Critical Thinking

9

I sat at one end of the table. Farley sat on the left side of me while a lady sat across from me at the other end of the table. I played with my hair as the lady stared bullets at me. Well, that's how it felt anyway. I realized I didn't check if Bookie replied back... But it would be rude to check at the table, wouldn't it?

"So...your a friend of Farley's from school?" the lady said making me look up.

"U-Um.," I said glancing over at Farley who was too busy slipping food under the table and you guessed it, his dog. "Yes," I said and she nodded before stuck her fork in a piece of broccoli.

"That's good, sorry to startle you earlier." she chuckled before eating the broccoli then her good mood faded as she glanced over at Farley glaring. 

"Just giving him the bones," Farley said standing up but she snapped her fingers pointing Down making him grumble before sitting back down.

"So anyways dear," she said now looking back at me. "What is your name?" she asked and I played with my food.

"Oakely," I mumbled softly and she nodded as she finished her food.

"That is a unique name," she said as she stood up grabbing her plate and I smiled a bit before finally tasting some of the food on my plate.

Which taste pretty good. I would eat more broccoli if she cooked it. I chewed as I savored the taste then swallowed.

"Thank you," I said and she smiled as she took Farley's plate then headed to the kitchen. 

Farley and I made eye contact and I felt my face heat up. I quickly looked down at my plate and begin eating again. Eventually, Farley left the room and when I was in the kitchen Farley came in wearing a leather jacket with fur in it. It looked pretty warm.

"Ready to go? It's kinda late," he said as I nodded after putting my now clean plate up where other clean plates were, and he glanced at it then raised an eyebrow amused. 

"You seriously cleaned your plate?" he asked and I walked over feeling my face heat up.

"Well, she made me dinner, the least I could do was clean it," I said and he laughed softly.

"You sure are something Oakely," he said as he started heading for the front door and I followed.

Pepper came over to me and I smiled. I bent down and itched his ears as he panted with his tongue out. He wagged his tail and I giggled. 

"Bye bye Pepper," I said smiling gently then stood up as Farley opened the door and Pepper instantly went out on the porch.

"Heading out Pam!" Farley yelled before closing the door behind us and locked it.

Farley grinned at Pepper then whistled. "Come on Pep, stay close to us," he said and went down the stairs which I followed after Pepper. 

It took a while but we eventually walked to my house. Farley was staring at the tree in our front yard as I walked up the steps pulling out my key.

"Bye Farley," I said waving slightly awkwardly. 

He glanced over at me and waved a bit. "Bye Oakely," he said and turned away whistling as Pepper followed behind him.

I smiled a bit then unlocked the door. As soon as I did I was hugged tightly by my mother.

"Oh, my gosh my baby;" I heard her say and she pulled back with a tear-stained face. "Where were you?" she asked as dad walked over to her side frowning.

"You didn't pick up our calls," he said and I blinked then dug into my pocket for my phone.

Thirteen missed phone calls. My phone wasn't even on vibrate. Completely silenced, and Bookie text me ugh. I frowned looking up at them.

"I'm sorry I don't know how my phone got silenced," I said and they sighed in relief.

"We're just glad your okay bug." dad said hugging me and I hugged back frowning. 

I probably messed up everything with dad and mom. They were probably worried about me this whole time. Why do I have to be so stupid?

I groaned to myself as I painted the walls mist grey in my walk-in closet. I texted Bookie but he hasn't answered. He's probably busy or asleep by now. Mom and I talked a bit before we left. Not anything big or important. Dad and I haven't chatted.

I closed my eyes sighing. I continued to paint after letting out a deep breath. And I don't really want to. I don't want to hear that mom and he didn't get to talk because of me.

"Knock knock." I heard from behind me and a tapping at the door making a turnaround.

"Hey, dad," I said and he grinned walking over.

"So what is my bug up to?" he asked looking around.

"Just painting," I said wiping my forehead with the back if my hand from sweat. 

He smiled and kissed my head. "So creative," he said.

"I'm just painting the walls," I said and he chuckled.

"True," he said and I put the paint away.

"So, how did things work out with mom?" I asked softly.

Might as well get this out of the way now. I glanced up at him and his facial expression confused me. Did he have good news? Bad news? Or did I just ruin it all?

"Your mom and I chatted a bit before and over dinner. But then it started getting late so we started worrying about you. We didn't really touch on the serious topic I wanted to speak about." he said and I nodded feeling guilt crawl up my skin.

"Oh...sorry dad," I said softly and he ruffled my hair.

"No need to be," he said before making his way out.

I frowned looking away. I looked over at the paint can. A part of me wanted to kick it over but I would probably just hurt my toes and foot. I grumbled and left out my walk-in closet into my room. I tugged pajamas on and turned off the light then got into bed. 

I heard my phone vibrate and I turned over to my side then grabbed my phone on the nightstand. I turned on my phone, he answered. My heart flip-flopped maybe pounced or pound? 

BookerBooker: Sorry, we just keep...

I clicked on the message instantly going to my inbox. 

BookerBooker: Sorry, we just keep missing each other lol. So how are you?

CyberGeek: Yeah, and I'm okay. You?

BookerBooker: Fantastic, I'm practicing and I am doing pretty well if I do say so myself.

CyberGeek: Oh cool, practicing for what? Um well if you don't mind me asking?

I mentally facepalmed. Why can't I just be relaxed? Not be awkward and be normal.

BookerBooker: Lol, I don't mind. And practicing for a game.

CyberGeek: Cool ^^ also sorry if I'm still awkward lol, wish I was normal

"Phone of the bug." I heard dad say making me look up and see he was walking past my room and I huffed. 

CyberGeek: Also sorry, I have to go already and we just started talking... Night Bookie 

My face heated up as my heart flipped flopped as I sent that. After sending the message I turned off my phone and put it on the charger. Instead of laying it on my nightstand which was far away to a person like me I put it under my pillow.

As soon as I closed my eyes I felt my phone vibrate and opened them. I glanced over at the door to see if dad was around. But just in case I threw the cover over my head and pulled my phone out from under my pillow. I turned it on and my heart did it's own little weird thing again as I clicked on the message.

BookerBooker: What is normal? And oh alright :( night Cy

I felt a frown tug on my lips at the frowny face he put. But the nickname had my face heating up. My hands felt sweaty and my heart wasn't steady, it was out of control. That night he left something in my mind to think about. And that was;

What is normal?