The car ride home was suffocatingly quiet, usually Caleb would be blasting indie rock, or complaining about his basketball coach, but today, he just gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles went white. He kept glancing over at me occasionally out of the corner of his eye. As if waiting for me to break into some mental episode
"Why do you keep doing that?" I say, staring out at the passing houses, the familiar streets that I've passed on a daily ever since I was a child. I never realized how beautiful this town was until now, the vibrant colors, the lush greenery and even the sight of children running around on their lawns after just getting out of school.
"Doing what?" He says, his voice a little too high as he continues to keep his eyes on the road.
"You keep side-eyeing me like I'm about to go insane."
He just ignores me and tries to change the subject as we reach a red light. "So, Chloe eh?"
"What about her."
"She's cute don't you think?"
"I mean, yeah she's pretty cute I guess."
"You guess?"
The light finally turns green, And Caleb continues to drive and turns onto Meadows street
"Yeah I don't know I haven't thought about it like that I guess, I've been so busy between practice and homework."
"But even before all of that, before high-school. you haven't once even considered it even once at least."
"No not really, I haven't really thought of anybody like that since Elara"
He looks at me "Elara. Really?, you haven't even seen let alone talked to the girl for at least five years."
"Yeah but lik-"
"No, two things you should hear, for one you guys were in elementary, even if she miraculously came back to the town after ditching her probably perfect life. I doubt she would still be into you."
I roll my eyes "Yeah I get it."
"No you don't get it Liam, and I wasn't finished so shut the hell up. Anyways for two, Chloe is here now. If Elara really liked you wouldn't she have at least offered for you to keep in contact with her or something?" And in my opinion, she's been pretty patient. Especially for a dumbass like yourself."
"Oh shut uppp" He was right, I've been so hung up on somebody who didn't even consider me
"Look, can you at least talk to her, take her to the Christmas Festival."
"Yeah I will."
"Okay we can talk about this later we're almost home. Just remember, don't tell mum or dad anything about us planning on going to the park"
He says as we pull into the driveway, the house is exactly the same as it is every other day. Warm yellow light spilling out of the kitchen window. The smell of freshly baked pasta in the air.
Inside, the house was filled with the domestic sounds of a typical evening. The rhythmic thud-thud-thud of a knife against a cutting board came from the kitchen. Mum was standing at the counter, cutting up sticks of celery for dinner
"Wash up" she says, not turning around "Dinner will be ready in ten minutes"
Me and Caleb share a knowing look, having a good feeling what's about to happen at dinner, then we go to wash our hands
"okay I'll meet you at the table"
"okay" I say looking at myself in the mirror, I don't even recognize myself anymore.
I dried my hands before into the dining room and sit beside my younger sis Beau, She reaches over to me grabbing me ear "ow let go"
"Beau, let go of your brothers ear please."
The atmosphere is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Dad finally comes to sit at the table "sooo.."
"....anything you boys want to tell me?"
"Dad im so sorry we tried to make it there on time but we just woke up too late, we were a few minutes short of the bell."
"It's not even tardiness that I care about, because like you said you guys were only a few minutes late so it doesn't really matter that much. I care more about the fact that back to back Liam, first it was last night. And now this?"
"But this time was an accident dad, it's completely different"
He gives me the biggest dirty look ever.
"Dinners ready!" Sets everyone's plate of foot down starting with beau, then dad, then Caleb, then me, and finally she brings her own plate
I pick at the chicken in the pasta, My appetite completely gone now. The clink of silverware against the porcelain plates was the only thing filling the awkward silence.
Dad didn't look up from his plate once. He was cutting his meat into perfect little squares
As soon as im finished my dinner, I take it to the sink to wash it, then I immediately go upstairs. Not trying to deal with that drama right now.
I get a text, it's from a new group chat that Finn just made.
SILLY SQUAD:3
Groupchat created at 6:45pm
Liam Miller: bro what is ts 🥀 -6:46pm
Finn Michaels: vro trust it's for the park plans:)
Finn Michaels: okay anyways I have a plan on how to get into the park without getting caught. -6:51pm
Liam Miller: okay okay tell us -6:53pm
Noah Richards: wait what? When did I agree to this guys. -6:54pm
Sam Swotz: Hi guysss, it's been a while. -6:57pm
Caleb Miller: HI SAM MY KING🥰. -6:59pm
Sam Swotz: HI POOKIE WOOKIE COOKIE KING:3
Sam Swotz: I miss you guys so much man.-7:02pm
Liam Miller: can we just lock in for five minutes please. -7:05pm
Chloe Mayfield: yeah guys we need to plan this out before Monday. -7:08pm
Noah Richards: sybau stop agreeing w everything ur hubby says. -7:10pm
Chloe Mayfield removed Noah Richards from this chat
Caleb Miller: yo chilllll someone add him back please -7:12pm
Noah Richards was added back to this chatroom
"These people" man I think out loud, laughing.
We proceeded to make absolutely zero progress that night towards the plans.
Eventually I just fell asleep, giving up.