Consider Me

Chapter Five: Lily

I get inside my house, not once looking back to the mysterious bike rider who happens to be a student of my school and lock the door. Mom is in the kitchen when I make my announcement that I am home and rush to my bedroom upstairds to drop my bag. I switch the light, head to my dresser to take my earrings off. I don't like them at home. They feel heavy and I rather be not. 

I change out of my clothes and go to the kitchen calling Mom. I find her by the kitchen window gazing outside as if there is someone. "What are you looking at?"

She gets startled by my voice even though I called her earlier. "Jesus, Lily you scared me,"

"What are you doing?" I go to her by the window but she squeaks and drags me away. "What, why are you acting weird?"

"I am not acting weird. I am curious," she says dropping my arm. My mum is a soft lady but working in bakery industry has made her hands strong. The everyday kneading of dough, massaging the knots and making them fluffy has given her fingers and palm a roughness and grip that I sometimes have trouble shaking. 

"About what?" 

"That boy. Who was he?"

My eyes widen. "You were peeking?"

"No," she says defensively, "I was preparing dinner when I heard an engine. Not my fault if I tried to look who was riding a bike at this time in the neighborhood,"

"God Ma," I round the counter and sat on the stool. 

"He's from your school, right?"

"Yes he is from school. We're from the same year,"

"Really,"

I nod, wondering who he could be? I could tell he is someone rich, the bike he was riding doesn't come without a heavy pocket. I just hope he doesn't belong to the snobby elitist crowd otherwise whatever little friendship I am hoping could build would stop. 

"He didn't tell you his name?" she goes to the burner that's steaming with a pot of marinara sauce, the tangy tomato smell engulfing around me making my stomach groan. 

"He did but not his full name."

She looks at me over her shoulder, "Well?"

"What?" I play innocent. 

"Tell me his name," 

"You were peeking. I won't reward you for that,"

"Oh, c'mon it was just a little stare. I was curious," she turns the burner off and takes the pot off. "It's not like you bring guys around here. I ought to snatch whatever opportunity I can find while I am still living,"

"What about Kevin?" He is a good friend of mine. We have physics together and did one or two times we had assignments that got us visiting each other's house for extra study time.  

"Oh he's an idiot who keeps tripping over his own foot,"

"Because of you,"

She chooses to ignore what I said and focuses on plating. I help her, chuckling as I put a chunk of pasta on my plate and then drizzle some sauce before Mom adds shredded cheese on top. We eat our dinner in silence because talking over food is frowned up. I don't talk during meals and my mother makes sure this habit stays with me way beyond the fours walls of our house. 

Once we're finished with food, she latches again to the boy topic. "Are you really not going to tell me his name?" 

I sigh and drop the cloth I was using to wipe the table. "He's a stranger Mom. Don't look too much into it. He might be a student at the Hawthorne High but we've never met before so it means nothing if I tell you his name or not. Good night,"