Teacher's Pet

ch.7

                                                 Chapter Seven

pulling into the driveway no more than 15 minutes after leaving McDonald's, I honked my horn four times to signal to my mom and my brother to come help with everything. Since Dan was finished with his meal by the time we got home, he stuffed his trash into the remaining food bags and grabbed all his equipment that we brought out of my car and onto the driveway. every time Dan threw a bag over his shoulder and bent down to grab another the prior bag would topple over him like a cartoon.

"oye Aaron help your brother with that mess would you?" Mom shouts while I pile the drink carrier into her arms.

aaron rolling his eyes drags his body around the car begins picking up bags with Dan and brings them into the house through the garage. carrying the remaining food bags I shut the car door with my foot and follow Mom inside. finally settled in a chair at the table Mom rips open the bags and dumps out its contents.

"Why can't you ever leave me a bag as a trash bag?" I plead with her weird habit I can't get past.

"mija it's just a bag we have a trash can too. mira aqui," she points behind her. I let go of the matter and found my food in the pile. I decide to sit at the table with my mom and when Aaron searches for his food I grab his wrist and pull him into the chair at the table. he gives me a funny look confused as to why I made him sit.

"It's nice to sit as a family every so often, even though Dan finished his food on the way here and is doing god knows what now," I say taking a bite. aaron slowly nods his head now understanding me and Mom just smile enjoying our company.

during dinner, I can feel my phone vibrate from inside my pocket. quickly I finish my food to excuse myself from the table. my heart flutters as I read Drew's name on the bright screen.

~

D: did you make it home safely?

M: of course I did, I'm a pretty decent driver you know :p

D: I don't doubt that you are, just more worried about the people who don't care if their mistakes hurt others.

M: you are so caring, how was the rest of Libby's game?

D: it was really good, she hit a home run before the game ended and her mom didn't give me any shit about taking her out for ice cream afterward so it was a win today. :)

M: good I'm glad you deserve a good day drew

D: I have a lot of papers to grade including yours ;)

D: so get some sleep, oh, if you're free on Sunday let's take a walk at the nature reserve?

M: I am pretty sure I'm free then so put me down for that nature reserve walk :)

D: can't wait.

my heart is leaping with joy, he's asking me out on a date already! Holding my phone close to my chest I internally summersault. making my way upstairs and into my bedroom, I open the closet doors and stare into the void of dark colors. shifting each garment one by one not satisfied with anything I become frustrated at my lack of fashion sense outside my everyday wear. I mean I never have gone on a date with anyone before although I do remember I have a dress I was forced to wear for one of Dad's military balls. no, no, it's a nature walk. I should dress sensibly but still cute? how is sensible cute in any form?

"got a date huh?" leaning against my door frame smirking was Aaron as he ate an apple in big bites. my face flushes and turns red, I try to defend myself but I start off stuttering and Aaron knows from that alone he's already caught me. "so who is the lucky dude or gal?" I give him a head tilt.

"Aaron I'm straight." he raises an eyebrow at me and laughs. my desk chair is pulled away from its spot and Aaron plops himself down like he was invited in for a chat. "why are you in my room?" I asked trying to resume my activity before he barged in.

"I saw you smiling at your phone on the stairs like you were in some romcom. As an older brother, it's my job to find out who it is and see if I'm good brother, or don't fuck with me brother." with pride he takes another bite of the now almost finished apple. a part of me was and I caught myself close to letting him in on my secret, that was until I realized how illegal my secret is and that not even my own blood is to be trusted.

"I saw that Pierce the Veil liked one of my comments on Instagram, that is why I was gushing at my phone. now out." I smack his feet twice off my bed move past him to my dresser and take a look at what pants I would be more comfortable wearing for a long walk. aaron doesn't remove himself from my chair or room but instead turns himself everywhere I walk and doesn't say a word. I can feel irritation building as I collect clothes to set aside for Sunday.

"you know I don't believe you right?" he says squinting.

"you know I don't care right?" I mimic his facial expression back at him. aaron gets up from the chair takes the last bite of apple slowly while staring at me and leaves the room. I finally let out a heavy breath and put away the graphic tee and cut-off shorts I had chosen, neatly folded in the corner of my dresser. sunday couldn't be farther away right now. A chime goes off for a new text and I hope for another message from Drew. instead of the message being from Drew it was a group chat I was now a part of from Tilly, Elizabeth, and Jackson.

~

T: hey y'all is anyone down to come to the end game party?

E: I don't normally go no one is ever willing to be DD.

J: yeah you both know I'm going to get wasted so don't count on me driving.

M: I'll be DD.

E: what a lifesaver!

T: Winters for the win!!

J: Good-looking winters.

T: since I'm in cheer I will have to be at the game till the end so Miranda do you mind coming to the game and letting me carpool to the party?

E: ooh me too, please?

J: I'll be riding with the boys so I'll catch y'all at the party.

M: you guys are funny, i'll be at the game by half time and we can go together it sounds fun.

when I put my phone down I caught a glimpse of myself smiling in the mirror hanging on the bathroom wall a few feet away from my bed. things are starting to feel less cloudy these days, it feels nice. a moment later my heart dropped to my ass when I just agreed to plans that I didn't even ask for permission from Mom for. at this point, since the sun is set she will probably say no, should I just sneak out or do I tell her? Breaking my train of thought I hear a knock on my door. opening it I find Aaron standing before me yet again.

"I need a favor." he rushes into my room past me.

"what is it this time?" crossing my arms I slant my posture putting more weight on my left leg.

"I'm going to a frat party and I need you to cover for me tonight." his hands are placed together begging me to almost get on his knees.

"can't I'm going to the end game party tonight." I scoff. aaron's face scrunches in confusion. "you? You're going to the end game party, don't you need friends to get into that?" he laughs.

"I have friends jackass, tilly Lizzie and Jackson invited me." I snub my nose at Aaron.

"what so you can be DD?" my head lowers and my mood shifts. is he right? do they only want me to go because I'm going to be the designated driver for everyone? I thought they actually liked being around me and that's why they wanted me to go. should I even go now? "ha that's what I thought, well be a safe taxi driver." Aaron pats my shoulder and saunters out of my room.