pretend ; graser10

chapter twenty three ; home

Olivia

I sighed. “Finally! Home swe – “ Wait. Why was there pizza on the table? “Dad? What’s with the pizza?”

I walked around the house, not bothering to wait for my dad’s reply. That’s weird. I then heard noise coming from the living room. “And the TV. Was this on when we left?” If it was, that’s such a waste…

Entering, the sight of the back of a person’s head went into my view. I shrieked. “What the hell?”

“Hey. This is a nice place you got here!” The person exclaimed then turned around, standing. My jaw dropped and I immediately ran to hug him.

“Zach!” I screeched. He wrapped his arms around me. “How’d you know where I live? Stalker!” I accused jokingly.

“Your parents helped, of course.” He pulled apart from me and waved. I turned around to see my mom and dad behind us, smiling.

Lance then ran in and hugged Zach the same way I did. “Graser!” He yelled, clinging onto Zach’s leg.

“Calm down, bud.” I giggled then noticed Zach staring at me, grinning. “What? Something on my face?”

He blushed, knowing that I caught him. “Nothing. Let’s just go eat our pizza.”

“Lies!”

“No! It’s nothing. Let’s just go…”

“Mhm… Okay then.” I dropped it and held his hand, pulling him. He stayed still, though. “Yo, I thought you wanted the pizza?” I laughed.

“O – oh yeah. Come on.” Zach snapped out of it then beamed at me.

I confusedly looked at him but went along with it. What is up with him?

We went to the dining room, kinda, and saw my family already eating some slices. My jaw dropped. “Guys!” I pouted and peeked at how much pieces were still there. Just three.

“Sorry, Owl! I was hungry!”

I sighed.

“It’s alright. We can always go back to the pizza place.” Zach suggested, shrugging.

“Okay…” I nodded. “Joint?”

“Joint?” Dad raised an eyebrow.

I bursted out laughing. “That’s his ‘nickname’ for the pizza place, dad. Don’t worry.”

“Oh. Well, enjoy your date.”

My face warmed up and I screeched. “What?”

“Go, dear. We’ll see you in a bit!” Mom exclaimed and winked. Did my mom just wink at me? That’s so weird. She stood up and pushed the two of us out the door.

“Mo – “ I stared.

“Bye!” Those were her final words to me before slamming the door.

“Well then…” I muttered. “We literally just got home and they’re kicking me out already.”

In response, Zach just guffawed, nothing else. I rolled my eyes then joined him in the fun. After we’ve calmed down, we walked to the Joint not too far away. We got there and it wasn’t packed at all. In fact, we were the only ones there.

A guy, I’m assuming the manager, greeted Zach. “Zachary! Didn’t you just take food out?”

“Yeah, but we decided to eat here instead…”

“Oh. What happened to the other box?”

“Her family ate it.” Zach chuckled.

The manager took a glance at me and smirked. “You didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend!”

“I – “

“Don’t worry, hon. Zachary here is a great boy.” He then winked at Zach. Oh gosh, reminds me of how mom did that just minutes ago… “Get to your seat and I’ll prepare double your usual!”

♔

Zach

Oh god. Not again. First her parents, now this? This is so embarrassing, honestly. What if Olivia doesn’t like me? It’s gonna be so awkward between us…

“Uh – sorry about that, Ivy…” I mumbled as we walked to the booth where I always sit.

She looked at me, confused. “About what, exactly?”

“Him assuming that you’re my girlfriend…”

“Oh!” She realized then what I was talking about. “No problem. It doesn’t affect me, really. Why not, right?”

My eyes widened and so did hers.

Olivia started stuttering words out. “I mean… I didn’t – that’s not what I – Sorry.“

“I get it, don’t worry…”

It was quiet for a few seconds then our food came. “Pizza with a side of French toast for two?” The plate was placed in front of us and I shifted uncomfortably shifted on my seat.

“Thanks.” I mumbled.

Olivia and I ate silently, just savoring the taste of this really delicious pizza. I wanted to say something, but what, exactly? No words are being made in my brain at the moment.

We looked up at each other in the exact same time. I opened my mouth first, thinking of things to tell her. There has to be something! “I – “

A guy’s voice called out, cutting me off. “Olivia!”

Fuck, another interruption? Are you serious? Can’t people just leave us alone?

I noticed her tense up and her jaw clenched. She turned around slowly to the sound of the voice and I did, too. “What?” She snapped.

The person smirked. “How are you doing?”

“Fine. Now please leave, I’m kinda with someone…”

“Who is this nerd, anyway?”

My jaw dropped because of the word he called me. I mean, calling someone a nerd shouldn’t be an insult.

Olivia’s eyes looked over to me and she silently told me to go along. What is she up to? “This nerd is my boyfriend! So get away, please… We’re on a date.” I’m her boyfriend, huh? I like the sound of that…

“This is who you replaced me with? Come on! You can do better than that, babe.” The guy winked. Seriously, I don’t even know his name yet…

“We were never even together!”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“Conrad, leave.” Oh, that’s his name. Pretty stupid.

“See you in school, Via.” He smirked and winked once more and left chuckling.

I turned to Olivia who was clenching her hands. I put my hand over hers so she would relax. “What the actual fuck just happened?”

She breathed in and out before she finally spoke again. “Conrad happened.”

“Who is he?”

“That guy who has been trying to get my attention for the past years. I never gave that to him, though, since he’s such a jerk, if that wasn’t obvious yet. He keeps believing that cliché of a normal girl falling for the school’s jock, which is definitely not happening, ever.” She explained while I nodded.

I waited for a while before bringing up the next topic on my mind. I smirked, wanting to see her reaction on what I was about to ask.

She noticed and gave me a confused look. “What…”

“So, we’re a couple now, huh?”