Katie
After school, I headed to Walmart to pick up a few things for dinner.

I just finished putting the groceries away when I get a text from Izzy.

Babe: Just fed Rip.

Me: Thank you! You are the best!

I asked her to feed Ripley for me so I would have time to get dinner ready before 5:00.

Babe: I know but thanks for telling me. 💅

After I cook the meat for spaghetti, I go upstairs and take a shower.

I blow dry my hair straight then at the last minute I decide to lightly curl it. Surprisingly it doesn't look half bad when I finish.

Izzy would be so proud of me. Since I never do anything to my hair, like ever, her words not mine.

Twenty minutes later I finally pick out what I'm going to wear. I settle on a jean skirt and a navy blue shirt that ties in the front.

I come downstairs to finish cooking when I see Tyler sitting in the living room.

"Ty, what the hell are you doing here?" I ask bitterly.

He just smiles, immune to my wrath. "Well, aren't you dressed up?"

Derek chimes in, "Wow, Gracie you look like a girl."

I roll my eyes. "What is wrong with what I'm wearing?"

They both hold up their hands. "Nothing is wrong, it's just weird seeing you wear something that's not jeans," Tyler quickly says.

"What, I wear more clothes than just jeans!" They both dramatically roll their eyes and look at me like I'm a child.

Derek says, "Really? When was the last time you wore a dress or a skirt?"

I start to respond but he interrupts me, "I'm not talking about to church, Gracie."

I stand there for a moment and honestly, I couldn't think of the last time I didn't wear jeans or shorts.

I sigh. "I don't have time for this." I walk into the kitchen and start setting the table.

I hear the front door shut. "Well, doesn't it smell good in here!" My dad must be home.

I hear Tyler stand up. "Hey Mr.Fleming, mind if I stay for dinner?" I hear them shake hands as if Tyler didn't basically live here.

I don't understand men.

"For the last time Ty, call me Mike and yes please stay."

"Hey, sweetie I know your cooking so I won't bother you for too long, I just wanted to say hi."

I am indeed in the middle of boiling pasta noodles, so I give him a side hug. "Hey, Dad you're going to go get ready right?"

My dad laughs. "Yes, yes I'm going. You sound just like your mother." I feel my face soften after he says that.

Before he walks out of the kitchen he turns and says, "By the way, you look very nice." I just wave him out.

Once the noodles are done I strain the water out of them and pour them into a pot so I can place it on the table.

"You call this spaghetti?" I glance over my left shoulder and see Tyler standing beside the table.

"This is pasta and meat sauce," Tyler exclaims.

I set the bowl down with a little more force than necessary. "Look Gordon Ramsay, I forgot spaghetti noodles at the store, so I worked with what I had, alright," I snap.

He starts to respond when the doorbell rings, I pushed Tyler out of the way. "Move!"

I take a deep breath and open the front door.

Wyatt
After school, I drive home. When I come inside I see my mom standing beside the couch folding clothes.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"Let me do that you should be resting." It comes out more urgent than I mean for it too.

"Well, hello to you too." She responds dryly.

I set my bag on the kitchen counter and run a hand through my hair. "Hey Mom, how was work?"

I walk over to try to help her fold clothes but she slaps my hand away. "No Wyatt! I've got this. Besides your not very good at folding clothes."

"But Mom let me help."

Why was she this way?

"Wy, you do enough chores around here, now be a normal teenage boy and eat something straight out of some box!" She isn't messing around, she is dead serious.

I do as I'm told and get a box of Cheez-Its out of the cabinet and start eating them. (Straight out of the box.)

My mom pushes her bangs out of her face. "I got off work early today, and I wanted to come home and do some house chores."

"Mom you should be resting not doing chores let me do it." I know I sound like I'm whining.

She turns around with guilt, written all over her face. "Wyatt, you shouldn't have to do all this. You should be a teenager doing stuff, not coming home to vacuum!"

I put the Cheese-its box down with more force than I need to. "Mom, I don't mind."

She softens her eyes. "I know you don't mind Wy, but you're supposed to do things boys your age do. Not taking care of your mom."

She looks down at the floor. "I know it's been hard since your dad passed away but Wy, I want you to have a life."

"I'm not pushing you, but you haven't gone out on a date since he died. Besides football, you rarely do anything with your friends."

I didn't know she was this worried about me. "Well Mom, tonight I'm going to this girl's house for dinner."

That did the trick her hold face lights up like a Christmas tree. "Really what time?" I can tell she's trying to contain her excitement.

"Five o'clock." Her face breaks out into a huge smile.

"Wyatt! You need to get ready!" She yells.

"Okay, Mom calm down." I walk to the stairs and she follows me.

"What's her name?" I sigh, I know this would aggravate most kids, but if it makes her happy knowing every little detail, then I'll tell her.

"Her name is Katie Fleming." I think I hear my mom sigh.

"What's she like?" She asks me as I'm in the bathroom. (Don't worry the door is shut.)

I don't want to lie to her, and I wasn't going to tell her that me and Katie really weren't dating so...

"Mom we're not dating, we're just talking."
I know still a lie, but at least I will only have to tell one.

Trust me, I'm really a good person.

"Okay, I won't bother you." I'm pretty sure I hear her walk away.

I go to my room and my mom has clothes laid out all over my bed. "Mom what are you doing," I groan.

She looks at me innocently. "I wasn't going to tell you what to wear but, this shirt makes your eyes stand out.

I run a hand down my face. "Okay, I'll wear this one, can I get dressed now?" She walks out of my room.

When I come downstairs my mom is on the couch watching TV. "Are you going to bring anything?"

"Yeah, flowers," I say digging through my bag for my keys.

"What kind?"

I stop digging and look up at the light hanging from the ceiling. "Um...?"

She looks over at me and I can tell she's annoyed. "You don't know her favorite flower?"

"Come on I raised you better than that."

I get out my phone and text Izzy.

Me: Hey what are Katie's favorite flowers?

My mom stands up and walks into the kitchen. She grabs my keys off the key hook and hands them to me. "Have fun." She kisses me on the cheek.

"Okay, I will."

As I'm pulling out of the driveway I get a text from Izzy.

Izzy: DayLily

I stare at my phone, I have no idea what Daylilies look like.

Izzy: You want me to send u a pic of what they look like?

Me: No thanks!

Hopefully, the flowers will have name tags on them.

I'm looking through all the flowers, but I can't find any that says lily on them.

I must have looked lost because an employee comes over. "Sir, do you need help?"

I smile nervously. "Yes. I'm looking for daylilies but I can't seem to find any."

She laughs. "I'm going to guess the first time?

I feel my cheeks heat. "Is it that obvious?"

She walks past me and grabs a little bouquet that must be lilies. "Here you go, sir."

I smile at her. "Thank you so much."

Hope you enjoy this chapter!
I honestly prefer pasta noodles over spaghetti noodles any night!