Fake It Till You Make It

Leighton

"Leighton! Come down here! Dinner is ready!" My mom yells up the stairs just as I was inspecting my long light brown hair that I was starting to hate and my basic light brown eyes in the mirror.

"Coming!" I yell back, trotting down the stairs.

There is meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and peas awaiting me. My mom already filled my plate up.

"I already put stuff on your plate. Just sit down and eat." She says.

"Thanks." I say, taking a seat.

Jaxon is here for dinner, my brother's best friend. I have a huge crush on him, just like pretty much every other girl at school, but how could you not. He had dark brown hair, soft messy curls, big dark brown puppy dog eyes, a heart stopping smile, and not to mention his great physique. My crush on him used to be way bigger, but I've tried to dull that crush because I know nothing could ever happen between us. Not only is he my brother's best friend, but he's also way out of my league, and he's 18 and a senior while I'm just 16 and a sophomore.

"Do you like it?" My mom asks me, because I'm the last person out of everybody to take my first bite of everything on my plate, I nod.

"It's really good. But I was looking at my hair in the mirror and I just think it's so boring and drab, I think I should maybe get it cut shoulder length and dye it, blonde highlights might be cute." I say.

"Maybe. It's up to you." She answers.

"I like your hair the way it is." Jaxon blurts.

"Well thanks. Maybe I won't then." I say, trying not to blush.

"It's nice to know I was the deciding factor."

"You weren't. I said maybe, nothing's for sure yet."

"Well if you cut and dye your hair you wouldn't look as good." He says.

"You think I look good?" I ask.

"I didn't say that."

"Yes you did. You said I wouldn't look as good if I got my hair cut and dyed, that means you think I look good."

He smiles.

"It doesn't matter Leighton. Shut up about your stupid hair already." My brother James states.

    I droop my head and move my food around with my fork. It's Saturday, so around an hour later, Jaxon is still here. Him and James are in the basement/man cave playing video games. Mom asks me to go down and give them a tray of crackers and cheese, so I do.

"Hey guys, mom sent these down." I say.

"What is it?" James asks, glancing over at me.

"Crackers and cheese. Where do you want it?"

"Put it in my lap." James says.

I go up behind them, in between the two gamer chairs, and reach over to put the tray in his lap.

"Do you want to play?" Jaxon asks.

I can play video games, but James hasn't let me in like two years.

"Sure. If it's okay with James." I say.

"Whatever. But not for too long." James says.

Jaxon hands me the controller and stands up, giving me his seat and sitting in the armchair farther back.

"Let's see what ya got kid." Jaxon says.

I play with great effort and actually do really good.

"Dang, you're really good. Might have to let you play with me more when Jaxon is busy." James says.

"Yeah, maybe you should." I say, standing up and handing the controller back to Jaxon.

    My fingers brush against his as I hand it to him and a tingling sensation jolts up my arm. He puts the controller on the arm of the chair and then he grabs my hand and pulls it back to him, looking down at it.

"Did you get your nails done?" He asks.

I had gotten them done, I got French tip acrylics, and I had gotten my toenails painted with white gel nail polish too. 

"Yes." I say, my hand warm and tingly where he is touching it.

"Looks good." He says, dropping my hand.

"Thanks." I say, blushing a little.

He gives me that perfect smile that makes my insides feel weird. And then as he stands up to sit back down at the gamer chair, and I take a wobbly step to go back upstairs, I trip and fall directly on him. And since we were both unsteady, we both fall to the floor, me on top of him. He wraps his arms around me as we fall. Our faces are inches apart. My hands are flat against his chest. My whole body feels numb, I can't move. He smiles from ear to ear, not helping the situation. My face goes red.

"Are you gonna get up?" He asks, my brother ignoring the whole thing, playing a game by himself.

"Uh. Yeah. I-I'm sorry for falling on you." I say, managing to stand up.

"Ah, it wasn't that bad." He says, standing up too.

"Yeah, I guess." I squeak.

"Can't help but think it was staged though." He says, smiling.

"No way. Not a chance." I say, smiling.

"Whatever you say." He says, joining my brother.

I run upstairs.