Especially Gifted

14 **Second Glances and Reunions**

         I woke up the next morning dreaming of how great mine and Grey's date was last night. I was glad that mom came to visit, but still let me go on my date. Also, Xander will be meeting mom again today. I feel like it's her birthday or something. For some reason, I had a weird feeling like something really bad happened but I don't remember what. Oh well, I need to focus on the positive. Xander will be coming over soon, and neither of them know what's going to happen. So, as I sat up from bed, I had a huge smile knowing this was going to be a great day. Mom came over not long after I was up. I had to lie a little to convince her to dress up. But she finally did after I bargained to give her an Andrew Jackson ($20 bill).

        I got her to go in this spectacular cocktail dress that was a light pink. It had a shade or two darker lace overlay that was an inch shorter in the front but longer in the back. After I let her borrow a pair of my white jimmi choo's, and a a silver scarf to top off the outfit. I have to say, I've always had a knick with fashion. Me on the other hand, I'm wearing a long, cascading red satin dress with a hat connected to a hair band for an extra touch. It compliments my body, so we're all good. I sent Xander a tux that I know will look great on him. He got dressed and sent me a picture within ten minutes of my mom being dressed. Let me say this, I know why all the girls want him. He looks like he's dripping sexy. But he's my brother, that would be gross... Anyway, we waited until noon until we left.

           Luckily, I was able to get passes for us all to leave school grounds. And because we were with my mom, they didn't disagree. I had a lunch reservation set for us, and couldn't wait. It was one of those fancy restaurants that everyone loves and only goes for once in their lives. That kind. We were walking up and I checked around to see where Xander was when we were leaving. He filed in with another group of kids making sure to stay in the in between' far away and too close' zone. Mom gave me a side glance and when she asked, I told her I was looking at the rose bushes near him. Since roses are my second favorite flower, mom believed me. We all got on the little ferry that would take us back to civilization, well, the small town next to it. It was a twenty minute ride and half way through I was contemplating on just flying there. We all could, but I knew that mom would be against it. So we rode and were finally dropped off in a little city called Bergensons, FL. The city is near the state lines between Alabama and Florida. We then traveled by bus to the nearest big city. It took a good fifteen minutes to get to the city, and another five to get to the restaurant.

When we finally got there, the three of us stepped off the shuttle bus. Mom gave Xander curious looks, but nothing more. One by one, we stepped into the overly-priced restaurant and waited to be greeted. Once the greeter came, we informed her of our reservation and followed her. She led us up the stairway and unto the roof. There were only a couple of tables up here and they were all empty tonight. Which is good for when mom gets hysterical later. We all three sat down at our chairs and waited for the greeter to leave.

"Cassia, who's this?" My mom asked. Xander and I pretended not to hear her. "Who is this young man, Cassia?" She asked a lot more loudly, making us both exchange nervous glances. "I know!! He's your boyfriend!!"

"No mom, he's not my boyfriend. Far off actually." She stared at me blankly and I knew she was trying to read either Xander's thoughts or mine, so I blocked them. She cussed under her breath and stared harshly at me. "Mom.... There's something we need to discuss. All three of us."

"Why don't we tell her now? She's going to-," Xander began to say, until a waiter came out and asked us what we wanted to drink while handing us all menus. We got our drinks, and I was grateful for the interruption. It let me regain my thoughts on how I wanted to introduce Xander to her. I knew that if I wasn't careful, my mom could break. Xander disappearing took a major toll on her, and she never adopted again. Also, whenever we moved, she left the slightest, tiniest hint in case he ever happened to find us again. I think that after 10 years she finally gave up on him.