Until You Mean It

Chapter 23: Taking the Leap?

I've been on a roll with updating lately. I deserve a pat on the back. *pats self on back*

Happy reading!

This is bizarre, I thought as I stood at the bottom of the makeshift stage while everyone chanted our names.

I must say, people chanting my correct name was a new thing for me. Plus, they weren't jeering, so that was a bonus. I can't say I miss my bullying days. I'm glad they were behind of me.

And even though I should be
enjoying myself, I couldn't help but feel nervous when I should be doing something fun with my friends.

Sadly, it was hard to not look around the room uneasily. And it goes without saying that there were a lot of people at the party. It was Chris' party after all and he was always a perfect host.

And we all know crowds were never my forte, but I was forcing myself to embrace change and allow myself to do something different for once.

Or maybe I could embrace change another day.

I wiped my hands on my jeans while I desperately looked for a quick escape, hoping Caleb was too distracted to notice.

He glanced at me from the corner of his eye and I froze. "Chickening out yet?"

I grabbed a microphone from the table and scoffed. "Me? Chickening out? Neeevvveeeerrrr. I was just looking for-"

He raised his brow.

I bit my lip guiltily and looked at the door wistfully as a guy came through it.

"Maybe just a teensy little bit," I said in a shrilled voice.

He looked around the room, amused. "This will be fun." He bounced my shoulder. "I know you can do it."

He took up the other microphone and tapped it. "Plus I'll be there all the way and this is easy, it's not like I asked you to marry me in front of all these people or something?........." He cleared his throat awkwardly but almost choked when he saw the horror on my face.

"Is the idea of marrying me so horrible?" He asked, laughing uncomfortably.

I chuckled nervously and looked away. "Ha ha marriage? I think it would be........ pleasant?

He chuckled. "Not the word I was looking for, but that can worked."

I swallowed hard and scanned the room the room out of desperation.

I need to get out of here, I thought. I was trying to gauge Caleb's mood when a light bulb went off in my head. Maybe I could get out of here.

I snapped my finger to get Caleb's attention. "Oh darn! Can we do a rain check? I just remember my mom needed eggs......... for dinner." He looked at me weirdly.

It was way after midnight. That light bulb was very dull or it was probably broken.

I smiled groaned inwardly at my hopelessness. "I have to go. Maybe next time." I turned to quickly slip away before he could catch me in the lie or even worst force me to stay.

He held on to my shoulder. "Not so fast," he said teasingly.

At least I tried. He grinned knowingly.

I grimaced in resignation. "Maybe she doesn't need those eggs after all?" I blinked innocently while he stared at me.

"Uh," he said unconvinced.
He turned me back to the stage. "No backing out, think of it as a type of therapy....... or even better a story you could tell the grandkids." I whimpered.