How To Love | Daniel Seavey AU

9 | dresses

I ARRIVED HOME LATER Thursday afternoon at around three, my body pleading for me to fall onto the floor or couch or my bed, anywhere so I could let the energy I wasted be sucked back in. Today we had a surprise class of gym, and even though it wasn't much of a surprise—we were told to bring gym clothes—my body wasn't prepared. I'm not too much of an athlete, but I manage to keep a balanced figure and watch what I eat. And I drink a lot coffee, it helped.

Once I entered the apartment, I didn't expect to see my mother sitting on the couch and in casual clothing of t-shirt and sweatpants, her brown hair tied up and her glasses on, a laptop balancing on her knees. "Mom?"

"Logan, hey, I got a day-off since the office is getting ready for a banquet this weekend," she informed, "which by the way, I was asked to invite you to it since there will be a few teenagers to support their parents there."

"It requires a dress, doesn't it?" I asked, my tone obvious that I wouldn't agree to it. I had issues with dresses—you had to shave your legs, wear heels with them and most of them are quite constricting, giving me limited space to walk in my normal pace.

"Unfortunately, but there will be free food," she offered, hoping it would change my mind. It sort of did, but the dress was making me tilt to decline the offer. "Please, Logan, I'm nominated for lawyer of the year at the firm, and if I win, and you're there to support me, it'll mean the world to me." The look she sent me was a look I hadn't seen much since her and dad's divorce; she had the same look when the judge asked who I'd rather be with when their divorce was final. I was going to choose my mom either way, but the look she gave me made me think twice.

It was a look she gave me when she wanted something from me, so she could use what she gained to make her feel powerful. That was how she was a lawyer, she'd sometimes manipulate with simple expressions, but she spent years in law school to master it, bringing her wins upon wins.

But she was my mom, that was her job, and I caved. A wide smile spread across her face as she thanked me, then added, "You should bring that boy Daniel as your date."

"Mom," I groaned.

"I know he's "just a friend"—" she air-quoted "—but invite him, and tomorrow we will look for a dress for you."

"Alright," I sighed. I headed towards the kitchen, when she spoke up once again.

"Why don't you and I watch a movie tonight? We can order in pizza from Paulo's," she offered and I felt a tug at the corner of my lip at the mention of the pizza place. I'm not sure if Daniel will be working tonight, but I've been craving pizza for some time now, so I agreed to it. My mom and I decided on watching another horror movie since she was the reason why I got into it, and stuck with it and not romance. She too believed that horror movies had more realistic scenes than any romance movie she's ever watched, but not forgetting to add that watching a romantic comedy could be good once in a while.

When we were ten minutes into the movie, a knock sounded from my door and I sprung up almost too quickly, my head spinning at the fast movement as I maneuvered my way to the door. As expected, the dork with blue eyes was standing in front of me, pizza in hand and the same grin on his face, "Paulo's pizza, for Logan Mitchell."

"What days do you work?" I asked, signing the receipt, and handing him the money, taking the pizza in hand.

"Every other day after school from five to ten, my day's off are weekends. Why?"

"So, I know when not to order pizza," I said jokingly, a small smile on my face.

"Hello Daniel," my mom appeared behind me, sending him a friendly smile.