Golden Stars
Chapter 14
One night, Alex is watching Rachel while Shelby is at dress rehearsal for Les Miserables. She is in the kitchen while Rachel is playing in the living room.
"Hey, Rachel? Where's the frying pan?"
"In the cabinet by the . . . fridge?" Rachel turns around to see her babysitter in a chef's hat and apron, "Umm, what are you doing?"
"Well, I've been thinking: I'm 29 years old and I should been able to cook. I mean, I can always have fast food all the time, so tonight I am making dinner tonight!"
With that, Rachel burst out laughing, but when Alex gives her a harsh look, she stops. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were serious."
"Like mother, like daughter."
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Anyway, you're going to be my taste tester. How does that sound?"
"Terrifying."
"THEN LET'S DO IT! I'm going to make grill cheese sandwiches!" Alex turns on the stove and places the frying pan on top. "Rachel, would you please get me the cheese?"
"Okay," Rachel walks over to the fridge and grabs the cheese slices, "Alex? Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, kiddo. What's on your mind?"
"I was wondering if my mom is. . . honest."
Alex places the sandwiches on the frying pan. "Of course, she is. Why ask such a question?"
Rachel can't tell her about Darcy and what she told her. She has to make an excuse, but then she would be lying. Well, it would be somewhat true. "Umm . . . today at school, someone taught us about honesty and how lying is wrong. Right?"
"Yeah, lying is wrong," Alex thinks for a moment, "Well, your mom never lies," Rachel sighs in relief, "But there was this one time at prom when she told that my dress was the most beautiful thing, but really it was my aunt's dress from the 60's. She eventually told me the truth."
"Were you mad?"
"I was a little, but then I realized that she only lied because she didn't want to hurt my feelings. She was only trying to be a good friend. Look, there are two reasons why people lie: because they need to or they want to."
"Why would they want to?"
"I don't know. Maybe just to destroy other people's lives because they are nothing but cold hearted, SOUL CRUSHING, good for nothing demons who just want to take your heart and SQEEZE the living life out of it and tear it into MILLIONS of pieces!" Alex breathes heavily as Rachel looks at her frighten. "Sorry. Got carried away."
"My mom isn't like that, is she?"
"What? No! She would never do that."
"That's what I said," Rachel tells aside.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!"
Alex sighs as she looks back at the good old days of her childhood. "You know what, Rachel? I don't think Shelby and I told you about how we met. You see, we met in kindergarten, so about your age! Anyway, I was just playing with some building blocks when all of a sudden; your mom came over with this nice smile and says . . ."
"THERE'S A FIRE!" Rachel screams.
"Oh! Yeah! That's from 8th grade! Shelby and I were lab partners and"
"NO! Really! There's a fire right behind you!"
Alex turns around and sees the stove in on fire. She must have not been pay attention to the sandwiches. She starts to panic. "Okay! Okay! No one panic! No one panic! This isn't the prefect time to panic!"
"But you're panicking!"
"YOU KNOW!" Alex cries.
"Quick! The fire extinguisher is underneath the sink!"
Alex opens the cabinet and pulls out the fire extinguisher. She looks at it confused on what to do. "How do I use this thing?"
"Pull the tab thingy!"
"WHAT TAB THINGY?"
"Oh, let me!" Rachel grabs the fire extinguisher and pulls the tab on top. She aims the hose to the fire and squeezes the handle: shooting out white foam. It covers the entire kitchen, but luckily the fire goes out. Rachel and Alex take a moment to catch their breath. "Well, so much for dinner."
"Hey, this fire just reminded me of something."
"What's that?"
"The real reason why I'm living in the same building as your mother's."
"It is because you burn stuff?"
"Nope! She's a great cook," Rachel giggles a little, "How about I order some pizza?"
"Good idea," She set the fire extinguisher down and walks out of the kitchen with Alex, "Do you think Mommy will be mad?"
"Now, Rachel. You just leave all of that to me. Besides, I'm sure she's going to be THAT mad."
"I can't believe you set my kitchen on fire!" Shelby picks up the burnt frying pan later that night.
"I was trying to cook."
"Cook what? A MESS?"
"Actually, I was going for grilled-cheese sandwiches."
"And did that work out for you?"
"Well, I was doing all right at first, but then I got side tracked. I tend to do that a lot."
"You think?" Shelby puts the pan in the sink, "At least you and Rachel are fine."
"So, how was dress rehearsal?"
"That was fine."
"I can't wait to see the show this weekend. Is Craig coming?"
"Yeah, I got him a ticket. He's going to be seating with you two in the third row."
"That's tight. You think Rachel won't mind that?"
"I'm sure she'll be fine with it."
"She told me that at school she's learning about honesty."
"Really?" Alex nods, "That explains it."
"What are you talking about?"
"A few days ago, Rachel was talking to Craig and they were have a great time. I mean, they were smiling and laughing. It was so cute."
"Looks like she's learning to truth him."
"Yeah," Shelby smiles, "I guess so. I think she's finally getting it."
Just then, the phone rings. Shelby answers it. "Hello? . . . Hey! . . . No, I'm not busy tomorrow. Why?"