Everything Sucks! Season 2 (KEMALINE)

Episode 1 Part 3 - Getting Caught and Compromises

- Luke -

December 24th, 1996

"Yes," I hear Kate say, her voice muffled through her bedroom door. "Yes, I'll be your girlfriend."

I'm sitting outside Kate's room, my back against the wall next to her door. This kind of sucks.

"Is that mistletoe?" I hear Emaline ask.

"Where?" says Kate. Oh, come on, I can read that cheesy move from here.

"I'm sure there's some around here somewhere," Emaline responds. Ugh, barf. 

I know I'm "over" Kate, but I'm not sure if I'm really over her. Like, I know she got closure and everything when we talked during the movie, but I'm sort of just... I don't know, lost in everything?

She really was special, and I thought we had something, and I know I can't be mad at her for not liking me, but I feel like I've been played goddamnit! By Kate for saying yes in front of the whole school and by Leroy for leaving and showing up out of the blue and by Mom for making things more complicated with Kate. Three months ago, I was so excited for everything high school had to offer, and now my lesbian ex-girlfriend-slash-step-sister is on the other side of this wall, making out with some chick who used to want me dead.

I'm pulled out of my train of thought.

"Luke!" my mom calls up the stairs. "What's keeping you?" I stand up

I hear Kate and Emaline jump at this, their moment clearly cut short by the commotion.

"Sorry, Mom," I call down the steps. "We'll be down in a minute!" I reach out to knock on Kate's door, but as I do, Kate opens the door, and I'm faced with the two of them, clearly a little disheveled.

Emaline looks at me awkwardly and tries to dart past me to leave.

"You might want to wipe some of that lipstick from your face," I quietly suggest. She turns back to look at me. "You look like you just made out with a clown." She zips her jacket up to cover the bottom of her face and darts down the stairs. I hear her mumble a quick goodbye to my mom and Mr. Messner before the door opens and closes.

"Luke, what the hell was that?" Kate asks, clearly feeling lots of emotions at once.

"I should ask you the same thing," I retort. We stand there awkwardly for a minute.

"So you and-" I start, but she shushes me.

"Keep it down," she whisper-scolds.

"Sorry," I continue, much quieter. "So, you and Emaline?" She smiles bigger than I've ever seen.

"Yeah, me and Emaline. I guess so," she says as if she herself can't believe it. Her demeanor changes.

"You can't tell anyone though. You saw what happened last time, the first week of school when a fraction of this was just a rumor. We can't-" I cut her off.

"I get it, Kate. I'm just happy you're happy." She smiles at me. "Thanks, Luke. I really appreciate it."

"Luke! Kate!" my mom calls up.

"Coming!" we yell back in unison.

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Dinner looks awesome. Mr. Messner may be a dork, but damn, that dork can cook [a/n: I know this is not canon but I want it to be lol]. Usually, on Christmas Eve, Mom and I get Chinese food. This year, there's turkey and mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts and casseroles and mac and cheese and shrimp cocktail and a bunch of different soups and pies. My eyes must be the size of bowling balls. I've never seen a meal this fancy or this huge.

Kate notices my shock. She laughs.

"Christmas is kind of a big deal around here," she says playfully.

"I can see that," I return, still almost too stunned to speak. Everyone laughs.

"Well, whatever you guys were doing up there better have been important because it's starting to get cold," Mom playfully scolds. Kate and I look at each other knowingly. Mom and Mr. Messner are too lost between themselves to notice.

"Let's eat!" Mr. Messner announces. We all cheer and sit down, passing plates and messily digging into all of this awesome food.

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Eventually, we're all completely stuffed. We know at some point we're going to have to pack all of this extra food into about 4 million separate Tupperware, but right now, we're all in a communal food coma.

"Wow," I say. "That's the best meal I've ever had. You're awesome, Mr. M," I tell him.

"Thanks, bud, but I couldn't have done it without your mom." She and I both crack up at this. I love my mom, but everyone knows she's the worst cook in the world.

"No, really," he says, also laughing. "I may have chopped and measured and stirred and seasoned and cooked everything, but she poured all of the ingredients from a lot of small bowls in one big bowl." We all laugh at this.

"What can I say, I have a gift," Mom jokes.

"So what are the plans for tomorrow?" I ask, hoping to continue this happy conversation. The mood darkens a little. Mom and Mr. Messner know something I don't.

"Well..." Mom starts. Shit.

"Okay, well your father's parents called. They want the three of us to spend the day with them tomorrow."

"No," I respond immediately, barely giving her time to finish the sentence.

"Luke, bud, I'm sorry. I already agreed," she says, clearly also unhappy with the situation. I'm so angry, the room starts to spin. Kate and her dad share a look, and they grab a few dishes and take them to the kitchen.

"What the hell, Mom?" I demand. "I hate him. I hate him so much, and so do you, so why would you ever-" She cuts me off

"Grandma Mary and Grandpa Joe said they'd convince your father to sign the divorce papers if we do this. Open presents at their house and one last family dinner, and then we're done."

"But, I..." I trail off.

"It also means I can file for full custody. Get him out of our lives for good. Out of your life, legally and permanently. "

I don't know what to say. I'd rather shove all the silverware on this table down my throat than spend Christmas with Leroy and his parents, but at the same time, what's one day in comparison to the entirety of my foreseeable future?

"One day and that's it?" I inquire.

"One day. I'll even try to get us some sort of out in the middle of the afternoon." We both chuckle a little. There's a pause. "Deal?" she asks.

"Deal."