funeral home?” Ellie said between laughing fits.

“Yes, you heard me right.”

“How does one manage that?”

“When my uncle got up to speak at my grandmas sisters funeral, my grandma objected-“

“Is that even possible?”

“-and then my aunt had something to say back. And one thing led to another. And now when I die there is a whole national line of funeral homes that more than likely won’t accept me. Living or dead.”

“Oh that’s rich!” Ellie said finally coming down from her laughing high.

“Yeah, and that’s just one of many places we can’t return to. So do you really want to open this can of worms with my family?”

“Yes I do.” Damn you Kait.

Silence.

“Fine.” I sighed.

“Just make sure you do it some place you probably wouldn’t want to go back to anyway.” Ellie said as she picked up with her laughing fit.

“Shut up!” I said with a smile.

A few beats of silence passed as we looked from one another.

“So.” Kait began. “Are you still going to do the catering job and work at the Lemon Wedge while going to school?”

“You bet. If I want to go to the Tisch School of Arts, I need to raise some damn money first.”

“And the grades.” Ellie said before sipping her drink.

“No one asked the peanut gallery thank you.”

“Well it’s true.”

I just rolled my eyes. “Either way this year is about money, grades, and bettering me.”

“What about finally dating?” Kait said grabbing my mug and drinking some of it.

“You know he offered you your own.”

“Yeah, I don’t really for see that in my future. Besides, that’s a lot of time I will have to dedicate to someone other than me.”

“Vain much?” Ellie asked.

“No,” I said taking my mug back. “just self-assured on what I want is all.”

“Whatever.” She said before getting up and heading to the bathroom.

“Like I said, this year is about me, myself and I. And not another damn soul.”