Mrs All American ❅ Luke Hemmings

Boardgames & Other Activities

Chapter 44 - Boardgames & Other Activities

The next day I, predictably, had a major headache and wanted to jump out my window from the pain. Nevertheless, I had to suffer through every excruciatingly slow class at school and put up with Alec annoying me during our mutual classes, break and lunch. Goddamn chipmunk-lover. He was the only one who didn't drink alcohol the day before and also the only one who was cheerful. The rest of us? We were basically on zombie-auto-pilot for the whole day.

Soon enough, I ended up back home, exhausted and face down on the couch. "Whyyyy?" I moaned into a couch pillow.

"How was school, sweetie?" My mom's voice chirped from somewhere.

"Horrible." I responded, my voice muffled from the pillow. The image of the cafeteria mush we were forced to eat flashed in my mind and I shuddered. "So, so horrible."

"Honey, get up, I can't hear a word you're saying." Mom sighed. "And how are you even alive? Oxygen is essential for survival, love!"

I turned over, so that my back was on the couch and legs were dangling from the arm rest, and took a deep breath. "Oxygen is essential. Noted, mom." I exhaled.

She shook her head while dusting the coffee table. "You're being over dramatic, I'm sure it wasn't that bad."

"Oh," I lifted my head to look at her. "Oh, it was that bad, trust me." I lowered my head back on the soft couch.

"Still think you're being dramatic." She singsonged without even a glance at me.

"I'm not being dramatic . . ." I grumbled, arms crossed.

Bzz.

"Is it Ashton?" Mom questioned, now dusting off the TV stand.

Struggling quite a bit, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked the text.

Cats: up for board games, hot coffee and lame stories?

Me: sure. Anyone else joining?

Cats: Alec and Mags. We're not sure which house to go to, though

Me: come to the Irwin house :-) we have tons of board games I've always wanted to play

Me: And we also have coffee

Cats: its settled then :) see you soon.

Me: where are you rn?

Cats: just about to drive to Alec's house to pick him up. Might stop by somewhere before picking up Maggie so we'll be there in an hour or so

Me: i see. Drive safe!

Cats: yeah, talk to you later, Rosemary

Me: bye, Cas :-)

"Well?" Mom asked expectantly.

"Oh, uh, no. It's not Ash, it's Caspar," I told her.

"What did he say?"

"He just invited me to play board games with him, Alec and Maggie. Is it okay if they come over for that, by the way?"

"Yeah, no problem, honey." Mom said dismissively just as her phone rang. She sent me an apologetic look and answered the call, "Hello? Karen! How are you, dear? Oh, yes, I'd love to accompany you and Liz for dinner. How does 5:30 sound? Excellent! I'll see you soon." She ended the call and was about to say something but I cut her off.