The Taming Of The Sapphire (BWWM)

Chapter 26

Well that was the most awkward dinner I've ever suffered through. Even more uncomfortable than my first date with Grant.

Not because his parents were rude or made me feeling unwelcome, but because of the simple fact that I was introduced to his parents at all and had to force myself to be Pearly Ann for a whole thirty-five minutes. The smiling, the lame jokes, the general fakeness. What a headache that was. I don't see how she manages on a routine basis.

The distance from the park to our house wasn't very long but it wasn't short either. I was fine with me and Pearly Ann not speaking for the entirety of the ride so I don't know why she felt the need to break the silence.

"How'd you like the Augustus'?"

"They weren't bad. They were actually really nice." Far better than I expected for whites.

"So you and Grant are together now?"

"No. We're not."

"Then what are y'all?"

"Nothing. We're not even friends."

"You met his parents, Ruby Jean. Which can only mean you mean a lot to him."

"He asked me to. It's nothing special."

Pearly Ann let a couple minutes pass before asking "Were you with him the whole weekend Mom and Dad were away?"

"Yeah." No need to lie about it now. Not to Pearly Ann anyways.

"You told me you were at River's."

"I lied."

"I don't know why you're so ashamed of him. He's really kind."

"I know." Grant's a great guy and will make a good husband. To someone else.

"I know you and Grant spend all of your free time together. Why are you dragging him along if you don't wanna be with him?"

"I'm not dragging him along, Pearly Ann. He's the one who won't leave me alone."

"Oh. Are you still mad at me about the Bowling Alley?"

"No."

"I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think Grant was a good guy. He really likes you."

"You know I don't date white men, Pearly Ann."

"I don't get it. You're with him all the time though."

"It doesn't matter. We're not going pass this.... stage."

"If you say so."

I didn't want to talk about Grant anymore so I turned up the volume of Yuna. Didn't work though.

"Why are you so mean to him?"

Mean to him? Most of the time, I'm being playful but tonight, he pissed me off with this whole trip thing. Grant tells me almost everything and I don't know what I was more upset about. The fact that I didn't know that I wouldn't see him for three straight days or the idea of not seeing him for three straight days. "Am I really that mean to him?"

"From the outside looking in, that's how it appears to be."

"Well.... I guess it doesn't really matter because he isn't my boyfriend or anything."