Impavid

Lucky

     "Maggie." 

     Chase looked sternly at his little sister -- who was just starting to tell me the story about 'that one time' -- as he slid into the open chair next to me and set down a plate full of chicken breasts in front of us. 

     "Mom," Maggie whined from across the table. "Chase is being mean."

      Chase's mom, who insisted I called her Trish, rounded the corner into the dining room. As she leaned forward, placing a bowl of mashed potatoes in the center of the table, her eyes glanced over at Chase. I looked toward him as well, and his hand slid over to rest on my knee as he rolled his eyes. 

     Trish took a seat next to Maggie and looked up at Chase. 

     "Should we wait for Dad?" 

     "I don't know when he'll be home," Trish admitted. 

     "Is everything okay?" I could hear the confusion in Chase's voice as Maggie looked away. 

     "Yeah. He should be home any minute. Let's just start."

     "Okay." Chase hesitantly mumbled,.

     Trish leaned forward, using her fork to grab a piece of chicken. She dropped it into the center of Maggie's plate before reaching back over to take a second, this time for herself. Chase looked over at me, and I used my fork to do the same. He was still just staring at me, though. 

     "What?" I mouthed, worried I had something on my face.

     "I'll be right back." Chase pushed his chair out and stood up.

     "Chase," Trish warned. "Just sit down and eat, please."

     "I'll be right back," Chase repeated, leaning down to kiss the top of my head before disappearing out of the room. 

     The three of us girls sat in silence, awkwardly staring at our food. After only a few seconds, just as Maggie asked if I could pass the mashed potatoes, we heard the front door slam closed. Trish's eyes flicked up to find mine before she pushed her chair away and moved in the same direction Chase had.

     As I reached across the table to hand Maggie the bowl, she tried to change the subject.

     "So, did you know my brother's an actor?"

     "I do!" I smiled at her, trying to ignore the fact that the front door slammed closed once more. 

     "Chase always is scared that his girlfriends will fall in love with his older, better-looking, famous brother."

     "He told me something like that," I laughed. 

     "You aren't, right?" 

     I looked up, finding her big brown eyes gazing into mine. She genuinely looked concerned. 

     "I'm not," I promised. 

     "Good, because I can tell Chase really likes you."

    "I really like him, too." 

     After only another minute of small-talk about Chase and his 'famous brother,' I heard the front door creak open. I glanced over my shoulder, hoping to find Chase moving down the narrow hallway toward me. Instead, I could only hear him yelling. 

     I looked back at Maggie quickly. Her big eyes were watery. 

    "Hey," I blinked, unsure what to do, "don't cry."

    "I knew he was going to be mad!" Maggie sniffled. 

    "How about we get you up to your room?" I suggested. "We can put on a movie or some really loud music and just hang out."