No Filter

Chapter XXI (21)

"I can't believe you agree to go on a double date with Liam," Dinah said as she pours out the spaghetti noodles onto a bowl that drains the water out.

"Yeah," Normani adds while mixing the tomato sauce in the pot, "It's Liam. You know, the guy who is supposedly your best friend. The guy you fell in love with. The guy that broke your heart."

I nudge Normani on the arm, and she yelps, rubbing the spot. "I don't see anything wrong with me going on a double with my boyfriend and my best friend and his girlfriend. We're just trying to get to know each other's partners."

Dinah states out, "I wonder if this is like one of those movies where the main girl and main guy date different people, and at the end, they get together and those people that they date also get together."

"Dinah," I shake my head. "Liam and I are best friends, so quit bringing past stuff up, please. And no way is Troy and Cheryl getting together."

"Someone's a little tensed," Normani comments.

I walk over the table set up for the four of us. "Why did I exactly pick you guys over Lauren and Camila? They should be here instead of watching my mom," I joke.

Dinah and Normani gave out a fake laugh. "Very funny," Dinah says.

I smile. I grab the four china plates on the table and place each one corresponding with the other. I got out the silverwares and set each fork and spoon on a napkin beside the plate. Liam's plate is the only without a spoon because he is not the biggest fan of them. I remember the very first time he got scared of a spoon. It was so cute. He couldn't even touch the spoon as if it was a rabid bunny.

All of a sudden, I hear, "Ally!" Dinah and Normani yelled in unison loudly.

I shift my eyes on them. "What?" I ask.

"Where did your mind go?" Normani asks.

I crease my brows. "Did you ask something?"

Dinah shakes her head. "No, but we saw you smiling over spoons. So it's either you're going crazy or you were thinking about something or someone."

I scoff. "You two seriously can't stop shipping Liam and me together, can't you?"

"You know it," Mani says.

I roll my eyes. "I don't think of him like that anymore," I said. "He's back to being a friend. I'm moving on, and I'm happy with Troy."

Normani and Dinah exchange looks and give me a sassy hum of disbelief.

I hear the door knocking, and I flinch. I look at the clock on the wall: 7:30. And on the dot. I fix my hair a little and pull my cardigan tighter around my body. I walk to the door and open it up. First, I was greeted by Liam and Cheryl. Their arms interlock. Liam wore his fancy blue and white checkered button-down shirt with blue jeans. Cheryl wore a beautiful floral top covered by a silky, black, see-though cardigan. I give each of them a hug.

I let them enter, and Troy, holding something behind his back, stands behind them. "Hey," I greet.

"Hi," he says. He reveals the bouquet of red roses in his hands. I coo. "Roses for milady."

I blush and pull him into a hug. I stand on my heels and give him a kiss on the cheek. We break apart, and he enters. I shut the door behind us and join the others at the dining table. Troy and I sat on the same side, and I sit in front of Cheryl.

Dinah and Normani enter the room with their aprons. They stand in front of Liam and Troy. "Hello," Normani said in a weird accent. "We are the waitresses for tonight. Tonight, we are serving you spaghetti."

"Yes," Dinah says, swatting the notepad on her hand. "No breadsticks, unfortunately, but we have shredded cheese. Does anyone want any?"

Cheryl raises her hand. Dinah takes note on the notepad. "Okay, Thank you. We will be back with the food," she said.

The four of us sat still and in silence. Liam and I exchange looks and smile at one another. I bat my eyes. He clears his throat and speaks up, "Okay, so, how's your day?"

"Great," I reply.

Cheryl chuckles and says, "Actually, something happened to me this morning." She explained an incident with her hair this morning, and it got me cracking up a bit. Liam rests his arm around her shoulders in comfort while I lean my head on Troy's shoulder.

Dinah and Normani reenter the room, holding a plate in each hand. Dinah sets the plate of spaghetti with sauce in front of me and Troy while Normani sets the plate of spaghetti in front of Liam and Cheryl. We all thanked them, and they left the room.

"So, Ally," Cheryl begins, "how's your mom?"

"Better," I reply. "She's stronger than before. The doctor's won't let me take her home at the moment because they want her to at least rest for a while to relax her back, so it's best for her to be there right now. I visit her from time to time," my voice cracks, "and I want to be there daily until I know that she is healthy and breathing." Tears sting my eyes, and I shield my eyes from them. "I'm sorry for being emotional. I just...I really want her home."

"Ally..." Troy says. He wraps his arm around me and pulls me close. He rubs my arm soothingly. "It's okay."

Cheryl coos, "Aw, it's okay to cry. Crying is good. It helps release some stress. And it's okay to be vulnerable."

I release my hand and look at her. I smile, taking her words to heart. I look at Liam and see him giving me a warm smile.

I take a glance at the plate. "Come on. Let's eat first."

Liam nods his head. And I keep my eyes on him for a while. The crinkles by his eyes appear as he turns to look at Cheryl with his charming smile.

The remainder of the night, there was a lot of laughter and some sparkling water. We talk and ate, and it was a friendly atmosphere. Dinah and Normani joined us at the end, and after Liam, Troy, and Cheryl left, the girls and I clean up.