The Fill - In Boyfriend
Episode 26's

He dropped himself back on his pillow. “What happened to Goth Girl earlier? Why are you hanging out with him? ”

“He's just a friend. Some kind. ”

She gave a sharp laugh that caused tension to creep into my chest and I closed the door before she said anything rude. Hayden's wrong. My sister doesn't want to have a relationship with me. After spending some time with Hayden and Bec, I could see that what my brother and I had was not good.

When I got to my room, I started a group text with Claire and Laney to tell them I wouldn't join them. We finally sent a message about my date. They gave me the expected response — many exclamation marks and uppercase all — which tonight did not feel as satisfying as usual.

CHAPTER 18

The morning sun shone through my window and I rolled, rubbing my eyes. I looked up at the ceiling, thinking about the night before, what Hayden and his mother had to say about being better. I wonder if it consists of better people. Where should I start.

My mom knocked on my door and stuck her head out to my room. "Good morning. Your friends are here. ”

"Friends of my friends?" My phone says it's not even ten in the morning.

“Should I tell them to come?”

"certain."

She closed my door and I rushed into the mirror on my dressing table to see how out of control my hair was. That bad. I had enough time to brush it before my door opened and Claire, Laney, and Jules barged in, a combination of laughter and perfume.

"Hi." I smiled and went back to my bed where Claire was sitting. "What the hell is going on?" I wonder why they are all together without me. Did I forget something we planned?

Claire, who seemed to be able to read my mind, said, "Jules kidnapped Laney and me this morning and then we came to greet me."

Oh. I looked at Jules, wondering if it was part of the original plan or if she hoped to leave me and then casually mentioned at school on Monday that they had gathered together.

Jules did not let go of his hand. He just smiled sweetly. “I heard you went on a blind date last night? That's bonkers. I would never go on a blind date. "

"Yes. Remember, I told you I'd come along when I invited you to come and help me get ready. ”

“You never called me. Maybe you thought you did it because you called Claire and Laney. You may have just forgotten. ” She smiles sweetly. It's okay, it's not a big deal.

“Jules. I-i called. "

Claire looked between the two of us. “Maybe you did forget, Gia.”

You think I'm lying?

“No, I've assured Jules that you will never lie to us. That's why there must be a different explanation. ”

I closed my eyes. Good. I would never lie to them. How can I get angry and accuse Jules of lying to them now when I do the same? I swallowed my pride, willing to let this one go, at least until I became clean and moved on. "Well, I know I told you, so maybe you just forgot."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe. So, is your date fun? ”

"Yes that."

"What are you doing?"

The question always makes it sound like the lead investigator at the CPI.

“We went to a graduation party for one of his friends.”

“So is he weird?”

"Not him, not him."

“Ya, really,” Claire said. I'm curious too.

"I'm not very nice to him or his friends." That's absolutely true.

“It's a good thing you can help him,” Laney said.

"Yes that."

My laptop was closed on my desk and Jules pointed it out. “Can I use it briefly?”

"certain." When she sat down and lit it, I went to my closet and took out my clothes.

“Is your sister still in town?” Ask Claire.

I squinted at him but it was hard to describe the anger when I smiled.

She laughs. "What's? Drew and I have a connection. "

This time I laughed. No, he's gone.

He made an overly dramatic sad face.

“So this is where the kidnapping adventure is meant to end? Or are we going somewhere? ”

Laney bit her lip. “Alright. . We went somewhere, but we know you may not want to come so we just want to say hello before we go. "

"Where are you going?"

“Matt texted me about ten minutes ago and asked if we all want to surf today. I guess his uncle is in town and is this a world champion surfer or something and wants to know if any of his friends want a free lesson. ”

Claire nodded. “We thought we'd make it a group date. So I called Tyler and Jules called Garrett. "

I looked towards Jules, who was still in front of the computer. "Sounds fun."

His eyes turned to mine and he tilted his head.

Did ya? Ask Claire. “So you'll come?”

"Why not? At least I should try it before I decide I hate it, right? ”

Claire hit me in the arm. That's what I've been saying forever.

It's time I listened.

“You should ask for your blind date from last night to come with us!”

It would actually be nice to call Hayden and ask him to go on a date with my friends and me. I like to hang out with him. And she probably thinks surfing with a professional is the coolest date ever. But there's a big problem with this. There may actually be more problems than just one, but I don't want to think about how Hayden and I are just acting and he'll probably say no on an actual date. The main problem is my friends can't see Hayden again, forever. He was Bradley to them.

“It's too early to ask her out again. But I want to come if I don't become a third. .. or a seventh wheel. ”

“Of course you will not be the seventh wheel.”

I did feel a bit like an odd wheel, but I could see how Claire might find surfing peacefully — gentle swaying of the waves as we waited for someone to ride her, the force of the sea pushing us. And Uncle Matt is so cool. Without him, I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to catch the waves at all the first time I came out.