Project Fat Suit

Thirty-Four: Apologies

Chapter Thirty-Four: Apologies

I’ve been through plenty of awkward moments in my life. My physics teacher has caught me—or rather my fat suit dangling from an air vent. I’ve caught my brother pursuing his ‘interesting’ hobbies. Some girl thinks that I stuff my bra with tennis balls. I’ve gotten a detention because I lied about my teacher killing someone’s cat. I found out that I killed my father and had children with my mother and then quickly realized that my daughters were technically my half sisters… Oh wait. That’s Oedipus’s awkward moment.

Anyways, the point is that I’ve been through a lot of awkwardness. Yet, the situation I was in now surpassed all those moments.

Liam and I were just standing there silently as his sisters stared me down—some in disbelief, some in confusion.

“Uh, guys, this is Rena,” Liam introduced me to his sisters, who were staring at me weirdly.

“Hi,” I greeted shyly.

We spent about a minute in silence before I realized I probably wasn’t welcome. I mean they all just came home from their colleges. They probably just wanted to spend time with their little bro alone.

“I think I’m going to go,” I muttered to Liam.

“No, stay. They’re just—”

Suddenly a middle-aged woman stepped out of the house. When she saw Liam and smiled, rushed to him, but her smile dropped as she came closer. She looked sort of angry now.

“Liam Jonathan Nelson, why are you soaking wet? You can catch hypothermia,” she cried.

“Mom, it’s fine. Rena and I were just hanging out and—”

“What? Liam, you know you can’t just hightail out of here just because some girl walks in and—”

“Mom, I’m fine nothing happened and Rena didn’t—”

“I don’t even know this girl! And what if something did happen? Could this girl even help you or would she just abandon you when things take the turn for the worse?” Liam’s mom ranted, giving me a glare.

I couldn’t help return the glare. She was talking about me like I wasn’t standing a foot away from her. And she did she really have to assume the worst about me? She didn’t even know me.

“Mom, Rena is Kurt’s sister and she wouldn’t—”

“Oh, Kurt Davidson,” Liam’s mom said my brother’s name in disgust. “I never liked that boy. He’s not right in the head.”

“Mom—”

I could tell Liam was getting frustrated with his mother. She wasn’t letting him finish any of his sentences and now she was bashing one of his friends.

Now I was angry. This woman just seemed so judgmental. She didn’t know anything about Kurt or me and yet she’s making all of these claims.

“I bet it’s because of their mother’s death. Single fathers can’t—”

“What is your problem?” I found myself snapping. “You can’t just assume those things about my family! And my father’s doing a great job.” Usually I’m against yelling at adults, but I just couldn’t keep it in after she mentioned my mom.

“Oh, this just further proves my point—”

“Mom, stop it,” Liam cut off his mom with a stony gaze.

“I’m leaving,” I announced, sending Liam an apologetic glance. “I don’t really want to get in between you and your mom.” And I don’t particularly want to deal with the consequences of slapping an adult across the face.