Nerd Gone Prom Queen

Chapter Twenty-One

At 8:30, Mom had knocked on our door and we headed to Chili's for dinner.

"So what did you guys do?". Mom piped up from the passenger's seat.

"We went to the pool. And then,watched some movies". Zack smiled to me.

"That sounds fun". Dad turned into the restaurant parking lot.

"It was". I smiled at Zack.

He had lightened up after the pool and the movies.

We left the car and went inside the restaurant.

Mom got a table for the five of us and I sat at the head of the table next to Zack and Mom.

"Once we get back to the hotel you kids should go to sleep. We are leaving for Disney at six so we can be there at eight when it opens. We are staying the whole day until midnight and from there we'll come back to the hotel. Then we can just wing it from there". Mom planned.

"Sounds good". I shrugged.

The waitress for our table walked over.

"Hi my name is Sarah and I'll be your waitress for tonight. Can I start you all off with something to drink?". She introduced herself.

"I'll have a beer". Dad scanned the drink list.

"Red wine for me". Mom nodded.

"Same for me". Grandma replied.

"I'll have a strawberry lemonade". Zack smiled at me knowing I was gonna pick the same thing.

"Same". I chuckled.

She scribbled all of this down on her notepad and nodded.

"Coming right back". She walked away.

"So Iris, looking at any colleges?". Dad asked out of the blue.

"Uhm. Not at the moment. Just going with the flow of things". I shrugged.

"And you Zack?". He drilled.

"Same as um-Iris". He shifted uncomfortably under Dad's gaze.

"Dad. This isn't the time for college talk. Can we change the subject? Please?". I glared at him.

"All I'm saying is, you should be looking at colleges now so then you won't be scrambling for applications at the last minute". He glared back at me.

"I think senior year should be about having as much fun as you can before you part ways with your friends". I take my drink from Sarah as she had come back with the drinks.

"Maddy? Would you help me out here?". Dad looked at Mom.

"I think your both right. You don't want to drown her in college applications. But you also don't need to be having too much fun". She looked between us.

I got quiet. Dad was annoying me. He made it seem as if I wasn't doing my job as a senior. I had straight A's so far. And let's not forget about my testing scores.

"Well I've heard from your Aunt Rena, and her and Riley would like to apologize". Dad sipped his beer.

"As far as I'm concerned I don't know those people". I was getting even more annoyed.

"Well, they certainly know you and they want to make amends so I suggest you suck it up and make nice because they are joining us tomorrow". He stated firmly.

"Look! You don't get to make me reconcile with anyone! I choose who I will and won't associate with! This is my life!". I snapped.

Dad grew angry.

"After all I've done for you and you can't do this one thing?!". He shot back.

"No! I can't! And if that's what you got me the Disney World tickets for then I'm sorry but I'm not doing this!". I bit back.

"Fine. If that's how you want to play it. Then we will leave". He looked at me angrily.

Mom sat in awe. She got up and threw her drink in his face. Everyone got up leaving Dad at the table. I was so mad. After all this talk of getting our family back together he was really using this time to get me to do something for him.

We got in the truck and headed back to the hotel.

"So what are we gonna do now?". Grandma peered at Mom out of the corner of her eye.

"Well we're gonna stay the night and in the morning we're gonna go to Disney World and have fun because I paid for those tickets, then we're gonna go home because he paid for the seven day passes". Mom planned.

"That's fine by me, Iris?". Zack looked to me.

"I'm fine. Just keep him away from me". I stared at the empty fields we passed.

We got back to the hotel. And went up to our rooms.

Zack pulled me into a hug and I squeezed him.

"I'm so sick of people using and abusing me. Why couldn't he just have been up front with me?". I cried.

"I don't know. Sometimes people don't know how good they've got it being friends with you". He rested his head on top of mine.

I showered and laid in his bed.

"Wanna switch beds?". He asked softly.

"Actually, I want to cuddle if that's ok with you?". I sniffled.

"It's cool, let me just shower first". He smiled a small smile.

Bailey was asleep in his dog bed. I had fed him before we left.

I put my phone on the charger and laid on one of Zack's pillows. The bed was soft causing me to drift off. While asleep I felt the side of the bed dip down. I knew it was Zack so I laid on his chest. He pulled me closer.

"I'm sorry if this is uncomfortable for you". I whispered.

"It's fine. It's what friends do". He whispered back.

I fell asleep again hoping tomorrow would be better.
-----------------------------------------------------------