First Kiss

Chapter 22

In the morning, I greet Keri with a hug. She wraps her arms around me.
"Hey, baby," she says.
"Hey."
"I'm sorry that I was busy on Saturday."
"It's okay. There's plenty more where that came from."
We pull away to face each other and she kisses me sweetly. I smile.
"I want to make it up to you. Are you free tonight?" She asks.
"Yeah but aren't you going to be with your family?"
"I'm sure they won't mind. Besides, I want to have a proper gathering with you there as my girlfriend."
"Okay. What time should I come over?"
"Around 6:30 should be fine."
"Got it."
"Cool."
That evening, Mom drops me off at Keri's house. I kind of wish that Jaiden had come but he's with our dad. I get out of the car and walk up to the door. I knock as loudly as possible. Keri's bitchy aunt Rita opens the door. Of all the actually kind people that could've answered it, it has to be her. I force a smile.
"Hi, Mrs. Petrillo," I say politely.
"It's Ms. Petrillo now."
'I'm not surprised,' I think to myself.
She opens the door wider to let me pass. I enter the house carefully. She gazes down at the small pan in my left hand.
"What's that?"
"I brought carrot cake."
"Did someone say carrot cake?" Mary asks, walking into the room.
"Hi, Mary. I did say that," I say happily.
"Oh sweetie. You didn't have to do that," she says lightheartedly.
"Yes I did. My mom says that it's only polite to bring something when you visit someone."
She smiles and takes the pan.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Come on. Everyone else is in the dining room."
I smile and follow them into the dining room. Keri, her dad, her sister, and her grandparents are already sitting down at the table. I greet everyone politely and give Keri a quick kiss before I sit down. We start eating the cooked ham with mashed potatoes and green beans that Mary and Rita have made. Keri's grandma Kathleen smiles at me.
"It feels like we haven't seen you in forever, Amelia. What have you been up to lately?" She asks.
"I've mainly been keeping up with school and spending time with my family."
"That's great."
"How are your parents?" Keri's grandpa Henry asks.
"He's really asking about your mom," Rita says.
Mary give her a dirty look but Rita doesn't care.
"I was asking about both of them," Henry corrects her.
"They're doing well. We've all been really happy," I answer.
"I'm glad to hear that."
I smile and take another bite of the ham. I put my free hand on Keri's thigh.
"How's JJ?" Teri asks.
I hide my irritation. I'm the only person who calls him that. I don't know where she got the idea that she had free access to the nickname.
"He's great," I merely say.
"How old is he now?" Henry asks.
"Thirteen."
"Wow. It has been a long time," Kathleen says in amazement.
"Yeah. He's really something," I say with a laugh.
"Is he still into sports?" Keri's dad John asks.
"A little. He's mostly in the video game phase."
John laughs.
"I remember those days," he says.
"You were into video games?" Keri asks.
"Yes he was. I've seen pictures," Mary says.
"Me too," Teri says, crinkling her nose.
"I never knew that," Keri says.
"That's in the past. I'd rather play sports in real life than just watch it," John says.
"What sports does he like?" Henry asks.
"He likes to watch baseball and basketball. He plays a little bit of basketball at his best friend's house. That's where he mostly plays the video games though," I say.
"Oh. How is Dylan?" Mary asks.
"He's good, I guess. JJ sees more of him than I do. They're still really close," I say.
"As close as you and Keri?" Teri asks.
"Teri," John scolds.
I laugh nervously.
"I don't know how to answer that," I admit.
"You don't have to. Teri's being insensitive," Mary says.
"I'm trying to be. I just mean it in the general sense. You've been as close as sisters since you met. I was asking if they're that close," Teri explains.
"Dear. It sure sounds like an implication about Jaiden and Dylan's relationship," Kathleen says.
"I promise that it isn't. I'm sorry if it seems that way."
"Don't worry about it," I say, eager to forget it as soon as possible.
Rita doesn't seem to take the hint.
"She was really asking if being gay runs in the family," she tells me.
I freeze in my seat. I feel tears form in my eyes but I hold them back.
"Rita," Kathleen scolds.
I stand up slowly.
"Excuse me," I say meekly.
I scurry to the bathroom and lock the door. I slide to the floor and buried my wet face in my hands. A few minutes later, there's a knock on the door.
"Baby?" Keri calls softly.
"Hold on."
I take a moment to stand up and unlock the door. She opens it and locks it behind her.
"I'm so sorry. They were both acting like assholes," she says.
"No. I should've expected it. Of course they would think that."
"It's not true though nor was it appropriate to say. It was very cruel and I'm sorry that you had to face that. It makes me feel worse about using this as a makeup date."
"Don't feel bad. It was bound to get weird with your aunt Rita around."
"Yeah but it's never been this bad. I thought that Teri would've at least stood up for us."
I shrug silently. She wraps her arms around my neck.
"I'm sorry," she repeats.
"Please stop saying that. It's not your fault. Everyone else is on their best behavior."
"Yeah but I invited you. I feel responsible."
"Baby, it's okay. I'm not mad at you."
"I know but..." she trails off.
I put my hand on the side of her neck and kiss her. She kisses me back.
"Even if they hate me, I'll deal with it. It was just a shock to hear. I love you," I say.
"I love you too."
I smile a little.
"Are you okay?" She asks.
"Yeah."
"You can go home early if you want."
"No. I can't just ditch everyone. It'll give Teri and Rita another thing to bitch about."
"Don't worry about them. Do you want to leave?"
"Honestly?"
"Yeah."
"I kind of do. I feel a bit better because of you but I feel weird about the whole thing."
"I understand. You can call your mom to pick you up."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'm not mad. That was really shitty and I get that you want to leave. I would too."
"Okay. I'll call her."
She nods and kisses me on the cheek. She unlocks the door and walks out. I make the call and leave the bathroom. I decide to make a quick announcement.
"Thank you for having me but I'm going to get going. My mom is on her way to pick me up," I announces.
"I'm so sorry you feel uncomfortable. We asked them to leave," Mary says.
"I'm ashamed of Rita's behavior," Kathleen says.
"It's okay. It was still nice to be able to visit with you," I say.
"We enjoyed seeing you too," Henry says.
I smile a little and walk out of the room. I barely shut the front door when Keri joins me outside.
"Can we have a makeup date for this makeup date?" She asks.
I shake my head.
"It's okay."
"Now you hate me."
"I love you. I just don't think it's necessary."
"Why not?"
"I don't want something else to go wrong and add another layer to it."
"What else could go wrong? It's not like my family will be there."
"I don't know."
"Are you trying to tell me something?"
"All I'm saying is that we don't need to have any more makeup dates. It's a sweet gesture but this evening ruined the idea for me."
"Okay. I won't ask again. Have a good night," she says angrily.
"Wait a minute. Why are you angry?"
She looks past me.
"Anne is here."
She opens the door and shuts it. I sigh and approach the car. I get in and merely ask to listen to music for the rest of the car ride. She nods and turns on the radio.