What If We Had It All

Chapter 13 Please Don't Let Them Look Through The Curtain

I ran home and told my mom the good news of the musical as well as about my date with Owen. And while she wasn't so surprised I got the part she was surprised to hear about Owen. You see, after seeing the way I looked after my 'date,' she knew something was up but I just won't tell her. Until a couple of days ago when I came home from the music store and she waited for me downstairs in the kitchen to ask about my date, she seemed serious so I confessed everything to her. So she knows about the whole Owen situation, what she doesn't know, is the coffee shop mishap and the short term memory, she just knows the basics, I got stood up. So hearing the news that the guy who metaphorically broke my heart is literally asking me out on a date is kind of hard to trust. But she told me she appreciated him for trying and for bringing me flowers and stuff. It shows that he's changing and that he cares but that doesn't mean I have to be blind to forget the past, just keep one eye open just in case it all goes up in smoke and mirrors. So with that, I went upstairs and got dressed for my date. This time I chose this beautiful navy blue dress topped with a black leather jacket and black stilettos. My mom dropped me off at this house but of course not without one final warning "Be careful sweetie, he doesn't get to break you twice okay," "I love you too mom," I said before she drove away. I walked up to his door and took one final breath praying I didn't get the wrong address I was sent before knocking on it. "Hey Cat, you're here," Owen said before letting me in. "I'm so glad you came. Mom, this is the girl I've been telling you about, This is Cat well Catherine, she's my Cat." "I'm Catherine, nice to meet you," I said while stretching out my hand for a hand shake, his mom who was taking out a dish from the stove, came up to me and opted for a hug instead saying, that it was a pleasure to meet me and she was so happy I can join them for dinner. Owen then introduced me to his little brother Daniel, who is about eleven years old and is a huge soccer fan. "I hope you're hungry, I made lasagna, roasted potatoes, vegetables and roast chicken for you, I'm Evelyn by the way,'' His mom said, she sounded very kind but also sort of nervous which was kind of weird. I sat down for dinner and noticed that it was only four of us, no mention of his dad late at work or anything. Too ashamed to ask, I moved on like I never noticed. "Now I know that Owen had a lot of girls in the past but you're actually the first girl Ow's ever brought home, so you must be something special," His mom said to me and honestly I was shook, I could see it in his eyes that he was trying to hide his embarrassment when his mom said that, but I just played it cool and said "That's pretty cool to hear, your son's also something special, I knew it since the first time I saw him," Owen looks at me with this smirk before touching my hand. Our dinner was going pretty well, we talked about the musical and my love for the arts. I got to know a lot about Daniel and Owen's relationship and found out that they have a really close brotherhood, which is pretty sweet. That means Owen just pretends to be awful but he's actually really sweet. After the dinner, Evelyn went to put Daniel to bed, so I offered to help Owen with the dishes. I washed them while Owen dried and packed them away.

Catherine: "Tonight went pretty great, I really like your mom and brother, they were really nice."

Owen: "Yeah tonight went pretty great, you should come over a lot more, for more dinner obviously, it seems that they liked you too."

Catherine: "Of course, that sounds great."

Owen: "yeah..."

Catherine: "But I'm not gonna lie, I honestly thought for just a second that you might have send me the wrong address or something considering what happened last time,"

Owen: "Right about that, I didn't stand you up because I could have. Trust me I was really looking forward to coming honestly, I really liked you but........."

Catherine: "But what?"

Owen starts to look down for searching to see if his mother or brother was nearby, he crossed his arms then took one deep breath before he told me something unexpected.

Owen: You see, my mom and dad got divorced about a year ago and my dad moved out of the house and headed to Boston, it's only been a year and he's already found a new girl and has a new family, a new life and stuff and......"

Catherine: "Anddddd."

Owen: "And the night we were supposed to go on our date, I came home that day from school to find my dad trying to take Daniel away from me and my mom. But I won't let him so I slapped him and threw him out and told him to never come back. My mom was furious, Daniel was horrified and I didn't know what else to do and trust me I hated myself for standing you up. I am truly sorry because I really really like you Catherine. I know I pretend to be this cool, badass, athlete but the truth is, I'm a mess and a part of me saw that you looked like the only good thing in my life until I messed that up too."

My eye swallowed in tears

Catherine: "ohh Owen, I had no idea, I am so sorry you had to go through that."

He sits on the steps and I join him, he places his hand on my knee

Owen: "Sometimes people think the popular kids are perfect but the truth is we aren't even close. I don't mean to be a bully at school at times but sometimes it feels good to get the anger out. Veronica also didn't help my situation, she would always encourage me to be bad and mean. But honestly, since I've met you I'm happy, I've learned to save the anger for football practice. Also I went and apologized to the nerds I've bullied."

Catherine: "hahah, sounds like a start to something new."

Owen: "So this is me, all of me, the true me"

Catherine: "I love all of you."

Owen: "I know I've said it a million times but I am sorry for standing you up, I thought I may not have seen you again after it.

Catherine: ""Hey don't worry about anymore okay, that's in the past, your dad is in the past and you'll be a better role model to Dan than he would ever be."

He leaned into me and I leaned towards him and we kissed ! I couldn't believe it, this got personal fast, and I saw the true him and honestly I love this guy more than the handsome jock I thought I knew. Tonight was everything I ever dreamed of and more. But it's crazy how one phone call can change everything.