the reason | 13rw

s e v e n t e e n

"i still cannot believe he actually let you drive it." elliot shook his head. 

"same," i said and pushed the front door shut behind us. 

"so how was it? inside the car?" 

"i felt bougie," i laughed. 

"i'm sure if you bat your eyes to dad he'll get you one." 

"oh i don't want one, i'm good with my little audi." 

he smiled as we heard footsteps coming towards us from the kitchen. we both look over, confusion evident on our faces until we saw our mother. 

"mom, you're back?" i asked. 

"i am indeed," she smiled. "i have presents in your rooms. go and take a look." 

i ran up the stairs, elliot behind me. we went seperate ways down the hall. i pushed my bedroom door open and saw a beautiful dress lying across my bed. 

"do you like it?" my mom asked. 

i turned and looked at her, "i love it." 

i saw elliot walk into my room behind her. 

"good," she smiled, "we are headed to the walker's in thirty minutes." 

"why?" elliot asked. 

"for dinner," she replied, "you guys will love it. oh and the de la cruz family will be joining." 

she walked out as i looked to elliot. 

"she says she is going to chicago to work on a sales pitch with bryce's parents. monty's parents join her and she comes back...then we all have dinner together." i said. "seems normal." 

"lighten up, maybe it'll be a good thing." 

"what does this very, very expensive dress have to do with it?" 

"i wouldn't know." 

....

when we got to the walker residence, monty and his parents were already there. our parents began socializing as monty came over to elliot and i. 

"this is totally weird right?" he asked. 

"our mom gifted us with fancy clothing." i said. 

"mine too," we heard bryce say as he walked over. "i already know what this is..." 

"dinner kids." his mom cut him off. 

"this better be good." i said. 

"oh it will be." bryce winked. 

"watch it," elliot warned. 

"i'm just playing around with her." he said. "although that skirt make you look hot." 

he walked into the kitchen as a lump rose in my throat. i started pulling at my skirt. 

"hey," monty said and touched my arm. i looked up at him. "it's okay, he's just a douche. you look beautiful." 

i took a deep breath and nodded, staring into monty's eyes gave me a sense of comfort because i truly felt that he was honest with me. 

"it's just one dinner." he smiled. i nodded again as we went and sat down. 

we sat next to each other, bryce and elliot on the other side as our parents surrounded us. we got our plates and began eating.