Him

You Made This Easy

I stand there shocked. How can she be Laci's mom? Out of all the girls I know, I never would have thought she'd be the teen mom. But here she is. Staring back at me with shock and fear.

"W-what are you doing here?" Marisol asks as she picks up Laci.

"Oh, um. This is my cousin’s party. I am a volunteer. Well I actually got volunteered to do this but yeah. That's why," I ramble.

Laci just smiles as she looks at her mom. She must be a good mom, seeing as how she is smiling and hugging her. It's weird though. Marisol is a mom.

"Katie, please. I know I really don't have a right to ask you for any favors. Especially since I've been so mean. It's just, please don't tell anyone," Marisol pleads.

I stand there really considering the options. Of course she's been mean to me. She has for a very long time. I could definitely get her back for everything she has done to me. I'd probably feel bad though. She's kept this a secret for so long.

Do I really want to ruin that for her? She is the nicest out of the "mean girls."

"Don't worry about it. I won't tell anyone,” I finally say.

A wave of relief washes over her face. She smiles a little. The smile quickly fades though and she goes pale. I realize she is looking at something behind me.

Owen. That must be who she's looking at.

As soon as I think that, he is beside me.

"Marisol. Is that your daughter?" He asks.

Marisol looks nervous. She opens her mouth but nothing comes out. I look at Owen who is smirking at her and waiting for a response. Marisol gives me a 'please help me look.'

Quickly I speak up. "No, Laci isn't her daughter. Don't be silly. She's her sister.'

"Oh, I guess that makes sense," Owen says as he walks away.

"Thanks Katie. I owe you one," Marisol says as she leaves.

I am not really sure why I helped her but I'm glad I did. Even though she never would've helped me if I was the one with a child, it still felt great to help. Owen isn't the smartest guy in the world. He'll never figure out the truth.

As I head to get my stuff I realize something. The girl at church, the one yelling, was Marisol. I mean it makes perfect sense! Laci was there and she seemed to know who was yelling. It was her! The voices match up perfectly.

I'm still not sure who the guy was though. I've never heard his voice anywhere else. Maybe he was there just that day. I'll figure it out. Marisol does owe me. I could maybe ask her who Laci's father is.

-----------

I'm in sort of a dilemma right now. I keep thinking about Jake and Owen. They're both so great. I can't help being interested in both of them. I'm going to have to choose one.

Right now I'm with the girls. We are all staying at Hazel's house tonight. The school is having a staff development day, so no school for us.

"Three day weekends are the best!" Fiona says.

"They are! Maybe Monday will be a good day for once," Hazel adds.

Hazel's bedroom door opens. Emma comes in with a basket of movies. Behind her is Simon carrying a tray of drinks.

Simon is Hazel's little brother. He's about to turn seven. Every time Hazel has us over he wants to help with snacks. He puts on this cute little outfit, which he calls his server outfit, and brings us drinks.

I take a cup from the tray and thank Simon. He gives everyone else a drink and then leaves with a smile. He's not very talkative.

"He's such a cutie!" Emma squeals.

Fiona and I nod in agreement.

"Let's talk about Katie's dilemma." Fiona teases.

I groan and roll my eyes. It's technically not even a dilemma anymore. Like I said earlier, I'd pick Owen. He's been around longer than Jake anyway.

"So, are you just going to choose one?" Emma asks.

"She doesn't really have a choice," Hazel says.

She's right. Yesterday at school they both came to my locker. Each one clearly irritated by the other. They told me I needed to choose. They didn't want to feel like I was dating both of them.

So I have a choice to make.

"I think I'm going to choose Owen," I blurt out.

They have shocked expressions. I don't see how they can be shocked though. Anyone could see I like Owen. It's not that I don't like Jake. It's just, Owen and I actually have history.

"That's a quick decision," Emma says.

"Have you thought about it? Like really thought about it," Fiona asks.

I roll my eyes. "Yes."

"How about you sleep on it?" Hazel suggests.

She's acting like this is the toughest decision. It's not. I picked one. I'm going to tell him tomorrow.

"If it'll make you happy, I'll think about it more."

They all seem happy with my response. Thank goodness. We can let it go for now! I hope Owen will be glad I picked him. But what if he's not?

Maybe he won't even care. Relationships have never meant anything to him before. So why do I think it'll be different for me? But then again, he's never asked a girl to choose. He just moves on.

What about Jake? I'd feel bad not picking him. But I don't know him as well. Owen and I have a lot of history.

I could learn more about Jake though. Getting to know someone is always good.

I have had a crush on Owen for a while though. This is my opportunity to have a relationship with a guy I've liked for a while. Even though I was pretty much invisible to him.

Jake noticed me. He seemed interested in me right away. We get along well and he never thought of me as invisible.

Gosh! How come this decision just got harder? I was so sure about who I was going to choose. This is all my friends fault. They made me think.

"Katie, are you even listening?" Hazel asks pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Huh? Oh um, yeah."

"You are not," Emma says with a giggle.

"Sorry. What are we talking about?" I ask.

"Riley asked me on a date!" Fiona exclaims.

"Oh my gosh! No way!" I squeal with excitement.

Fiona is smiling so wide. She has a light shade of pink on her cheeks. She's had a crush on him for as long as I can remember. He's so sweet! I'm excited for her!

"When's the date?" I ask.

"Friday night!"

We all continue to talk about the date. Emma is hoping that since Jimmy and Riley are such close friends, that Jimmy will ask her out next. Fiona hopes so also! She wants them to double date.

I guess it's a twin thing. They are already inseparable, so it makes sense she doesn't want to go on a date alone.

Aw! And maybe when I tell Owen who I choose he'll ask to go on a date also. Then we could have a triple date.

Wow. I just said when I tell Owen, I guess I want to choose him. Even with all the thinking I just did.

"Let's watch a movie," Hazel suggests.

"Okay." We all agree.

It takes us a while to choose a movie. The twins just can’t agree. Which is normal. They never agree on anything. Hazel and I always just sit back and listen to them argue.

"No, that movie is sad," Emma says.

"So what?" Fiona counters.

"No one likes sad movies!" Emma argues.

"Oh my gosh. It has a happy ending," Fiona says.

This goes on for a few more minutes. Hazel and I leave to make popcorn. We are tired of listening to the twin’s pointless argument. Even though it is pretty entertaining. It happens every time we hang out, so we just left.

"Do you think they'll have a movie picked by the time we get back up there?" I ask.

"Ha. Yeah right. If they don't, I'll just pick one," Hazel says.

"Like usual," I joke.

Beep. Beep.

Hazel grabs the popcorn out of the microwave and pours it into a big bowl. We slowly walk back up the stairs. We can hear the twins talking. They don’t seem to be arguing anymore.

Thank gosh, I think.

Hazel stops suddenly and looks at me. "Are you still going to pick Owen?"

"Yeah, I think so."

She smiles. "Good. You'd be cute together."

We go into the room and sit down. The twins hold up the movie 'Now You See Me.' I love this movie.

-----------

Okay, today's the day, I think as I pace outside Owen's house. I am just going to go up there and knock. I take a deep breath and move closer to the front door.

Wait. What if he's not home? Then I've been standing and pacing for no reason. No, I know he's here. His car is right there. So he has to be home. Unless someone picked him up.

But I doubt that. He never goes anywhere unless he is the one driving. Which is weird but I guess it's a guy thing. Almost all of my guy friends are just like that.

Okay, here I go. I can do this. I'll just walk up there and knock. He'll come open the door and I'll tell him. And hopefully he will be happy about it.

Just as I raise my hand to knock the door swings open, revealing a small woman. I have never seen her before, but she looks kind of like Owen.

"You've been out there pacing for a while. I thought I'd come check on you," The woman smiles.

"I-uh. I'm okay. Just. Is Owen here?" I ask.

She thinks for a moment. Why does she need to think? Hasn't she seen him? I mean yeah, Owen says he rarely talks to them but still.

"I actually just got here. But I think he is in his room," She finally says.

"Oh, um. Can I go see him?" I ask cautiously.

"Of course. Go on up!" She exclaims.

"Thank you."

I head towards the stairs. I walk slowly and nervously up them. But what if he really isn't home? You'd think his mom would have at least seen him.

My heartbeat speeds up as I take the last step up the stairs. A few more steps and I'll be to his door. You can do this, I tell myself as I get closer.

I can hear a voice. Maybe he's on the phone. Before I know it, I knock. Just as I do I hear the front door shut and someone pull out of the driveway. I'm guessing it was his parents.

I hear steps come towards the door and get nervous all over again. I really need to stay calm!

The door opens, but only slightly. Owen pokes his head out, but doesn’t open the door any more than it already is. It looks like he is trying to hide something.

"Katie. Um, what are you doing here?" He asks exiting the room quickly and shutting the door.

"I came to talk to you. To tell you who I picked," I say sounding a bit unsure.

"Oh, really?" He says a small smile appearing.

I nod my head and then say "Yeah. I picked y-"

I am cut off by the sound of his door opening. Standing in his doorway is Paige Jenkins. As soon as she sees me, she smirks.

"I thought you were coming right back," She whines.

"Just go get us something to drink," Owen demands.

She looks at me again and I stare at her. She only has a large t-shirt on. I am guessing it is Owen’s shirt. Paige lightly bumps me as she walks past me and down the stairs. I look back at Owen and he just looks away.

"Unbelievable." I say.

I turn away from him and head for the stairs.

"Wait," Owen calls after me.

I stop right at the stairs. My eyes are filling slowly with tears. Gosh. How could he even do this? It was actually a hard choice to pick between the two of them.

"What?" I ask.

"Just let me explain."

I scoff. "Explain? Okay Owen. Explain to me how you could even do that! Explain how you asked me to choose between you and Jake and you just couldn't wait! Explain that!"

"Well I. Um. I'm sorry."

I roll my eyes. "Yeah, sure you are. It wasn't an easy choice you know! But look, you made this easy."

I start to head down the stairs. Owen just stands there. Part of me is hoping he will come after me. I know that is silly. He won't come after me. I know it.

As I take the last step I hear him mumbling something to himself. Which is followed by him slamming the door to his room. I am frozen where I am. I am still half hoping he will come down the stairs.

I realize he isn’t going to come so I decide leaving is the best idea. I guess I choose Jake. He is great anyway. Maybe I should have chosen him in the first place. Owen is obviously incapable of having a relationship.

"You're still here?" I hear Paige ask from behind me.

"I'm leaving."

"Good. You shouldn't be here anyway.

"Oh. And why not?"

She crosses her arms and looks at me. What is her problem? I'm leaving. She definitely doesn't need to be talking to me. I clearly don't want to talk to her.

"This isn't your scene,” Paige says.

"My scene?"

What scene? How is this a scene? I came here because I decided to tell Owen in person that I chose him. I guess that was my mistake. I know how he is. It was stupid to choose him anyway.

"Yeah. You know, being popular!" She snickers.

"Goodbye Paige." I say turning away from her.

Being popular, I mimic in my head. She's so annoying. I hate how she thinks she is better than me. It's really aggravating! I guess her and Owen are just perfect for each other.

"Excuse me. I was not done talking!" Paige yells.

Keep walking Katie. Just ignore her. She's not worth it.

"You think its okay to sleep your way into popularity. That's pathetic."

Walk. Walk. Don't let her get to you. It is pointless. Even though I definitely didn't sleep my way there. Unlike her I don't go around doing that.

"You hear me slut!" Paige yells causing me to stop.

I laugh. "Me?"

Paige narrows her eyes and nods.

"How can you, of all people, call me that? You've been with more guys than anyone can count! I'm surprised you aren't pregnant! Well actually, you do look like you've gained weight. Maybe you are," I say with every emotion I have.

After I realize what I said, I am shocked. I've never been mean to someone like this. It felt good actually. She deserved every word I said to her.

Three years of anger built up against her was going to explode sometime. I'm okay with this. It needed to happen.

Paige moves closer to me. Her eyes filling with more anger. Before I know it, she shoves me backwards.

I barely stumble and push her back. She lifts her hand and it collides with my cheek.

Did she really just slap me?

I push her again with all the strength I have. She falls down and tries to get back up. Before she can, I get on top of her and pin her to the ground with my knees. I punch her multiple times before feeling myself getting yanked up.

I turn and am face-to-face with Owen. He looks shocked. Probably because of me fighting. I never fight. And here I am fighting in his house.

Quickly I shove passed him. When I reach the door I look back. Owen is helping Paige up. A small smirk forms on my face as I turn the doorknob and leave.

Wow. I can't even believe myself. I just got in a fight. It's about time, the voice in my head says. And it's right. Paige and I have been enemies for three years! She seriously deserved everything that happened.

And I do not feel bad!

At all.