One of the Guys

Chapter ten

Chapter ten

"It's so good to see you Rory!" Mrs. Nemruka exclaimed pulling me into a hug. "Uh, you too," I replied, being polite hugging her back.

When we had gotten home, Mrs. Nemruka hadn't stopped talking to me. She hugged the others quickly then turned her attention to me. Malcolm had gotten off of work when his mom had called and told him they were here. The guys and the Easthoms were all talking with Mr. Numruka and laughing with ease.

"You certainly have grown into a fine young lady," she continued.

"Um, thanks."

"So what have you been up to?"she asked, all of her attention on me.

I hated it. Why wasn't she paying attention to the guys?

"Not much," I replied simply.

"Oh come on, sports? Clubs?" She pressed.

"Um, I do a lot of theater and run track," I replied.

"Really? I'm ways trying to get Nicolas and Jake to do those plays but they don't want to! Can you believe that?" She exclaimed.

Nicolas and Jake whipped around after hearing their names.

"What did you say?" Nicolas demanded.

Mrs. Numruka laughed and said, "Boys, always so nosy!"

"Look, Mom, just tell us who you were trying to set Rory up with," Jake said.

My face went bright red and I suddenly felt self-conscience. Mrs. Nemruka just laughed.

"Well isn't someone a little interested!" She exclaimed.

If possible, my face got even brighter.

"Uh, that's, not what I meant, Mom ..." Jake explained embarrassed.

"Are you sure? Because I'm sure Rory wouldn't mind letting you down easy would she now?" Mrs. Nemruka offered turning to me eagerly.

"Huh? That's not -"

"After all, she is way out of your league," she continued.

If someone's face can turn as scarlet as fire, then it just happened to mine. Leo broke the awkward atmosphere that Mrs. Nemruka had created by saying, "Buuuurrrrrnn! Way to go Mrs. N.!" And giving her a high five.

"Destroyed by your own mother ... That's just sad Jake," Malcolm said shaking his head.

"Yeah, whatever," Jake said agitated.

"Ooh! Backing down from a fight, Jake?" Asked Nicolas.

"Yeah," Leo started, "a fight over Rory! He loooooves her!"

"Shut up!"

"Boys! Stop it! Your embarrassing Rory," Mrs. Easthom commanded, noticing my completely red flustered face. "Now," she started, trying to save me from further embarrassment, "I'm going to start dinner. It should be ready in about fifteen minutes. Go do whatever until then." After that the adults left the small family room and went to the kitchen.

I ran upstairs, went to my room and shut the door. I collapsed into the bed and sighed. I knew it was a mistake to cone here, I mean, they have a life here. I'm just the intruder.

My head started to hurt and I decided I should probably unpack. After all, I would be here for the entire summer.

I started to lay my clothes into the white wooden dresser and arrange my other things on the matching nightstand when I heard a knock at the door.

"Rory? It's Leo."

I walked over the the plain wooden door and opened it, meeting his face that had 'sorry' written all over it.

"What Leo?" I asked impatiently standing in the doorframe, clearly not in the mood to see any of them.

"Sorry about back there. I really didn't mean to embarrass you, I mean, we were just kidding around."

I mentally scolded myself for being stupid. They were guys that's what they do. And me? I wasn't going to be that over dramatic sensitive little girl who sits and pouts every time something doesn't go her way. I should have realized that this morning when they were mimicking me.

"Don't worry about it," I said easily. "That was a pretty good burn though."

"I know!" Leo exclaimed walking into my messy room. He seemed like he was going to say more until he saw that there was really no place to stand.

"I think this is messier than my room," he remarked.

"I'm was kinda in the middle of unpacking."

"I'll help," he offered.

"Uh, that's okay," I said quickly. I really did NOT need him seeing inside my suitcase.

Just then Mrs. Easthom called, "Kids! Dinner's ready! Get down here!"

Leo groaned. "What?" I asked, "it's just your mom's cooking."

He starred at me like I had grown another head.

"Rory, do you remember anything about my mom's cooking?"

I suddenly recalled an unpleasant memory of chopped liver, and five little kids getting 'strangely sick'. I threw my head back and groaned too.

"Don't worry. It's only for about the first week that she actually tries to cook. After that we just end up going out or ordering in," Leo explained.

I have a sigh of relief.

"Let's just hope whatever she made doesn't try to eat us," Leo said, walking out the door, downstairs, and into the kitchen.