Tuesday night, I didn't have much planned. I sat alone in the kitchen, trying to start studying alone for the next English test we had. I found myself regretting allowing Harry join Taylor and I. I knew it was a good opportunity for me to try and get along with him and show to my Mom it's possible, but I couldn't shake the feeling it would end up being a waste of my time. I'd never seen Harry show interest in taking any of his school work seriously. So, what made this test any different?
"What you doing?" Tommy questioned, coming into the kitchen with a football in hand. He and his brothers had been playing football in the garden ever since we got home.
"Studying for our English test." I replied, absently. I kept my eyes focused on my notes before me.
I didn't want to talk to Tommy right now. I struggled with concentration when I was trying to get my head around something. I could only work with the muffled background noise of a cafe or complete silence. I can't deal with the inbetween, it gets too distracting.
I heard the noise of the fridge opening and a glass making contact with the granite surface. I glanced up at him in irritation, but Tommy didn't notice me. He was too busy filling his glass with water from the fridge. The complete silence had been completely ruined.
"That's not till next week, why you studying for it now?" Tommy asked me, turning to look at me. He had my complete focus now. I watched him with irritation building up inside of me. Tommy leaned casually against the counter, showing no sign that he knew I wanted to be left alone.
I shrugged, "I like to be prepared."
Tommy nodded, "Harry said he's going to study for that test with you and your friend?" I nodded in response, but didn't verbally reply. I figured, the less I engaged, the sooner he'd get the message and leave. "That was nice of you to let him, he cares more about his grades than he lets on."
I felt my eyebrows rise up slightly at the new piece of information about Harry. I had suspected he wasn't being completely honest about how he felt being tested when he'd asked to study with me after the test. He was acting in a way that contradicted how he'd tried to portray himself.
"Mm," I hummed, "Believe it or not I can be nice sometimes."
Tommy smiled at me like he was amused. "I never said you weren't."
I titled my head from side to side. "Well, I said yes because I figured it may lead to us getting on better. You know, seeing as though we'll live in the same house until we're at least eighteen. Given, that's like what? Two years away? I'd rather try and get on with him if I've got to put up with you three."
Tommy smiled knowingly at me, but his eyes lit up slightly at my words. "That's very mature of you." He replied.
I looked at Tommy curiously. I could tell from the softness his facial features, he was happy by what I was saying. I think Tommy wants me to get along with his brothers, I think Tommy just wants us all to get along. That realisation alone, comforted me in some weird way.
I heard the sound of the back door opening once again and the sound of the wooden floor creeping from the weight of heavy feet. I glanced to my right to see Sebastian and Harry walking towards us. Neither of them acknowledged me, but they went and joined Tommy and copied his idea at getting himself a refreshment.
I was going to try and get back to studying, but my attention was taken by the light of my phone lighting up besides me. I heard it chime twice, alerting me to a text message and I picked it up.
Hey, Charlie. It's me, Billy.
I felt a smile creep it's way onto my face when I read the text. I'd been trying not to think about what Joe had said at lunch today because I didn't want to get my hopes up. I was the type of person that didn't let myself get excited for something until it happened. Yet, it was now actually happening. Billy was texting me.
"You seem happy," I heard someone say. I looked up to see my Mom had now joined us in the kitchen. She was dressed in her work clothes and had a bunch of papers in her hand. She put them down on the kitchen counter and headed straight to the fridge. "Anyone special?"
I froze as I heard my Moms question. The boys had sat around the island, barely chatting amongst themselves. Each of them had their backs to me, but they were only on their phones. I knew they were in ear shot of our conversation. It was now too quiet.
"I'm not sure yet." I replied, cautiously.
I realised it was okay as long as I didn't give too much away. I don't care if anyone knows I may be interested in someone. My Mom knows I've dated before so dating isn't a big deal in my house and I wasn't even dating anyone. It was a text. A simple, no strings attached, text.
My Moms eyes lit up with interest, "Who's the boy?" She questioned.
Me and my Mom didn't always get on, but one thing we could talk about was dating. She'd dated a lot in high school as she was the prom queen or whatever. My Mom always showed an interest when I talked about dating or boys or parties. I'd always thought it was because it made her feel like we were more alike because I was engaging in the things that her life revolved around when she was my age. Of course, she didn't always trust me, but I got the feeling she trusted me more when I talked to her.
I bit my lip and tried to think of a careful response to her question. It may not matter that I was texting a boy, but what did matter was who it was in this situation. If my Mom and the boys found out Billy had texted me, only bad thing could follow.
Although, I don't know how my stepbrother's would take me having contact with Billy, I realised my Mom would be mad. She'd probably say I was doing it on purpose to make my relationship with my stepbrothers worse than it already is. I'm already on thin ice with my Mom, I couldn't afford for her to know my stepbrother's enemy and rival was texting me.
"You don't know him." I replied, cautiously. "It doesn't matter, it may not go anywhere anyway."
I picked up my phone and texted Billy back with a simple, Hey how are you?. It was casual. I figured that should be the way to go.
"Well, honey, you won't know until you try. Do you like him?"
I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. My Mom had started to get out some left overs from last night and was preparing dinner. She was keeping herself busy as she talked to me. Yet, I couldn't focus on her. My eyes were burning holes into my stepbrother's backs. They may not have said anything yet, but they were like flies on the wall witnessing our conversation. I was getting increasingly uncomfortable.
"I'm not sure yet," I said.
I heard the sound of someone scoff and I recognised it to be Harry. I suppose he just couldn't resist and had to react to our conversation. Why did this have to happen now?
"Does he even exist?" Harry said, turning around to look at me with amusement dancing in his hazel eyes. "What did you say his name was again?"
I glared at him and tried to ignore the heat rushing to my cheeks. I didn't want to have this conversation with him. We weren't friends. He was just there.
"Come on, Charlotte. Telling us his name won't do any harm." My Mom said, a smile creeping its way onto her lips. I had to resist the urge to glare at her.
My phone buzzed again and I picked it up to look at it. Billy had responded with, I'm good wby? I've been thinking about Saturday, it was nice. We should do it again sometime.
I bit my lip and replied. Yeah, I'd like that. It would be nice.
"It doesn't matter. You don't need to know." I said, turning my phone off and putting it away.
I caught Harry's eye who was watching me and my phone with amusement like he thought I was doing it all for show. He smirked slightly and looked at me almost like he'd figured me out. "He definitely doesn't exist."
I rolled my eyes. "To you he shouldn't. I never said anything about anyone to you."
My Mom sighed at the sound of our conversation. "Are you two still not getting along?"
Harry just scowled at me and didn't say anything. The only progress we'd made was agreeing to study together. He still got under my skin like nobody else I knew. But, I couldn't tell my Mom that, especially after she'd made it very clear to me how important it was to her for me to get along with them.
My Mom stopped what she was doing and raised her eyebrows at us both. Tommy and Sebastian sat an the island in silence like they weren't really here witnessing this conversation. I wish they weren't.
"Maybe you two could bond over your stubbornness. It seems to be a talent that you both share." My Mom stated and Harry looked at her almost offended, but I agreed with her point. I was definitely a stubborn person and I was starting to think Harry was stubborn too, he just didn't want to be told it or admit it.
My Mom seemed to decide to drop it. "Anyway," She sighed, turning to look at us all and not just me and Harry. "Whilst I've got all of you kids together I guess now is the time to tell you we're having a dinner party here Saturday night so don't make any plans, okay?"
We all nodded in sync and I found myself mentally sighing at the thought of more quality time with my family. It was exactly what I wanted.
"Sure," Tommy replied, politely.
"Good," My Mom smiled. "Dinner will be in an hour when your father gets home from work. Who knows, maybe by the time he's home this boy will have a name?" She said, smiling at me with amusement.
I merely raised my eyebrows in acknowledgment before deciding to put my things together and go and study in my room. This was getting too much.
I head upstairs and dumped my school books on my bed. I decided I was done with studying for the day and put on some music, specifically any song by Stevie Nicks.
Only when I was settled, I picked up my phone again and went and sat on the window seat. Billy had replied a little while ago, but I hadn't noticed because I was downstairs.
Are you free tomorrow night? There's something cool and mysterious we could do. I bet you'd like it ;).
I felt my smile creep its way onto my face before I could stop it. I found myself typing a response without thinking about it.
I guess I'll have to be the judge of that tomorrow night, won't I ? ;)