Better Off Alone (BOOK 1)(Wattys 2016)

You Get Food Out of the Deal - Be Happy

I made it through an entire season of 'Sherlock' before I got a text from Olive in our group text.

O: Gem, do you wanna tell us something?

Seconds later, one came from Macey.

Mace: O and I will be at you house in five. Be ready for interrogation.

I sigh, setting my phone down next to me. Eddie hasn't texted or called, but that isn't a surprise. He always seems to sleep off his Saturdays whenever there's a party the night before.

"Clive?" I call out, but there's no reply from him.

My mother, however, appears in the TV room with a basket of laundry propped on her hip and a smile on her tired face. "Hey, Gemmie."

"Mom! How are you? Haven't seen you in a couple days." I smile up at her.

She nods, letting out a tired sigh and sitting next to me on the couch. "I know, hon, but you dad and I are trying to work a little more, you know? We're doing overtime at the hospital so that we get the hours for the money."

My parents both worked at the West Brook Hospital. My mom was a Doctor and my dad was head of maintenance. They were always working weird hours, but lately they have been gone all except the hours of nighttime and early, early morning.

"Why? It's not like we're poor." I glance at my phone. Macey and Olive will be here soon.

My mom chuckles. "No, but we realize we'll be sending, not one, but two kids off to college next year and we want to be prepared."

"Mom, please, don't overwork yourself. Besides, Clive and I are smart. We might get academic scholarships."

My mom laughs. "I know you're smart, honey. And if you do get scholarships we'll just use the money we're saving for a vacation or something." She winks at me.

"Seriously though, Mom. You and dad could use a vacation."

There's a knocking on the front door and my mom looks at me funnily, unsure of who it could be.

I let out a sigh, preparing for the onslaught of what was to come with Olive and Macey. "Don't bother answering it... It's O and Mace. They'll be in here... now."

At that minute Olive and Macey burst into the TV room, still dressed in their pjs. They look like they're on a mission - they're armed down with a carton of ice cream, peach rings, almond joys and what appears to be grape juice. Olive has a stack of movies in her hands and her box of nail polish tucked under her arm.

Basically, it looks like they've come to bribe me. And they'll probably succeed. I can already feel my mouth salivating at the sight of the ice cream and other delicacies.

They pause upon seeing my mother. Olive smiles at her, kind as ever. "Mrs. Lawrence, how are you?"

My mom smiles back. She's always loved Olive and Macey. "Oh, I'm fine, Olive. How are you?"

Olive still smiles. "Oh, just a little tired... And slightly annoyed." Her eyes flick to me.

My mom's eyes widen with confusion and she looks between us. "Oh, why's that?"

"Apparently," Macey cuts in, "Gemma here got a boyfriend last night, but didn't feel the need to inform anyone."

"That's not true!" I readily defend myself. "I told Clive."

Macey rolls her eyes and crosses her arms after setting the food down on the coffee table. "Uhuh, okay. Doesn't count, babe."

My mother gives me a sly smile. "Who is he, hon?"

I feel myself blushing, yet again. My mom absolutely adores Eddie, so I can only imagine how happy she'll be now that we're... dating.

"Um... Eddie?" It comes out more as a question.

My mom beams. "Eddie? Eddie Knight?"

I'm pretty sure my face is the color of a tomato. I awkwardly laugh. "Not too many other Eddie's we know are there?"

I look around at them. They all look ready to burst with squeals or excitement or something of the girly sort. No, I plead silently, please don't freak out and be all... girlish.

They must read what I'm thinking in my expression, or at least, my mom does. She kisses my cheek and motions to the basket of laundry. "Well, I'll leave you girls to have fun..." She starts to leave, glancing back at me and still smiling, "I'm happy for you, Gem."

I smile back. "Thanks, Mom."

She leaves and I relax. This isn't as hard as I thought.

Then, I look at Olive and Macey. The smiles are gone and they're both looking at me with eyebrows arched. Macey opens the package of almond joys and begins eating one. I feel drool coming on. Seriously, they're sooo tempting me.

Macey smirks. "This look good to you, Gem?"

I narrow my eyes, hating her. Or at least strongly disliking her. "Maybe..."

Olive smirks too. "Huh, well, too bad you didn't inform us of your newly changed relationship status."

I roll my eyes. "Come on, guys, it's barely noon. I would have told you eventually."

Macey shakes her head. "Do you know how I found out about you having a boyfriend?"

"Uh, honestly, not really. I just want that food." I grab for the bag of candy, but she's too quick for me.

She makes a tsk, tsk sound and shoves another almond joy in her mouth. "Seriously, Gem, I found out about it from Larkin!"

"Larkin?" I ask, surprised at first and then I remember who discovered us on the beach. "Yeah, he would know." Maybe if I jumped on Macey I could get the bag...?

"Olive, she just doesn't get it, does she?" Macey sighs deeply and might I add, dramatically.

Olive picks up the carton of ice cream and pulls a spoon out of the bag. She begins eating it right out of the carton, moaning slightly. "I know, Mace. What should we do about it?"

Macey hums slightly. "I don't know, O. Perhaps, we should just leave with all our food and movies."

"Guys," I complain, "it's not fair."

Olive rolls her eyes. "Promise us you'll let us do something, anything of our choice."

I roll my eyes. "Fine, whatever. Just as long as I get the food."

Macey snorts, tossing me the bags of candy. "Okay, well, let's see. How about Olive and I get to pick out your clothes and makeup for your first date with Eddie."

I choke on the almond joy in my mouth. "Hell, no. You guys'll make me... girly." I shudder slightly.

Olive shrugs. "Too bad. You promised. And besides. You get food out of the deal, be happy."

I growl slightly, swallowing my almond joy. "Fine, but no one is getting any of these peach rings. They're mine."

~~~
A/N:

sorry for any mistakes in any of the chapters. I try to edit them but sometimes I miss stuff.

Love always, Samantha <3