After heading downstairs, we sang happy birthday to Tyler before digging in.

Later on, Erin offered to drive me home, but I noticed Tyler's posture stiffening before I agreed slowly.

On Saturday, I'm woken up by the sound of someone yelling downstairs.

Slowly, my eyes began to open but I closed it shut when I felt the sun coming directly into my eyes.

My curtains aren't closed. Great.

Rolling onto my stomach, I began to stretch but froze when I heard the voice shout louder.

Ignoring how weak my legs felt, I sat up before putting pressure on my feet as I stood up.

"I don't care! I want my case switched Spencer," dad hissed into his phone from the kitchen, and I paused my steps as I was on the center of the stairs.

"Find someone else then," he replied to his bosses comment as his jaw clenched.

I've never seen him so angry before.

"I want to get out of here. And I want to go now," dad clenched out, but his hard expression shifted to fear as he stood straighter next to the island.

Deciding now was a good time as any, I walked down the rest of the stairs, and dad noticed my presence.

His eyes widened an inch before throwing in that he has to go before shutting off his phone.

"What's going on, dad?" I asked slowly, and he cleared his throat as he faked a smile.

"Nothing," he chirped before checking his watch on his wrist. "I have to go, you remember about tonight, right?"

I cringed. "Yeah totally! We're going to..."

"Your mom's friends house," dad smiled, finishing my sentence for me.

"Right!" I nodded vigorously. "And it's at..."

He chuckled. "Seven, honey."

A scoff left me before crossing my arms over my chest. "I knew that. I was testing you."

Dad smiled, stepping closer to me before resting his hand on my shoulder. "See you soon hon," he said before walking to the front of the house.

Once the door was closed shut behind him, I ran up the stairs before getting into my bedroom.

After brushing my teeth, I didn't bother to brush my hair before throwing my head down and putting my hair in a tight bun.

Once I looked back up, I headed to my covers, looking for my phone which probably sunk into my blanket.

I gave up after a few minutes, so I decided to lift my blanket up until suddenly, the sound of something falling on the ground caused me to cringe.

Slowly, I rounded my bed, seeing my phone lying screen-down on the floor.

Biting my lip, I bent on my knees, slowly picking it up before turning it around, seeing no crack on the screen thankfully.

When I looked at my notifications, I found that Tyler sent me a message a little over five minutes ago.

Are we still up for today?

I can't. I'm having dinner with my mom's childhood friend tonight.

He responded a few moments later.

Damn. She have kids?

No idea. Dad said I never met her.

I'll be eating your slice of pizza for you ;)

Enjoy it for me please. God knows what I'm gonna eat at her house.

Before I had the chance to wait for his response, someone rang my doorbell three times before knocking rapidly.

My brows furrowed as I set my phone down on my bed before jogging downstairs.

When I threw open the front door, I saw a frightening Erin with her hair tied up in a pony tail and a can of red spray paint in her hold.

"What the hell is going on, Erin?" I asked as she shouldered her way passed me, entering my house fully before I closed the door.

I turned around and faced a furious Erin. "Your friend, Claire? Yeah, that bitch almost fucking spray painted my car."

My head moved back and my eyes doubled in size. "What?"

Erin lifted up the blood red can of spray paint before continuing. "She was outside my house, Amanda! You need to talk to her, or I will literally use this can to spray another face on her."

I eyed the can before looking back to Erin. "How'd you get the can?"

She scoffed, and crossed her arms over her chest. "I ran up to her before she could do anything. I grabbed it and smashed it against her stomach, and she fell," Erin cracked a smirk. "I drove off after. I hope I ran over her fingers."

I couldn't help but laugh. "What's her problem anyways?"

Erin looked at me like I was insane. "She's crazy. She's been fucking in love with Tyler for years."

A sigh left me. "How do I even handle her?"

"Kill her," she shrugged and I looked at her with raised eyebrows.

When she noticed I wasn't going to reply, she pouted. "Fine."

Suddenly, Erin shifted her gaze around my house before her eyes met mine again. "What are you planning on doing today?"

"Home until seven. My dad and I are heading to someones house for dinner," I shrugged, and Erin's brows furrowed.

"With who?"

"With my mom's high school friend. She invited us for dinner," I explained, and Erin began to smirk.

"Does she have a son?" Erin asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

A laugh left me. "No idea."

The sound of my stomach rumbling caught us both off guard. "Wanna eat?" She asked with a laugh.

I chuckled. "Always."

➸

Erin and I hung out for the rest of the day until it was six o'clock.

Afterwards, my dad came home and we went to our separate rooms to get ready for tonight.

By seven, I was dressed in black leggings and a navy blue long sleeve shirt. Dad suggested for me to wear a dress, but the only thought that passed through me as he said so was that I would only dress up for Tyler.

Dresses and I don't go well together.

After slipping into my black flats — dad bought me a year ago, and forced me to wear tonight — we headed to his car before driving ten minutes to her house.

When we stood in front of her two story house, dad rang her doorbell as I eyed her welcome mat under my feet.

"Hi," a deep voice said once the door was open, and my eyes shot up before meeting baby blue eyes.

The man standing in front of me stood taller than six feet, and had shoulder length, dirty blond hair.

In his white shirt and dark jeans, he looked as though he was a surfer who was just in the wrong state.

He smirked when he noticed my eyes roaming around him before he stepped back, giving us enough room to enter the house.

Dad and I took off our shoes just as a woman who looked just like the boy came into the front foyer.

"Emanuel!" She shouted in glee before going in to hug him.

He laughed and wrapped his arms around her just as another man came into the room — who I assumed to be her husband.

Once dad and the woman let go, both men shook hands just as mom's childhood friend looked my way.

"You must be Amanda," she gushed, stepping closer to me.

My eyed widened when she suddenly wrapped her arms around my waist.

She let go a few seconds later before standing in front of me with a gleeful expression. "I'm Hailey, and over there is my husband, Greg."

I looked over Hailey's shoulder and noticed Greg standing next to my dad. After nodding in greeting, I looked back to her.

"Behind you is my son, Dean," she smiled, and I rested my head on my shoulder, looking up see Dean staring right at me.

I mumbled a hi before looking back to Hailey, who was wearing a bright smile. "Let's head to the table, we're having pasta, caesar salad, and garlic bread."

The five of us walked to the large, white wooden table before taking our seats — mine being next to Dean, and on the other side, Hailey and dad sat next to each other while Greg sat by the head.

For the first few minutes, I ate silently, listening in to dad's conversation with Hailey and Greg.

However, Hailey didn't appreciate my silence. "Amanda! Did you know that Dean actually goes to your school?"

My eyebrows raised before staring off to Dean. "Really?"

Dean shrugged one shoulder before his lips lifted up into a smirk. "Was born and raised here. You a senior?"

"Yeah," I slowly nodded, narrowly my eyes on his face. "I've never seen you around," I continued, and I was telling the truth. He's not in any of my classes, and I'm pretty sure I would notice him if he passed me in the halls.

He laughed, shaking his head as if he knows something I don't. "You will now."

My phone rang with a notification, and it was thankfully face down on the table.

Quickly, I picked up my phone and smiled when I saw that Tyler texted me.

The pizza tastes great. You're missing a lot, baby.

Shut up. You're making me jealous.

That's the point, baby.

I didn't even notice I was smiling so hard until my attention was moved off of my phone, and onto the sound of a deep voice.

"Boyfriend?" Dean asked next to me, and I quickly shut off my phone before looking at him.

"No," I whispered before taking another forkful of pasta.

➸

For the next two hours, we either ate or watched something on TV.

From across the room, I continued to eye my father, hoping he could see me begging for us to leave.

Dean stayed silent next to me, and I was wondering why he didn't get out when he had the chance.

Knowing me, I'd probably go up to my room right after the dinner finished.

Thankfully, when another episode of Friends — per Hailey's request — finished, dad stated that we should be heading home, and I swear, I ran so fast to my shoes.

As I was slipping back into my black flats, Dean watched as I struggled with the backing.

"So..." he started, and I straightened my stance once my shoes were on.

God, his eyes were so blue.

My eyebrows raised, waiting for him to continue. "I was wondering if I could take you out next Friday?"

"I'm good," I replied instantly, and his eyes widened briefly, as if he was shocked I was saying no.

That look was immediately exchanged with a smirk, which I have now noticed he does a lot. "Come on darling, it'll be fun. I promise."

"How do you know what my definition of fun is?" I scoffed, and he eyed me up and down before tilting his head to the side.

"I just know," he said smugly.

Dean still noticed my hesitation and sighed but didn't lose his smirk. "How about this? We go out, and if you don't like what we're gonna do, you can leave."

I couldn't help but smile. "Okay, deal."

For a split second, Dean smiled — not smirked. At that moment, dad came out from the kitchen and headed to me.

"You ready?" He asked, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"I've been ready for a few minutes, dad."

He didn't respond as Dean's parents came into our view. "It was nice meeting you, Amanda," Hailey smiled, and I nodded in agreement.

"Nice meeting you too," I said before looking next to her.

"Bye," I smiled to all three of them, before turning back to dad.

"Ready?" I asked, almost pleadingly.

He nodded and said goodbye for the one hundredth time before opening the door.

Once we were both on our way to the car, dad threw me a smile over the hood of the car. "Did you like them?"

I hid my eye roll as I moved to open the passenger door. "Yeah, loved them."

"Good," he smiled, following my lead. "Cause they're coming over for dinner on Wednesday."

I tightly smiled.

Great.

➸