The Fill - In Boyfriend
Episode 31

CHAPTER 21

As I waited in the kitchen, looking out the window every minute to see if Hayden had arrived, I was happier than I had been all week. I hold the Drew award ceremony ticket in my hand.

My mom came in, all dressed up in what I call realtor clothes, which today is a red jacket paired with a black pencil skirt. “I still don't feel comfortable with this. I don't really know these kids and your brother didn't even expect you. "

“Bu, this is a surprise. Please don't tell Drew. And you talked to Hayden's parents. I think you're okay with this. "

“I first. Now I feel uncomfortable again. "

“When he gets here, you can meet him. That'll help."

He looked at his watch, probably wondering if he had time to meet her. Just as I was about to ask her schedule, the doorbell rang. My mother opened the door with me right behind her. I almost expected Bec to stay in the car because of the calming effect that Hayden might have on my mother, with her childish hair unraveling on her forehead and her disarming smile, she said, perhaps it was reversed by the anxiety Bec seemed to cause in him.

Hayden extended his hand. "Hey. You must be Mrs Montgomery. I'm Hayden. "

Hi, Hayden.

"Hi, Mum. Nice to see you again" Bec said.

"Hey. I just . . ” My mother's brain will explode, I know it. His politeness was against his worries.

“Bu, we'll be fine. Thank you for letting me go. I'll call you as soon as we get there and as soon as we get in the car to get home. "

He clenched his hands together and Hayden directed his smile at him. This made him let out a breath and he nodded.

I hugged her before she could change her mind and sneaked around her and out the door. "Thank you Mother."

“Be good. Love you."

Bec picked up the rifle, as if it visually showed me where he thought I was coming from, and I went up to the back.

Hayden turned the car around. “So your mother doesn't trust us?”

I rolled my eyes. “My mom doesn't trust anyone she doesn't know, but as long as I can get her to agree, I know she won't say no in front of my friends. He didn't want anyone to think everything wasn't perfect. "

Bec laughs. I'm glad you know how to manipulate your mother.

“This is a more creative guide.”

Hayden stopped on the main road. "How's your week?"

"good. Yours?"

"Long."

I try to interpret that one word. Busy at school?

“No, quite the opposite. It was just a very slow week. We are getting ready for the final and that requires a lot of review. "

"good. We are also."

"Ugh," Bec said. “You two are boring. Maybe I should have taken a back seat. " With that he put up some earbuds.

"He had a little bit of my father in him" Hayden said.

I laugh.

“OK, so what snacks for road trips should you have?” ask her while going into the same 7-Eleven that I followed Bec yesterday.

I don't know if I have something to own.

He opened the door. "Then we'd better find you some."

"Take me Corn Beans and Twix," said Bec loudly, seemingly unaware we could hear him well. "And get Nate's licorice."

Hayden pulled out one of his earbuds. I'm not your personal shopper and I don't think Nate will come.

His comments resulted in a long sigh from him. “He just sent me a message. He's coming now. "

I thought he was going to get out of the car and follow us but he didn't.

“Is he in?” I asked.

I laugh. “She has conditioned you, yes?”

"He really did." He opened the door for me and it announced our arrival to the store with a beep.

So Nate's coming?

"Is that okay?"

"of course. You're driver. I had four tickets so it worked. "

"Oh that's right. I forgot we had to have tickets for this. I'm glad you got enough. " He took me to the candy aisle. Okay, so something sweet is a must. He took a bag of M&M's. “But it must be balanced with something salty.” He took a bag of pretzels. "And then, of course, I need caffeine." He walked to the fridge and took out Mountain Dew. “And it's the perfect travel combination.”

“You do a lot of road trips?”

“We travel often. One summer, my mother forced us to travel for three weeks with an RV around the United States. That's sheer torture. "

"How's it?"

“Didn't you hear me? I said three weeks. Inside the RV. "

Sounds fun to me.

“Say of the girl who never spent three weeks in an RV. It's like living right above people. I feel like I'm this close to Bec all the time. " He took two steps closer to me, pressing his chest against my shoulder. I smelled her body spray and almost closed my eyes because it smelled so good.

"For me it's not so bad," I said as I looked at him.

He offered me a smile. "Well, it is." Then he put one hand on my back and took a bag of Cheetos from the shelf behind me. He's holding it between us. “This should be salty. They're doing just fine. ”

I pucker my nose. Not a fan of Cheetos.

He finally took a step back, letting me breathe again. Okay, what treats will inspire you to write a letter to the author?

I saw all the colorful packaging filling the hallway in front of me. Either I have not tried enough junk food in my life or I am not easily inspired because nothing looks good.

"Nothing?" She asked. “Tough critics. Let's do some visualization exercises. Sometimes we do this in dramas. "

I did a visualization before giving a speech at school. I imagine exactly what I want to say and how I will say it. I wouldn't do it in the snack aisle at 7-Eleven. It's okay, I'll understand. . . ” I reached out and grabbed the first thing my hand touched.

Hayden raised his eyebrows. “Dry banana?”

"Yes." Yeah."

“Alright, then what's your sweet food?”

"I'm fine with one item. Besides, it tastes sweet and salty. "

You need two.

"Nate got one," I said, pointing to the licorice Hayden had taken.

I'm not responsible for Nate.

I raised one eyebrow. “But you set me up?”

“Today I and I don't think you understand the importance of ground travel snacks. Close your eyes."

Some children had just entered the hallway with us, laughing and looking for something specific on each shelf.

“Don't worry about them. Close your eyes."

I nodded but closed my eyes.

“Imagine we drive together and we take a wrong turn and get lost in the dense forest.”

“Is there a forest on the way to UCLA?”

“Sst. . . ” He pushed one finger to my lips and I couldn't help but laugh. We visualize, Gia, visualize.

"good. Forest, ”kataku carelessly on his finger.

He moved his hand to my shoulder and I am not sure if he leaned closer, but his voice sounded louder and slower at the same time. “We ran out of gas in an attempt to find a way out and were stuck in the forest for three days straight. I, being fearless and strong, decided to leave the car and seek help. ”