not The Perfect Life

The Fake-Couple in Action

Chapter 8

Saturday, 17th of November

The Fake-Couple in Aktion

Today is the day. The 'date' with Galen at his parents' house. I don't even know what's going on. What should I wear? How should I present myself? Should I bring them something? My thoughts are a total chaos. It is half past six. Galen will pick me up in a half hour. I spent about 10 minutes in the bathroom looking at myself in the mirror. How is my hair? Is it okay? Does my face look alright? What are the Vergaras expecting of me? Maybe I am not good enough for them.

At the end I decided not to put on make-up. That's the way I like myself the most and the Vergaras just have to accept this. I'm dressed pretty casually. Even though we're just playing to be a couple I do not want to play a new personality. I will always be myself.

Everything is ready. I am ready. The doorbell rings. Before my dad or mom had a chance to get up, I was there. I open the front door and can breathe out first. Galen looks the same as always. Then I don't have to be so compelled to dress differently.

"What's going on? Who were you expecting?", He giggles in amazement.

"No, I just didn't know if my clothes were good enough. I want to be myself, but I don't know what your parents expect either." I justify myself.

"You look good enough. My family will love you. Can we go then?"

I turn my head in the direction of Mom and Dad and shout: "I'm off with Galen." Immediately afterwards we go out and drive in his car to his home. I'm getting more and more nervous.

"Are you nervous?" Asks Galen. Can he look inside my head? I can't just admit that now.

"No, no, no, it's okay." I lie. I think Galen is very excited too. After all, he's about to lie to his family. After a few minutes we are already there. I look out the car window and am flabbergasted. The house is huge. Our house, on the other hand, is just a small wooden hut. We get out. Galen looks at me with a smile. I look completely shocked and overwhelmed.

"Have you never seen a big house?" He asks with a giggle.

"Have you seen our house?" I ask sarcastically.

"Do you know what the only real triumph about it is?"

"What?"

"Our house is bigger than the house of Alexander Sanchez.", He laughs. That is certainly a triumph to celebrate.

"Oh my god, Galen, I would like your life to be mine. It's just perfect.", I rave.

"Well.. I wouldn't say perfect, but ... yes .. do we want to go in?" He distracts. I nod and we walk to the door. We only stand there for a moment. From now on we are lovers. A fake pair of lovers. It's getting a little uncomfortable. Something is building up in me. An awkward kind of excitement that I just want to scream out. Galen takes his front door key out of his pocket. Then he unlocks the door and before opening it he looks at me and whispers: "Are you comfortable holding my hand when we go in?" I nodded a little confused. With one hand Galen opens the door and with the other he takes me by the hand and pulls me into the house.

I am frozen. The house looks even bigger and more glamorous from the inside than from the outside. I try as best I can not to let this tension show. Galen closes the door behind him. I can't stop being amazed.

"We're here." Galen calls through the house. A man comes out of a room who looks a lot like Galen. He comes to me and offers me his hand.

"Hi, I'm Matthew. Galen's brother.", He introduces himself to me, relatively uninterested.