Page 42 of My Fake Date With My Childhood Friend
“When is Alexander picking you up?” Liv asked as I changed into my dress. I glanced at my alarm clock.
“In like ten minutes,” I said. “When are you heading out?”
“About the same,” Liv said. “Oh, spin around! I want to see the dress.”
Since Alexander had been the one with me when I bought the dress, nobody else had seen it yet. I did as she asked, trying to move slowly enough that she could get a proper look.
“What do you think?” I asked.
“It looks so good!” She squealed. “Alexander's going to love it.”
“Well, I'd hope so, considering he helped me pick it out.”
We both giggled. I couldn't wait to see his face when he saw me in it with my makeup and hair did too. Just then, my phone dinged with a text from my mom, telling me to come downstairs.
“I have to go,” I said to Liv. “I'll see you at the formal.”
“See you then!” Liv said. She waved and hung up the phone. I looked in my mirror one last time and smiled to myself before going downstairs.
“Sweetie, you look beautiful,” Mom said as I walked into the living room.
“Thank you.”
“Come stand in front of the fireplace,” Dad said. I did so. I awkwardly posed and smiled. They both took pictures of me. I felt so silly standing there like a model while my parents took pictures of me. I was so out of my element, but it was sweet.
The doorbell rang. It must be Alexander. It was better that I open the door than my dad, who would immediately start grilling him with questions as if he hadn’t known him for his whole life.
“I’ll get it!” I yelled. I ran to the door and unlocked it.
It was Alexander. He had on a suit and looked so handsome. I couldn't help but beam at him when he saw me.
“Hey,” he said. “You look amazing. Like a princess.”
I blushed and giggled. “Thank you.”
He held some flowers out to me. “These are for you.”
“Thank you, they’re beautiful.” I held the door open fully. “Come in.”
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Owen,” he said politely.
“Alexander, we've been over this,” Mom said exasperatedly. “Call me Janet.”
“And call me, Austin,” Dad added. “Especially now that you're seeing Penny — we're all close.”
I didn’t have the heart to break it to my parents that we were fake dating, and none of it was real. If I did, I was sure my dad would give me a big lecture on lying and deceit. I figured I would just let them know when we broke up.
“Let me take a picture of you guys,” Mom said. She smiled and held her phone up again. “C'mon, you guys move closer. Let’s do this well.”
Alexander put his arms around my shoulder and drew me closer. I smiled wider and changed my posturing.
“That’s it! Okay, one, two, three.” She started taking the pictures.
“How many photos are you going to take?” I complained. “We need to go.”
“Just a couple more,” Mom said.
“We need to add them to the Christmas newsletter,” Dad joked.
