Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

After Veronica and I have washed our hands, we head back down the hallway to the kitchen. Veronica stops by the stairs and looks up it. "Your room is upstairs?" She asks casually.

"Yeah," I say, not even bothering to figure out why she would possibly be asking. "Come on, before Mother gets impatient," I tell her and lead her away from the stairs. 

In the kitchen, Mother has already set the table and motions for us to take a seat. I notice uncomfortably that Veronica and I are to sit beside each other with Mother across from me. Now it's just going to feel like she's scrutinizing every single thing I do, not that she doesn't already do that. 

Dinner consists of a tossed salad made up of lettuce, cherry tomatos, cut cucumbers, shredded carrots, and a bit of cheese. A small plate of dinner rolls is piled in the center of the table along with more salad ingredients. 

"Looks like I came on the right day," Veronica whispers to me teasingly as she grabs a roll. I remember telling her about how we have rolls every other night. I find it amusing that she remembers as well. "Is there any salad dressing?" Veronica asks.

"No dear, salad dressing is too fattening and our Harry could use some trimming down," Mother answers, a plastered smile on her face. I keep my face down and drag my fork through the salad. 

Veronica stabs a piece of lettuce and eats it, the sounding crunching loudly. I cringe in my seat. I don't know how to tell Veronica that Mother hates the noise without actually telling her. Whatever charm Veronica had used on Mother earlier had better start making another appearance. Mother practically fumes with each loud bite that Veronica takes. 

"You know, I think that Harry is perfect the way he is," Veronica say suddenly, examining a cherry tomato on the tip of her fork. 

"Is that so?" Mother raises an eyebrow at Veronica's remark. I swallow down another bite of salad. This isn't good. 

Veronica shrugs, stabbing her fork down on another piece of lettuce, the sound ripping through the dining room. "Yes, that is so. And don't you think that you should too? I mean, he is your son," Veronica points out. "I think it's important to have that parent-child connection." Veronica brings her hands up and binds her fingers between each other. 

Mother puts her fork down, grabs a napkin and wipes her mouth, and then folds her hands on the table. Uh oh, now Veronica has done it. 

"And you believe that I don't have said 'connection' with Harry." Mother's states, her voice deadly smooth and words like needles. 

"Honestly, I do not," Veronica says.

Please, just stop talking Veronica. 

"I'll have you know that we, as a family that does not include you, may I add, function perfectly well. We have established trust and honesty between us. Where are your parents? Huh? Have you told them that you're here tonight? I bet not," Mother snaps. She's annoyed because of Veronica's accusations. If I could find my voice, I would tell Mother the same thing.

"My mother overdosed a couple years back and my father's never around. So no, they don't know I'm here, but they also don't care." I gasp at Veronica and what she reveals. I had no idea that was her life. 

Mother's face softens. "I'm sorry, I had no idea," she says quietly. I almost choke on the cherry tomato in my mouth at her apology. Mother doesn't ever apologize. 

Veronica looks over at me and gives me a small smile. Her brown eyes twinkle with something mischievous and suddenly I'm questioning whether or not that story was true. As far as I know, she could be lying once again. 

"Let's not let my behavior ruin dinner," Mother says, once again her voice filling with a type of sweet tone that is completely foreign to me. "So, how do you two know each other?" 

Veronica looks to me to answer but I just shake my head. What am I supposed to say? We met because I got punched in the face and she was sitting outside of the principal's office because she had done something bad as well? Oh and let's not forget that she's been in the detention program for like ever. Yeah, I could totally picture that conversation going down perfectly. 

"Well, we're in the same classes. Just a couple of them like English and art," Veronica says casually. "We've been paired up for a while now, you know serving the school and such." Mother nods like it's the most flawless reason, but I know that Veronica has just told the truth by omitting important details. We're paired up in the detention program, not in any class.

"Oh, so you're in the advanced English class as well?"

"Yeah, I may look and act stupid, but I'm pretty smart. Did you know that the sun's light takes about eight minutes to reach the earth?" Is that the topic she always brings up? She had discussed this with me on the beach a couple days back. Wow, time sure does go by quickly. 

"Don't call yourself stupid, dear. It's not very good," Mother mutters. "Anyways, what's this you've been paired up for? School project?" 

Now is this is definitely where she has to screw up. I just know she'll not have a response here. 

"Well," Veronica starts. "We have to discuss the plausibility of 'Romeo and Juliet.' Basically, our project is whether or not their love could have survived in modern times, like our own time frame. Would they have killed themselves in the end? Would they be accepted? It's not that complicated, but it does take a lot of discussion."

My mouth falls open. How the hell did she come up with something so quickly? And it doesn't sound flawed at all. I would actually believe her if I didn't already know it was untrue. 

"Ah, that's a classic 'Romeo and Juliet' project. So what do you believe?" Mother leans forward, fully engrossed in Veronica's crafted web of lies. 

Veronica rests against the back of her chair, pushing her plate towards the center of the table, signifying that she is finished eating. "I believe that they wouldn't be able to be together. Even in today's norms, basically they're just too opposing. They're from different worlds and unfortunately the one major world that they both live on, isn't too keen on them being together. It's a tragedy from start to finish," Veronica shrugs at the end. "It's slightly depressing." 

Mother taps her finger against her lips. "And Harry? What do you believe?" Mother turns her attention to me and I drop my fork to the table. I'm not prepared for a random explanation to something that I just found out about a couple minutes ago! 

"Answer your mother, Harry," Veronica taunts me. 

I swallow again and shove my glasses up my nose. "I..uh..believe that they could have worked," I say. Mother nods for me to continue and I force my brain into full gear. Think. Think. Think! Veronica had talked about how they couldn't have worked, so in order to have a good discussion, I would have to disagree. Perfect. 

I sit up straighter. "They could have worked because they were in love with each other. As cliche as it sounds, I think true love can conquer anything. And basically, they had that true love."

"And then they died," Veronica adds smartly. 

"But that's not the point," I argue, "The discussion is based on what would happen if Romeo and Juliet were in our time, in our world. Things are a lot different now than how they were. Romeo and Juliet  weren't that different as people, but it was just the people around them that didn't want them together." 

"Ah, but that's what matters in this time frame! The people around the two 'lovers'," Veronica air quote. 

"But why? Why does anyone else other than Romeo and Juliet have to have a say in their relationship? Why can't they just be together and not care? Is it that hard to be different? To go against the river current?" For some reason, I feel the need to have her admit that Romeo and Juliet can end up together. There's just something that hurts inside of me at the thought of her not believing they could make it. 

"Society, Harry, society," Veronica mutters. 

Mother slides her chair backwards, the noise making both Veronica and I jump. I had almost forgotten Mother was in front of us. 

"Well, it seems that you both have your work cut out for you," Mother says, taking our plates and stacking them on top of each other. "From what I have heard, I'm sure it will be a solid A grade." If only she knew that it was fake. 

Veronica stands up and helps clear the table. I stay seated, watching as Mother and Veronica discuss pottery and plants. The way Veronica works people amazes me. No wonder all the coaches know her and are kind to her. I wonder who else she has fooled with that mouth of hers. 

Am I one of them? 

"Harry," Veronica coughs, getting my attention back. "Would you mind taking me home now? I wouldn't want either of us to have a lack of sleep for school tomorrow," she says, earning herself a wide smile from Mother. 

"Sure, I'll take you home," I agree. 

"Careful driving," Mother says dismissively. "Nice to meet you, Veronica." 

"Like-wise." Veronica gives Mother a quick hug before we leave. Once we're outside, Veronica gives me a giant smile. "So, how did I do?"

I shake my head, a laugh escaping me, and relief floods through my body. "You did great." 

I still can't believe it.