I am Veronica (bwwm)

The dinner party (13)

Chapter thirteen: The dinner party:

"Hey dad?"

"What?" He called from the kitchen. I needed to go carefully about this. It was like defusing a bomb. If I cut the wrong wire I could end up dead.

"Can I go somewhere this weekend?" The was a pause. I almost never asked my dad if I wanted to go somewhere.

"Why don't you go ask your mom?"

"She's in a different part of the state, remember? She has that meeting upstate." I did a silent fist pump. I could pull the wool over my dad's eyes easily --- if I did it right.

"Yeah that's right...Where are you trying to go?" I paused for half a second.

"I'm going to hang out with my friend," Not a lie. At least not totally. "I'll probably sleepover." I was careful not to show any signs that anything was out of the ordinary.

"Yeah, go ahead. Just make sure you're back at a decent time, text me the time you think you'll be home."I let out a breath.

"Okay!" I got out of the chair I had been sitting in and made my way upstairs. When I got in my room I closed the door and I got out a large duffel bag. Chris had texted me earlier and told me we were staying at a hotel -- paid for by his mother's boss -- and that I needed to bring whatever I thought I would need.

At first I had freaked out at the prospect of staying in the same room with Chris. I had already had issues staying in the same room as my boyfriend let alone Chris. Judgemental, messy, Chris.

My boyfriend, who had been actively ignoring me for over a week now.

I sat on my bed and pushed my face into my hands. I just needed to get through this weekend and I could get myself together.

I stood up and walked over to my closet and to pull out some clothes. I packed a comfortable outfit for tomorrow and a simple pajama set. Now to pick a dress, aparently it was a dinner so I needed to look formal but not overly so. I went to the section I kept my dresses. I pushed the other clothes away and stared at the few dresses I owned. I knew I needed something simple and classy, but did I own anything remotely like that? I wasn't a big fan of dresses, I had thick legs and jiggly arms. I wasn't a big fan of myself in anything that showcased that.

I began to make mental notes about each dress.

Dress #1: Black, cute, but too short. Sounds like me...

Dress #2: Formal, but too puffy and white.

Dress #3: Yellow, sundress...too informal.

Dress: #4: Too small, red, and very low cut. Why do I own this?

Yeah, I didn't own a lot of dresses and I hadn't gone dress shopping in a while. This was going to be a problem. I pulled out my phone and texted Chris.

I don't have anything to wear to this dinner thing. Probably a sign I shouldn't go.

I slipped my phone a back in my pocket and sighed as I continued to pack. Why was I doing this?

Because I'm trying to be a good friend to Chris?

My inner voice answered. Nah, that's bullshit. You like spending time with him.

My own realization startled me. Since when did I like him? He was irritating, annoying, self destructive, pompous.... the list could go on and on. Somehow, even as I listed all of those negative descriptors in my head, his goofy smile popped into my head and my heart skipped a beat as I stuffed shoes into my bag. I needed to get a hold of myself.