Boyfriend

It's Monday. It's also the first day of my carpool with David. Not bothering to check the time, I grab the first set of clothes from my wardrobe and put them on. I tie my hair up and wash my face. I would have loved to sleep a little more, but I need to leave before he gets here. My movements get faster by the second. I quickly fix the contents of my backpack while I brush my teeth. I grip my head with one hand, frustrated. I also would love a warm shower, but I need to leave before he gets here.

Stupid freaking David. Ari says he's acting like that because he likes me. Pfft. As if. He has a boyfriend. And he's only talking to me because he wants me to admit that I stole his wallet. Well, he's not getting that from me. I am doubling my efforts to stay as far away as possible from him. I hastily rinse my mouth. I barely wipe it dry with my towel as I am already grabbing my stuff and heading out of my room.

"Mom! I'm going--n..waah ah" I back up the stairs so quickly I almost trip. Stupid David is in our living room. He is chatting amiably with Mom and Arnold, sipping gaily on his glass of orange juice. Shoot. As stealthily as I can, I try to hide behind the banister.

But it's too late. They already heard me. "Dina? Is that you, darling?" Mom calls me.

"Come join us, Dina. Your friend David is here. To fetch you, he says." Arnold chimes in, as cheerful as ever.

I close my eyes. I guess I have no choice. I just have to suck this up. Wearing the brightest smile I could muster, I approach them warily. David tries to catch my eye, but I fix them widely on my Mom. Now, what are they talking about? My heart beats faster once I realize that David could be telling them about his wallet.

"Honey, this nice boy right here says he's your boyfriend. You didn't tell me you have a boyfriend. I mean, you barely make friends." Mom tells me, looking suspicious. But I sigh in relief. It doesn't seem like David told them anything. Wait...boyfriend?

"Now, darling, I'm sure Dina's not as unfriendly as you say." Arnold defends me. In my periphery, I see David looking smug by the second. The audacity of this boy to corner me like this. Boyfriend?! So, this is why he wanted to carpool with me. He plans to annoy me into giving up his wallet.

Well, if this is how he wants to play it, I'm going to make this even worse for the both of us. I stand beside David, glaring at him before linking my arm with his. "Yes, of course. I'm not that unfriendly, Mom. I see you've met David. My boyfriend." I say with a saccharine smile.

David looks down at me, his expression turning from surprise to amusement. I can tell he's not expecting me to go along with it. Well, he obviously hadn't learned anything about me yesterday. He wants to do these mind games with me? I can play.

I give an exaggerated giggle. "He's here to pick me up. How sweet is that?" I announce to my parents, almost throwing up a little in my mouth.

Silence fills the room.

"Is this really true?" Mom asks David, her mouth agape. She looks like she just learned that the world is about to end. I feel weirdly insulted. Sure, I don't really make the best relationships with other people. But my own mother not believing that I can get a boyfriend is just hurtful.

"Yes, Mrs. Moon," David answers confidently. He unlinks my arm from his and grabs my hand in his. I narrow my eyes at him in case he has any more ideas about this.

"I don't understand," Mom mutters weakly.

Arnold, on the other hand, is cluelessly ecstatic. "Come on now, Naledi. As I said, this is wonderful! You both have my blessing."

"Arnold." Mom chastises him gently.

"What?" Arnold asks innocently, fixing his glasses up his nose. Frustrated, my Mom picks up a croissant from the tray on the table. Huh. She's eating. She must really be upset.

"Well, we better go, or we'll be late," I tell them even though the ride to school only takes 30 minutes. Arnold starts to say something, but I pretend not to notice. Poor Arnold. I grab David's arm even more firmly and push him towards the door.

"Ow." he mouths at me with accusing eyes, circling his shoulders from the pain.

___________________________

"Nice performance back there." David comments, opening the front door seat for me. I scoff. I still don't understand how someone can be so considerate and horrible at the same time.

I shake my head at him. "You know what, I should smack you for that. You? My boyfriend?! Not in a million years."

"You did just confirm it to your parents, though," he says, nodding towards the windows of Arnold's house, where my parents are looking. Ugh. I can't believe I have to go to school today with this bozo. Huffing, climb up the front seat like it's a protest. As I try to get myself comfortable, I make the mistake of glancing at David.

"What?" I rasp. He's staring at me quite intensely. "Do I have something on my face?"

"Nothing," he says, breaking into an annoying smile. "I'm just wondering how long you can keep this up."

I give him my best villain smile in return, "Keep up with what? Your craziness?"

He shrugs, "If you say so."

"I'm crazier than you. You're not getting anything from me."

"Huh. We'll see about that. I have a feeling I'll have my wallet back by the end of the week." he counters. Jeez. I open my mouth to retort, but the words fail me. I narrow my eyes at him instead. This man has got to be the most infuriating person I ever met.