To The Moon And Back

Chapter Sixteen

"Have you ever pretended to be unwell to get out of plans?"

John raised an eyebrow at her question, handing back the bottle of water they were sharing that she'd found in her bag. "No, but the way you asked that tells me that you probably have."

Selene tried to look innocent but her lips twitched helplessly until she gave up fighting, allowing the cheeky grin to bloom into full form, a grin that John was rapidly growing to love. She was so open and honest, so refreshingly forthright with her words and actions, so much so that it had taken very little persuading for him to join her game, wanting to see that smile again and again.

"Spill," he ordered, crossing his arms as if he were mad at her. She didn't take it personally, understanding it for what it was.

"It's not as bad as you're thinking..." she started, ignoring his quiet snort of disbelief, even with the short time they had known each other he already knew better than to believe that. "Okay, but promise you won't judge me?"

"I promise," he vowed as seriously as he could, which turned out to be not that much.

"Well, my friends-" she cut herself off to correct herself, "my ex-friends, are a bit full on, as you probably noticed."

John nodded his agreement.

"They like, never take a day off, you know? It's always one cause or another. I'm all for standing up for what you believe in and making a noise about it if others don't listen, but I'm pretty chilled for the most part and really can't be bothered with too much drama, let alone fighting for every single tiny thing."

John nodded again, understanding that perfectly. He'd known more than enough people in college who had taken their beliefs to a whole different level.

"So, Meadow arranged this birthday party and we were all invited, but I'd been to so many that I knew exactly how it would go." She began to tick items off on her fingers as she continued, "Party food that is bland and boring, depressing music that in no way gets you in the mood to party, and even more depressing conversation. They all get so political, permanently riding on their individual high horses and honestly," she paused again and lowered her hands, slumping in defeat. "Honestly, I just couldn't face the thought of another Saturday night wasted that way, but I couldn't be mean and say I didn't want to go, could I?"

She looked at him for support and he happily obliged, growing more amused by the second. "Of course not, that would be rude."

"Exactly! So I thought the best thing to do, to spare everyone's feelings, would be to tell them I was ill and then spend a quiet night at home. I mean, it's not like I would be rude enough to go out anywhere when I should be at the party, I have some standards."

"Of course you do, and your reasoning seems sound."

"It was...until it wasn't. Because they decided that they needed to 'pop in and see to the patient'." She shuddered as she recalled the moment they had turned up at her door. "They knocked and I bounded to my front door, thinking it was the Chinese food I had ordered. So, I'm there waving my purse, ready to receive my meal and they are there holding an armful of paper bags, filled with food designed to make me even more miserable."

John pressed his lips together for a second to avoid laughing, only speaking when he had regained his composure. "And then what happened?"

"I dropped my purse on the floor and kinda hunched over, clutching my stomach."

"Quick reaction." he praised, folding his arms gleefully, anticipating what she would say next.

"Yeah! So I made this groaning noise and swallowed a lot like I was about to be sick again because I was in too deep at this point to back down now."