Don't Expect me to Fall in Love

Chapter 15

"Hey Liz," Bri says when I answer the phone.

"Hi," I say back.

"I was wondering if you wanted to come to the party tonight, I heard Jessie's going to be there..." she says slighly.

"Another party?" I sigh.

"Come on, the last party you came to was a month and a half ago," she whines.

She's right, the last party I went to was a month and a half ago. That was the night I caught Jessie's girlfriend with Dallas. I mentally gag.

Speaking of Jessie, "Hey! Why would Jessie's presence affect my choice?" I ask realizing what she said.

"Because you have chemistry," she says plainly.

"No, we have biology," I correct her.

"I know you were trying to be clever and put me in my place with that comment, but I think that if you think about it you will realize why I am about to call you a perv," she says matter-of-factly.

"Huh?"

"Because biology is like, ya know, reproduction, right? And stuff?" She stumbles.

I laugh, "Oh my gosh. I'm the perv?"

"I will be over by 8, so get ready in something casual" she says changing the subject and promptly hangs up.

I sigh. Ever since Jessie's confession, which was three days ago, it has been weird. Most of the time he acts like it never happened and we avoid any source of extra conversation. He's back himself.

***

When we pass each other in the hallway I receive no recognition. Just him looking down or being completely absorbed in a conversation with his friends.

Even discussing science feels utterly awkward.

***

I am still not sure how I really feel about the confession anyway. How do you trust a guy who hates you one day, then claims he likes you the next? You can't. And if my douche-bag of a father taught me anything, it's that you have to be careful with who you trust.

To be quite honest I am not feeling the relationship vibe anyway. For starters, I do not have time for a relationship, I work and take AP classes. And I am basically a part time mom to my brother.

So sorry Jessie, but if your trying to play me, you are not going to get a chance.

"Who was that?" My mom asks when she walks through the door with her fiance gripping her waist.

The two of them have been pretty, clingy since the proposal and ten percent of the time it's cute, but the other ninety? It's a wonder I haven't physically puked yet.

"Bri," I say.

"Oh, I like her," my mom comments, "what'd she want?"

"Invited me to a party tonight," I say, "I don't think I'll go."

They look at eachother as if they are sharing a secret.

"I don't know," Mom's fiance, reply's slighly, "you should go."

"Thanks Paul, but-" My mom cuts me off,

"No honey I think you should go," she says, "You haven't been anywhere for a while, and Princeton's sleeping over at a friends tonight anyway, so.."

"You want me out of the house?" I conclude.

"Well," she says, "Just go sleepover at Bri's tonight."