The Cracks in Perfection

The Family in France

Chapter 24

Morgan

"How am I supposed to know what to wear?" I asked like it was the most obvious question to be asking at the moment.

"I would help, really I would, but I really just don't care," Ray said.

"Call Seth and ask him what you should dress for."

"I texted him... he just answered. He said on the border of fancy and casual."

"He's probably taking you out to dinner or something." Karen answered.

"Why did you make me come here?" Ray asked, sounding bored. I smiled at them because they were a really cute couple. He was lying on my bed with his arms up, holding his phone over his face. Karen sat up, leaning against my head board and their legs were crossed over each other.

"Because my friend was in need, and you were already in the car. That phone is going to fall on your face."

"No it's not."

I pulled a white skirt out of the very back of my closet and paired it with a spaghetti strap brown tank top. Then I put a primarily purple with a little bit of brown plaid shirt over it.

"What do you think?"

"I think it's cute, and fitting," Karen said. She elbowed Ray in the arm and he looked up at me.

"Go put it on," he said, with no room for discussion. I went to the bathroom and did just that. When I came back, Ray inspected the outfit from his spot on my bed.

"He'll love it. Actually, any guy would. Short skirt and kind of low tank top." He gave me a thumbs-up as Karen thwacked him between the eyes. I pulled my tank top up a bit.

"Well, now my hair."

"Curl the ends and do that side ponytail thing you did for your birthday," Karen told me. On my birthday my hair had been much longer, but I was still able to do the same style with my short hair. I heated up the curler and followed her advice. Ray wanted food. I told him to go downstairs. Karen helped me with the back of my hair and the little bit of makeup she refused to let me go out in public without.

When we went downstairs, Ray was sitting at my kitchen table joking around with my dad. They were both eating out of a small bowl of trail mix sitting in the middle of the table.

"Your dad is so funny!" Ray said through a mouthful of trial mix.

"I try," my dad shrugged.

"Alright Ray, come on let's go! I can bring you home now."

"I don't know, I think I want to hang out with Lee some more!" Ray's smile was so wide. I decided then that I would call that the Ray Smile.

"No, sorry Ray, Morgan has to wait for her date to pick her up! Us being here will dampen Mr. Harris's 'You're bringing my daughter on a date' scariness." My dad just laughed as Karen dragged her boyfriend out of my house. I took Ray's spot at the table.

"First date, huh?" my dad asked. I nodded. I was really nervous.

"Does it help if I say I like Seth? I also like Karen's boyfriend. He's funny." I shook my head at my dad, ever the simple one.

"Yes, that helps a little. And Ray is one of Seth's best friends."

"You chose the right people to hang out with." My dad smiled, but I knew he was thinking about Mallory. She was in a bad place at the moment, when it came to friends.

"Thanks for your approval dad," I said, trying to be snarky.

"No problem." He didn't get it that I was trying to lighten the mood. We ate some trail mix until the doorbell rang. I hopped up to go get it, but Paisley was at the door before I could even blink.