Unattainable

Chapter 4 Possibilities

I smiled as we sat down to dinner with his family. He had been thinking about me before if he took it into consideration that maybe I wasn't what he thought I was.

But who did he think I was.

"Today's my birthday!" Aayliah exclaimed as her mother passed around the bowl of steaming spaghetti, the smell making my mouth water. I never noticed how hungry I was until now. I hasn't eaten all day but that didn't matter.

"Wow congratulations," I smiled at her, "how old are you?"

"Eleven." she beamed as shawn smiled at her.

"You're getting huge!" Shawn rustled her hair as she shrunk in her chair into a fit of giggles.

"Shawn stop!" She cried.

I took the bowl from Shawns mom as she rolled her eyes towards the two siblings.

"This isn't out of the ordinary."

I laughed. "I can imagine."

She smiled softly at them then back at me. "Do you have any siblings?"

I nodded. "A little brother, Jacob-"

"Hey he's in my class!" Aaliyah piped up through a mouthful of spaghetti.

"Mrs. Myers?" I asked.

She nodded. "She's kinda mean..."

"No she's not I had her in grade six, so did Astrid." Shawn insisted.

"That's cos she thought you were the greatest thing since microwaved popcorn!" I joked as Shawn's faced creased up into the laugh lines that seemed to lot up his whole presence. It was a beautiful thing to witness.

"No!" He lit up, "she's the one who got me in trouble when I-"

"Hit her in the face with the dodge ball!" His mom interrupted looking pleased she could participate in the story.

I smiled at her. "That's right, and that story seems to follow me everywhere!"

"Haha, well that was the first and last we heard of you." She got quiet.

Did I do something? It was quiet the rest of the meal, small talk was exchanged about school and family. Nothin out I the ordinary. Aaliyah told me about her presents she'd gotten, and introduced me to the big yellow lab begging at the table. We sat until we were done then shawn offered to clear.

"Thanks hun." His mom smiled as she stood, "come on Aaliyah why not we go out and get some ice cream to celebrate?"

"Shawn," she turned as he went to the kitchen, "can you and Astrid come?"

He shook his head slowly. "We have some work left to do. I'll take you out tomorrow, you and me."

She frowned a little. "Can Astrid come too?"

I felt special for a moment.

Shawn smiled at me. "If she wants to."

Aaliyah looked at me questioningly.

I smiled. "I would love to."

Shawns mom squeezed her shoulders and ushered her towards the door.

"It was nice to meet you again," she called, "don't stay up too late now!"

"We won't, Shawn called as he put down the dishes, "love you!"

It was quiet as I gathered some plates and took them to the counter. "Mamas boy huh?"

He blushed. "A little. She's great fills in for-" he stopped short and his face fell. He opened the dishwasher and started loading it.

"Your dad?" I ventured.

He continued loading the machine until it was full with no reply. He started it as I say on a bar stool waiting.

A few moments passed after he had wiped his hands on the dish towel. He looked at me smiling.

"Come on." He started towards the door and I followed quickly.

"Um excuse me where to?" I called after him. He tossed me my coat with a wink and I caught it quickly.

"The party, let's go!" He opened the door an I followed him out, remembering why I was hesitant to come in the first place.

"No sir! We have a project to do NOW!" I motioned back inside.

He shook his head. "You've got plans with me tomorrow remember? Ice cream? We can work on it then!" He locked the door and turned back down the drive way. The cold forced my coat into my shoulders as I followed him.

"We can't work with Aaliyah there it's for her we are going!"

He turned to face me and let me catch up. "Well I guess you'll have to stick around then."

"Why should I even come?" I groaned.

"You need to have some fun and I'm going alone and I need company."

"But-" I persisted.

"Please? Just this once? We are having fun so far, I'll admit I was uncertain about this arrangement but I like hanging with you," he smiled. "So far."

I looked down as I followed him. Maybe I could do this. Maybe I could work with him. He seemed like he needed a friend and I wasn't really busy tonight-

"Fine." I moaned behind him.

"Hahah yes!" He coughed, "I mean um cool."

I laughed. "Isn't it a little early though, it's only eight?"

"Yeah well we have somewhere else to go first." He grabbed my wrist and yanked me into a jog towards who knows where. I followed obediently, after all I had nothing to loose.