Psycho | Beatrice

7 | family dinner

Blue eyes, black jeans
Lighters and candy, I've been a fool
But strawberries and cigarettes always taste like you

I smile as I listen to the song for the millionth time. I stare in the mirror, curling my hair. I'm typically not one to get fancy, but I do it when I feel really excited.

I think I'm falling for him. When I think of us last night, even though we were drunk, I get butterflies. I still don't know if anything was sincere in his end. Maybe I'm just a drunk thing for him. But gosh, his eyes. His smell. His laugh. His warmth.

The door opens from the other side of the Jack and Jill bathroom. Devin walks in and fixes his hair in the mirror as well. He has his blue bandana in his hair. I think about when we were eight and I'd curl his hair in the bathroom. We were actually close for a while.

"Please behave." I mention.

He chuckles. "No promises."

I sigh. "I just don't need him knowing about America, okay?"

Devin shrugs. "Fair enough."

We both head downstairs and I get a text from Luke that he's here. I announce that loudly as I watch him walk up to the house. Then I let him in.

Luke stands in front of me with black jeans and a beige sweater. I blush immensely at how put together the is.  He can do both. His hair is flopped over nicely and curled as opposed to his classic straight haired up-do. He also wears round glasses. He almost looks like an entirely normal guy.

"Come on in." I mumble.

I walk him into the kitchen where everything is all set. Luke sits down at the empty spot to the right of me, across from Devin.

"Nice to meet you, son." My dad nods. "I'm Michael and this is Tammy. And I'm sure you've met Devin."

Luke nods in return. "It's a pleasure."

We begin to eat. The room is filled with the clinking of silverware on the plate. I frankly don't mind it that much. It's usually this or bickering.

"So what brings you guys to Australia?" Luke asks.

I freeze before my bite. Then I put my silverware down as I mentally sink into my chair. I first look at Devin who is smiling into his fork. I look at my mother who happens to pick up her glass for a drink. I look at dad who is also looking around. It takes about twenty seconds for someone to speak up.

"Um...we just needed a new start." My dad explains.

Luke furthers the conversation. "What's it like over there?"

"I wish I got left there." Devin states.

I let out a chuckle. Devin and I both hate our family. We hate my mom for what she did, and we hate my dad for being so naive. For some reason, though, Devin groups me in with them. And by defense, I group him in with them. Devin is more militaristic—more divisive. I just want peace. I wish everyone could get along.

I have a feeling Luke has picked up on our weird dynamic. He falls right into the silence along with us. From the corner of my eye, I see him awkwardly looking around.

How I wish my family was normal.

"So how did you two meet?" My mom speaks up.

I blush at the wording of the question. "Mom, we're not—"

"She sat at our lunch table." Luke says. "And now we sit next to each other in English."

"Why don't you bring someone over for dinner, Dev?" Dad asks. "You would think most girls are bending over backwards for you."

Devin leans back in his chair. "Oh quite literally."

Luke almost chokes on his food. My mom and dad glare at Devin.

"I could bring that girl that was in my bed not too long ago.  You guys seemed to like her."  He pauses, "I think I'll go for girls who have boyfriends."

My hand by default begins to tap the table. I try to stop it but I can't. I know exactly where this is going to lead to. I want to scream but I try to keep my composure for Luke.

Luke furrows his eyebrows. "That's an awful thing to do."

Devin laughs. "Yeah well how should I know better?"

I immediately stand up and I push my chair in. "Luke and I need to work on homework. At his place."

Luke gets the hint and stands up next to me. He thanks my family for having him over and as we head over to the foyer, I hear my father bickering quietly with my brother. We put our shoes on and we go outside without saying a word. I owe him an explanation.

We stand on the porch for a couple of seconds. I breathe in the fresh air which my lungs so needed. I listen to the rain and the cars that drive in the puddles.

"I'm so sorry." I whisper. 

Luke clears his throat.  "I brought you a shirt like you had asked last night."

I notice a bag in his hand.  He holds it out for me.  "Well I actually brought you two: one short sleeve and one a jumper."

I take the bag into my hands confused.  I look up at him with a soft smile.  We stare at each others eyes for a second before he decides to walk to his car.