Melted

Chapter 3

I woke up before the rest of my family the next morning, which doesn't make sense, since I could hardly sleep. I didn't know why Gen's words got to me, it's not like Peter and I were anything more than friends. Besides, I would be able to tell. Maybe Gen just had bad experiences with guys.

The doorbell rang around 7:30, pulling me off the couch with my bowl of fruit loops. It was too early for anyone to be at the door. Maybe Mom had a package being delivered. I put on my slippers and opened the door. But there was no package. And there was no mailman. Instead there was a pair of ratty sneakers on my doorstep. I looked up and saw Peter standing in front of me with my stuffed elephant in his arms.

"Peter!" I exclaimed, in complete shock...and embarrassment. I didn't exactly want him to see me in my dad's old tee shirt and my mom's dirty slippers. I took a step back inside.

"I brought this. You left it at the ice cream shop. I thought you might want it back," he said, handing me the stuffed elephant. I smiled and took the elephant from him. We stood awkwardly for a minute, until I couldn't help myself. I knew that if I didn't ask, I'd never know.

"Are you just trying to be friends with me for sex?" I asked, closing my eyes. There was no way I could look at his face. Maybe he wouldn't look at mine. Peter laughed, and I slowly opened my eyes.

"Are you kidding me? I would not put in this much effort just for sex, believe me. There are easier ways. I mean, I stole a freaking elephant for you," Peter answered with a laugh.

"It is a stuffed elephant," I reminded him. He nodded and laughed again. So Genevieve was wrong.

"And what do you mean by trying to be friends? I thought we were friends," Peter asked. I smiled awkwardly.

"Yeah, that's what I meant," I said. We didn't do anything for a while. He just stood there and stared, and I just stood there, feeling my face burn up in flames.

"So what are you doing today?" he asked.

"Uh, nothing. It's Sunday right? If it's Sunday I will go absolutely anywhere," I told him. Sunday was family day at my house. Board games, movies, and awkward family meals.

"How about another walk, but with no destination? We can get to know each other," Peter offered. It was a risky offer. It sounded both boring and stupid, but lucky for him, I had nothing better to do.

"Sure," I answered, "Just let me get changed. Wait here." I closed the door and raced up the stairs. I threw the elephant on my bed and got changed in a rush. If my parents woke up before I left, they'd never let me leave. In fact, they'd probably ground me for even trying. I ran a brush through my hair, put my makeup on hastily, and slipped on sneakers (because there was no way I was walking in flip flops again) at the same time before racing down the stairs. I grabbed a pen and scribbled a note onto a post it.

"Where are you going?" a voice asked . Oh no. I'd been caught. My mom stood in the living room, wrapped up in a pink robe. I cringed and inched towards the door.

"I made plans with a friend. It's really important. There are going to be plenty of other days to trap me inside this box and torture me, so I'm going to head off," I told her, running for the door. She was too quick for me, and opened the door before I had a chance to slip out.

"Well hello," Peter greeted her without any shock or lame humor, "You must be Brijit's mother. It's a pleasure to meet you. You look lovely!" It was taking all my strength not to burst out laughing as Peter extended his hand to shake my mother's. Nevermind, I was mistaken. He kissed my mother's hand. Was she really buying this?

"You said it was a friend. You didn't say he was a friend," Mom said, eyeing him warily, "Excuse us a moment." Suddenly, the door was slammed in Peter's face. "A boy! Really? You're going out with a boy? Why didn't you tell me?"