Chapter Eleven Fake Date Number One
Mom and Jason are sleeping when I get home, which is a relief. I’m definitely not feeling that wine anymore, but Mom might smell it on me. As soon as I get to my room, I text Noah, because I’m the kind of friend who always jumps at an opportunity to compliment my friends.
Meera: why didn’t you tell me you were so good? your song was incredible!
Noah: you never asked
Noah: i don’t know. why are spreadsheets important to you?
Meera: because they’re satisfying. you have to have something. your family? your dad?
Noah: nah. that doesn’t feel right
Meera: your amp? your phone? your eyebrow rings?
Noah: none of those. my phone is a piece of crap
Meera: think about it and get back to me
Noah: why do you care whats important to me?
Meera: because people need to think we’re dating tomorrow
Noah: you sure you still want me at that party?
Meera: of course. convinced my mom to let me ride with sadie and liv. so liv will pick you up. shoot me your address. it will be around 6
He sends his address, and I immediately look up where it is. It’s not far from Gordon Park.
Meera: perfect see you then!
Noah: can’t wait
I have no idea if that’s sarcasm or if he’s being sincere.
Honestly, I was sure he’d find a way to get out of coming to the party, but he seems to think I’m the one who would want to back out of our fake date.
I have no intention of doing that. And it’s not only because I think this is the best way to get Mom to agree to send me home but also because…
I want to spend the evening with him. Seeing Noah tonight away from Gordon Park, and seeing him sing, I feel like I know another side of him, a side that’s really important to him, and it took my breath away.
I’m fully aware that I already have a massive crush on the guy.
And I know that the curse says I’m destined to fall for the wrong guy, but at least I have the benefit of foresight this time around, right?
Plus, if everything goes as planned, I’ll be separated from Noah very soon.
Might as well enjoy some flirting while it lasts.
I pick my phone back up and search for “Rusty Cage,” that song Noah sang at Donut Den. And yeah, it is a complicated song.
And I like Noah’s version way better than the original.
By the time I’m getting ready for Jason’s party, there are more butterflies in my stomach than weeds in Gordon Park.
I’m worried that my plan won’t work at all and Mom and Jason won’t even flinch about me bringing Noah to the party.
I’m worried that everyone will laugh at the thought of someone like Noah dating someone like me.
I’m worried Noah will see another side of me at the country club and never speak to me again.
But also I’m incredibly excited that I get to spend the evening with Noah. And that feeling kind of beats out all the others.
My seafoam-green dress doesn’t look that terrible after I use a curling iron to add some waves to my hair and put on a little makeup, adding a shimmering silver eyeshadow and pink lip gloss with shaky hands.
Mom comes into my room to tell me that she and Jason are leaving.
“Are you sure you don’t want to ride with us?” she asks.
She still doesn’t know I have a date for the party.
I shake my head. “I’d rather ride with Sadie and Liv.”
Mom nods. Her white dress has a halter neck and huge seafoam-green flowers on it.
I’m not used to seeing her in something so fancy.
Feminine. She used to always be in jeans when not in scrubs for work.
She touches my hair. “You look so pretty. All grown-up.” Her eyes are fond as she searches my face, but her expression changes at my throat.
She pauses. “Are you going to wear that necklace tonight?”
My hand goes to the black beads I’ve worn since I got to Cherrybridge.
I’m not sure it’s actually working to protect me from the curse—although, it’s possible that something even worse would have happened with Gabe if I hadn’t been wearing it—but I am not taking any chances on this date with Noah.
Besides, the blue-and-green eye pendant matches the dress, and I like the way the black beads make my dress look a little less… country club.
“Yes, I’m wearing it.”
“All right.” Mom sighs, resigned, and clearly not happy about my accessories. “Thanks for coming tonight, Meera. I know this week has been hard, but Jason and I are so happy that you’re supporting us.”
I don’t say anything to that, because I know Jason’s actually not happy that I’m here.
I look at our faces in the mirror. We’ve always looked exactly alike. I guess it kind of helps me forget that I have a father somewhere out there, because the only thing I seem to have inherited from the sperm donor is big feet. I’m all Mom, on the outside at least.
But on the inside? I honestly have no idea.
I used to think we were similar, both driven and determined.
But Mom’s seemed like a stranger to me these last few months—planning her fancy country club wedding, moving here, and trying to be one of the real housewives of Cherrybridge or something.
I know she hated how much she had to rely on Nani and Nanabapa to help raise me, so she worked hard to have her own place.
She was also outspoken and would rant about issues with women’s rights and how big corporations were ruining the world, even in front of Nanabapa, who’s pretty conservative politically.
I’m so used to Mom being a fighter, an individual.
Now she’s married to a man who has a big corporation, and she doesn’t even earn her own money. I really can’t understand why she changed so much.
She’s quiet. I wonder if she’s thinking the same thing I am, that we’re like strangers these days.
“I hope you’ll forgive me one day for bringing you here,” she says. “I… I just want more for you than what I had.”
Does that mean she wants me to be like Sadie, Reagan, and Kaitlyn?
“I love you, Meera,” she says. “Don’t forget that.”
“I know.” She locks eyes with me in the mirror, and she does look sorry.
I feel bad. Maybe I should give her one last chance before I potentially embarrass her and Jason at the party.
I square my shoulders. “I don’t want to be here, Mom.
Yeah, I’ve made a few friends, and it’ll be great to hang out with them when I come to Cherrybridge to visit you, which I promise I’ll do.
But I want to live in Toronto for the rest of the summer, and in September.
This town… it’s not me. People are snobby, or they’re rude to me, and I don’t think I’ll ever be comfortable. ”
I have never been direct with my feelings with Mom like this.
Not because I didn’t think I could be. More like I never really got the chance to be.
I start to plead. “Please let me go home. I can finish my community service in the city. I’ll still go to your party tonight.
I’ll even come back for all those other parties and support Jason’s campaign.
But I want to live in Toronto. Please, Mom.
” My voice cracks. I’m not used to showing this kind of emotion, and I quickly want to brush the feeling away.
I need to offer a doable solution, to make things easier. “Nani said I can still stay with her.”
I wonder if this time she’ll say yes. If she does, I’ll tell Noah not to come. I’ll go to the party alone tonight and be the perfect daughter she wants me to be.
Mom blinks. She looks almost… sad. She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, but no, Meera. You have to trust me. This is what’s best for you. For the family.”
My eyes narrow. I don’t know why I even bothered. She isn’t the person she used to be. I turn to fuss with makeup, not making eye contact with her.
“Right. Then I guess I’ll see you at the party.” I get up from my dressing table and go into my bathroom, closing the door behind me. I hear Mom sigh before she quietly leaves the room.
About fifteen minutes after I hear Mom and Jason leave, my phone rings. It’s Sadie.
“We have a problem, Meera. Liv’s mother was in a car accident.”
I sit on my bed. “What? Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine, but her car’s wrecked. We’re with her now. I’m not sure we’re going to make it to the club tonight. Can you ride with your parents?”
“Mom and Jason already left.” And after my conversation with Mom, I’m grateful they did. “I’ll just take a cab.”
“Are you sure, Meera? I feel bad. I know you were nervous about this party.”
“Of course I’m sure. You stay with Liv’s mom. Tell her I’m glad she’s okay!”
I call a car the moment I hang up with Sadie.
Mom set up a ride-share account for me with her credit card a few days ago when I complained about how annoying it is that I can’t get around on my own here.
It seems Mom’s answer to any of my complaints lately is to throw money at it, but I guess that’s handy now.
I run downstairs and realize that the silver ballet flats Mom bought me to wear are still upstairs.
Yet another thing that doesn’t feel like me.
I put on my purple platform Converse high-tops instead.
Mom technically didn’t forbid me to wear them, but maybe these will make it even clearer to Jason that I don’t belong in his perfect politician’s family.
I gave Mom one more chance, but now this is war.
When the car pulls up to Noah’s house, he’s already waiting outside.
It’s a brown brick town house that looks like it was built in the 1970s.
The driveway needs to be repaved, and I can see chipping paint on the windows, but the house isn’t in terrible condition.
It kind of reminds me of my grandparents’ house.
Noah slides into the back seat with me, and he looks… perfect. His outfit is absolutely on point. He’s dressy enough that he’ll get into the country club without a problem, but he looks even more like a bad boy than he normally does.