Page 51 of My Fake Date With My Childhood Friend
“I know, baby,” Mom said. “But it's tradition.”
“Tradition, my foot,” I said. “We've never done this!”
“Well, traditions have to start somewhere, don't they?” Mom said. Benjamin tried to run out of the line, but she calmly grabbed him and put him back in his spot as if nothing had happened.
“This is stupid.” I sighed and crossed my arms. I wasn't in the mood for this.
“Everyone, quiet!” Mom said. She looked out the window. “They're walking up the driveway now!”
We all quieted down. I could see Elliot's Jeep in the driveway. The front door opened, and everyone started yelling and cheering. My siblings immediately broke the perfect line by running to hug him.
“I'm so glad you're home!”
“We missed you!”
Mom stepped in, hugged Elliot, and patted him on the back. “I'm so glad you're here,” Mom said, hugging Elliot. “It's been so lonely without you.”
Elliot laughed and hugged her back. “As if it could ever get lonely around here.”
I snorted. “You’ve got that right.”
Elliot turned, saw me, and grinned.
“Hey, sis!” he said, giving me a hug. As much as I complained about my siblings, it was nice to have all of us home again.
“Come to the kitchen,” Mom said. “We have cookies and hot cocoa.”
The smile slipped off my face again. The mention of hot chocolate only served to remind me of last night and everything that had gone down between Alexander and me.
“Actually, I'm not feeling too great,” I said as everyone started walking into the house. “I think I'll just go lie down.”
“Are you sure, sweetie?” Dad asked.
“Yeah,” I said. I backed up towards the stairs. “Late night, you know? With the formal and everything.”
“You were home before us,” Charlie said.
“Well, you were out late, I guess,” I said. “Anyway, I?—”
“Does this have something to do with Alexander?” Mom asked. “Did you two have a fight or something? You did seem quiet this morning...”
“Alexander Rigby?” Elliot asked in surprise. “Why would you have a fight with him? You barely even talk.”
“Oh, I guess nobody told you,” Mom said. “Penny and Alexander are dating now.”
Elliot’s eyes widened, and he asked in total shock, “You’re dating Alexander?”
Why did they have to go and bring up Alexander? I’d had the perfect excuse not to want to hang out with my family right now. I didn’t want to talk about this — not now, not ever. Couldn’t she see I was upset?
“Not anymore,” I snapped. I stomped upstairs and slammed my door behind me. Why had I agreed to this stupid and ridiculous plan, anyway? Sure, it got people at school to stop talking about me, but was it really worth all these consequences?
I couldn’t deny it anymore. Fake dating Alexander Rigby had caused me to fall in love with him — and made me break both of our hearts.
twenty
My room was alwaysmy solace when I was depressed. I was back home, and I curled up in my blanket. I put on a sad movie on my laptop so I cry out my feelings well. I was lost in thought. All my attempts to get through r had failed. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know what else to do. I felt he probably hated me. I don’t know if there was still a chance to fix things.
I heard a knock on the door. Probably my mom who wanted to bother me.
