Love Lessons (On Hold)

Lesson #13: Asking Someone Out in Front of Your or Their Friends is MAJOR

"Doll, can you please sit down?" my dad said, gesturing towards a chair.

"Urm...sure?"  That was what came out. But I was clearly thinking 'What the bloody hell is going on?'.

My mother looked distraught and kept pacing around. Her Louboutin heels kept clicking back and forth, "Honey, I'm glad you're here."

"Um... when am I not here, Mum?" I retorted.

She shook her head, "Not yet, Jonathon. Not yet."

"No, Penelope. It's time." my father blinked slowly, putting on his wire-rimmed glasses, and running his skinny fingers through his salt and papper hair.

"Can you tell me whatever rubbish you are talking about, I have to get ready for school." I frowned, throwing them both a  sour look.

"Maybe, after school Jonathon? That would be better." Mum looked horrible. Her normal thin blonde hair was wild and frizzy; when it was normally pin straight.

"What's going on?" I pressed, Mum looked nervously at Dad.

"Honey, its time me and Pen-- your mother-- told you what's been going on. Hero, we...we-we are--"

"Hey! Hero! Your not...ready...yet?" Kat came running in the door.

"How did you get inside?" Mum asked quietly.

"I'd love to know that also." My father said softly after her.

"Oh, so you finally...." she mumbled, "something."

I missed the few words in between, "Mum, Dad tell me."

"Oh, dahr-rling, I'll--we'll tell you after you get home." Mum smiled, and nodded.

I sighed and frowned, "Fine."

*****

"What did I break up at your house, Hero?" Kat asked, filing her nails during free period.

"I dont know, because your stupid self walked in." I scoffed.

"I'm sorry, Hero." Kat stuck out her baby pink bottom lip.

"It's okay I guess." I rubbed my eyes, which today we thankfully mascara free.

"You look gorgeous." someone mumbled behind me. It was that same country accent I have grown to love.

"Hi Nate." I smiled, forgetting all my distasteful feeling. Crazy how things can do that to you?

"Well, Superwoman, I think we need to hang out again."

I turned around to face him in a plain black V-neck and some ripped loose jeans. "Hang out again?"

"Yeah, ya know. Like a date?" he smiled, his group of friends behind him smiled too.

"Like a date..." I repeated, thinking it over, "Okay."

He looked a bit taken back, then regained his composure, "Okay. Well, see you soon." he winked.

I tried my flirtiest wave, which most likely turned out to be a ruddy fail.

"Wow." Kat laughed, "That was....something."

"Something? What do you bloody mean something?" I snapped.

She raised her hands in peace, "I mean, he asked you out in front of his friends." I gave her a confused look and she elaborated, "Either he really likes you or he's a complete dick and a half."

"I'm kind of going for the second option. But is it really that serious?" I raised my brows.

"Yeee-aaaaah. It is. Asking out in front of friends is like commitment, doll." she flipped her hair back.

"You guys are meant to beeeeeeee." Kat smiled, and giggled.

"All of that shit is rubbish, Kat. Love is rubbish. I don't believe in forever ever after and all that junk. Its not real. Its fiction. Fake. Make believe. Fables."

Kat looked genuinely appalled. "Oh! Hero! How can you say that!? Love is real. Non-fiction. True. Reality. Love is life. You wouldn't be here without love."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, "Please. I am here because of eggs and sperm. Don't give me that bull."

"I'm mad at you." Kat pouted.

"Good. I got my point across. You wouldn't be mad if you didnt believe what I said to the least." I smirked at the distaste in her face, and laughed triumphantly as I walked away.

****

"Honey! It's good you are home!" Mum smiled, her frantic look still on her face. Its sad when my mum tries to hide her feelings with make-up.

I sighed. Its like I never normally come home. "Yeah, I'm home. News." I plopped down on the couch.

"Honey..." then she burst into tears.

I sat up and looked at her, a bit startled. "Mum? Mum? Mum! What's wrong?" I frowned, kneeling toward her slender figured crumpled on the floor.

"He's gone." She said between sobs.

"What? Who's gone? Mum! Stop crying." I said, getting a bit scared now.

"He's--he's gone. He's gone, Hero. He's gone." she sobbed, her thin hair hung in her face.

I held my mum for about an hour or so that day listening to her sob about 'him being gone'. Finally, she stopped sobbing like a child and sat on the couch.

"Mum, who's gone?" I said slowly.

"Your--your father." she said, between deep breaths.