The Truth About Faking (10 page)

“
I just remembered something I had to do.”

“
At ten o’clock?”

“
I forgot to tell Shelly something, and I wanted to catch her before it got too late.”

His eyes narrow, and I know he doesn’t believe me. But he lets it go. “So what now?” he asks.

“
Huh?” My eyebrows pull together.

“
Last night you were having second thoughts about us fake dating. Did you want to change the plans or are we still together?”

I look up and see Trent helping his mother into their car. I’ve never seen his dad, since his parents are divorced. He glances in our direction before closing the door and then hustles around to the driver’s side. I think about Jason’s question and wonder what would be happening right now if he weren’t standing here beside me. Would Trent come over and talk to me? I like the idea of that, but at the same time, I feel sad at the thought of Jason being gone. He’s so easy to talk to, and he really seems to care about the stuff that’s bothering me. I’ve actually started to like having him around. And it’s so strange. I’ve never worried about how I sounded singing the Doxology in front of Trent.

“
What do you think?” I ask. I stop walking and look at Jason, hoping his response will give me some clue about what to do.

“
I don’t know, H.D. This has been your game from the start.”

And there he is, all dressed up in a coat and tie, and waiting for me to send him away. From the corner of my eye, I notice Trent’s car drive off down the street.

“
I think maybe we should give it a few more days. I mean, things have been going pretty well, and maybe you could talk to Trent and see how he feels.”

“
Like ask him if he likes you?”

“
Maybe,” I think about it. “I mean, yes! That would be perfect.”

“
But if we’re going out, I don’t think he’ll tell me that he likes you. I mean, you’re my girl. At least that’s what he thinks.”

I never thought hearing those words from someone besides Trent would make me happy, but when Jason says “my girl,” a tingly little pulse moves through my chest. It makes me want to smile, but instead I frown and shake my head. What’s wrong with me? This is all fake. I’m falling for my own scheme.

“
You’re right,” I say. “Let me think about it, and I’ll make a decision tonight.”

“
So if for now, I’m still your boyfriend. You should invite me over for Sunday dinner.”

“
Oh, really?” I glance up and smile. “You think I should do that?”

“
Sure. I’m starved, and I did drop about forty bucks on you at the movie last night.”

“
I paid for my ticket! And I told you I didn’t want any popcorn.”

“
Still,” he takes my hand. “I deserve a free meal, too.”

“
OK.” I slide my hand out of his. “But don’t act like we’re too serious. Then Mom and Dad’ll be all weird when you dump me.”

Jason’s smile fades slightly. “Right,” he says.

We walk over to where Mom’s talking with Mrs. Bender. They’re discussing her treatment for her “condition,” and I’m thankful she has enough sense not to announce it in front of the group of ladies who are not so eager to move along. Mrs. Perkins walks up at the same time as Jason and me, all ready to make her weekly jab at my mom’s job.

“
Still dispensing voodoo potions, Jackie?” She smiles as if she’s joking, but I know better.

“
It’s not voodoo, Crystal. Herbal treatments have been around for centuries.” Mom’s turned on the honey voice. “They’re acknowledged by the church, and even doctors are recognizing their potential effectiveness now.”

“
I suppose if Ted were pastor, he might think it more godly to
pray
for Lois.” Ted’s Mr. Perkins, and it’s such a joke that my mom’s nemesis is acting so Christ-like. Everyone knows Mrs. Perkins is the biggest gossip in town.

“
Of course Stuart prays for Lois,” Mom smiles. “But finding ways to ease our suffering can be an answer to prayer, too.”

Jason glances at me, and I roll my eyes. I’ve witnessed these “friendly” interactions before. Mom told me once you can learn a lot about people by the motives they project onto others. But I can’t figure out what that means when it comes to Mrs. Perkins. Does she secretly want to be a voodoo priestess?

“
Is that how Dr. Andrews feels?” Mrs. Perkins asks.

“
Perhaps you should ask him.” Mom’s still smiling, but her eyes are sharp.

“
Well, I’ve seen a world of difference since I started taking your special blend,” Mrs. Bender jumps in trying to diffuse the situation. “And I thank the Lord for that.”

I smile at Mrs. Bender. She can be a bit much, but she has her moments. Mrs. Perkins makes a little noise and turns to her car, her minions close behind.

Jason leans over to me and whispers. “GCBs.”

I shake my head at him not understanding.

He whispers again, “Good Christian…” he sees mom turning to face us and finishes with a murmur, “witches with a
B
.”

“
Witch-bees?” I’m confused, but his eyes widen. Instantly I get it. “Oh!” I yelp at Mom, who’s looking at us and smiling.

“
What?” she says, and I can tell she’s feeling victorious.

“
Mom!” I motion at Jason. “Do you care if Jason comes over for lunch?”

She seems confused by my weird behavior, but she’s immediately welcoming. “Of course not. There’s plenty,” she says, smiling at him. “You look very nice, Jason. Properly dressed.”

He looks down, embarrassed. “That was just a joke.”

Mom grins at him, and I feel a little better seeing her so light-hearted all of a sudden. “I’m only teasing,” she says. “You’re very welcome to join us. And I’d like to get to know you better if you and Harley are going out.”

“
Oh, we’re just…” I stop short as Jason’s eyes shoot to me. I’m not sure what to say to make it seem less serious. I guess we have been out on two dates for all Mom knows. And he has been picking me up for school all week.

“
What?” Mom looks at me.

I breathe a laugh. “I don’t know,” I say, shrugging. “We’re just, you know, happy to have lunch together.”

Mom squeezes my arm and smiles before turning to walk to the car. Jason gives me a look behind her back like I’m acting deranged, but I just shake my head and keep walking.

It’s nice having him with us at lunch, actually. Jason’s a good buffer against what I’ve seen and heard between Mom and Ricky lately, and I’ve pretty much decided to forget trying to talk to her about it. After the way she acted in church, I’ve even started to think the whole thing might just be a big misunderstanding. Or me being paranoid because of what happened with Shelly’s parents. And honestly, I don’t want to imagine what else it could be. Just because
my
feelings get confused sometimes doesn’t mean hers do. Right?

“
Jason, is your family Presbyterian?” Mom asks, passing the mashed sweet potatoes to me. I take the bowl and ladle a blob onto my plate before passing it along to my guest.

“
No, ma’am,” he says. “Dad and I pretty much don’t go to church now.”

“
Now?” Dad asks.

“
Um… now that,” Jason hesitates, taking the bowl from me. Our eyes meet.

“
Jason’s mom died last year,” I finish for him.

“
Oh, I’m so sorry,” Mom’s voice is pure honey. “Was it an accident?”

“
She had cancer,” Jason says. “It was about a year-long deal, but… you know.”

“
We’re very sorry for your loss,” Dad says.

It’s quiet for a few seconds, and I can feel Jason squirm. I try to think of a new topic that won’t seem too abrupt.

“
I liked what you said this morning about finding answers, Dad,” I say. That seems smooth enough.

“
What’s that?” Dad looks at me. I catch Jason’s grateful smile.

“
That part about how God’s given us the answers we need, we just have to learn where to look and how to see them,” I say. “That was pretty deep.”

“
Yes, well, I’ve been studying this book on seeking God, and it just came to me as I was meditating,” he says. “People always want answers, and I think God uses a variety of things in our lives and situations to give us the answers we seek.”

Mom’s gazing at him across the table the way she did in church. Like he’s just said the most amazing thing. I see Jason pause, and I know he caught her expression, too.

“
It was exactly what I needed to hear this morning,” she says.

They smile at each other, and now I feel squirmy. They sure can block out the world at a moment’s notice.

“
So,” Jason jumps in. “Did you guys meet at church?”

My dad glances at him as if he suddenly remembers two other people are also at lunch. Then he stabs at his plate. “We met at State.”

“
What, you two had classes together or something?”

“
No, Harley’s mom introduced herself to me one day.” He smiles, glancing at her again.

I know this story. “Mom was a stalker,” I say with a giggle.

“
I was not,” Mom argues, smiling. “I just noticed your dad walking around every day with his nose in a book, and I wanted to know what in the world was so engrossing.”

“
That’s about how it went,” Dad says. “I was reading and the next thing I knew there she was in front of me asking about it.”

“
That must’ve been sweet,” Jason says. Then he glances at my mom. “I mean, you know, like a nice surprise or something.”

“
I was very curious,” Mom says. “And Stuart was very interesting to me. He was the first boy I’d met who actually thought about important things and wanted to talk about them.”

“
Important things?”

“
Oh, our purpose. What life is really all about. Spiritual stuff.”

“
Well, I’d see my friends with their keg parties, and don’t get me wrong, occasionally I’d be there with them blowing off steam…” Dad’s eyes flicker to mine as if he’s embarrassed I might learn some shocking truth about him I don’t already know. “But at the end of the night, I just felt like there had to be more to it all.”

“
What were you reading, Stu?” Mom frowns. “Rousseau’s
Confessions
?”

“
Probably. Or something else I was too inexperienced to understand.” He smiles at her.

I can tell they’re about to launch into one of their “romantic” philosophical discussions, and if we don’t dash, we’ll be stuck. I check Jason’s plate, and see he’s as close to finished as I am.

“
Hey, Mom? Dad? Would it be okay if Jason and I go for a walk? I can help clean up later.”

Mom looks at my plate and then smiles at me. “Don’t worry about cleaning up. Your dad’ll help me.”

I grab Jason’s arm and we head toward the door.

“
Thanks, Mrs. Andrews, Dr. Andrews,” he says as I pull it open and jog outside.

The door closes behind me, and I let out a whistle. “That was close.”

“
What?”

“
They were about to take Navel-Gazing Lane all the way to the Meaning of Life Superhighway.”

“
I think it’s nice. Your parents really like each other.”

“
I know, but jeez. Try living with them.”

We’re walking down the sidewalk, and I watch him slide off his tie and unbutton his top button. He stuffs the tie in his back pocket, and it hits me. I haven’t seen the Gremlin anywhere. Not even at church.

“
So where’s the monster mobile?”

“
I left it at home. We’re not that far from here.”

I think about it a second and realize I have no idea where Jason lives. “Where is your house?”

“
Down at the other end.” He waves his hand. A cool breeze swirls around us, and although it’s a sunny day, I cross my arms at my waist.

 
He frowns, watching me. “Are you cold? Want to borrow my coat?”

“
Which end?” I press, ignoring his attempt to change the subject.

My house is almost in the center of the neighborhood, with the church a few blocks away as the actual center. At the front are the older homes that were built here first, and in the back the developers have recently expanded into what they’re calling Shadow Creek. In that part they’re building huge mini-mansions that have lawns backing up to the school’s namesake.

“
Oh, you know,” he says. “That end. It’s no big deal.”

“
Wait.” I stop walking and catch his arm. “You’re saying you live in Shadow Creek?”

He seems a little embarrassed. “Yeah.”

“
Jeez, Jas! You could’ve told me your dad was a zillionaire.”

“
He’s not a zillionaire.” He lifts the arm I’m holding and scrubs the back of his head, looking away from me. “He just, you know. Manages well.”

“
I’ll say. Give me my ten bucks back.”

“
Okay.” He laughs softly. “I told you I didn’t want it.”

I started walking again, one arm still crossed over my waist. Jason follows me and the soft breeze gently moves my hair across my cheek.

“
And here I was feeling bad for Mr. I Drive a Hooptie Clown-Car and not wanting to take your money.” I push my hair behind my ear.

“
Does that change things?” He catches my arm and stops us.

“
Yeah, it changes things,” I laugh. “It means you’re going to have to start buying your fake girlfriend better gifts.”

He smiles and we start walking again. “I haven’t bought you any gifts.”