Me and my Shadow | ✓

Chapter 13

Surprisingly, my mom wasn't too upset when I asked if Layla and I could go to the movies. I was anticipating a meltdown of some sort. My mind loves imagining things that aren't there.

We told my mom that we wanted to see the new movie, "A Dog's Purpose", which is supposed to be some family movie about a dog and the many lives that the dog goes through just to end up back with his original owner. I guess it seemed sweet. Layla wasn't too thrilled about it, but that was the only movie my mom would let us go see alone. Thank you mom for being lame.

"You owe me big time!" She whispered to me as we waited for my mom to grab her car keys.

"I know, I know." I said, holding my hands up defensively.

Brody walked by and smirked at me.

"What?" I asked.

"I know you're up to something. Better hope I don't find out, because if I do mom will find out also."

Really? Brother of the year ladies and gentlemen.

"Shut up. We aren't up to anything. Go sit on your stupid x-box and mind your business." I hissed back quietly.

"Whatever." He walked away and into the kitchen shrugging his shoulders.

My mom came out of her room and grabbed her purse from the kitchen counter.

"Brody, I'll be right back. Do not leave this house or open this front door for anyone! I'm locking it!"

Brody just nodded his head and then went into his room with a bag of Doritos.

We shut the door behind us and piled into the car.

"Layla, do you have money for this movie?" My mom asked, reaching for her wallet.

It was then that it occurred to us we didn't think this plan all the way through, because neither one of us had any money for the movie tickets.

I gave my mom a, 'please give us money and I will work for it later' look, and she handed me forty bucks. We didn't quite need that much, but I wasn't complaining.

Layla smiled and so did I.

I handed Layla a twenty and kept one for myself. She had enough to buy her ticket and something to snack on while I had enough to... well not see the movie.

"Thank you, Renee!" Layla said from the back seat, patting my mom's shoulder.

My mom smiled and then looked over at me. I knew she wanted me to invite her to see the movie with us, but I couldn't do that without sabotaging the entire plan. There was no way in hell I would be able to sneak out of the theater if my mom went with us.

"Hey mom, when we get home from the movie, Layla and I made a pact to stay up all night with you so we can play those board games!" I said excitedly.

"Yeah, I can't wait!" Layla said excitedly as she scrolled through her phone.

"Okay! Sounds like a plan girls!" The smile on my mom's face grew bigger and this made me feel a whole lot better about the entire situation.

We pulled up to the movie theater entrance about fifteen minutes later. I told my mom what time the movie ended and I let her know when to leave the house to come pick us up. I had to make sure I had enough time to sneak back here before my mom showed up. Layla got out of the car and I followed after hugging my mom and thanking her.

She told us to have fun, and then sped off into the distance. Layla bought her ticket and some popcorn with a soda to go with it. I told her I would try to come back before the movie ends so we both could walk out of the theater together.