Two Worlds Distanced

Chapter 126

EZRA

While waiting for Rachel to finish getting ready for the party, I'm starting to get nervous; I haven't talked since my blowup at the Christmas party the other night and feel so embarrassed and ashamed of how I acted. I'm still not the biggest fan of my family, having so many changes with Jasper, a stepfather who is a better father and person to my soon-called stepbrother Alex than my so-called father ever was to me. I still don't mind seeing my father after so many years. With zero contact or anything to check if mom or I was okay. He looks all set in the new life he created for himself by being a personal trainer. I haven't talked to him since seeing him in Oregon. I wanted to go back to that gym multiple times, but everything I got the guts. He said everything I wanted to hear, so what else is there to know?

"Ezra?". I feel a slight kick on my leg, I look up, and Rachel is standing beautifully in front of me in a black dress with a high cut on the side and little sleeves down her shoulders. I'm all choked up, "You," I stand up, tuck in a piece of hair behind her ear, "look absolutely perfect," I tell her, and she kisses my cheek. Luckily she's wearing high heels to reach my face, "You are so short. It's so cute,".

Rachel rolls her eyes like she always does when it comes to my stupid jokes, "You better get dressed before we are late," she slaps my chest and walks back to the kitchen. I signed heavily and noticed she hung up my navy blue suit with the matched tie on the closet door; I grabbed it and smiled as if remembering wearing this on our first date. I can't believe remembers that, and I'm still happy she said yes after being a jerk in the first place. I go to the bathroom to prepare and put some gel on my hair.

...

We pulled up a couple of houses away from my mother's home. I didn't think everybody would be showing up this early; I opened up my door, and I felt like the house had gotten bigger than the last time I was here. Rachel puts in her purse before getting out of the car, "Hey?" she tries to get my attention, "Are you okay? You look all pale," she jokes as checking my forehead like I have a fever. I nod no, then return to the car with the open door. Rachel squats down, "What's going on? Tell me," she sweetly says and runs her hand through my hair. I think I put too much gel in my hair. I can be a sixth Backstreet Boy, I secretly used to love their music, and I was embarrassed to love them, so I learned the moves from Everybody.

"You should go in. I'm going to stay here," I say without looking at her.

Rachel pulls my face towards her, "I'm not leaving you here so you can drown yourself in sadness. I think your mother will be excited to see you here. Do it for you," she says in understanding and stands up with her hand out. I sign, grab the keys and put them in my pocket, "Okay. But it's lame, we...".

"We will leave," she knew what I would say. She's a mind reader. That's hot like her. We grabbed the presents from the trunk and followed the people walking towards the house.

I'm hoping and crossing my fingers for no more surprises.