THE NERDY GIRL

Chapter 37: Makeup and goodbyes

"Pass the salt." She nudged at Travis' hand  for the umpteenth time and he was getting furious. He was shooting lasers at her, but she preferred not to be aware of it.

It was an awkward silence as the only sound they could hear was that of the cutleries and the sounds of chewing food. The sound which irritated Wren.

Apart from the usual greeting "Hello,"

"Hi"

"How is school going for you? "

"Great."

"Twelfth Grade, right? "

"Yes"

"Wow. Which school did you apply for?"

"Harvard"

There was no other word again. Wren got bored. He acted like he didn't already know all of this from her mother, after all a responsible father should keep tabs on his beloved child.

Next thing, the questioning was directed to Travis. He answered back enthusiastically and happily. One would think these two had known themselves for awhile and it looked like she was the only one having a hard time here. Almost.

Her mother was another person who wasn't comfortable, she had barely said any word to anyone except. "Do you want any more mayo?"  Or she would walk into the kitchen, bringing more food, or clearing a few dishes.

Wren and her mother hadn't officially spoken about this, but the look in her eyes showed that she shouldn't embarrass Richard. Or even show in the slightest way that they weren't properly trained.  With the way she corrected them when they wanted to use their hand to pick the meat, and when they wanted to talk.

Her eyes were saying, 'zip it', and she wondered if she felt sorry or guilty for anything. She wanted her mother to apologize to her, to feel sorry for what she did, even if she didn't say it, she wanted her to show it, it ways other than rubbing it to their face how much in love she was with Richard.

"So, I was about to say. I and your mother are going to get married this Fall."

The sound of cutleries against ceramic wares was heard and it was from Wren. Her life was going to change forever. With her mother, with Mr Richard, and the new family they we're going to make with Rachel, her core enemy.

"Wow."

Travis had said. And just that meant a lot of things, no one knew if he was surprised, or excited, or angry about the news. All he said was "Wow." It looked like they didn't know their mother anymore. The life of luxury was going to snatched their mother away from them.

***
"We need to talk"

She had read the text from Ryder this morning. And she was worried what must be wrong. Sh

"I'm so sorry, Ryder. This thing between us,  won't work. " she broke, the sadness in his eyes were too deep for her to bear, she looked away.

"There was nothing between us, anyways. I was going to ask you out, but seeing we won't be in each other's lives in a couple of weeks, I didn't see the need."

She stared in confusion, she remembered him calling her girlfriend just yesterday. She couldn't believe she read meaning into small things, and as if listening to her mind, he addressed it.

"I called you that, yesterday only to tease you. Besides you were frowning a lot. And those words at least made you smile. Your smile was all I wanted." He touched her left cheek with his palm.

She didn't know whether to be relieved or to cry. She felt sour, Ryder was the first guy to make her feel special, to make her feel loved and without that, she didn't know what she'd do.