15:30

Eleven

Dinner with your orthodontist is almost never fun. Dinner with some girl you have a crush on is usually nerve wracking. But dinner with both is just bizarre.
Verita sat across the table from Jay. Dr. Estelle sat at the head of the table. She was never very warm and welcoming. She was loud and intimidating, much like her daughter. She made a few oral hygiene jokes, reminded Jay to change his rubber bands and threw in a few French phrases here and there. Verita kept observing Jay's reaction and he looked so stunned and scared she couldn't help but smile as she nibbled on the soup. It was cute.

"Ma, stop it! You're not at the clinic anymore. Jay's our guest. He's my friend. Treat him like you would Riya."

"Okay honey. Go on now finish your soup. Jay , honey. I'm sorry. Lets start again, shall we?"

"Yes, Dr. Maxwell."

"Carter Maxwell, honey. Even though my husband is a doctor."

"I'm sorry Dr. Carter Maxwell."

"Just call me Estelle , honey."

Verita almost choked on her soup, trying hard not to laugh at Jay's clueless face.

Jay quietly nodded.

"So, how prepared are you for the Board exams?"

"Fairly prepared, I would say," Jay answered, relieved he knew the answer to atleast one question.

"Oh Ma, he's just being humble. He's at the top of his class, in every class. Him and Avi. Neck and neck. Its fun to watch."

"Oh please. Dr. Carter , your daughter is a genius. She beat the both of us in every test."

"Well of course she did. I raised a smart, mature daughter. Unlike her father, God knows what a wuss he's creating there."

"Ma, don't say that. That's just harsh."

"That's right. You heard about your sister's latest fiasco? Her grades dropped because of boy problems. In what world is it smart to let your grades drop because of a boy. I've raised Verita better than that. She knows her priorities. Its her ambition, her career, above everything else. Never depend on a man for anything."

"Right," Jay said, remembering the whole Adrian incident.

Verita pursed her lips and glanced at Jay in anticipation. Jay shook his head a little, signalling that he would not mention Adrian at all.

"So, honey. I've known you for a while now. This is the first time you've come around. What are your intentions with my daughter?"

Verita chuckled a little as Jay choked on his soup.

"Intentions? What intentions? No ma'am, Verita invited me to dinner to uh, discuss uh, Head Boy strategy."

Verita raised an eyebrow. Then she understood and played along.

"Yes ma, Jay and I, we've started to hangout a lot because of Mrs. Patel's class. And well , since I'm prefect now, I though I'd help Jay, with my campaign experience."

"Oh but I thought you were helping Avi. That's strange."

Jay's heart sunk. Of course. Avi had already asked her , last night. Great. One more opportunity gone.

"Oh no, Avi's found another campaign manager. Jay hasn't. "

"Oh, okay. Jay, I hope you like traditional German food. I made some bratwurst and other things I learnt while I lived in Germany for a year. And would you like some wine to go with that?"

"Uh, no, thanks. No wine for me."

"Very well then. I hope you're hungry."

"Famished."