Chapter 25

Aubrey:

The sun shining through the blinds in the guest room brought me out of my sleep. I looked at the digital clock on the bedside table. 8:46 am. I'd never really been a morning person but with me being relocated and out of my element, my sleeping schedule had definitely minimized itself.

I grabbed my toothbrush and headed to the bathroom to start my morning routine. Usually before this, I would lay in my bed for a little while on my phone but my mother had taken it when she dropped me off at the airport. That meant no social media and no Alexis.

After throwing on a PINK sweatsuit and a pair of UGGs, I headed downstairs to the kitchen to find something to eat. I was expecting my grandmother to have breakfast made but she hadn't. Instead, there was a note on the fridge.

Aubrey, there's eggs and bacon in the fridge. I went out to run errands and pick up a few things.

Going by what my grandmother had said, I pulled out the eggs and bacon, found a frying pan, and went to town on the stove. I threw a teaspoon full of butter in the pan and scrambled mixed two eggs together in a bowl while the pan heated up.

In the midst of cooking, I heard the doorbell ring and I rushed to get it.

To my surprise, it was Mike. "What are you doing here?" I wondered. Mike cleared his throat before speaking. "Your Mom reached out to me. She said you were going through some things and were coming back to Vermont." He explained.

I mentally rolled my eyes and sighed. "Did she now?" I questioned, cocking my head to the side. This wasn't even surprising.

Mike stepped one foot into the house. "May I come in?" He asked. The only person I wanted around me was Alexis. Mike was just a reminder that she would never be here.

"Sure." I shrugged. Mike followed me to the kitchen.

"I forgive you." Mike stated, taking a seat at the kitchen table. Confused, I took a seat at the table with him and decided to finish cooking later. "Forgive me for what?" I wondered, squinting my eyes at him.

"Breaking up with me. I get it now." Mike assured me. Did he know about me and Alexis? "Well... I appreciate that. I've never felt this way about a girl before—" but Mike cute me off. "The distance. You were in California. I was in Vermont. Did you just say g-girl?" He stuttered.

"Yeah. I thought you knew about Alexis and I." I replied, leaning forward, focusing my attention on his facial expression. "Dude! You've been in a lezzy-fest with your stepsister?!" He yelled. Before I could even get another word out, Mike continued. "I've been worried sick, having these crazy thoughts about you and other guys... and you've been fucking your stepsister!"

"Mike, calm down." I gently placed my hand on top of his. "Don't tell me to calm down." Mike stood up and looked down at me, with a disgusted look on his face. The same face my mother had given me.

"Wait until I tell everyone at school. They won't believe this. One of the hottest, if not the hottest girl there, is a lesbo." He shook his head.

Was he serious?

"Mike, please." I begged. "Don't tell anyone. I'm not sure if I'm completely a lesbian. She's just the first girl I've ever felt this way about." I confessed. Mike still stood there, in the middle of the kitchen, silently.

"I love you so much, Aubrey. More than you will ever know. When we had sex for the first time, I just knew we would be together forever. And then you suddenly break up with me. After I even gave you a ring." He sighed, plopping down into that chair at the table.

"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." I apologized. Mike looked at me and scoffed.

"I'll tell you what. If you agree to start seeing me again, I'll keep your secret to myself." He offered. I rolled my eyes. Was he serious right now? "Oh, please. You can't be serious." I said.

"I am very serious. I haven't told anyone that you broke up with me. And now that you're back, we can get back to the old us. And besides, you're Mom asked me to be in the wedding. She wants me to walk with you down the aisle." Mike informed me.

Going to a Catholic school showed how judgmental catholic kids and adults could be. Maybe this agreement with Mike wouldn't be so bad. I could just pretend with him until summertime when I would be back in California for the wedding. I could see Alexis.

"Fine. I'll start seeing you again." I told him, folding my arms over my chest. "Great. I'll pick you up Monday morning. We can ride to school together." Mike pecked my cheek and headed out.

After eating and cleaning up my mess in the kitchen, I found myself laying on the couch watching cartoons. It was a Saturday afternoon and I had no plans. Usually I'd be at the mall with Alexis and her friends, or we'd be lying in bed together while our parents went out.

I missed Alexis so much.

A few seconds later, I heard the front door open and close and was then met by my grandmother who struggled her way into the living room with packages and grocery bags.

"Hey, sweetheart. Your mother mailed some things and I went grocery shopping for us." My Grandma greeted me in between breaths. I rushed to relieve her of a few bags and guided her to the couch.

"What all did she send?" I wondered, taking a seat next to her. "Uniforms, the rest of your things from your bedroom, and she sent over the maid of honor dress for you to try on as well." She told me.

Was my mother really still going to marry Hank?