Arranged with Prince Charming

Arranged with Prince Charming [9]

“Uh Claire, do you want me to drive instead?” I asked looking at her troubled face. Her hair was out and frizzy thanks to the humidity after the storm.

“Be quiet Emma, I’m driving,” Claire snapped, her eyes glaring at the road.

Every few seconds she would step on the brake and would nearly be flying out of my seat. Claire, believe it or not, was a driver that followed the rules. But once she stepped on the gas, she would step on the brake on and off. It was thanks to the seat belt that I hadn’t smashed my head against the window. I sighed.

“Alright,” I concluded, staring at the road in front of me. I guess I was lucky Claire kept the car in one lane unlike other people.

We didn’t speak for the rest of the drive as we made our way to a diner that sat a few blocks away from the school. The place was packed with other students that had decided to ditch the rest of the day. Chatter filled the air, and softly the sound of the radio. No one paid any attention to us as we went and sat down at a booth at the back of the room; red vinyl seats and old tables made up the booths.  A waiter walked up to our booth, his light brown hair messed to perfection and right blue eyes gazing at us. He smiled at us, and I noticed that he was smiling genuinely at Claire.

“What will your order be?” he asked, taking out his notepad. He looked at us expectantly and I quickly scanned the menu.  

“Uh-” I started but was cut off by Claire.  

“Mason?” Claire asked in bewilderment, staring at the waiter – Mason – with a confused expression. I could hear him gulp, and Claire’s eyes narrowed. I cleared my throat.  

“Do you two know each other?” I asked, looking at Claire.  

“No, we don’t.” Claire looked down at her menu.

“I’ll just have a BLT thanks.” She kept her eyes down cast, fiddling with the edge of the laminated menu.  

“Uh, I’ll just have a Tai Beef salad,” I grumbled up at Mason, who was scribbling on the notepad, his eyes flicking to Claire every few seconds. The tension in the air was nearly killing me.  

“So,” I said, peaking at Claire from behind the menu. She glared.  

“Emma,” she warned, all serious.  

“Okay, okay,” I said, raising my hands up in surrender, holding in my laughter. After a moment of silence, I opened my mouth; Big mistake.

“Your crush?” I asked. She glared daggers at me, slamming her menu down on the table.  

“No, he is not my crush, ex-boyfriend or any of the sorts. We just know each other, okay?” My eyes widened and I nodded quickly, looking down at my hands.

We ate in silence and left the restaurant. The car rise home was silent, tense and really awkward. I played with the radio most of the time; changing the stations until I settled on Country music. Claire stared out the window the whole time, her knuckles white from clutching the steering wheel. She was silent too, which was abnormally strange. When we pulled up at my house, I opened the door and walked up the drive way, not looking back. Claire needed time to cool off, and I was going to give it to her. I unlocked the front door, surprised to see my parents and Calix in a heated conversation.  

“Mum?” I asked, clearing my throat. Their heads snapped to me and Calix visibly tensed.  

“Emma, we need to talk,” Dad said his eyes hard, tone serious.

I nearly flinched at his coldness seeping through his voice, directed at me. I scampered over to the couch that was across from Mum and Dad and next to Calix. I sat closely to Calix, my eyes wide, and I think I was shaking from fear that Dad was going to send me to go live with Uncle Spike and his ‘hunting’ dogs.