Chapter Fourteen

      “Wait, what’s happening?” I asked my mom, sliding my foot back and forth on the cool tiled floor of our kitchen.

      “Talia’s family is coming over for dinner,” she answered, continuing to stir the contents of the steel pot she had attached herself to for the afternoon.

      “Why do I have to be here?”

      “She has a younger brother, and after speaking with her mother, I believe he’s about the same age as you,” she took the spoon out of the concoction she was brewing, and shoved it up to my nostrils. I almost chocked, the aroma of basil was so strong.

      “Are you trying to poison them?”

      “That bad? Maybe ordering out is a good idea…”

      “Ya think? So wait, Talia has a little brother?”

      “Yeah. He might actually be in your grade at school; but of course I wouldn’t know, considering you never tell me anything about school anymore!”

      “Sorry that I’m just being the average teenager every American parent has to deal with; I’ll try harder to be abnormal,” I promised.

      “Good. Speaking of your school friends, I haven’t seen Taylor or Emily around here lately. They used to come over all the time! What happened?”

      I thought for about half a second to tell her they were slutty bitches, but then decided against it, “We don’t really talk anymore…” I said, not lying.

      “Oh… that’s too bad, should I call Amy about it?”

      “NO! Under no circumstances are you to meddle in my personal life mom! Absolutely do NOT call Amy about this! PLEASE!”

      “Okay, okay, go do something productive!”

      “Like what?”

      “I don’t know… clean your room, do homework… walk the dog? I don’t really care, just go away from here!”

      “Getting rid of me are we?” I laughed.

      “Yes, that’s exactly what we’re doing. Oh and before they come, please change into something a little nicer than a t-shirt and those old basketball shorts of your brother’s.”

      “Fine. Bye mom!” I yelled, as I jogged down the hallway, and entered my room, immediately regretting it.

      My room looks like a war zone, in the middle of a hurricane, that a tornado just happened to pass by, leaving behind the debris known as my floor. It’s pretty bad. I’m not exactly what you would call “organized”, but I’m not a total slob. I mean most of the rubble on the carpeted floor is just dirty clothes that didn’t make it into the laundry basket (let’s just say my dunking skills aren’t too good).

      Where to start… Hmmm… If I were an overachiever who did everything meticulously, and had OCD, what would I start with? Let’s see… I’m thinking all the laundry on the floor, if you can even call it that. I slowly made my way across the room, picking up dirty clothes, and throwing them into the laundry basket along the way. Done… with the clothes. Now onto shoes!

      How did I even succeed in taking all my beautiful shoes out of my closet, and land them scattered about my room? It really does bewilder me how I managed that. I guess its just talent. Figures. I shoved all my shoes up against my closet door, and then opened the door. Being me, I hastily threw each pair of shoes in their appropriate spot. I may not be overly organized, but when it comes to shoes, I don’t mess around. Boots go in the back, because they’re the biggest, heals go next to them, then sneakers, then Converse (yes they’re different than sneakers), then flats, and in the front my lovely flip flops. I did a quick head count- well really a shoe count, and found that I did indeed have 37 pairs in total. Wow. That’s a lot. Whatever.

      Okay, so I have shoes, and clothes done, what else? I scanned my room in search of an answer, and found it. My dresser. Public enemy number one in here. Here it goes. I briskly pushed everything off of my dresser, and on to the now less cluttered floor. Oh god I have a lot of crab. Diligently, I put all of my stuff back on my dresser, but in a neater fashion. I have way too much nail polish that I never use. Oh well. Now I could tackle my desk, but then I’d just be asking for trouble… What else did mom say? Change into something “appropriate”; yeah I can do that.

      I went into my closet, picked out a pair of white jeans, a light blue collared shirt, and a pair of boat shoes. I was feeling preppy. So not me, I know; but that’s the fun thing about clothes, they can change, while the person in them never does! Awesome, right? I looked cute, and put together. I like Talia, so making somewhat of a good impression on her family won’t do any harm to me.

      “JULES!” my mother hollered from across the house.

      “COMING!” I chimed back. I turned to face my room, for one last once over, and it looked okay. Not the best, but not as bad as it was before. I darted out of my less messy room, and to the front room, where my family was clearly greeting Talia’s.

      “Alison! Michael! So glad you guys could make it!” I heard my mom say. I saw Adam standing there, motionless.

      “Nice job Ad, actually having the parents meet each other? Classy! It’s as if- dare I say it- you actually… want to be with Talia!” I gasped, nudging him.

      “Funny. You look very sophisticated Julia, what got into you? Excited to meet Talia’s brother?”

      “I didn’t even know she had one.”

      “Yeah, I kinda forgot to tell you, sorry.”

      “No, it’s fine, I don’t really care if I have to tolerate some kid for three hours, it can’t be that bad, right?”

      “Uh… you’ll have to be the judge of that…” he said, smirking.

      “Do I know him?”

      “You might…”

      “Oh,” I paused, thinking of whom it could possibly be. “Is that a bad thing?”

      “Just wait,” he said, going over to the door to hug Talia. PDA in front of the parents? Wow! Impressive Adam!

      “Jules! Come say hello!” my mom called.

      “Hello,” I said shaking the hand of Talia’s dad.

      “I’m Darcy,” he said, giving me a warm smile. “From what Talia tells me, I can only imagine that you’re as sweet as your brother!” I almost snorted out loud. Adam, sweet? Yeah right!

      “Hi Julia! I’m Alison, Talia’s mom! Don’t you just think those two are just the cuuuuuutest couple?!” a short brunette lady said, awkwardly hugging me.

      “Ummm… Sure. Oh, and call me Jules… please,” I said.

      “Of course! Sorry! Talia where’s your brother?” she asked, alarmed.

      “In the car, texting I think,” Talia said, rolling her eyes.

      “Go get him please,” she said, giving her a pleading look.

      “Fine,” Talia shrugged, running back outside to the white SUV that was parked by the sidewalk of our house.

      “Well, come in! Come in! The children can go downstairs, I have appetizers set up in the kitchen for the rest of us!” my mom said, her newly dyed honey colored bob bouncing, and leading the “big kids” to the kitchen. Us, children? Really? Whatever. They’ll learn one day…

      “He’s coming in like a few minutes, something about being on the phone with a friend. What an ass,” Talia said, coming back into the house, and wrapping her arm around Adam.

      “No offense babe, but I kind of hate your brother,” Adam said.

      “Oh none taken! Everyone does! He’s soooooooo obnoxious!”

      “Would you like to see my room?” Adam asked.

      “Again? Whatever for?”

      “Oh no reason,” he said, winking at her. GROSS. EW. Just Adam STOP NOW! PLEASE! FOR THE GOOD OF HUMANITY, STOP.

      “Sure! Jules, just wait here for a few? My brother will be here sec,” Talia said, giving me a remorseful side-glance, as she and Adam departed into the back of the house to do whatever.

      “Yup,” I said, sitting myself comfortably down on a chair.

      After waiting an entire five minutes of staring at the wall, I heard the front door creak open, and someone say, “Shit! Yeah bro, talk to you later… Nah. I just got to my sister’s boyfriend’s house, and now I have to talk to his little sister… Yeah I know it blows… Yeah, talk to you later loser,” I heard him walk up the stairs, and then walk towards me. Why on earth am I so dumb as to sit in a chair facing away from the door? Sometimes I just don’t think.

      “Hey,” a husky voice said in my ear, making me jump.

      “What the fuck!” I whisper yelled.

      “Sorry babe- JULES? NO FREAKIN’ WAY!” he said, smiling devilishly at me. Yup. It’s official. The. World. And. Universe. And. Fate. Hate. Me.

      “Chase what the fuck are you doing in my house?” I asked, standing up, so I almost matched his height.

      “Well first of all, I didn’t know it was your house, I thought it was Adam’s, and from the way he described you, I thought you were some nerdy girl with braces,” he said, looking me up and down.

      “And would that have been so bad?”

      “Yes, it would have.”

      “So you and Talia are…”

      “Somehow related. Our parents say we’re siblings, but I don’t believe them, she’s too insane,” he sighed.

      “Oh.”

      “And you and Adam, I’m guessing are in the same boat?”

      “Yeah, he’s my brother…”

      “Cool. Well I like Adam’s family one hundred percent more now that I know you’re apart of it!”

      “Great to know.”

      “So, where are the inseparable duo?”

      “Probably making out, with the lack of various items of clothing in Adam’s room,” I said, cringing at that disturbing mental image. Think of cute bunnies Jules. All good, all good.

      “That’s a great idea! We should do the same!”

      “You are aware of the fact that this is my house, right?”

      “So?”

      “So I can lock you in a closet, duct tape your perverted mouth shut, and claim to our parents that we’re ‘just playing hide n seek’.”

      “Sounds fun. But Jules, don’t worry, buy the end of this night we’ll totally be hooking up!”

      “Don’t bet on it.”

      “And if I did?”

      “Then you’d loose quite a bit of money,” I said, rolling my eyes.

      “Glad to see you think so admirably of me Jules.”

      “Oh I don’t.”

      “I know. So what are we going to do?”

      “I’m going back to my room, to sleep, and you can stare at the wall for the next half hour until they call us to use ‘proper educate’ and ‘socialize like normal people’, while ‘conversing’ at dinner,” I said, plodding away to my room in a huff. Chase Ryan… in my house… this can’t get any worse!

      I opened the door to my room, and quietly closed it, in hope that Chase hadn’t heard where I went. I hopped onto my bed face first, and indulged my face into the puffy pillow I had landed in. I shut my eyes, and let all my worries about Chase release out of my head… until I felt something heavy on top of me. Yup. It just got worse.

      “Mmmm! Jules you smell good! What is that?” Chase asked, hugging me from behind, and taking in my scent.

      “Oh it’s new! It’s called ‘get the hell off of me before you die’!” I said, elbowing his stomach.

      “Chill Jules! I’m just trying to bond with you!”

      “Bond? Really Chase?”

      “Hey, I tried!”

      “GET OFF OF ME!” I yelled.

      “Or…”

      “I will scream rape!”

      “They won’t hear, or believe you, but thanks for the awesome idea!”

      “You’re such a bastard!”

      “I’m really not, babe.”

      “You really are. And don’t call me that!”

      “You’re so wrong.”

      “Aw! I’m never wrong Chase. Learn that, and you will learn the most important thing this world has to offer.”

      “What? That Julia Tylers is ‘never wrong’?”

      “Glad you understand! Now get off of me before someone gets hurt; that someone being you!” I said.

      “Hmmm… nah! I like being on top of you, it’s nice!” he said, bringing his hands around my waist.

      “So help me god, Chase Ryan if you do not fucking get off of me by the time I count to three I will kill you!” I threatened.

      “Nope.”

      “Yup.”

      “Aw! So cute! Jules and Chase! I knew you two were bound to end up together at some point!” Talia laughed, entering the room.

      “Ew. Chase get off my sister, or, even though I’m sure she’s already offered, I’ll kill you, kid,” Adam said, pulling Chase off me. So Adam saves the day. Thank. You.

      “Thank you Ad,” I said.

      “No problem. Chase what the hell were you doing?” he asked.

      “Messing with your sister.”

      “Oh. You know she’s dating Trent, right?”

      “You are?” Chase asked, facing me with disbelief spread across his face.

      “No,” I said, shaking my head.

      “Not yet at least,” Adam sighed.

      “You know Ad, if you like Trent so much, why don’t you just go out with him yourself?” I asked.

      “Because I have this gorgeous girl, and I don’t play for that team,” he said, kissing Talia’s hand.

      “And if he did dumps me, I’d dump him… in the river… at dawn… without the words of a love song…” Talia said, smirking. I seriously love this girl! Adam better not break up with her!

      “KIDS! DINNER!” my mom yelled from the other end of the house.

      “Let’s go,” Adam said. We all hurried down the hall to the dining room, and came face to face with our parents.

      “Nice to see that you’re here,” Talia’s mother regarded Chase.

      “Yeah whatever,” he said.

      “Just because Julia is a pretty girl, doesn’t mean being a smartass to your mother will impress her!” his father scolded. I resisted the urge to laugh. Me, being impressed by Chase? Ha! That’s funny!

      “I wasn’t trying to-”

      “Chase, sweetie, please don’t talk back.”

      “Fine,” he said, holding up his hands.

      “Now everyone, please just take a seat so we can enjoy the wonderful meal Laura made for us,” my dad said, taking a seat at the head of the table with Talia (and Chase’s) dad.

      “Thank you Rick,” my mom said, taking the seat opposite his, at the other end of the table, next to Alison. I was forced into sitting next to Chase, parallel to Talia and Adam. Fun.

      For the extent that dinner lasted, my ears were numb with the sound of parents’ voices talking about how “utterly amazing and outstanding” and how “smart, and clever” and how “athletic and agile” we were. I don’t think they were talking about the same four kids in that room. I know for a fact that Adam’s failing at least two of his classes, I’m getting straight C’s and a B+, Chase is no genius, and Talia… well Talia’s the only gifted one. But they were seriously making us out to sound… smart and talented. It was pretty funny… well at least to me.

      “So kids,” my mom started. Oh god, how many times is she going to call us “kids”? We’re not exactly of that age anymore.

      “So mom,” Adam responded.

      “How about you four go off, and we’ll call you when dessert’s ready, okay?”

      “Whatever,” I said, pushing out my chair, and exiting the room without a second look. I went back up to my room, and sat down on my bed, facing the door. If Chase is going to come in, there’s nothing that’ll stop him, but me being better prepared for the encounter, is just another plus.

      “You got out of there quickly,” Chase said, stuffing his hands in his jean pockets, as he came into my room as expected.

      “Yes I did. I really didn’t want to hear another word about how ‘intellectually advanced’ we are,” I said, a smirk making its way to my mouth.

      “Well I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been that ‘over achieving, perfect role model’ child they were talking about. Now that I think of it, that entire conversation was based solely on Talia.”

      “Yeah, so they like her more than us, whatever.”

      “I guess. By the way Jules, I never did get the chance to mention to you that you really look incredible tonight. I mean you normally dress pretty, but just right now you look beautiful,” he complimented.

      “I-Thank you,” I surprised myself by saying. I was going to say a sarcastic “I know”, but what would being cynical really do for me in this situation? I got off of my bed, and took a step towards Chase.

      “You’re welcome?” he said, as if he was expecting me to come up with something cleverer.

      “You look cute too, Chase,” the words just floated out of my mouth unpredictably. He did look adorable tonight. I can’t believe I’m even thinking that. Dark jeans, a green polo, and a pair of brown flip flops that accented his tan skin. His dark hair was messed up so to the point that it actually looked as if he had put effort in combing it. He was so cute. 

      “Thank you,” he said slowly, clearly in place of an instant reply. He took a step towards me.

      “Why are you such an ass all of the time?” I asked.

      “Because I like you,” he said, taking another step towards me.

      “Excuse me?”

      “Well Jules, it’s not that hard to believe, I mean after the first two seconds of our reunion I think I made it pretty clear,” he laughed.

      “Whatever.”

      “Jules, why did you leave them?”

      “Who?”

      “Emily and Taylor,”

“Wouldn’t you?”

      “Yeah, but I’m asking you. Why did you leave them when you came back?”

      “Well, I guess I made a promise to myself that I wasn’t going to become that slutty girl again.”

      “So far you haven’t.”

      “I know, and I plan on keeping it that way.”

      “Fair enough,” I noticed that he was much closer to me than he was a minute ago. “Jules,”

      “Yeah?”

      “Are you over your boyfriend?”

      “No,” I said, shaking my head.

      “You’re not?” he asked, staggered. Chase, Chase, Chase, you’re just too easy!

      “No. I am over my ex boyfriend though,” I smiled.

      “Cool.”

      “Oh and Chase,” I said, noticing our closeness.

      “Hmmm?” he said.

      I took a deep breath in, and had no idea how the words came out of my mouth, but they did, “Can I kiss you?” I didn’t wait for a reply, but instead lessened the proximity between us, by connecting my lips to his. What. Was. I. THINKING? Simple answer: I wasn’t.

      “If we were betting, I think I’d win,” he smirked, pulling away for a brief moment, before returning his lips to mine.