Game Over

5

My mom held the door, stopping me from closing it. Lucas, the nerve, smiled again, all pleasant-like. What’s wrong with him today? Speaking politely, as usual, even when we argue. That charming jerk. "Hello, Mrs. Parker. It’s an honor to meet you."

One more word, and she’ll adopt him and kick me out of the house. Mom smiled appreciatively at his words and nudged me. "Why don’t you invite your friend to dinner, Solene?"

"No," I answered quietly, trying to make her understand that I didn’t want him here, or anywhere, really. Lucas, as polite as ever, interjected, "No worries. Another time, perhaps. Sol and I have already agreed to go grab some coffee today."

"Whoa, is this a thing?” Noah chimed in, wrapping his arm around my mom’s shoulder with a grin, annoying me even more. A date? "What? No." What on earth was he thinking? This is so embarrassing!

"I thought so too, can you believe it? She’s grown up so fast!" Mom said with a smile and that motherly look, the one when they realize their daughter is finally becoming an adult. And Lucas, that smug jerk, smiled with satisfaction.

"Wait, no! I haven’t given her permission to date yet," Mom, your daughter is dying of embarrassment on the inside right now.

Dad called from the inside, "Hurry up, the food’s getting cold!" Then Marcus added, "What did the failure do this time?" We heard Dad banging a plate to stop Marcus from saying that word again.

"So, why don’t you both stay for din—" Mom was cut off as I grabbed my keys from the table by the door and hurriedly explained, "He’s not staying. I’ll be going instead." I pushed Lucas to move so he wouldn’t stand there awkwardly any longer.

Mom called after me, trying to stop me. "You haven’t eaten—Solene!" I turned around to face her. "I won’t be long."

Lucas waved at them with a wide smile. "Goodbye, Mrs. Parker." My mom placed her hand over her heart, and I swear her eyes were about to turn into hearts.

"Your family is lovely," he commented once we passed the house’s fence. I shot him a cold, angry glare, trying to contain my irritation. "They’re none of your business."

He raised his hands in mock surrender, a mischievous smile forming on his lips. I sighed in frustration—how much longer would I tolerate his lies?

He’s an i***t; he can’t even hide his expressions properly. And now he thinks I’m going to fall for him just because I walked out with him. Wait, I left the house for him—what the hell?

I stopped as the realization hit me. My house was still in view. I was still in my safety zone.

I raised an eyebrow at him questioningly. He raised his in return. "What?" He laughed before continuing. I exhaled in annoyance, and Lucas spoke again. "Why did you stop? Don’t you want coffee? We could grab dinner."

He smiled widely without showing his teeth. I’m tired of this charade. I feel like an i***t, knowing he’s trying to trap me and humiliate me in front of his friends, yet I’m playing along anyway!

Alright, just a little more. I’ll act like I’m okay with him getting close, and when he thinks he’s succeeded, I’ll reject him and turn the tables on him. Slowly lower my guard, make it look convincing.

I feel so devious. Perfect.

I sighed in boredom, waving my hand dismissively, pretending to be genuinely confused by his sudden approach.

"Lucas, what do you really want?"

"You."