Blurred Lines

Chapter 13

"Ava!,are you not going to eat before you leave?" Mom's voice reached me.

"I'm coming!."

Telling her I was going to spend a week at Zoe's wasn't as hard as i thought it would be. She readily agreed as soon as I mentioned Zoe's name.

If not for the fact that I know she adores Zoe I would have been suspicious of her easy agreement because Alex was not going to be home -he's going to be staying at grandma's- the whole week and she'll be the only one at home but as it is I'm grateful Zoe's charms worked on her.

I sighed as I picked up my backpack. Now to spend a whole week in the same house as Christian Taylor while everyone thinks we're dating.

I got to the living room in time to see mom fussing over Alex.

"I'll be fine mom" he said with an eye roll.

"Don't roll your eyes at me young man" mom told smartly "you're only 12 and this is your first time away from home for a week" she continued with a little sniff "my baby is all grown up" with that said she pulled him into a hug and he was sensitive enough to hug her back.

"I'll miss you too mom" he told her gently patting her back.

She pulled back with a watery smile "I know you will. Don't mind me,I'm just being emotional" she patted her cheeks with her hand "it's that time of the month for me."

"Eww mom,Tmi" Alex said scrunching up his nose.

I decided to announce my presence then "Is grandma here yet?" I asked looking around the living room.

Mom opened her mouth but was cut off by the sound of a horn blasting five consecutive times.

She raised her eyebrows at me as if to say 'does that answer your question' then turned to Alex "your gran is getting impatient so scoot."

He bent to kiss her cheek in her crouched position "love you mom" then came to hug me "love you too Ava."

"Love you too baby,have fun" mom said while I said "love you too squirt" and then he was gone.

Mom stood up and said "is it just me or does everywhere suddenly seem so quiet?"

"Nope" I told her going to the fridge to take three apples deciding it was the only thing I could stomach.

I was so nervous.

I looked at mom when she sighed "when did you guys grow up?,it seems like just yesterday I was changing diapers,now your brother is going on extended vacations and you're going to be 18 in three weeks." Then she put her face in her hands and started sobbing.

"Mom" I said feeling awkward. I walked toward her and pulled her in a hug.

"I'm okay” she said clutching me tightly.

"I know" I held her unconsciously patting her back the same way Alex did a few minutes ago.

She finally stopped crying and drew out of the hug "thank you."

I waved her thanks away immensely relieved she wasn't going to cry again. "It's nothing you wouldn't have done for me."

Just then the doorbell rang and I suddenly felt queasy.

Mom looked at me "That must be your ride"

I nodded robbed of speech for a moment.

It's just Christian,I tried reassuring my pounding heart.

Stupid. Ugly Christian.

Yeah right.

You mean handsome. Intelligent Christian.

I followed mom to the front door and didn't know if I was relieved or disappointed to see Zoe.

Of course I'm relieved I quickly corrected myself,fighting off a wave of irritation.

It's his business if he can't move his ass to come and pick up his girlfriend.

I pasted a brilliant smile on my face and said "hey Zoe."

She looked at me and gave me a knowing smile like she knew what I was thinking but said "All packed up?"

I nodded and she replied "Great."

I turned to mom and gave her a hug "bye mom,see you in a week."

She hugged me back. Tightly. A touch too tight.

I pulled out of the hug and offered "I can stay if you want?" Half hoping she'll agree and half hoping she won't,but the truth is I really was worried about her.

"Nonsense" she said briskly giving me a firm no-nonsense look "go,shoo,bye" and gave me a little shove out the doorway.

I gave her another hug "I love you mom." And this time she was the one who patted my back.

"I love you too sweetheart."

Zoe and I started down the front steps but I came to an abrupt halt when I saw the sleek black limo parked on the sidewalk.

Zoe didn't allow me to speculate long though,she grabbed my hand and dragged me down the remaining steps muttering under her breath that we don't have all day.

When we both got into the car -opened by a smart looking chauffeur- I didn't have the time to admire the various gadgets and interior of the limo as Zoe faced me as soon as we were seated and said "Please don't be mad at Christian"

I gave her a little smile "why would I be?.”

I'm just his fake girlfriend I added silently.

"For not picking you up,the thought of meeting Diane made him nervous."

I snorted at that. Yeah right.

"I'm serious"

This time I resisted the urge to snort again. Barely,but I resisted.

"Did he tell you that?"

"No but he really cares about you and the thought of your mom not liking him scared him."

If only you know Zoe,if only you know "I'm not mad at him"

"Really?,you look mad" Zoe said staring at me skeptically.

"I'm not."

The car parked on a sidewalk a little way down my street and I looked out the window.

"We're not there yet" Zoe answered my unasked question "Christian requested we dropped you here cause he wants you both to get there at the same time."

"Oh" I managed to say over my pounding heart,I looked out the window again but I didn't see him anywhere.

Zoe also noticed so she said "don't worry,he'll soon be here,he knows mom will skin him alive if he's even a minute late"

"See you at Santa Cruz" she said with a grin as the chauffeur opened the door for me and I gave her a little wave.

Wait. Santa Cruz??.

Why didn't anybody tell me that’s where we’re going??. Because you didn't ask.

As soon as the limo vanished around the next turn,a black Lamborghini roared into the street and parked in front of me.

The window opened and Christian's head popped out with a grin "Get in babe." And he opened the passenger door.

Ignoring my pounding heart as sweating palm I got in.