On Friday, during dinner, I sit down at the dining room table with my mom and dad. Jake has gone to a friend's house for the weekend. 

I need to ask my parents if I can still go to Bret's house this weekend.

The sounds of chewing and utensils against scraping plates fill the air.

It's now or never; "Mom? Dad"?

They both stop eating and look up at me.

"Can I still go to Bret's house tomorrow"?

"Felicity, I don't think-", but my mom cuts him off; "Yes, honey you can still go. On one condition".

I stare at her, waiting expectantly for what she has to say. Because I'll do anything to be able to spend time with Bret.

"No more lying. It's not okay to be doing things behind our backs. Understand"?

"Yes," I tell her.

"Good," she says, and wipes her mouth with a napkin, "So, tell us more about Bret," and she folds her hands under her chin.

My dad continues to chomp on his raw vegetables and stare at me from across the table.

"Well, he's my friend".

"Friend?" my dad inquires.

"Andy," my mom warns, placing a hand on his arm, but he pulls it away to take a swig of the beer can on the table in front of him.

I get nervous when my dad drinks alcohol. He's never turned violent but his temper is easily snapped.

My mom rarely ever drinks anything more than a small glass of champagne on special occasions, which is why I favor her more than my dad.

Jake doesn't mind my dad drinking, but he's not like me, where I get easily stressed. 

"I'm sure Bret is a very good friend to Felicity, isn't he"?

"Yes he is," I respond, trying to edge away from making eye contact with my dad. 

"You two met in school?" mom asks.

"Yeah, we have Art together, with Emily," I add.

"That's very nice. What will you two be doing at his house? Studying? Watching a movie"? 

"I'm not exactly sure," I say, "I can text him and ask if he has anything planned".

"You have his number?" my dad asks, his eyes cold.

"Yes. That's what friends do, dad. They trade phone numbers".

I see his shoulders stiffen. He hates it when Jake or I talk back to him , and that must be even more unbearable for him, now that has downed half a can of beer in under five minutes. 

My mom senses this too and says; "Felicity why don't you go to your room and do that and," I'm already out of my chair, leaving my half-eaten plate of food at the table before she's done talking. 

I throw myself on my bed and open my phone to my text messages with Bret.

I send him a message saying: Hey, u got anything planned for 2morrow?

He reads it almost immediately and replies with: Nothin special, the weathers gonna suck so I was thinkin maybe just a movie, sound cool?

Totally, I say, and then realize I have no idea what time I should get to his house and rapidly type: what time should i get to ur place?

It takes him a few minutes until he reads it and says: whatever time works for me, how bout evening? maybe 5?

That should work, I type: Sure! How long should i stay?

His reply is quick: however long u want😉

I smile:mk, i'll c what happens lol

cool, lol he says. 

Totally, I say, and then realize I have no idea what time I should get to his house and rapidly type: what time should i get to ur place?

It takes him a few minutes until he reads it and says: whatever time works for me, how bout evening? maybe 5?

That should work, I type: Sure! How long should i stay?

His reply is quick: however long u want😉

I smile:mk, i'll c what happens lol

cool, lol he says. 

Gn, I text him.

Gn, c u 2morrow🙂

I sigh, and smile happily to myself.

I should probably go downstairs and let my mom know when to drop me off at his place.

I head downstairs and hear a door slam loudly.

"What was that?" I ask as I round the corner, past the drywall.

"Your dad went too cool off somewhere," my mom says, still sitting at the dining table rubbing her temples. 

"Bret said to drop me off at 5 tomorrow".

"What"?

"Bret. 5. Tomorrow".

"Oh, right, sorry hon. I'm just so tired".

"You should go get some sleep, mom".

"Alright, I will. Can you lock the door please? Your dad has a key to get back in".

"Yeah," I say, and lock the front door, closing the curtains in the room.

"Thank you, Felicity," my mom calls to me as she heads upstairs.

"You're welcome mom".

I head upstairs after turning off the dining room light and feel sleep shut my eyes, diving into dreams before the 3 am routine.