CONSUME

[10] meeting family

***

I drove home from school, greeted by my mom and Leo. I picked him up and gave him a kiss on his fluffy head, before walking to my mom who was cooking up dinner in the kitchen. She gave me a peck on my cheek and I sat down at the counter, watching her put a tray of... something, in the oven.

Unfortunately I don't know anything about cooking at all. But whatever she was making, it seemed to be a lot of food for just the three members of my family.

"Who's all this food for?" I questioned her, digging my fingers into a bowl of chips that were displayed in front of me.

My mom swatted my hand away, "Did you wash your hands after school?"

I rolled my eyes at her, ignoring her question and throwing a chip in my mouth anyways.

"Anna, James, and the boys are coming over for dinner tonight since your dad just got home."

"Oh," I shrugged my shoulders, the idea of Axel and his family coming over for dinner being an extremely normal thing for us. I didn't think anything of it, but then all of a sudden my mind wandered over to Axel's and mines newly blossoming relationship of intimacy.

I winced, shaking off any and all dirty thoughts that threatened to flashback into my mind from earlier.

My mom read my expression, "Please, Kameron. I know you're always fighting with Axel, but try to behave. At least in front of your father," She mumbled the last part, beginning to mix up what looked like some kind of sauce in a big metal bowl with a whisk.

"I..." I didn't know what to say, and for some reason the idea of telling my mom what was happening between me and him crossed my mind. But I shut that down immediately, "I'll try." I only said, regarding her for a moment before heading up the stairs and into my room.

As if my thoughts were telepathically sent to the boy next door, I received a text.

ASSLE: Dinner tonight, huh?

I caught myself smiling at the message, but bit my lip as an attempt to cover it.

Kameron: seems like it.

I replied, before typing again.

Kameron: we should probably talk about how to interact.

ASSLE: Interact?? Wdym

Kameron: like how do we treat each other in front of everyone?

I didn't get an instant reply, and so I waited for the three bubbles to pop up on my screen, waiting for an answer from him. But I didn't receive anything.

It was a valid question on my part. I mean, we never actually talked about what happens next. Do we just keep acting like we hate each other?

Not that I don't hate him.

I do still hate him.

I just... don't hate the way his hands touch me.

I huffed out air after staring for a few more minutes, and closed out of the iMessage app, plugging my phone into the charger and deciding to take a shower and start getting ready for dinner.

I wasn't worried about necessarily looking nice but I also didn't feel like wearing the same clothes I did to school. Especially because I want to wash off what happened earlier in the locker room.

I don't know why I get so much... guilt, after I do anything intimate. Maybe because it's my first time considering actually going farther than kissing with someone, and I'm scared of doing something I'll regret. But whenever Axel is in my presence, it feels like any sensible thoughts completely dissipate from my brain and are replaced with... really bad thoughts.