The Kissing Prank

➳ meetings

                C H A P T E R  E I G H T 

                m e e t i n g s

"Why can't I just meet your family, Noah?"

The voice across the phone makes me sigh. After the realization Chloe and my family would meet tonight, the thought made me want to cancel on one of them. As much as I like being around Chloe, my uncle and aunt immediately surpass her. They are blood - plus the blood that believes Chloe and I are dating.

It takes me a while to answer. "Well, I don't want to give them the wrong impression or anything. . ."

I try to leave some imagination to that comment, hoping someone as intelligent as her might catch my drift. And thankfully she does, an awkward giggle coming from her line.

"What, they would think we're more than friends or something?" She asks in amusement, then scoffs. "So what? When I watched your Aunt play in Las Vegas two years ago, she was hilarious! I would love to get her autograph for my mom and I."

Another sigh comes from me. 

"Would you want to be the reason why I go back home in two weeks without her autograph? How am I supposed to explain this to my mother? That this boy I became friends with was too worried about looking like my boyfriend, and that is why I couldn't meet her and get her autograph?"

 It seems all I kind find myself doing is sighing. "Look, Chloe. . ."

She is the one to huff. "This is a free country - I will come. Even if that means I have to stand out on the street."

Stubborn, stubborn, and stubborn. That is what Chloe is. 

"Then I'll make sure to wear that outfit I wore the last time I came to your house." Her voice suggests something I don't catch on to. "The one you watched me struggle in towards my car."

Oh, shoot.

"I wasn't watch—"

"And before you say you weren't checking me out - which is quite piggish, I did not expect something like that from you, Noah - I know you were. Why else would you be the one blushing behind that window and not me, the one who basically flashed you accidently?"

My mouth parts, ready to defend myself, but nothing comes out besides defeated mumbling and a, "I am not proud, okay?"

She laughs at this. I sigh from relief.

"We will talk about this tonight. The professor called me in to help him grade some papers. And I thought being a student sucked - try being a teacher's intern."

"Chloe. . ." I huff like a child. 

I can only imagine the amused expression on her face. "C'ya tonight, Noah!"

The line goes dead, and I stand there for a few painstakingly slow seconds. 

My valiant effort in keeping Chloe away failed miserably. 

Now what do I do?

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I am stressing over this dinner.

Well, not so much over the dinner part. I already have the spicy carrot salad placed on the table, garlic bread sticks keeping warm in the conventional oven, and the chicken cobbler casserole baking away in the stove. It is only a matter of time that this five star meal will be complete.