“If he’s not going, I’m not.” I jumped in quickly, knowing mom was more likely to let Drew get out of the evening than me.

Rolling her eyes and going and straightening my brother’s tie mom responded “We are all going. No arguments, I’m sure you’ll both survive a night out with your family.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mom and the other drones, sorry wives, had outdone themselves this year. The townhall was immaculately presented, with Christmas trees, light shows, fake snow and even a Santa’s grotto for the little kids. Politics and dubious moral beliefs aside, mom definitely knew how to organise a party.

“Oh my god!” Alice squealed, bouncing up and down in her excitement “You’ll never guess who Eric is here with” she said her eyes trying to follow someone around the room.

“Correct” I responded, helping myself to more canapes

“What? TK, how can you not care?”

“Easily.”

“Schecter!” Alice replied

“What?”

“He’s here with Jenny Schecter!” she said practically giddy at this news.

Neither of us could contain our laughter as we watched Eric dragging Jenny around the room, while she had a sycophantic look on her face.

“That there is the future of this town” I said, feeling relief at the bullet dodged

“No, that there is called a Bunny Boiler!” Alice responded. “Has she always had that look?” she questioned.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Later in the evening with Alice having left, and mom seemingly done with parading us around the town folk like some middle American Royal family, I’d escaped outside for some air. There leaning on the patio wall staring up at the sky was none other than Miss Porter. Memories of that kiss had been leading to some very explicit dreams recently and now whenever I saw her, I could feel a blush creeping all over my body.

Turning round to go back inside it was just my luck to run into the town’s newest Romeo & Juliet

“Tina!” Jenny called loudly, making sure to alert Miss Porter to my presence.