Everyone says Wednesday is great because it's the middle of the weekdays. I couldn't disagree more. Wednesday means bible study for my parents- the one for the adults anyway. I've convinced my parents that I don't need to attend the Thursday one's by saying I want to save my praise for our savior in church. They were happy with that answer, and thus let it go. That doesn't mean they were suddenly all chipper. It was the complete opposite. Wednesday's are hound days. I'm the meat and, my parents, the hounds.

I'm laying on one of the many couches in the living room, my mind blank and paying zero attention to the show I put on. Madaline would like it. It's Law and Order: SVU. My eyes stare at Olivia Benson when suddenly they're staring at my mom's stomach. I glance up to see her and my dad peering back down at me. Instantly, I know I'm about to hear something that I don't like. Wednesday is also lecture day, and boy am I lucky to be the lectured. My mom clears her throat when no one speaks, so I grab the remote and pause the show.

"Can we talk, honey? It won't be long," my mom speaks sweetly to me. I'd prefer if she talked after my dad, to soothe the burn of his words. I nod which makes her smile and look at my dad. They probably argued about how to approach me, and I can't tell who won.

My dad crosses his arms while looking directly at me. Eye contact is an important thing to him. I can never maintain it when his harsh, brown eyes look like they're staring into my soul. It's quiet again and I slowly look to my mom with my eyebrows raised. Her smile slightly falters but it's back into place when my dad gets his wordings together.

"The girl that dropped you off the other night- that wasn't Madaline nor her parents. Who was she?"

Of course. I'm an idiot for thinking they'd just let it go. For thinking my dad would let it go. His question gets me to sit up with an innocent expression displayed mixed with confusion. A lie is on the edge of my tongue as I look between my parents.

"It's Madaline's friend. She invited us to a skating rink and we thought it'd be fun. Is that okay?"

My dad grunts, his disapproval still showing. "I'll have to talk to her parents about that. I don't want you out with her and if that means no Madaline, so be it."

My mouth drops open in disbelief, and I look to my mom for help. She looks at me sadly, her own arms crossed loosely against her body. I sigh and look to my dad.

"I will keep you in this house if you don't get your friends together, Nolan. Do not push me."

"But, I'm going on another date with Julie! Is she not a good friend?" I blurt out false information.

I didn't plan on going on another date. Not with Julie. My parents look shocked, obviously stumped by my untrue confession. Though I know I got them. Julie is their lifeline and I feel terrible for using her in this moment. I'll make it up to her. She doesn't deserve to be in the middle of my parents fantasies. My mom is the first to speak. My dad seems to be still processing. I hope he processes forever.

"When?" she asks.

"Today? If that's okay. I know you recently came back from Bible study, and may not feel like taking me anywhere..."

My mom snaps her head to my dad, silently telling him that not taking me isn't an option. They agree to take me wherever I want to go. I nod in fake excitement before making up the excuse that I have to call Julie. Well, I do have to call her, but first, Madaline. She's probably having a mini church session with her own parents, so I'll opt with texting her. I make it to my room and stand by my bed, too distracted to actually sit on it.

Me: Maddy...

It takes a couple minutes before I see the three dots appear, indicating that she's typing.

Madaline: oh god, thank you for texting me. my dad is making me recite bible verses and I can't remember them all.

Me: You're welcome. I messed up.

Madaline: what'd you do?

I happily and urgently tell her about the events that took place in the maximum of ten minutes. Starting with Law & Order all the way down to me texting her. Madaline takes a little longer to text back- no doubt still trying to remember some bible verses while digesting everything that I told her. It's a lot. I know it's a lot. My phone flashes with a notification making me look down.

Madaline: Nolan.. you need to tell Julie that you don't like her in that way. She's starting to like you I know it. And Scarlette.

Me: I know I know. It was in the heat of the moment.

Madaline: Always? Nol I'm looking out for you before everyone gets hurt. Does that sound dramatic? I hope not. Just be careful with what you do please

Me: I will

Madaline: okay. I have to go beast

I exit out of our messages before typing in Julie's name to start a new conversation. We've never really texted or called since we're either at school together or I somehow see her outside of school. I text her a greeting to which she immediately responds to. We ask each other how our day was and had small talk for a little. My legs cramp making me bend them, but soon stop when Julie responds to me saying she's free today. That's good for me, but it's also not good for me.

I ask her to the movies and she sends me the long version of the answer yes. It's 6:30pm and we agree to meet around 7pm. Enough time for me to get ready, and hopefully Julie. Madaline takes long, so I don't know what to expect. Grabbing a towel, I taken a quick shower before stepping out and drying off, while trying to brush my teeth at the same time. I, surprisingly, manage to do it and throw my towel in a pile of dirty clothes. I get dressed in plain, dark blue pants with a black shirt to match and some shoes. I mess around with my hair a little before deeming it okay.

My parents call for me as I fish for my wallet and phone. Julie won't be the one paying for anything. It's common courtesy. I race down the stairs with a jacket slightly hanging off my arms. I pull it on right as I reach the bottom where my parents stood. I smile clumsily at them, showing that I'm ready to go. We leave the house in silence and pile into the car. My mom smiles at me through the mirror and I give her a small one back. We're off in seconds, towards the only movie theatre in town.

I hum a tune to myself to make up for th disturbing silence in the car. Someone should convince my parents that simple music won't posses the body and such. My thoughts make me smile and slightly chuckle which gets my mom to look at me again. She probably thinks I'm over the moon about this date. Well, lets keep her thinking that.

The ride is over sooner than I thought, and I glance out the window to see Julie waiting at the entrance. I check my phone to seen that it's just hitting 7pm. My dad must see her too because he stops the car in the middle of the parking lot, letting me get out. I stuff my hands in my jacket pockets from the slightly chill weather. Julie is looking around when her eyes catch mine. She does an excited wave that I return with a smile. I didn't want to take my hands out my pockets just yet.

We meet at the entrance and hug for barely a second. Julie pointed to the list of movies that are playing tonight, so we talked about what genre we're interested while walking over to said list. Neither of us are feeling horror tonight, and I disagreed with anything romance. Julie said mystery was good, but we both want a good laugh. So we settle on comedy. Our eyes rake over movies after movies until I find one that looks interesting.

"How about this one?" I point to the name of the movie "my mom is an alien."

"Sure," Julie agrees, "let's get tickets then snacks."

I hand Julie some money to pay for the snacks before separating from her to buy the two tickets. We meet back up in five minutes and head to our theatre. It's near the back, so we speed walk in chances of missing something. There's usually all the commercials or ads before the movies actually play, but the one we want to watch is scheduled for 7:05 and it's currently 7:15. We make it in time to see the lights dimming and quickly find our seats in the back. Julie and I ball our tickets up before putting them in our pockets. I grab my snacks from Julie as she already starts to munch on hers.

The movie starts off with a bang and it continues on like that for the next two hours. Julie and I whisper small comments to each other about parts that we especially like. It ends sooner than I'd like, and I reluctantly stand up to stretch my body as the lights turn back on. Julie stands after me and we walk out of the theater, trashing the wrappers of our snacks. I hold the rest of Julie's popcorn while she tightens her sweater around her shivering body. We make it back to the entrance when suddenly I feel Julie's hand slipping into my free one. I glance down unnoticeably and use my back to open the doors.

"This was really nice, Nolan" Julie brings up, "I honestly thought you wouldn't ask me out if you didn't have to. Our parents probably would've done it for us," she laughs.

I smile in a little amusement and a whole lot of shame. My head looks up to see where we're going, but only for us to stop in front of the two people I wish I didn't see. Scarlette and Jackson. My little smile drops as they stare right back at us. Julie smiles, not finding anything wrong with the situation. Jackson looks between us a couple of times. He stays quiet but it's obvious that he has something to say. Scarlette glances down to see my hand interlocked with Julie's. She forces a smile and nods at Julie before walking past us.

I let go of Julie's hand without thinking and run after her.

"Scarlette, wait! Wait!" I yell, my pace trying to match hers. She doesn't slow down one bit, and I see her hands balling up before going flat. She repeats the motion a couple more times before stopping abruptly. I continue to walk until I'm closely facing her back. It's silent between us, the wind whipping through the air being the only sound audible.

"Thought you didn't like her like that," she speaks first. She always speaks first.

"I don't, I...-" I try to justify what she just saw. What Jackson just saw. Julie and I holding hands, smiling, while coming out of the movie theatre. We looked like a couple. Even I can admit that..

"Don't like her as more-than-a-friend?" she says, her tone dry. I almost flinch when she uses that tone with me.

I reach to touch her, and she must sense it because she turns around to face me with a look that says she doesn't want to be touched right now. I retract my hand, my hope completely dissipating. Scarlette goes to say something but stops, and instead releases a sigh. I watch with worry, my heart hammering in my chest.

"Julie is nice," she says, "good for you if that's what you want."

I don't want Julie to be good for me. Not in that way. Not in the way I want you to be. My mouth stays shut, not saying any of that. Scarlette gets the idea that what she said is true because she nods a final nod before walking past me and back over to Jackson. I watch her with saddened eyed and a dry mouth. She doesn't turn to look back at me once. She just walks away with Jackson who slings his arm over her shoulders. I release my own sigh as Julie joins me in my spot.

"Are you okay?'

" Yes." No.

She walked away from me. She... walked away. No trace of a smile that I usually cause but with the biggest frown that I've ever seen laid on her face. I did that. Me. What do I do?