I've Been Waiting All Along (Book 2 - Rock Canyon Series)

Chapter 8 - Charlie (They/Them/Theirs)

Chapter 8 – Charlie (They/Them/Theirs)

I looked at the bite sized spinach quiche tarts and tried not to vomit. After spending each evening with Ty and growing accustomed to frozen pizza bagels and McDonald's this healthy people food sucked.

I glanced at the two reasons we were here–one in beads and locks, the other in braids and bows. Destiny and Maddie were huddled close, over exaggerating their joy with each bite. I slouched, staring at the flecks of green in my food. I was already feeling like the third wheel.

Destiny's mom, Kiyana, and her boyfriend Nate, had allowed themselves to be talked into driving thirty minutes so these two princesses could go to their favorite vegetarian restaurant. It was beyond me to try to understand why we needed to go all the way out here before the game to eat $20+ per plate of fake plastic meat but "the girls just needed their pad thai from Satoshi's!" So, yeah. Here we are.

At least the view was nice. When Maddie and I arrived at Destiny's house, I had to begrudgingly admit that Destiny looked amazing in her carefully ripped North Rock Canyon High t-shirt, even if her face was makeupped three ways to Sunday like my sister's.

Both of them wanted to "glam me up" as well, but I drew the line at smoky eyeshadow and liner. I didn't want to feel like ripping my cheeks off for the next six hours.

I took in our surroundings while putting off the inevitable first bite of plant-based goodness. I had been here before with our family, and I remembered mourning Olive Garden so hard those first few trips. But while the food invoked vomiting, the vibes were cool. The seating was Japanese style on the floor, with shoji screens separating dining areas. The lighting was a mix of subdued recessed and little paper lanterns that were strewn around at different heights, creating an uneven, yet charming ambience. The music was Asian inspired lo-fi and tea was served before and after the meal, compliments of the house. I did enjoy those parts but still–it wouldn't have killed them to have something edible like Chicken Teriyaki to offset the tasteless tofu and mushy greens.

"Charlie, you're not hungry?" Destiny's mom, Kiyana, asked, the concern genuine on her pretty face. She reminded me of a barbie doll with her manicured brows and ageless skin.

"Not really. Guess I'm nervous for the boys. I know how much this means to them." Which wasn't exactly true but I didn't know what else to say–it's not like I could be honest and say that I'd have to be literally starving before popping one of these nasties in my mouth. Especially not after being dumb enough to order them.

I didn't want to attract further attention, so I nibbled on a tart and tried to think only happy thoughts, ignoring the explosion of imitation cheese and salty leather swirling around my taste buds. Maddie laughed at my stoic attempt to chew the awful thing.

"They've been hanging out with Tyrell eating god knows what all week. They've been thoroughly ruined," she said, her eyes twinkling in the lantern lit space beneath four pounds of purple eyeshadow.

"Oh?" asked Destiny with a slight frown. "I didn't know you guys were that close."

Her tone suggested there was more to the comment than curiosity. For some reason, that gave me a shot of adrenaline. "Yeah, we've become good friends. He's like the best friend I never had growing up. I never connected with girls like I connect with him. He's just an all-around great guy."

Kiyana smiled and I forced myself to take another bite. I knew what this dinner cost and I didn't want to be that person that ordered and then didn't eat. I figured I'd pack up what I didn't want and Maddie would eat it later while lecturing me about its health benefits.

I was going to comment further about Tyrell but Destiny had already turned back to Maddie and they were talking about makeup again. We'd spent an hour at her house discussing nothing but makeup. How much time could be spent talking about powders and creams?