"Why would you do that?" Annie hissed as they sat in Ethans truck, making their way into the town.
"Do what?" Ethan asked, feigning innocence.
"T-the egg!" Annie huffed, "your mom was right there!"
Ethan shrugged as he continued to drive, his eyes never leaving the road, "I don't know, felt like it."
Annie's mouth opened then closed a few times before she sputtered out, "y-you," she breathed out, still, even minutes later her nerves were still jumbled from the interaction, "you should cool it with the flirting."
"Oh, amI flirting with you?" He asked. Although he was pretending to be innocent, the smirk dancing on his lips was a dead give away, he knew precisely what he was doing.
Annie sighed as she watched the houses and trees pass by her in a flash, "you are," she replied.
"Don't like my flirting? To subtle?" He asked.
"Oh, you think you're being subtle? That'scute. It's about as subtle as a sledgehammer, Ethan. But seriously- I'm not saying you have to stop entirely... just maybe keep the 'boldmoves' for when your mom isn't three feet away? I've only been back six days, and I'd like to keep my dignity intact for at least a week. If you're going to be a dork, keep it between us for now, okay?"
"Between us, huh?" He slows down for a stop sign, finally cutting a glance toward her with a wider grin. "I can do that. I'll save the sledgehammer for the private shows and stick to 'strictly platonic' eye contact when Mom's in the room. But fine- truce. I'll dial it back to a 'respectable neighbor' level of charm in public."
He chuckles, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. "But don't think you're getting off the hook entirely - I'm just moving the flirting more underground, no promises once we're back in this truck, or alone. It's hard to keep the 'dork' under wraps when you're looking at me like I'm actuallywinning you over."
Annie felt the heat climb up her neck, and she quickly looked back out the window to hide the small smile she couldn't suppress. "I am not looking at you like that," she murmured, her voice soft but lighthearted. "I'm looking at you like someone who is wondering why you're so bold." Annie let out a long, shaky breath, the tension in her shoulders finally melting. "And thank you for the truce. Even if I know you're going to find a way to break it by dinner. Plus, 'underground' sounds... safer. For my heart rate, anyway."
Ethan hummed in response, a smile on his face as they pull up to the mall, as he turned off the truck he opened Annie's door for her, helping her out of his lifted truck.
"What do you need?" Ethan asked as they entered the building, his eyes darting to each store, assessing what they have inside.
"Just a few school things, a bag, binders, pencils, you know.. the good stuff," Annie chuckled. Ethan hummed as he pulled them into a store.
Annie browsed the isle that had school bags hanging on the racks. Annie's eyebrows furrowing as she seemed not not like any of them.
"Quick, which one screams math is boring?" Ethan said as he strolled up to Annie, two binders in his hands.
Annie let out a snort, "well the the blue one seems like math, but I wouldn't say it also screams that it's boring."
"Hmm, I'll have to find a sticker that says 'mathisboring,' then I'll have what I'm looking for," Ethan smiled at Annie before turning his gaze to the bags she was looking at. "Damn, all of these are ugly."
"Yeah, they are," Annie nodded, "but I need one, so I guess this?" Annie picked up a bag, it's colours muted and dull.
"No," Ethan took the bag out of her hands and set it back on the rack, "we'll go somewhere else for your bag, I can't have you walking around with that monstrosity."
Annie laughed as she rolled her eyes, making her way down a different isle, grabbed a case of pencils, paper, and a few random binders.
Ethan's phone chirped as he glanced down at it, "Perhaps we are going to get that ugly bag," he smirked.
"Why?" Asked Annie as they walked back to the bag rack.
"Last year Kyson ripped his bag in half during a tantrum, I guess my mother was talking to Margaret and she mentioned that we were out school shopping. Gotta get Kyson a bag."
"An ugly bag?" Annie asked.
"Does he deserve a nice looking one? Especially knowing he might destroy it?" Asked Ethan who quirked an eyebrow.
Annie thought for a moment, "normally I would say regardless of the person they should have nice things but... If he's going to end up ripping it, might as well get him something cheap," Annie shrugged.
Ethan grabbed one of the ugliest bags he could find on the rack, it wasn't that he was being cruel. It was more of a joke to him than anything because sometimes he genuinely enjoyed watching Kyson lose his mind. Annie shook her head at his pick, a smile tugging at her lips.
As they bought their items from the store they started heading to a different store.
"Annie!"
Turning their gaze, Annie and Ethan see Riley and Ellie stalking forward, Riley held a bright happy smile as Ellie called Annie over.
As the brown haired girl engulfed Annie in a hug, Riley spoke, "what are you doing with Hawthorne? Needed the second best option to me?"
"Were school shopping," Ethan huffed at the insult.
"Care for some better company?" Riley asked as he nudged Annie's arm.
"Sure, we can take Ellie, but won't you be a little lonely doing your shopping by yourself?" Annie asked him in a joking manner.
Ellie burst into a fit of laughter as Ethan smirked at Riley, amused at Annie shutting him down.
"Wha-" Riley started, flabbergasted that his charms have yet to work on her.
"Yes you guys can join us," Annie laughed as they continued walking.