Forever and Always, Olive

Chapter 15: A Romantic Situation

Chapter 15

Saturday comes sooner than I expected. I've been informed that we'll be going out to dinner and playing mini-golf on this date. I'm not exactly a fan of mini-golf but then again, this isn't my date. It's Abel's and his prospective partner, whose name I have yet to learn. Hopefully, she's a nice girl. The last thing Abel needs is another Hailey.

And this girl, whoever she is, needs to think that Maddox and I are dating. According to Abel, if she finds out that Maddox and I aren't dating, then she'll think that Abel just wants to be friends. Or worse, she'll think that we're only there because Abel doesn't want to be alone with her. I don't know if Abel told Maddox this fact. I have a feeling he didn't because I'm sure I'd have received several texts from his younger brother telling me that the 'group meeting', which is what he's been referring to it as, is off.

I'm waiting outside practically freezing to death. I hate the winters here. Back home, it's probably a nice, cool temperature. Here, it's so cold that I can see my breath and my body is literally shaking. Eventually, my aunt arrives at Burger King and immediately notices the nervous look on my face. "What's wrong?" she wonders as she turns up the heat for me.

I shrug as I take off my name tag and hat and shove them in my bag. I sigh comfortably at the warmth of the car. "I have a date, if you want to call it that, tonight," I explain.

"A date?" she asks with a grin. "With who?"

"Uh, you don't know him," I tell her nervously. If I even whisper the name Maddox, my father will grow wings and fly here to beat the teenage boy up. "Besides, it not a real date."

"Not a real date?" my aunt continues to question in a slightly confused state.

"Yeah, we're just doing our friend a favor," I explain with a wave of a hand. "It's a double date, but the original couple cancelled so we're just filling in."

"What's this boy's name?" she asks me. Think, think, think.

"Uh, Kai-Leo-Parker," I blurt like an idiot. Kai-Leo-Parker? What's wrong with me?

"Kyle Parker?" my aunt repeats with furrowed brows.

"Yeah, he's in my math class," I lie smoothly. "We're just friends."

"Speaking of friends, when am I going to meet yours?" my aunt prompts me and I want to sigh. I guess I can't dodge her anymore. By the looks of things, I'm going to be here until the summer.

"I don't know. I can always have them over for a study group," I suggest as I stare out the window. "Midterms are coming up and they're freaking out."

"Good to know they care about their grades," she interprets. I keep my eyes locked out the window as I hold back a laugh. They're totally not freaking out about the fact that they haven't picked up their textbooks since the day they received them.

"Yeah, so is next Saturday good?" I decide. I can have them over after I work.

"Yeah, that's great," she confirms. "I have the day off. I'll make a nice dinner. How many friends are coming over?"

Deciding only to invite the people I attend school with, I count them up in my head. I also include Abel, because why not? "Seven."

"How's pizza?" my aunt decides with a grin. I laugh in response.

"Pizza's great."

+ + +

I'm ready at six thirty, dressed in a simple shirt, jean, cardigan, and boot ensemble. Maddox tells me he'll be picking me up shortly so I hurry to gather the contents of my purse. When he arrives at the house, he lets his presence be known with his usual honk so I glance out the window. I cringe when I see my aunt approaching his car. I let out a quiet squeal as I grab my purse and practically throw myself down the steps. Somehow, I manage to reach her before she can get to his car and say anything to him.