What I'm Not

Chapter 10

I woke up on Takara's bed. I looked around and found him sleeping on the floor with a jacket on. I felt guilty for taking his bed but I also felt disappointed that I couldn't stay in my own room. I quietly got up and headed to my room. I grabbed some clothes and jumped into the shower.

As I let the warm water wash over me, I couldn't help but wonder if I had a chance at dating Takara. His parents seemed to think he had a crush on me. But, then again, he didn't want to take me to Winter Formal. He wanted to go alone. I shut off the water and grabbed the towel. Maybe I could buy my own ticket and hang out with him. The dance was this Saturday after all.

"Brooklyn," my dad called from the other side of the door. "Were you in Takara's room last night?" When I didn't answer he said, "There is no way you made your bed before you got into the shower."

"I thought I'd try something new," I lied.

I heard him laugh and walk away.

I put on a white t-shirt under a gray jacket with a pair of denim jeans and stepped out. Takara was waiting just outside the door.

"Good morning," I said as I stepped out of his way.

"Good morning," he replied.

I brushed my hair in front of a small mirror standing on my desk and I put on some rubber bracelets.

How long will Takara have to stay here, I wondered. Surely the doctors have called his parents.

I walked downstairs to find my dad staring at me with a suspicious glare in his eyes.

"I called Takara's landlords," he said as I sat down at the table. He pushed a plate of toast toward me. "They don't believe me and are moving to Texas."

"Takara's gonna have to stay here for a while, huh?" I took a bite of toast and saw his glare still focused on me. "What?"

"Did you sleep with him last night?" My cheeks burned bright red. "He can stay here as long as he wants so long as he follows my rules. I saw him sleeping on the floor this morning. You tried to sleep with him. You break my rules, he may be out in the garage."

"That's not fair. You can't punish him because of me!"

He threw his hands up. "My house, my rules."