Stereotypical

XV || She, Who Couldn't Have a Break

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Otay, so this chapter is set about four to five days ahead of where we left off. I'll be covering the events in the skipped time as we go on, but yeah. About a week-ish. I had plenty of scenes and stuff written and whatnot, but then I saw how slow I was going, and how things like this would effect the ending that I'd decided on... But I may put up some of the scenes and conversations up on my other book, Oddments. And I am officially out of songs - at least, some that fit the story, lol. 

Sorry this is so long. Sorry it took this long to finally update.

Sorry.

My phone was ringing, and it was Parker's name on the screen. As far as I was concerned, he was out with Emily, as he had been for the past four days. I'd made it a point that he spent more time with her than me after waking up in his arms on Sunday morning last week. It was flustering, thinking about how comfortable I had been.

Sighing heavily, I answered and pressed my cellphone to my ear. "Hello?"

It wasn't Parker. "Yes, who is this?" It sounded like an older woman; maybe forty-something. Why'd they have Parker's phone? Did the idiot drop it?

"Um, this is Carson. Carson Reeve..." I trailed off, taking my remote and turning the television down. "May I ask who is calling?"

"This is Parker's mother, Carey."

Oh no. She was going to cuss me out for being on her son's phone. I was going to die over the phone. "Oh. Is...everything alright? I thought he was out." I mean, I knew he was. That was probably the only way for his mother to get hold of the device anyways.

"No, everything is fine. I just wanted to know who...Dork was. Are you his friend?"

Dork? I was going to slap the romance out of his smooth ass. Parker was smooth, I mean. Not his ass. I closed my eyes. "Yes ma'am. Does he have any idea that you're back? He'd be happy to see you again." 

I could imagine her rolling her eyes."Well I was planning on calling him, but he left his phone behind."

I chuckled. "He probably didn't want any distractions," I told her. "Since he's on a date and all."

"He has a girlfriend? Really?"

"Yep. Well, I'm not so sure. Its been about...um, not too long but they're dating." I owed him a hundred bucks if they became official. But then again, I'd be paying up whether or not they sealed the deal. No way was I going to screw a stranger.

There was a pause. "Oh, is she the pretty girl in this picture?"

I thought about it. "She's blonde, with uh, highlights. Yeah, she's pretty."

Mrs. Winston made a little vocalization of confusion. "Oh no, this girl has black hair."

Something twisted in my gut. It reminded me of all the trouble that stupid picture was still causing. People didn't say it aloud, but I saw it in their eyes. They thought that I was head over heels in love with Parker, and I couldn't even begin to tell them how wrong they were. Someone mentioned 'it couple' and I tripped them during gym.

"Oh, uh, yeah. That would be me, then." I said, finishing off with a nervous chortle.

"Well, you two looked happy together. Are you an ex?"

"No," I blurted. It took a few seconds, but I composed myself, clearing my throat. As I spoke, I played with a loose string on my pants. "No, we're just friends."

Mrs. Winston spoke again, and I could hear the smile in her voice. "You know, Parker's father and I started off being just friends. Now we have two beautiful children and a flourishing business."

Oh lovely. "Yeah, I look forward to being a godmother, I guess." I said, avoiding the thoughts she'd evoked. Marriage with Parker would be the sole definition of comedic horror. Besides, I thought that he looked perfect with Emily. She would be the one to change him for the better.

"You're such a supportive friend," she remarked. "He's lucky to have you, I'm sure."

I smiled, "Thank you." I seriously doubted that lucky was the word, but I couldn't correct her. She knew more about Parker than I ever would. If she thought that my presence was best, I'd go with her flow. I was preparing to say goodbye - it felt awkward holding a long conversation with Parker's mother behind his back - when she gasped.

"Oh! Has Parker told you about the business fundraiser?"

The business fundraiser? Would I even want to attend one of those? I couldn't even stay awake for the quarterly speeches mandated for freshmen. "He has not." I admitted. "What is that?" Please don't say meeting. Please, god, don't make it a meeting.

"Its a company fundraiser," she informed me, "that we hold every year right before Christmas. We exchange presents, we sell things, and its great for publicity - oh you should come! I'll have Parker give you a pass."

A pass? I blinked slowly, "Where does it take place?"

"At the city country club."

That was a place I didn't want to be. I would make a fool out of myself so quick... "That sounds amazing, but I don't think I'll be able to attend," I rambled, "because I don't drive and my parents are out, and aside from that I don't have a dress and -"

"You can shop with me any time, dear."

Uh.

I stood and began pacing. "Oh no, you don't have to do that! I'm perfectly fine staying home."

Mrs. Winston wouldn't have it. "No, I insist. And if its more comfortable for you, I'll give Parker another credit card so you can buy whatever you want."

How would it be any more comfortable with a male? "Really, I think I'll be fine. I-I have money, its just, you know. Time."

"I know this is sudden, and I know that you're not like other girls. But think about it."

"I will. Of course I'll think about it," I said. "Thank you for inviting me as well. I'll talk to Parker about it."

She snorted. "Please - I'm his mother. That's my job."

Before I could think of a response, she hung up. I exhaled. "Uh, bye to you...too." I put my phone away and rolled onto my bed. His mother was nicer than I'd expected, and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. It was good for Parker, I mean, but it made me dizzy.

It made some buried side of me envious.

With a loud, melodramatic groan, I rolled onto my face and tried to control my stupid emotions. I felt like I'd been spinning around for hours, and my stomach felt about ready to release what little contents it held. And it did.

Six minutes later, I was swishing Listerine through my teeth and surfing the television. I really didn't want to go to the fundraiser. It felt intrusive, for me to butt myself into something I knew nothing about. And for it to be in less than two weeks wasn't super dandy either.

I spit the mouthwash out into the sink and inhaled through my mouth.

I needed a dress.

+

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Oh finally I can write this again. You have no idea how long it took me to write this. Good lord - so I finally chose an official ending, and the ending decided whether I sped things up or slowed things down. This ending is packed with drama (I hate making drama for my babies), confusion, and I want to develop the characters more (and add some, since its only been Parker and Carson for a while). 

So, yeah, just let me know if the changes are too sudden, or if you see absolutely no difference from here on out. This chapter was just to, I guess, kick off Carson's very own little transformation. Its nothing large (well obviously, since I just said little. I'm such an idiot sorry), but I'm sure you'll notice it, lol.

And what do you think? Should Carson go to the fundraiser or stay home?