an abundance of problems (short story)

one: the plan

my best friend and I, we're literally the same person. we have the same aesthetic, same interests, and same opinions on anything. we were made for each other. her name is Sienna May Graham, she's 17 years old. same as me, except my name is Mollie Jane Elizabeth Edwards. I was named after my two amazing great grandmothers who I only knew for a short time.
anyways, Sienna and I are always doing something together, along with or favourite accomplice, Joel Ivan Caspar. He's nothing like us, but that makes him even more hilarious. he's also very charming, and he makes all the girls at our school drool over him, and he loves it. Especially since he's your typical hot gay bestfriend.

our schools sucks, we have to wear a uniform. but we do get prom so that's a plus side to it, and we also have a rugby team, which Joel takes part in. Sienna and I aren't so much of sports players, we like to keep to ourselves.
       We love different things, like art, writing, reading, and adventures. We love road trips, especially when Joel is with us. Speaking of road trips, "Come one Mollie, it's not that far." Sienna begs, Joel too. "Please, lets just go, Mol." Joel begs, they're only begging me because I'm the one with the car. "Fine, I'll ask my mum. But no promises, America is far, and she doesn't like when I stay out by myself for very long. we'll see." I say. There's a school trip to LA, California. My mum is super strict, and Dad probably won't let me, because he wants me to help with her pregnancy. She's 29 weeks, and we still don't know the gender, it's a surprise.

     "Yes!!" Sienna celebrates. "No promises, mum's 26 weeks today, I don't know if Dad will approve." I look at Joel, "We'll just pull the gay card out." Joel says, shrugging. "True," I say "but still no promises. gotta go, maths exam." I wave bye to both of them, considering the trip, because I really want to go too, secretly.

     "how was that exam?" I look at Sienna with a face full of disgust in response, "I'll talk to mum when I get home. I'll drop you and Joel off." I say. She nods, I feel Joel take my keys out of the front pocket of my handbag. He walks off, swinging them around his finger. "I'm driving!" I say, Sienna following.

    "I'm home!" I yell through the house, the smell of food entering my nose. "mmm, i'm hungry." I say entering the kitchen to dad unboxing some nando's. I knew he couldn't cook.
     After we eat, I start to ask dad some questions. "where's mum?" I simply ask. "work? as always." he says laughing. "okay so i have to ask you something important and I need a reasonable answer." I say. "oh god, please save these conversations for your mum." he says, "no, no, no. not that kind a question." I gross myself out inside my head. ew. "it's about a school trip for academics." I say, which is true. "Okay?" he says, getting comfortable again. "so, hear me out. The school has finally decided to let the smart kids who passed exams and got good grades along with good behavior to take a trip to America. for only £3oo per person." I say. "Mollie, I don't know. With your mum's pregnancy." He says. I sigh "it was worth a shot, i thought maybe since i got good grades and good behavior, and since Joel and Sienna are going." I say starting to get up. "Mollie Jane Elizabeth Edwards, I didn't say no yet." He says, causing me to sit back down. "It's only from June 4 - July 4, a month. Mum isn't due for about another 2 months after that." I say. It's May 28.

     "but what about the money." He asks. "I have like a thousand pounds saved since i was a kid. i'll use it." I say. "okay, but i'll make sure it's okay with your mother before i say yes. I love you mollie elizabeth." he says. I go up to my room. I call Sienna and tell her, and then I call Joel and tell him. "That's great Mollie! Dad said I can go!" Joel says, his mum died from breast cancer about a year ago, it hit him and his dad pretty hard, that's why Mr. Caspar lets him do a lot of stuff he wants. Sienna said her Grandparents are thinking about it, and leaning more towards yes. Sienna's dad walked out on her when she was a kid, then when she was 13 years old her mum went missing, and they never found her. it was all over the news. Sienna is still heartbroken, but her mum's parents adopted her last year and take care of her now. she loves them so much.

*later that night*

I see mum pull in the garage. I stay in my room until I hear dad talk to her and then call me downstairs so mum doesn't have to walk up them. "yeah?" I say. "Today was a really good day, I finally put away that man that abused his wife." She says. "congrats mom! we should celebrate!" i say, "we will, darling. but first we want to talk about you going to America." She says. dammit. "we know you're trustworthy, smart, a good girl, and so sweet enough to pay for your own ticket.." she pauses, taking dads hand. "and, that's why weren't not letting you miss out on such an experience like this, love. we'll give you some extra pounds to pay for food and souvenirs. and we talked to the school, they said they're paying for everyone's hotel bill." She says. "no way." i say. "thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!" i say hugging them both.

      "Can we invite Joel and Sienna to come celebrate with us?" I ask, "sure, darling. we're going to Ciao Amici's." she says, that's where her and dad had their first date. we love that place so much. I ring Sienna, "Hey! Mum said I could go!!" I say as soon as she answers. "i know! gran and gramps said i couldn't," she says. i start to say "oh no!" but she continues her sentence. "untiiil they heard your parents said yes! they changed their minds!" she says excitedly. I then invite her and Joel both to go to Ciao Amici's with my family because of mom's win today and they agreed.

      After we ate, we hang out at Sienna's. We played stupid games, like truth or dare and never have i ever. During truth or dare, Sienna dared Joel and I to kiss. "Come one it's not like it will matter, joel's gay!" she says giggling. We agree and i look at joel. he looks nervous, but then i look to his eyes, they're going back and forth; from my eyes, to my lips. his big blue eyes don't compliment my brown eyes. and then he leans in, and kisses me. soft, but passionate at the same time. my stomach goes hurling through my throat, my hands get clammy and my eyes slam shut. all i can see, or feel, is him. nothing else matters. and just like that, he pulls away, looks at my brown eyes again, then turns back to sienna. "now what?" his deep voice cracks.
      i couldn't have been the only one who felt that. why else would his voice have cracked. but he's gay. he's gay, and i'm straight. and i like him. "see, was that so hard?" sienna says laughing. "yes!" i want to scream, "yes it is hard, it is hard to kiss the person you want to be with so damn bad, but you can't. you just can't. it's so fucking hard." but i don't. I just dare sienna to drink ketchup.
       Then Joel asks me, "truth or dare, mollie jane elizabeth edwards?" he smirks. "truth. since i did dare last time." i say. he frowns a bit. "who do you have a crush on?" he says, inspecting me. I feel as if I'm one of the defendants that my mother is interrogating. but i just simply say, "no one." when i want to scream "you! joel ivan, i like you! and i have for years!" but once again, i don't. "now, now, mollie, you know the game doesn't work that way." he says, taunting me. i sigh, giving myself more time to think of a lie. "fine, i like Joshua Waters, the one that's on the rugby team." i say. Sienna gasps. "really?!" she asks. "hmm, he doesn't seem like your type." Joel says. "Why's that?" I ask him. "No reason. just not your type." he looks at me. "Because he's straight?" I ask. "yeah." Joel says.

Don't worry, i didn't just expose myself. my last and only boyfriend turned out to be gay, and no it wasn't Joel. His name was Tyler Montgomery, and he is now the most openly gay kid in our school. "I guess something about me turns boys gay." I say to them. Sienna laughs, as me and Joel just stare at each other for a moment, trying to read each others minds, i suppose. I don't know about him, but for me, it's not working.