"Adopted By" Oneshots!

Valerie Salazar-Roland, The Future Food Critic

Book: Adopted by Be More Chill
Valerie's Age: 12

The doorbell rang at around 5:30 at night. I was just about finished with my homework, seventh grade was being a jerk to me by this point, and I grabbed my bag and ran to the front door.

Today was my girlfriend, Reed Adler's, 13th birthday, and to celebrate, she asked me out on a date tonight. This was technically my first "real" date, I started dating Reed when I was only ten, which was way too young to go on a real date. At least, that's what my dad told me.

"Reed! Come on in, honey! Happy birthday!" George said from the front door. "Valerie's just finishing up her homework, you know how studious she is. How are you?" 

"Daddy, I'm right here." I said. George laughed and hugged me. He turned to the both of us and said, "How's school going, girls? Seventh grade's in full swing, huh?"

"Don't remind me." Reed said, giggling. I smiled at my girlfriend and said, "So...tonight's my birthday present to you."

"Yeah, and you still haven't told us where we're going!" Reed said. I laughed and said, "Well, you know I was born and raised Italian...so...we're going to the Italian restaurant I went to all the time when I was little!"

Reed gasped a little and George took us to his car. I sat in the front seat next to him and Reed sat in the backseat. George started the car and started up an animated conversation with Reed, which was totally fine with me. He hadn't seen Reed in a couple of months, so I totally got it if he wanted to catch up with her.

George pulled into the parking lot of the Italian restaurant and I swear my smile got ten times bigger than it was before we pulled in the parking lot. George stopped the car and turned to look at both of us.

"We're here, girls. Via, honey, I gave you $50, it's in your wallet.

"Mr. Salazar, I can pay-"

"Nonsense, Reed, it's your birthday. And I've told you this about fifty times, call me George. Anyway, Val, is 8:30 good?" I nodded and George continued. "I think Gerard was going to take you girls out for ice cream sundaes afterwards, so Val, text Gerard when you're done with dinner and he's going to drop you girls off. Reed, make sure to tell him your address, I told your dads we'll drop you off."

"Okay, bye Daddy!"

"Bye ValSal! See you after your dinner! Be good to her, Reed. I'm watching you."

"Okay, geez!" Reed started laughing. We walked into the restaurant and then Reed said, "Hi, I have a reservation under the name Adler for 6? Thanks."

"You two look like such good friends!" the host said. Reed laughed and said, "Thanks, but we're not quite friends."

"Sisters? Cousins, perhaps?" the host said. Reed shrugged and said, "Not quite...I've been dating her for about two years."

"Oh...well, I don't condone homosexuality, but have a nice evening!"

Reed and I sat down at our table in uncomfortable silence.

"God, that was so passive-aggressive." Reed said. I laughed and said, "I know, I hate that. Anyway, time to get some real, authentic Italian food."

______

That was not real, authentic Italian food. And I've been to Italy once before, so I know how authentic Italian food should taste.

"There are so many things wrong with this. One, the pasta is horribly undercooked and it tastes like Kraft Mac and Cheese pasta, second, the sauce tastes like it came out of a can, and third...I don't even have a third critique, it was all...bleh, to put it nicely."

"V. You're talking to the chef." Reed said. I glared at her and said, "Yeah, I know. Thanks for the wonderful meal, sir."

"Who's the passive-aggressive one now?" Reed said, laughing. "I can't believe you called the chef over to criticize our entire meal! I thought you loved this place!"

"They must've changed their recipes since the last time I came here. And the next time you come over, I'm showing you what real Italian food should taste like." I said.

"Deal." Reed then looked at me with a sad smile. "Although, I thought the pasta was pretty good..."

"REED!"