Secrets and Lies

Chapter 9

Hello Readers, 

Here is chapter 9. I hope you like it. 

~*~

"No, no, and no!" I shouted to my mother, trying to make my intentions crystal clear.

"Oh, come on. It won't be that bad," my mom said, trying convincing me that her idea wasn't as horrible as I thought. "It will be fun."

"I'm not bringing Josh to Uncle Ben's company picnic. He'll be so bored," I said, holding my ground. I stood up from the table, scrapping my chair on the floor as I did. I poured what was left of my cereal down the sink in an attempt to leave the conversation.

"Emma's bringing Tyler. Besides, I want to officially meet this boy and get to know him a little better. Your aunt and uncle want to too," she said, taking a more reasonable approach.

"I think it's still too early for the whole "meet the family" thing. Besides, Uncle Ben just wants to interrogate Josh," I further explained my hesitation.

"I think you're exaggerating," my mom said, waving off my reasons while taking a sip of coffee.

"Mom, Emma told me that when Uncle Ben met Tyler he sat in the living rooming cleaning his gun," I told her. At the time, I had found it kind of funny when she told me but not so much anymore. Now I knew how Emma felt.

"Really?" My mom said, shocked to hear her brother would do such a thing. "Well, Tyler's still around, isn't he? Let's just hope Josh doesn't scare easy."

I still wasn't convinced, but I knew my mom wasn't going to let up anytime soon and I had to go to school. "Fine, I'll invite him."

"Good," my mom said, pleased to have won.

"But that doesn't guarantee he'll come," I added before leaving the kitchen.

~*~

When I arrived at school I found Josh waiting for me by my locker. "Hey, how are you this morning?"

"Good, how about yourself?" I asked him.

"Much better now," he replied, causing my cheeks to blush. Darn his ability to make me do that. I was starting to think he enjoyed doing it, too.

I had hoped to put off asking Josh about the picnic until later, but I knew the longer I waited the less likely I'd actually do it. Well, I guess now was as good a time as any.

"Okay, so Saturday is my uncle's company picnic. It's at the park and there will be a ton of food. Emma's bringing her boyfriend so I thought I'd ask you so I didn't feel like such a third wheel..." I realized I was rambling at this point, but I was afraid to stop, to give him the opportunity to say no or that he already had plans.

"I'd love to," Josh interrupted my rambling.

I stared up at him for a moment before saying, "Really?"

"Yeah, sounds like fun. Besides you had me at there being a ton of food."

I rolled my eyes and playfully wacked him in the chest. He just laughed.

"Good luck on your test," Josh said, giving me kiss on the cheek before heading off to class. I smiled to myself, liking that it was becoming a habit. Plus, he scored major brownie points for remembering my test in Algebra.

Courtney and I spent the few minutes before the late bell rang taking turns asking questions back and forth. We tried to cram as many last minute problems and solutions into our brains as possible.

All too soon the last bell rang and Mrs. Winston passed out the tests.

When it was over, my brain was fried. I slowly rubbed my temples trying to alleviate the pounding. "I never want to see another math problem again."