Teachers Pet

23: Half Truth

        Before the conversation could turn worse, Nolan returned with a waitress. We gave our orders quickly, wanting her to hurry up. I just wanted to leave. I know that Jake wasn't going to forget this so easily.

      "I thought you said you were going to a friends house," Jake asked Nolan. He was speaking through his teeth, staring down at his napkin. I gently kicked him, trying to get his attention. He kept his head down, but he lifted his eyes to almost glare at me. I mouthed the word 'stop'. He sighed as he sat up, forcing a smile at his brother. Nolan was chugging his drink, shrugging as an answer. When he set his empty glass down, he smiled at his brother. It too seemed forced.

      "I lied." Jake started to say something, but when he looked to me, he stopped himself.

       "Can I ask why?"

      "Because you're always nosy when I bring up Blair." I smiled, not trying to hide it. Jake didn't look at me as he sat there frozen almost. He shook his head suddenly, making a face.

       "I'd hardly call it 'nosy'." Nolan rolled his eyes as he pushed his glass to the side of the table. A waitress walked by, looked down at it, then made a face as she took it and walked away. If he wanted a refill, he could've just asked.

       "Look, I get that you're trying to be a concerned older brother, but back off a bit. It's weird." The way he said 'concerned' made it sound like he didn't want Jake to be involved in his life. That's what I got from it at least. I was, however, grateful that Nolan saw Jake's nosiness as concern.

       "Just making sure everything's okay. I can't check in?" Jake was rolling with it. I could see him laying it on thick. I shook my head, smiling to myself. Their little conversation carried on until our food finally came. When Nolan got his plate, he seemed pleased. When the waitress walked away, he started to pick at his food. I could see him murmuring something before he shoved the plate away.

       "What's wrong?" I asked. He stood up and grabbed his plate.

       "This is wrong. I don't know why it's so hard to comprehend... " He walked away, talking poorly about our waitress. Hopefully, he wouldn't embarrass us.

       "Well?" I looked to Jake, getting annoyed with him.

       "Well what?" He sighed and gave me an exasperated look.

       "Explain," he said slowly. I shook my head, wondering what was so hard about just forgetting this whole thing. It wasn't his fault, I guess, that he was curious. Or upset. I couldn't tell.

       "I didn't call Nolan back so I wouldn't have to explain. I really don't plan on doing that here either. Can't you just leave it alone?"

       "Blair, why was your mom's friend yelling at you?" I looked out the window, thinking of an excuse. I had to give him something or else I would never hear the end of it. Lying to him felt wrong, but I had no choice. No one could ever know what was happening at home.

       "My mom was supposed to be making him dinner, she went to the store so I finished making it. Nolan called, I answered, Marcus was just in a bad mood and yelled at me. That's all it was." A truth, but a half-truth. If he knew the real reasons behind everything I just said... How would he react? Jake reached across the table and squeezed my hand. I looked at him, trying to keep the calm composure I was forcing upon myself.

       "He shouldn't have been yelling at you. Is there something going on at home?" I laughed quickly and squeezed his hand back.

       "You don't have to worry. It's nothing. As I said, he was just in a bad mood. That's all it was. I didn't want to explain it because it sounds worse than it really was. Everything's fine, really." Could he hear me grinding my teeth? Could he hear my silent plea for help? I wanted so badly for him to see the lie in my words. I wanted him to see how desperate I was for an escape. I wanted him to see that I couldn't tell him the truth, but maybe he could see it in my eyes.