Never In A Million Years

Chapter Twenty Seven

So I was lying when I said I wasn't talking about asking Brendan to the dance. In case that obvious enough. I'm a pretty bad liar. And I suck at cover ups. A really bad combo.

But I asked Danny to help me tonight when we know Brendan will be asleep. We're going in. He's going to help me ask.

It took me a while to think of this very, very, very lame way to ask him. I just didn't want to hand him an invitation and tell him to pick me up at eight. So, I am going to go with my idea. Nerdy, yeah. But then again, that's pretty much me.

I've got the supplies in a huge sack. It looks a little suspicious. Let's just hope there're no cops patrolling the area tonight.

You know, it's just some teenagers out in the dark past midnight. At someone else's house. In dark hoodies. With a huge bag. I don't know what could possibly go wrong if a cop pulled up beside us.

'You're still in right?'

'Yeah, duh. I'll be there at like one. That okay?' -Danny

'Sure thing.'

"Who're you texting?" Brendan asks, leaning over, trying to look at my screen. I quickly turn it off, putting it in my pocket. "What was that?"

"My grandma's dying. It's personal," I reply off the top of my head.

Great cover up. Not suspicious at all.

I'd better work on that.

"Really, now?" Brendan raises his eyebrows. I make the mistake of looking into his eyes. My cheeks start going red... Like they always do when I lie.

"Yeah," I say, but my voice squeaks, unnaturally high.

He smirks at me. Then he nods his head. "Alright."

"You find my grandmother's tragic death amusing?" I ask, eyebrows raised.

"No," he says, still smiling. "But I sure know your grandma's not dying."

"What? How?" I ask, confused.

"You already told me that your grandmas on both sides are dead," he says.

Dang it. Of course I did. "I meant to say, my grandpa's dying in the hospital."

"Okay, Lili, what's really going on?" He asks, taking my hand in his.

"Nothing you should concern yourself with," I say, turning my head away from him.

He opens his mouth like he's going to say something. Then he looks up, closes it, and nods. "Okay."

I can see the smile he tries to suppress.

He knows what I'm doing. I'm sure he knows. But you know what? I'll play along anyways because I'm enjoying myself.

Brendan and I are currently sitting in his bedroom on the couch. It's almost ten o'clock. My mom's in Maine for her job. I'm staying all alone at my house this week.

And let's just say I'm a little freaked out.

Sure, I'm seventeen. A very easily scared seventeen year old. I see anything slightly out of place and pull out my baseball bat. Yes, my little metal baseball bat from when I did T-ball at age ten, I have been carrying that around with me every minute of the day. And my mom only just left last night.

The cops are on my speed dial.

I put all the kitchen knifes in a cereal box, just so if a robber... Or murderer... Decides to come kill me, he won't know where to find the correct utensils.