Marry Me

Chapter Six

I walk out to the party with my tray full of food. I serve appetizers to the guests. They look at me with such disgust. I can't believe Lexie ever associated with these people, was one of these people.

I look over at her and she is standing at about the same spot as when we first met. I'm uncomfortable going over there now. Tommy accused my dad of something horrible and I don't want to be near him right now. I shake my head at her. I can't do this right now.

After a while, she finds me. "What the hell Graham? You blew our chance."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, it's just Tommy said some things to me, I got distracted," I start and for the third time tonight, get interrupted.

"You're twenty one years old Graham Hoffman. Why would you care about what a fifteen year old has to say to you." She whisper yells so we don't sound like we're insane, which we probably are.

"He said stuff about my dad. They were rumors. I knew at the time, what they were about, but when he said it, it felt real. Like my dad wasn't the good person he claimed to be." I sit down on the bench in her backyard. It overlooks part of the massive garden.

She sits down next to me and takes my hand. "I'm sorry for getting mad. It's been a long day."

"You can say that again," I say.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Lexie

"No Mom, I can't marry Tommy." I'm screaming.

"It's best for you, you and Graham got kicked out of your house, it's only a matter of time before you are begging on the streets." She explains.

No. This isn't real. Graham and I got kicked out? How? Did we forget to pay the rent? Maybe she's mistaken.

I walk into our small apartment. There are people moving our stuff out of the house.

"Stop, why are you doing this?" I grab one of the guys' arms, a guy who is helping remove our couch from our living room.

"You weren't able to keep up with your payments." He shoves me away from him so that I fall to the floor.

"Mom," I cry, "Where's Graham?"

"He's gone. He knew it would be better for you if you married to money."

"No, I need to find him. We're never supposed to be apart."

I wake up instantly, confused to where I am, but then the memories start coming back to me. It was only a dream, I tell myself.

I walk to my bathroom and take a look at myself in the mirror. I'm a mess. My hair is all matted, my eyes are bloodshot from crying in my sleep, and I'm really sweaty.

Ugh, being a teenager again is so gross. I turn, so my body is sideways at the mirror and check out my ass. Being a teenager again does have its benefits though.

I brush my teeth and try to tame my crazy, curly hair. I have to straighten it though, because Tommy likes it that way. I cringe thinking of his name and the thought of me kissing him again like last night.

After I get all of my makeup on, I used an excessive amount when I was a teenager, I walk around my bedroom. I feel like a person who is exploring it for the first time. Every photograph and poster hung up seems brand new to me, like I'm disconnected from the old me. I look at the pictures of my best friend Savannah and I, well, old best friend. When I left my family, Savannah became distant. I never knew why, but I had my own things to worry about when I had to find a new house and job.