Life With Mr. Malik (ON HOLD)

Chapter 9: Our First Date

“Honey, pass me the maple syrup.” My mom said, calling my attention. My eyes quickly shot up. It was only six in the morning and the whole family was already gathered around the dining table for breakfast.

Mom’s idea.

She had just recently read an article in one of those Good Parenting magazines that said early breakfasts taken together ensured lasting family relationships.

Personally, I think it’s doing the exact opposite because if mom keeps this up, all four of us siblings would race each other to the front door with our bags packed.

Using all the strength I got from a three-hour sleep, I reached my hand out to give my mom the bottle of maple syrup.

What?

It’s not like I’m the only teenager in existence who googles topless photos of Justin Bieber until 3 AM.

"Okay, all four of you. Answer me this. What time did you sleep last night?" She eyed us, one by one. I felt someone step on my foot and I immediately locked eyes with Austin who sat opposite me. 

I knew he stayed up all night talking to this pretty brunette in his Chemistry class. I also knew that he didn't want mom to know because let's face it, when a first born begins to experience the romantic kind of love, it's sort of a big deal to the mother.

"I slept at around eleven because I uh, was on the phone . . . with Kelsey." I stammered, poking my  deviled eggs back and forth on my plate. My mom picked up her coffee mug, looking at me with her I-am-not-convinced-but-your-attempt-is-making-me-laugh-internally expression.

But just my luck, she eventually turned to Austin. "How about you?"

I looked at Austin and smiled, eager to hear his excuse. "Um," he started. "I was on the phone too with my good friend L—"

"Were you using the landline?" My mom interrupted.

Austin quickly nodded. "Sure."

"That's not possible." I piped in. "I was using the landline."

My mom squinted suspiciously at Austin who was currently glaring at me. I was a hundred percent sure I was murdered five seconds ago in his thoughts. My corpse was probably dumped in a lake too.

Who knows what that boy is thinking?

Anyone? Anyone?

Exactly.

"Right. I forgot. I was using my phone." Austin said without taking his eyes off of me. I knew I was going to regret what I said later on.

Oh, god.

Please tell me he's not going to make me smell his feet.

Or worse.

His track uniform.

That thing doesn't see the light once it gets stuffed in his training duffel.

"How about you two?" My mom faced Elliot and Connor. Both their pudgy faces were inches away from being in contact with their cereal. My little brothers are too cute, I swear.

"Connor didn't want to give me my superhero cape." Elliot said glumly, giving his twin a nudge on the shoulder.

I laughed. "Wow, that's so tragic."

"I can't go to sleep without my superhero cape!" Elliot whined.

My mom shook her head. "Why can't you just wear your cowboy vest? Why couldn't you have been a cowboy for just one night?" She took a sip of her coffee.