Crossing Jupiter (#Wattys2015)

Chapter Seven

"They've invited us over for dinner."

What?
Okay, I know it's the neighbourly thing to do, but I didn't actually think that they'd do it. No offense, but Bay's parents don't seem like those kinds of people.

"When are they expecting us?" I ask.

Mom wipes lipstick off her teeth. "Maybe twenty, thirty minutes? Jasper's upstairs getting ready, if you want to ask anymore questions."

I don't know why, but I'm a bit nervous. Every family is different, and it can either be a good different, or a really bad one.

I scamper upstairs and burst through Jasper's room. "Why didn't you tell me we're having dinner with Bay's family?"

He slings a shirt over his body. "I didn't know! As soon as I got home I fell asleep. When I woke up, that's when I heard. If I got the news any sooner, I would've called you."

"It's fine, really. It's not a big deal or anything, I was just a bit overwhelmed when I heard that."

He shrugs. "I'll be there if things get awkward."

-

Oh, he was there all right. Right there sitting in between Bay's sisters. If that's not awkward, I don't know what is. I stare at my cutlery and listen in to surrounding conversations. So far, so good.

Bay's mom looks at me. "So you write, July?"

"Yes ma'am. I've been writing stories ever since I learned the alphabet."

Bay smiles. "She's the girl who's running the school paper. Giving it a real face lift."

"That's very nice," she smiles. "Did you run the paper back in Connecticut?"

I beam. "Yes, I was head of the paper."

Bay's sisters stare at me. I've figured out that tall one is Marissa, and the smaller one is Taylor. Taylor seems nice enough, but Marissa is going to be a challenge to be around. She's constantly interrupting and focuses the topic on her more important fashion needs. If I hear one more comment on her personalized prom dresses, I'm going to throw up. Plus, she's taking a real liking to Jasper, which is a plus.
It's fun watching him squirm for once.

Marissa gapes. "You write?"

"That's what I just said, yes."

She twists her face to make a very unflattering impression. "I'd never be caught dead doing that, if it were up to me."

I've also learned that Bay's mom is Maria, but I still don't have a clean judgement on the father. He makes small talk with my dad, and then they both ended up having an eating competition. Both are currently passed out on the couch, so you can imagine what went down.

"Well this dinner sure has been interesting." I mutter.

"It's actually the best one we've had all year." Bay retorts.

Some part of me wishes I could've witnessed the worst dinner. You would've gotten the kind of emotion that you could only get from watching Reality TV.
Plus, I'm grateful for the food. This mom cooks a whole lot better than mine, but that's just because it doesn't turn to slush in the oven.

"So," Marissa's fingers trail up Jasper's shoulder. "you have to be what? 17?"

He shifts uncomfortably. "18 in a few months, actually."

She grins. "I turn 17 in a few weeks."

Jasper glances at me with a plea of desperation. I smirk and turn my attention to the other sister. "So Taylor, what do you like to do in your spare time?"

She shrugs. "I don't have many hobbies. Most of my time is taken up volunteering; I tend the horses at the local farm. You should drop by sometime, it might be fun."

I simper. "Once I get my license, I will."

I lower my voice to a whisper. "On another note: are you guys going to do anything about Marissa? She's going to give him a heart attack if she keeps this up."

Bay glances at the two of them as if he just noticed. "I'd just let her get it out of her system."

We engage in some pointless conversations involving our fictional universes, and then we bid our goodbyes. It took a few minutes to wake Dad up from his recent food coma, but we got him conscious enough to get up and walk in a stable condition. Both the moms agreed to never leave them alone together, as things may get out of hand. And that was that. Night = over.

The relief sheds from Jasper's face. "I thought I was going to die in there."

"At least I was there when things got awkward, right?"

"Oh shut up."