Not Who I Really Am

Chapter 3 - I'm a What????

We got my outfit and head home. Well her home anyway. Her home was my home so I guess it’s my home too. Opie told me to go upstairs and change right away since the party was in an hour.

I changed into my party outfit and stayed upstairs to save the memory  of how pretty I look. I’m not really the type to wear dresses or skirts unless it’s for a special occasion. But I think I might try other styles of clothing to wear on a regular basis.

I finally make my way downstairs and a flash goes off in my face,

“Ahhh!”

My hands rushed to cover my face from the light. I slowly removed my hands from my face and scowl at my partial blindness. I turn to the direction the light came from and said,

“S-since I’m g-going to a part-ty, I’d a-appreciate it if I wasn’t going t-to be bl-blind.”

“Sorry hun. I’m just really excited.”

“You’re m-more excited over my wh-whole life th-than my foster p-parents seem to be,” my face falls to a frown. It’s not a lie sadly. My foster parents almost never have any time for me. They rarely ever leave their offices. As my vision came back I could see a frown upon my Opie’s face,

“You know they care about you hun. They give you whatever you need…”

“That’s the th-thing. They th-think just ‘cause they g-give me things me-means that I won’t f-forgive them for not being there. I-I don’t want to t-talk about this anym-more.”

Opie nodded knowing not to argue on talking. Because and this has happened before, if someone pushes I won’t talk for days or for weeks straight. 

I make my way downstairs and look in another mirror. I look back at makeup-less face. I don’t wear makeup. It’s not really my thing at all. I turn back to the clock on the stove and it said 6:48 p.m. Twelve minutes til’ Aaron showed up. 

I felt a hand on my lower back and turn around. Opie. I smiled at her and she returned it. We could never stay angry at each other for very long periods of time but it happened on more occasions than I’d prefer. I’m stubborn, what can I say? 

I look back at the clock and start getting ancy and cold feet. My eyes widen,

“I-I d-don’t think I sh-should g-go.”

“What are you talking about? You’ve been so excited all day, and that Aaron fellow isn’t too bad looking either.”

“Opie! I d-don’t like A-Aaron that way…”

I direct my eyes away from her and look down. A smile plastered on her face,

“You like someone don’t you? Don’t lie to me, I know everything.”

“You don’t kn-know him….”

“Try me,” she challenges, “his na-ame is Matthew.”

“Matthew Cooper?”

No sound left my mouth. A chuckle escaped my grandmother’s lips,

“You know, I see him every Wednesday at the FoodBank down town?”

“Really?”

“Yeah you should come next time. Maybe you’ll see him and you’ll hit it off.”

“Opie,” I whined, “Oh shush. You know you wouldn’t mind chatting with him for a little while.”

My cheeks go red. Opie pats my shoulders saying,

“Don’t be embarrassed. Everyone goes through this at some point.”

“Th-this is almost w-worse than the sex t-talk we had fifth g-grade.”