Chapter 37: ♤Chapter 29♤

♤ARIANA♤

Silverware was noisily clinking against plates. It almost sounded like it was echoing because of how quiet everyone was. I could also feel both our moms’ eyes on the both of us because of our quietness.

This didn’t happen a lot because Chris and I were physically unable to stay quiet if we’re in a room together. We’re always arguing and throwing jabs at each other for no reason and they know this. That’s why this is a major deal.

But the truth is, I wasn’t actually mad at what he’d said. I was just getting even. I even threw them a thumbs up and a grin behind his back to let them know I was just messing with him. I wanted him to suffer because I still wasn’t okay with the little sex talk he made me get. But obviously everything blew up in my face when he went the fuck off.

I didn’t expect him to. He’s never gotten that angry at me before and it completely threw me off. I was even about to tell him I was kidding, but he told me to shut up and it didn’t look like he was playing around so I did just that. And between that and the start of dinner, we haven’t spoken, or even looked at each other. Our moms even tried to be slick — Charlotte offered to give my mom a tour of the house, leaving Chris and I in the living room alone for a while. But after a couple minutes of total awkward silence, he’d gotten up and left. And at the time I really thought our friendship was over. I kinda still do.

I still don’t understand what the hell happened.

We almost… kissed. On the lips.

And that forced me into thinking if he… liked me...

But I quickly threw that thought in the garbage because there was no way.

And sure I think he’s immensely attractive and we teased each other a lot, but… I’ve never seen myself in a relationship with him of all people. Not that anything’s wrong with him, it’s just… y’know…

I’ve never seen myself dating a white boy. There I said it.

My mom on the other hand, she loves them, and ever since her and my dad split, all she dated were white guys. Personally, I never saw that for myself. I didn’t have anything against them really, it’s just... a me thing. But in this scenario… it’s Chris. Annoying, frustrating, blabbering Christian Rich. I used to fantasize about him but I never really saw it happening. But then I met him and he was just… irritating, so it immediately cancelled out some of my infatuation. Because that’s what it was before — infatuation. I didn’t know the guy, but he was hot and he looked cool, so like any other girl, I eye stalked him whenever I saw him and created a nasty world for us. He’ll never know that though.

But I can’t say I didn’t want to kiss him. I’d be lying. I’d go to hell for that big of a lie. And the way he held me- oh Jesus Lord-

I cleared my throat, almost choking on some turkey stuffing, and readjusted myself on my chair. I reached for my glass of water, taking a sip, only my eyes betrayed me and I glanced at Chris who was sitting across from me, one chair to the right. It didn’t bother me until he looked up a second later and I froze up momentarily before looking away quickly.

Don’t eye-fuck him with the moms in the room, fool.

I know we didn’t hold eye contact long enough for it to be considered that but if I didn’t look away when I did… Who knows what they would’ve saw on our faces.

A throat cleared, “Charlotte, didn’t you say there was some extra stuffing?”

I looked up at my mom and she was giving me a look. I subtly gave a small jerk of my head.

“Oh, yes,” Charlotte pushed her chair back, taking the napkin from her lap and setting it down on the table, “Do you mind?”

“Not at all,” my mom pushed herself up and I almost stretched out my arms to her like a toddler.

“Just so you both know,” Charlotte said, “You’re ruining Thanksgiving.” Then they walked out of the dining room into the kitchen.

That sell out. I glared at my plate, then set down my fork, because I felt like I was gonna throw up from all this nervousness.

It was silent for several minutes and it was too easy for me to zone out and forget where I was. And I went right back to what happened in the kitchen. I was in the middle of internally swooning at how fine he was when he was pissed when I heard my name.

I blinked out of my head and looked over at him. He was probably having a hard time eating too, because his plate was pushed away from him.

He opened his mouth to say something, but ended up letting out a loud breath first and stayed quiet for a couple more seconds.

“I’m sorry that I attacked you like that,” he said lowly as if he was scared our moms were listening, “I don’t,” he paused, searching for words, “Do that. I don’t manhandle girls like that. I just- I wasn’t thinking. And I’m sorry if I hurt you or-”

He stopped when I shook my head, “You didn’t. I’m fine.”

He lets out a breath, sounding relieved. Then his cheeks started to flush — starting from a light pink, then brighter, crawling up his neck. I blinked a couple times.

Wow.

“A-and umm… sorry about practically forcing myself on you,” his voice was almost down to a whisper and he wasn’t looking at me anymore. His eyes were on the table, “I don’t usually do that either. It was a spur of the moment thing-”

I let out a relieved breath, nodding, “Okay.”

“What?”

I met his eyes, “I had a feeling, it didn’t really… y’know, mean much, so…”

He stared at me silently for a moment before he looked down, nodding, “Yeah, yeah, you’re right.”

I chewed on my lip nervously, reaching up to nibble on my thumb, because I didn’t like how his reaction to that. He wasn't acting like it was fine.

“I didn’t… offend you did I?” I asked quickly before I stopped myself.

His head snapped up too fast to be normal and he was shaking his head too aggressively when he answered, “No, no, you’re totally right.”

When people use totally, they usually mean the exact opposite in these cases.

I was about to push further but I stopped myself because I didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. So I changed the topic.

“And I wasn’t actually mad at you,” I said and he just stared at me, “I knew you weren’t calling me fat. Honestly I wouldn’t have cared if you’d said it directly either, I just wanted to see you shit bricks.” I shrugged.

He shook his head, his jaw clenching but he was holding back a smile, “Now I’m glad I got mad at you,” I smiled, “You-” he stumbled out his words, not knowing what to say and I laughed. He slumps back into his hair, letting out a breathless laugh as he ran a hand down his face.

I was about to tell him he was nasty but I remember he hadn’t touch his food with his hands.

“Wow,” he said, an incredulous smile on his face as he stared at the wall and I giggled.

I eyed him before I could help it, biting my lip.

He is too hot.

“I was so stressed out, dude,” he said, looking back at me.

His expression changed and I sat up, not realizing I was practically leaning over the table, watching him like he was the ham I had back at home waiting for me.

I cleared my throat lowly, reaching up to scratch behind my ear idly, feeling my face warm in embarrassment for getting caught looking at him like that.

What the hell.

“Ari.”

My whole body clenched at the way he said my name. Low and deep. And when I looked up he was leaning forward again, staring at me intensely. In a way that made my breathing shallow.

He started to say something again, but got cut off.

“Are we talking to each other again?” His mom said, seconds later a clear bowl was placed on the table and then another round platter with a cake on it.

“Not after finding out she was faking it,” Chris said without missing a beat and I let out a breath.

I caught his eye and he gave me a small grin, then a wink.

I almost fell off my chair.

Please God tell me my mom didn’t see, I prayed.

And when I peeked at her, she was too busy organizing everything on the table. After seeing that I was clear, I shot a glare at him, but he was smirking smugly down at his plate.

“Just practice for which cursed girl becomes your girlfriend in the future. You are terrible at thinking before you talk,” I snickered, taking up my fork again.

“I’m working on it,” He gritted playfully.

“It’s sad,” I said, looking up at him, “Aren’t you like 25? Up your game, dude.”

He made a face, “You’re so funny,” he retorts sarcastically.

“And you’re too old to be blabbering like a-” I stopped myself, running my tongue over my teeth as I looked down at my plate and gripping my fork to start eating again.

“Why you stop?” I heard my mom say.

“Hmm?” I looked up, chewing.

“Yeah. What were you gonna say, Ari?” Chris retorts, a smug look on his face, “I’d love to know.”

I shook my head at my mom, ignoring him completely, and chewed as slow as I could so I didn’t have to answer verbally.

She saw what I was doing and gave me a look, “Watch yourself.”

I looked back down at my food, my face getting hot from embarrassment.

I would really like for this night to get better.

Something landed next to my plate. A stuffing crumb.

I looked up at Chris blankly the same time his mom threatened him with a, “Do that again.”

He mumbled a small, “Sorry,” with a sheepish smile as his mom glared at him.

She shook her head, replying hardly, “No you’re not. But keep acting like a fool and you will be.”

I bit my lip, my eyes jumping to everyone around the table. Charlotte looked over at my mom and both of them shook their heads as if saying, ‘This the shit I go through’.

And I looked over at Chris, both of us holding back a smile and giving each other the look that said, ‘They’re crazy’.