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NINETEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

TOBIAS WACH

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"On three say cheese!" My mom held up her phone to Isabel and me as we stood up against the living room wall. "One! Two! Three!"

"Cheese," Isabel and I sang.

"Perfect! Another one!" She exclaimed.

"Do we really need another?" I said as I tried to rub away the spots I was seeing.

"Yes! This is your first real school dance and you have a boyfriend to accompany you!"

"Boyfriend?" I pinched Isabel's arm. "Ow!"

"Tobias didn't tell you?" My mom asked.

Isabel looked at me as she rubbed her arm. "Uh. Yeah. He did. I just didn't know he told you."

"Have you met his boyfriend?" My mom asked.

"Brandon? Not yet. I've seen him, though. He's a very cute guy."

"I can't wait to meet him," My mom said. "I thought I would be meeting him tonight but I guess he isn't coming over now is he?"

"No. I'm meeting him at the dance." I pulled out my phone to check the time. "Speaking of the dance, we should get going. Maybe we can take more pictures later?"

Mom narrowed her eyes at me. "You know that by the time you get back I'll be on my way to work."

"Ah dang. Well, see you guys later!"

"See ya!" Cass exclaimed from the couch.

"And don't lose my watch," Mikey said from upstairs.

"I won't!"

I grabbed Isabel's hand and took her outside with me. I knew my mom was standing at the door, watching us, so I waited until we were both got into our cars to call her.

"Tobias, what's your problem?"

"I can explain."

"Please do."

"So my evil cousin, Jackie, tried to embarrass me at my grandma's birthday dinner by telling the waiter that I had the hots for him." Isabel gasped. "I know so to make her feel stupid, I told everyone I already had a boyfriend."

"And that boyfriend being Brandon. Your crush."

"Precisely so now my family thinks that Brandon is my boyfriend when he's technically not but he is close enough to being it, right?"

"I mean, yeah. I guess."

"Tonight has to be perfect."

"It will be."

I jumped at the sound of knocking on my window. I dropped my phone and turned to the direction of the sound. "Tobias!"

It was my mom. I sighed as I rolled down my window. "You scared the heck out of me!"

"Off your phone while you're driving. I don't want to see you on the news. Also, I know you're almost 21 but please don't drink. No drunk driving and if you and Brandon get hot and steamy-"

"Mom!"

"What? It could happen! I just want to make sure you're safe so-" she dug in her pocket and handed me a few condoms.

My eyes widened at the sight, and I dropped them in the passenger's seat. "Mom! No! I don't want those!"

"You want STDs instead?"