Torturous Triangle

Dinner plus two

He truly was being an i***t! How can he think I would lead someone on, let alone my two best guy friends. We have had no attraction for each other, ever! I grew more furious just thinking about how everything happened. It wasn't suppose to go like that. I wanted to make some connection with him. Other than him being my brothers friend. The sparks were undeniably there. But you don't get to throw accusations without repercussions. My mental rant got cut short when my stomach began to growl.

That evening, I walk into the kitchen and see my mum preparing dinner.

"Do you need some help mum?" I ask her.

"yes, can you set the table, the plates are on the dining table." my mum replies. I start placing the plates and stop, counting the plates again. There are two extra plates.

"Zach and Mick are coming over." a voice behind me states. I turn and look at my brother, Avery, the eldest of us four. "why?" I ask.

He furrows his eyebrows "what do you mean why?" "well.." I start, "there's no occasion for fancy dinner or to invite anyone over" I say.

He raises his head and looks at me, in what I can only assume is annoyance "so your friends can come over after school and eat our food with no notice but I have to ask you for your permission for my friends to come over?" I was about to reply when my other brother, Asher, strolls in, looking like the dead, "what happened to you?" I ask. "finals" is all he said before finding his seat.

"are we expecting someone?" he looks at the plates confused. I roll my eyes and walk away.

Fifteen minutes later, there's a knock at the door, "Ava, get the door!" Avery yells.

I groan inwardly, knowing I'm going to hate this dinner. I open the door, not sparing a glance at either of our dinner guests and head for my room.

"aren't you joining us?" a grinning Mick stands at my bedroom door. "no, not hungry." I say, not even looking up. He turns and yells "hey Aunt Fay, Ava says she's not hungry!" I look up and glare at this dumbass that's smirking at me. My mum's voice comes through the house "you better get down here Ava, before I come up there!" "ugh! Did you really have to do that!? I whisper harshly at Mick. He smiled and said "I just want to share a meal with you and you refuse to go on a date with me, sooo.. I'm taking what I can get." he shrugs. I shake my head and walk pass him muttering "ass" "i***t" and so on. "I can hear you" he says while walking behind me , "you're suppose to!" I whisper back. Everyone in this town knows of Micks constant efforts to "woo" me. But I just can't. He has a personality of a creepy old man, who licks his lips at you while no one is looking.

"I'm here" I announce to my mum. "so sit." a simple order but with so much meaning. Let me translate 'you better sit your ass down and be civil and polite, or I'll make you'

I took my seat next to my dad, greeting him. He looked to me "hey kiddo, all good?" 'yep" I say and wait for food. My mum yells that dinner is served. The guys make their way down to the kitchen, laughing at something Mick had said. I doubt it was that funny. They all take their seats and greet my dad. "hey Mr D."

"hi boys," my dad greets, "what's the plans for the weekend?"

Mick starts blabbering about driving around town or stopping at the beach. I zone out when the food arrives and start dishing up. Mum's really happy today, you can tell by the food. Saucy, cheesy pasta, golden chicken pot roast, potato wedges, cream corn, bread rolls and salad. I breath in deeply and sigh in satisfaction. Food is life. Life is food.

I look up and notice Zach watching me with a small smile. We make eye contact just for a moment and I avert my eyes, remembering how he had insulted me earlier. Ass.

I'm lost in my delicious food when something catches my ear, "dad, do you mind if I use the car this weekend? Zach's car is at the shop coz Mick dented it" and realization hit me. Sneaky sneaky big brother! All this effort for the car. I knew something was up. My dad would never refuse him in front of his friends and Avery knew that. "sure," my dad says "but Mick isn't allowed to drive it." he smirked.

Conversation flows between everyone, until my name pops up

"yeah, Tyra will be joining us, so Ava can tag along." Zach says nodding. I choke on my bread roll. Tag along? TAG ALONG?! Oh hell no. I'm not a 10 year old who needs or wants to "tag along". I immediately say, "no thanks, I'm busy" and wake up to leave. The absolute gall of some people. Tag along my ass.

I sit in the lounge and switch on the TV, to nothing in particular. Zach walks in and sits on the single couch, next to mine. "why won't you come?" he asks

I just snort a laugh and continue watching tv

"I'd really like for you to come with.. For me" he says and walks back into the kitchen. I sigh, feeling defeated. I knew I was going to go anyway, my mum would make me. But to hear those words, tore through me, coz I knew I'd do it if he asked. Damn you Zachary Adam! Damn you to hell. And I bury my face into a throw pillow and groan out loud.