The Good Hair Family Sitcom

Short Episode 3: Save the Date

Wyatt's POV

My dads sit at the kitchen table with Uncle Walker while I try to do homework in the dining room. But the history of Spain really doesn't keep my attention when there's chatting happening that I'd rather listen to. 

"What's it like having one kid out of the house?" Uncle Walker asks.

"Out of the house might be an exaggeration," Daddy answers. "She lives in her apartment with Andreas, but they both still come eat our food regularly."

My uncle laughs, and then Uncle Jonah's voice takes the lead as he leans on the kitchen counter reading a cookbook while Austen stands on a stool beside him. 

Jonah squints at the book. "Wait, how much cinnamon?"

A cloud of brown rises from the bowl where Austen dumps in the entire container of the spice and giggles. 

Uncle Jonah stares at the pile for a moment before saying, "Okay, cool."

My phone's text tone distracts me from my family's activities, and I open it to see a message from Hiral. The name is spottable even when I'm not wearing my glasses, because when Hiral watched me type it into my contacts, she made me add two bows and some tulips around it. 

🌷🎀Hiral🎀🌷: 1st and last date with Beau.

That's my cue. I get up from the table, leaving my books for whatever I was studying on the table, and head for the door. 

"I've got to go," I announce. 

"Where?" Papa asks. 

I yank open the front door and shout before leaving, "Helping Hiral."

________________________________________

Wyatt's POV

All I need to see is the Shapiro's Delicatessen sign, and I know this date must be going awful. No guy with good opinions chooses this place over The Spoon. And then I spot Hiral at a table with Beau, except she's bored, fiddling with her napkin, while he's turned to face the booth of teen girls next to him. He's not even looking at my friend, which is why he doesn't notice her stand up when I come over. She's dressed up all fancy, too, with a turquoise bow in her curled ponytail and a ruffled dress. 

"Thank goodness," she sighs and gives me a hug.

That's what finally get's Beau's attention, and he springs up from his seat, clearly confused. "What's—?"

I don't let him finish, instead butting in with, "You're done. Come on, Hiral."

She grabs my arm with both hands and spins around, whipping her date with her hair, probably on purpose, and follows me out of the restaurant. Once through the door, she lets me go and releases a loud groan as we walk. 

"Ugh! What is wrong with boys? He started flirting with the girls at the table beside us. He barely even spoke to me!"

"I never liked Beau."

"You only didn't like him because he did that science presentation on the topic you wanted to get.

"No. Well, yeah, but no. I don't like him because he's a jerk to you."

"Only now," she argues. "But he was so cute and had this prince charming smile, and he held the door for me."

"I hold the door for old people at the grocery store. It doesn't mean I like them."

"You saying you don't like old people?" she teases. "What kind of monster doesn't like old people? They're so cute."

"No, I don't know them," I correct her. 

She stays quiet for a minute before saying, "Beau knows me."

"Have you ever, like, talked to each other?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"We did our homework together in math class."

"You mean you did both your homework while he watched."

She looks ready to fight back, but instead she lets out a breath and confesses, "He's atrocious."

"I wouldn't be friends with him." We walk a few more steps, and then I add, "He treats you like one of his horses on his ranch."

"I'm a horse?" 

"You deserve better," I tell Hiral, ignoring her question. "And not flirting with other girls on your date is, like, the bare minimum."

"A lot of guys don't meet the bare minimum. I can't be picky."

"Yeah, you can." 

She doesn't try to debate anymore and moves on to a different train of thought. "I thought high school guys would be better."

I glance down at her, seeing the disappointment in her face. 

"You're my best friend," I tell her. "I'm not letting you date a dumbass."

That makes her actually smile and almost laugh. "From now on, you interrogate all my dates first."

"Deal."

She looks up at me, getting more okay each second. If she's going to crush on stupid people, at least I know I can make her feel better afterward. 

"Wanna go to The Spoon?" she asks. "I kinda left before I got my food."

"I'm down," I reply, and we take the next corner to the superior diner.