torture for her, even if it is only for twenty more minutes for the drive.
Thank goodness I’ll have Matt to talk to later on. If anything else it’ll be nice to be able to count on the antisocial connection we share. Really I should say the connection that I kind of force on him, especially since he’s the opposite of antisocial. Heck, the boy has a job already. He’s completely comfortable with being social, or as much as a worker at a pizza restaurant has to be. With our little predicament this evening, I might be flying solo without my boyfriend backup. When I called him earlier to change our plans, he was still at work. Something came up with one of his coworkers, so he had to stay until closing time.
He promised to be look for me after, so here’s hoping it won’t be too long till his arrival; crosses fingers.
When the three of us finally come to a stop at the base of the stares, I peek around the bouncing Claire to find Maria waiting for us at the door. Her face lights up when Dan goes to give her a kiss. They act like it’s been a lifetime since they’ve embraced one another, even though he was upstairs less than a minute. I think it’s sweet. But then, that’s our Maria. She’s the embodiment of sweet, with her long blonde hair and rosy cherub face. She’s good for my punk brother. She blushes bright pink when he steps back from her. It’s not long before she smiles and shyly glances away from mine and Clare’s stares. Acknowledging the interaction of the two of them is something I avoid, partly because our Maria scares easily, but also because it’s totally gross to watch them go at it.
Speaking of those that would rather avoid pda like the plague. I can’t help looking around the entry hall for my mother. She is usually pretty adamant about these kinds of things, but the house is quiet.
“No one’s home, she already left to meet dad for that gallery thing in the city.” Dan quips seeing my wandering eyes.
Taking in the silence, I realize that’s right. Naturally I should’ve already known the house is empty, but being observant is not one of my best qualities. Our dad is a busy accountant who works mostly is the city. He and mom don’t really get out too much short of going to work or keeping us kids preoccupied with none house burning activities and so, when a client of his hands out tickets for some fancy art show in Brunswick, he can’t very well turn the opportunity down. Mom may have mentioned at some point that they were going to get a late dinner after and wouldn’t be home until sometime late.
Now I know why I wanted plans alone with Matt tonight.
The house will be empty.
This party better be worth it, if not Claire owes me, big time.
Secretly hoping I have a reason to stay home now, I say “So if they have the cars, how are we getting to this grand party?”
No such luck as Maria’s blush darkens.
“I have my car, and don’t mind driving us.” She says in a quiet voice. “They’re more than enough room.”
See? She is way too sweet for words and far too nice. How my loud mouth joker of a brother managed to get such a nice girl, I have no clue. He flashes one of his pleased smiles and places an arm around her shoulder pulling her close.
“So, we’re good to go.” He pauses to give me a wide cheeky grin, this is never good. “Just one more stop to make though…Gabe is coming with us too.”
For some reason the urge to smack him rises inside me, but this isn’t new. What’s new is his aspiring need to throw his stupid best friend and the boy’s hatred of me right in my face. Either I’m getting worse at perfecting my poker face or Claire just knows me too well, because in the next instant she is fully facing me.
Effectively blocking Dan from my view, she places her hands over her bored eyes as if warding off my anger.
“Oh boy, here we go.” Claire says.
Already fuming, I don’t even here her. Of all the guys at our small town school, my brother just has to befriend the biggest jerk. Seriously, the boy is like my nemesis. He never has anything nice to say, at least to me anyways. Even