+chapter.four+

“I can’t believe Mom is making me go to this gay house for dinner,” grumbled a girl a few houses down. She was getting her jacket to go to dinner at the Hanson residence. “This is pathetic. I should have like, totally been against it.” She sighed and put on her jacket. “This is crap,” she said before leaving her house.

Meanwhile at our house…

Mom called Jess, Avie, and Mac to go wash up for dinner. I turned off the television and took a quick run upstairs and checked my appearance. I didn’t want to make any wrong impressions on the adults. I couldn’t give a damn about the girl though. I groaned as I heard the doorbell ring. That had to be them. I took a deep breath and walked downstairs. I entered the living room to see the girl sitting on the couch with her parents. I sighed and looked around the room. My parents were in the recliners, talking to them. I quietly slipped into the hall to see Taylor and Zac fighting over who should hang her jacket up. “My God…” I breathed. “Guys!” I hissed.

They looked at me. “What?” they both replied in the same tone as mine.

“Quit it! Put the coat away and get out there!”

Tay grumbled something about male PMS.

“Yea, you would know about that best right, Tay?” I said sarcastically.

Taylor shot me a death look. I didn’t have time to respond. Mom had called for all the kids to come into the living room. Mackie, Avie, and Jess were already there. Mom had Zoë, so that just left the three of us.

We walked in, trying not to be too obvious that we were in a fight. Dad and Mom introduced us one by one. I was last, of course, being the oldest. Mrs. McMillan smiled. “Yes, the three boys came to the house this afternoon. Oh, this is my daughter, Chloe.” Greetings were exchanged. So, the real name is Chloe. What a shame that such a pretty name and pretty looks had to be wasted on a girl with a horrible personality.

Mrs. McMillan was really nice. Too bad her daughter was the way she was. After a few minutes of socializing, mom went to get the meal out of the oven. We were having steak and mashed potatoes as a side. It’s one of my personal faves. I got the seat next to Tay and Chloe.

“Tay,” I said lowly and softly.

“Yea?”

“Sorry ‘bout before.”

“Me too,” he replied and smiled.

The two of us could never stay in a fight very long. We found that it got boring after about two days.

I smiled back as we said grace. We began to eat and get to know each other. I was talking to Tay most of the time, goofing and joking with him. I turned to my right to see the girl, staring at the food in front of her, pushing it around with her fork. Her left hand was across her stomach and she looked kinda lonely.

‘It would be nice to talk to her. She looks kind of upset,’ I thought. I sighed, the good in me over-coming the bad. “So, uhm, how old are you?” I asked.

She looked at me a little stunned, not believing I was actually talking to her. “Fourteen,” she replied, quietly. “What about you?”

“Seventeen,” I spoke.

She nodded her head and pushed some more food around. “Do you not like it?” I asked.

“No, no, it’s not that. I’m kind of like a vegetarian. I don’t eat a whole lot of meat,” Chloe replied, yet again just above a whisper.

“Oh, I see. Well, there’s plenty of mashed potatoes if you want,” I said.

She smiled, ever so lightly, for a split second. “I’m okay. Thanks anyway.” There was a short silence between us before she spoke up. “How long have you lived here?”

“Just about all my life. We’ve lived all over, but Tulsa was always home.”

“Oh. I see,” Chloe said glumly.

“Where did you move here from?”

“Trenton. New Jersey that is.”

“Wow. That’s pretty far.”

“Yep,” she sighed.

“Any siblings?” I asked.

She looked at me, her eyes hurt. “I’d rather not discuss.” She stood up and excused herself. I saw her walk down the hall.

“Excuse me,” I said, getting up and walking to the hall. Just as I thought, she was sitting in the hall. She had her knees to her chest and her head on her knees, weeping softly.

I slid down next to her. “Was it something I said?”

She looked at me, her eyes everything but welcoming. “If you must know, my brother was killed last year in a car crash. He was only 19.”

I looked at her. “Oh my God, I am so sorry.”

She nodded harshly. “Yea, okay whatever. That’s what they all say. Everyone’s always sorry. That doesn’t bring him back. He’s gone. He was my best friend,” Chloe sniffed.

I looked at her in awe. I just sat there with her. I didn’t leave. I couldn’t leave. No matter who it is or how they treat you, you never leave a girl to cry alone. Ever. I was going to try to put my arm around her in comfort, but I was afraid she might interpret it as something else and get mad and defensive. ‘Man, that has to suck…I don’t know what I would do without Zac or Tay. Or any of my siblings!’ I thought. I looked at Chloe. “A-are you okay?”

She nodded. “For now, yea,” she replied. “Uhm…thanks…for like, listening.”

I nodded. “No problem.” Suddenly, I felt really bad for calling her a bitch. She’s only fourteen and she’s lost one of the most important people in her life. She wiped her eyes and stood up. I didn’t realize I was staring and I swear she was about to say that pictures last longer. Instead, she kinda looked at me.

“Maybe we should be like, getting back.”

I nodded, “Yea…Maybe we should.”

The both of us walked down the hall and into the dining room. Mom shot me a confused look. I mouthed, “I’ll tell you later.” She shrugged it off and then continued her conversation with Mr. and Mrs. McMillan. I looked at Chloe who was still pushing around some of the food on her plate. She put her fork down and gave up on that. She tried to look like she was fully listening to the conversation, but I knew she wasn’t.

Mom stood up and started to collect the plates. “Do you need any help, Ma’am?” Chloe asked.

Mom smiled. “That would be lovely.”

Chloe smiled back, the first time I saw her smile, and believe me, it was a nice one. Chloe stood up and walked to the kitchen behind my mom, plates and utensils in her hands.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they had to be bonding. Any girl that offers to help do dishes has won Mom’s heart. Suddenly, I heard gales of laughter. I could I identify the one laugh, cause it belonged to my mom. The other one though, was new. I knew it was Chloe. She had a cute laugh. Too bad I couldn’t see her laughing.

I looked over at Tay. He was in complete awe. He really liked her. Well, her looks at least. I’m not going to let Tay go out with her until he gets to know her. That’s not fair to him or her.

Chloe and Mom came in the room, smiling, to get some more dishes. Dad looked at Mom, as if inquiring something. She looked at him seriously and stopped joking for the moment.

“Boys,” Dad began. “Chris and you boys have been working very hard lately. Well, to get to the point, I’m going to give Chris some off time. He needs it and he’s had it coming to him for quite awhile now.”

I looked at my dad, not too upset Chris wouldn’t be with us for awhile. “Who’s going to take his place while he isn’t with us?”

Dad looked around the table. “Mr. McMillan.”

Chloe and I both looked at our parents shocked.