Chapter 22
Missing breakfast makes a girl very hungry. That meant I was completely justified to push everyone out of my way when lunchtime finally came around. I needed my lunch more than anyone else. Therefore, I had to go first. No amount of dirty looks was going to stop me; they were serving hot dogs and curly fries today.
After I’d practically snatched my food off the dinner lady, I went over to the table Ryan had already scouted.
"How did you get your lunch so fast?” I asked, sitting across from him and dumping my bag on the chair beside me. “I was super quick.”
“Mr. Gandale let us out early today.” He smiled. What’s with everyone smiling today? It wasn’t even that much of a big deal…
“Oh.” I replied simply, before chowing down. I finished my hotdog in a record three bites, not even taking a pause before starting on my fries.
“Well somebody’s hungry.” Ry noted.
“Well done, Mr. Obvious.” He raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t get to eat breakfast this morning,” I explained defensively.
“So, how is the ‘family’?” Ryan made quotation marks with his fingers. I’d called him last night to fill him in on the whole situation.
“Great. Just great,” I rolled my eyes.
“Uh-oh, what happened?”
“I thought I was cool with them coming back,” I sighed, “but they are already changing things. I don’t like it, and Trent is just acting like everything is cool.”
“What did they do?”
“They hired a chef and a driver.”
Ry gasped dramatically. “A chef and a driver? Those ungrateful bitches.” He laughed at his own sarcasm.
I rolled my eyes for about the billionth time that day. “You don’t understand.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I don’t get it.” All the humour left his voice. “I wouldn’t understand having parents that are trying to do something for their kids, that actually care.”
I gave my best friend a sad smile. After Ryan came out of the closet, his parents stayed their damned hardest to stay away from him. It was as if they were scared of him or something.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized.
“It’s fine.” Ry mumbled, pushing his food around the plate with a fork.
“Guess what?” I asked enthusiastically, trying to brighten him up. When he didn’t reply after a few seconds, I just continued. “Mom is taking me to this spa after school for some bonding time; you should come.”
He looked up from his food. “I don’t know…”
“We could do our nails and hair.” I encouraged him. “Massages, facials, hot—”
“Okay, I get it.” He cut in. “I’ll come.”
I grinned. “Excellent! Meet me at my locker after last period.”
****
“Anybody home?” I called out, slamming the door behind me.
“Oh sweetheart, you’re back.” Mom smiled as she came into the hall. “Who’s this?” she asked, gesturing to Ry.
“This is my friend Ryan.” I introduced. “Ryan, this is my mom, Nicole.”
“Girl, you are working that outfit.” He complimented my mom’s green dress and black leather boots. And it was true; she was still gorgeously fashionable at 42.
“Why, thank you.” She smiled.
“I’ll just dump my stuff.” He excused himself, going up to my room.
“He’s cute.” She exclaimed as soon as Ry was out of earshot.
“He’s gay.” I laughed. Her mouth turned into an ‘O’ shape. “And he’s joining us with our whole bonding thing,” I told her.
“That’s fine.” She nodded. “I asked Raul to prepare you a snack by the way. It’s in the kitchen.”
I shot her a confused look. “Raul?”
“The new chef we hired,” she explained
“Ah. Thanks, but I’m not hungry. I kind of pigged out at lunch.” I actually felt a little sick about the concept of food right now; I really had eaten too much.
“Okay then, how about your friend?”
I went to the bottom of the stairs. “Ryan?” I shouted. “Do you want a snack?”
He came storming down the stairs. “Hell yeah, I’m starving.”
***
Mom dropped her shopping bags as soon as we got into the house and I followed suit. I was actually thankful that my parents had hired the driver in the end; it meant I didn’t have to haul all the other stuff we’d bought from the car.
I flexed my fingers once they were free of the weight and collapsed on the bottom step, sighing in satisfaction as I kicked my shoes off.
“I’m exhausted!” Mom groaned, punctuating her point with a yawn. “I’m going to go up to bed.”
“Okay, then. I’ll probably follow you up soon.”
“Goodnight,” she smiled. Her hand tucked a few flyaway strands behind my ear. “I really do love your new hair. I’m glad Ryan convinced you into getting it done. It suits you.”
While we were at the spa, Ry had practically strapped me into the salon chair, telling the hairdresser exactly how he wanted her to style it. My hair was now a darker shade of brown. It’d been shaped and a few layers had been cut in as well. It wasn’t anything drastic; still a big change for me though.
I watched my mom drag herself up the stairs. Overall, I didn’t have such a bad time: manicures, pedicures, massages and shopping. Ry had an absolute blast.
I wasn’t ready to go to sleep just yet so I made my way into the living room. The TV was on and Grant was sprawled out on the couch alone, completely immersed in whatever he was watching.
I crept up behind him and covered his eyes with my hands.
“Guess who?” I asked.
“Um… Santa?” He chuckled.
“Very funny,” I laughed, letting him see again. I walked around the couch, launching myself onto his lounging form.
“Geez Rose!” He exclaimed. “I think you just— Hey! Did you do something to your hair?”
“Yeah, Ryan thought I needed a new look for your surprised party.” I rolled my eyes. “Do you like it?”
“It suits you, and what surprise party?” He asked casually, a grin spreading across his face.
My eyes widened when I realized what I’d said. “Surprise party?” I laughed nervously. “What surprise party?”
“You just said something about a surprise party.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about!” I protested.
“Come on Rose.” His grin widened. “You’re throwing me a surprise party.”
“Fine,” I huffed. “We are. Do not tell anyone I told you, though.”
“Or what?” Grant raised his eyebrow challengingly.
“Or there will be serious consequences.” I nodded solemnly, and then pecked him on the lips.
“Serious consequences my ass!” He laughed. “How was your spa day anyway?”
I shrugged. “It was alright. How was the baseball game?”
“Awesome!” He grinned. “I caught the same ball that Johnny Damon had pitched! Your dad had him sign it for me!”
“I’m glad you had a nice time.” I kissed him on the cheek and pushed myself up off the sofa. “I’m going to go up now; I feel a bit sleepy.”
Grant grabbed hold of my hand. “Aw, stay down here for a while. We’re alone.”
“No,” I shook my head. “Actually, I have an idea.” I smirked.
“Oh yeah?”
“Sleep in my room,” I suggested. “Trent won’t even notice. If he does, just say you slept down here on the couch.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” He turned off the TV and followed me upstairs.