Chapter 8

Dinner invitation

The next day after school I went straight home. My mother started questioning me about how was my day at school per usual. She started with her questions as I was trying to answer her calmly even though it was a bit hard for me. She kept asking me the same questions every single day so it was hard to look nonchalant about it when it was driving me crazy.

"You know, Jane," my mother started saying, "I've been meaning to ask you something. Miss Isles was so nice with you that I think we should invite her to dinner. You spent a whole night at her house and we haven't invited her back. I think it would be rude not to invite her after everything she did for you. What do you think?"

Oh, what the hell! Why would she want to invite my teacher here? That was a very bad idea but I just shrugged nonchalantly. After the kiss I didn't know what to think. Maura haven't said anything about it. It's not like we haven't talked - actually, we have talked about anything but the kiss. And I never dared to ask her about it. Could Maura say that we kissed to my parents? But she was the one who kissed me. Okay, maybe I had my part in that, too but I wasn't sure. I suppose that she wouldn't say it in front of my whole family. I panicked a little bit but I tried to look calm. I really needed to calm down - Maura might decline politely. I didn't need to panic when I wasn't even sure that Maura would agree to come home. After all she might be busy.

"I don't know, Ma." I answered her in the end, shrugging again.

Of course, my mother asked me all kind of questions after the night I spent with Maura. I avoided some and answered her truthfully to other questions. She asked me what did we do for so long, what did we eat, how she treated me and stuff like that, and I told her shortly what happened. I just avoided telling her about the kiss, and about all the ways that I kept embarrassing myself in front of Maura. I skipped that part. And now I was really nervous, starting to panic. I didn't want Maura to meet my parents. At least not yet.

"I think it's a polite way to thank her for her hospitality. It's necessarily to invite her back after everything she did. Don't you think so?"

"I don't know, Ma. It's not like we are obligated to do something."

"We should thank her by inviting her back at our house," she insisted and decided to invite her against my will. I couldn't tell her no because she would start questioning me so I didn't say anything. "Do you have her phone number?"

"Me? Of course. Not! Of course not! Why would I have her phone number, Ma?! Don't be ridiculous."

Ooops! I almost told my mother that I have her number. Great! Now tell her that you talk with Maura almost every day and let's finish with that! Ugh, sometimes I could be so stupid and unthoughtful. I should think things through before I open my mouth to talk.

"Then you should ask her at school. When you have biology, just invite her at our house. And don't take no for an answer. Tell her that you insist."

"Alright, Ma. Whatever you say," I promised her.

I had two options - to lie to my mother by telling her that I invited Maura but she declined politely or invite Maura for real and hope that she would decline my invitation. But I promised my mother and I didn't want to lie to her. I had no choice but keep my word.


So the next day at school after our biology class, I went to Maura's desk and mustered courage to begin. There was no one left in the room so I called her by first name:

"Maura, I am supposed to invite you to dinner at our house," I said feeling nervous. I decided to tell her the truth. It was my mother's idea after all and I wanted Maura to know that. "My mother insist on doing it but if you're busy with som-"

"Oh, okay then," she quickly agreed and didn't even let me finish. "I'd love to come at your house," she said and smiled at me politely.

"Okay. I'll tell my mother. She'll be trilled."

"I'd really love to meet your mother in person. Angela. Right?"

"Yeah," I nodded my head nervously.

"When do I have to come at your house?"

"Tonight. Say eight-ish. Or maybe sooner...I don't know, I forgot to ask my mother. Feel free to come home whenever you want to. Or maybe I will call you later when I get home to tell you the exact time. Alright?"

"Okay, Jane. No problem."


Later the same day...

"Get ready, Jane. Your teacher is coming soon so you should help me clean up the house. I want everything to be perfect."

My mother had already started cleaning up the whole house even though it was a bit early. It wasn't even necessary to tidy up because Maura wouldn't inspect the house after all. I didn't know what was all that fuss about.

"It's not like the Pope is coming to our house, Ma." I said, exasperated. "Would you just calm down and leave me alone?"

The truth was that I didn't want to help her. There was one thing I hated the most - doing chores in the house. So I wasn't in a mood to help her. I was nervous enough, knowing that Maura was coming home and she will stay here, and even more - she will have dinner with us. And my worries were all about my mother - she was going to embarrass me. I knew that for sure. So I had every right to be nervous. I knew I was praying for the impossible - my mother to keep it quiet and not embarrass me in front of my teacher.

"Would you at least get ready? Go to your room and get dressed, young lady. I have prepared you some clothes, they are on the chair," my mother instructed me and I had no choice but to agree.

"Okay," I said and I went in my room, glad that I didn't have to clean up after all. And then I saw a black dress on the chair. Alright, maybe I wasn't right when I said that the one thing I hated the most was doing chores. Because that was even worse. I had to wear a dress! I hate that! It was so tiny and tight and probably I wouldn't be able to breathe in it.

"Really, Ma?!" I quickly walked away from my room, taking the dress with me. I marched in the kitchen, showing the dress to my mother with disapproving tone. "A dress!" She knows very well that I hate wearing dresses.

"Would it kill you if you put on a dress?!"

"You never know," I answered her, going back to my room with a slight disproval. I knew I couldn't argue with my mother - it would be pointless. So I put the dress on with a lot of efforts.

I really wanted to dress up nicely because Maura was coming home and I wanted to look nice for her but the dress was too much. It felt like I was being in a straitjacket. I didn't like it but I just had to accept it - my mother wouldn't leave me alone if I put something else. Something more comfortable for instance. So I just had to accept the facts - I will feel very uncomfortable this night. And there were many reasons for that. The tight black dress was one of them and the other one was my mother. She could make anyone feel uncomfortable. Just like when I was at Maura's house and I had to call her. She didn't stop embarrassing me back then. But it could be only worse than that because now I couldn't just hang up the phone to silence her.

At eight o'clock precisely the doorbell rang and my mother yelled:

"Jane, would you open the door?! I am busy!"

"Alright, Ma." I yelled back, going to open the door. My mother was setting the table and was way too busy to open so I didn't question her like I usually did. I preferred to open the door than help her out in the kitchen.

"Hello, Mau-Miss Isles." I looked around - there was no one near us to hear my involuntary mistake so I sighed in relief. I got used to calling her by first name. Though at school I still called her Miss Isles, now it was a bit different. When we were alone I called her Maura and I totally forgot we are not alone here.

"Hi, Jane," she greeted, smirking at my mistake but didn't say anything to embarrass me further. She was looking smoking hot as usual - she was wearing a red dress and high heels per usual.

"Come in," I finally remembered my manners and I invited her in our house. I could probably stand at the threshold and look at her for hours.

"You look really nice," she said when she saw me with my black dress. I bit my lip nervously.

"Thanks. You too," I murmured back, scared that someone might hear us.

After that Maura met my parents. She introduce herself to my mother and my father, Frankie already knew her because she was teaching his class as well. She met my little brother Tommy, too. She was being nice with everyone around, constantly offering my mother her help. We sat on the table and my mother started with her questions. The interrogation as I call it. But Maura was happy to answer her questions, she seemed really calm and happy to be with my family. And when my mother finished with the questioning and started telling old stories, Maura listened to them with interest.

I was eating my food, not paying much attention to the conversation they were having at the table. Or maybe I must call it the monologue. My mother was telling an embarrassing story about me and my brothers when we were little. She had tons of stories like that and she probably though she must tell them all to Maura Isles that night. Maybe she thought that embarrassing me in front of my teacher was part of the deal - her obligation. Everything was so lame - my mother with her stories, my dress that was so tight and uncomfortable... but at least the food was delicious.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Maura whispered at my ear, startling me out of my thoughts. She was sitting next to me.

"How much I want to take this dress off," I confessed, without even thinking but at that moment Maura started coughing.

"Are you alright?" I asked, concerned, patting her back.

"Yes. I am fine. Thank you."

"Do you want some water?" my mother offered her.

"No. I am alright. Thank you," Maura repeated, answering my mother.

It was my fault that she choked and I felt bad about it. But maybe it wasn't so bad. Maura was talking to me - or more precisely whispering - so she probably wasn't listening very carefully to my mother's never-ending sorties. But then it occurred me - maybe she thought I was making innuendo. I wanted to clear things out. I hoped to get a chance to explain her what I really meant.

After the dinner my mother suggested to show Maura around the house. Maybe that was the main reason my mother cleaned the whole house during the day. I still thought it was unnecessary - that was just too much efforts. After my mother showed her my room as well, I probably started to blush. I've never thought that Maura would see my room. Okay, maybe I've dreamed about it once or twice but in my dream it was under very different circumstances.

After that Maura and I ended up alone in my room - my mother went to clean the table, and my brothers and my father were still in the kitchen. I never planned it but it was good because I could explain to Maura about earlier.

''You know this dress is really tight," I began and she turned to face me after she had looked around my room.

"I can see that," she murmured under her breath.

"And very uncomfortable," I continued, "so... uhm that's why I said I want to take it off."

"Yes, of course," she nodded her head with understanding look.

"That's what I meant... you know, earlier."

"Sure," she nodded her head once again. I looked around my room just like she did in order to avoid her gaze. The look on her face was a bit odd so I looked away. It was getting awkward.

"By the way, I watched the movie that you recommended to me. Loving Annabelle. And I really liked it," she said to me and I looked at her again. "Are you trying to imply something with that movie?"

"What?" I asked, surprised. "No. Of course not."

The movie was about a teacher - Simone Bradley, who falls in love with her student Annabelle. I could see why she thought I was implying something but I really didn't. I have never thought about it. She just asked me and I told her the truth - it wasn't like I have planned it or something.

"You were the one who asked me about my favorite movie and I simply answered your question. Truthfully. I mean... it's not like I have insisted on you watching it or something," I explained nervously.

"Well, actually you did." She reminded me.

"Uhmm. I .. I just... I am not doing anything Miss Isles. I simply -" I started saying, getting more nervous. She was making me really uncomfortable with her questions. I even called her Miss Isles - I was feeling so confused. Why would she ask me such a question? Maybe she was implying something with that? I have never even thought about it until now.

"Relax," she said, taking my hand in hers. She was trying to calm me down.

And I was just a bit nervous. Not very much. Just a little. A tiny bit. Alright, I was very nervous but I was trying to cover it. Obviously not very well. Was she a physic? Could she read my thoughts? I hope not... She couldn't possibly know why I was so nervous, could she?

"Don't worry about it," she said and smiled at me and I just tried to smile back at her.

"Are you alright now? You look tense."

"Oh, no. I am peachy," I said and let go of her hand abruptly. She was making me really nervous. Especially when she was so close, touching me.

"Do you always use irony to convey contempt?"

"What did you just say?"

"Are you always this sarcastic, Jane?"

"Nope," I answered and looked innocently at her.

"So... As I remember, you said you like someone in your school. Who is he and what's he like, if you don't mind me asking?"

"She," I noted, already blushing. "She's just a wom-girl," I quickly corrected myself.

How stupid could I be! I was going to say a woman. Phew! That was close.

"You like girls?" she exclaimed, surprised.

"Yes," I confirmed. "But please, don't tell anyone."

She laughed at my last statement and said, "I won't."

"Jane, are you there?" I heard my mother calling me. She cut my conversation with Maura short because she entered in my room and I quickly walked inches away from Maura, startled because she appeared so abruptly.


After the diner when Maura left our house, my mother started discussing how it went and more specific - she started discussing my teacher Maura Isles.

"I like her," my mother noted. "She is very beautiful and very classy person. Did you see her outfit? I think she looks really nice and also she is very kind and polite. I think she must be a great teacher."

"Oh, yeah, she is." Frankie hurried to say even without being asked.

"What would you say, Jane? Do you like her?"

"Me?! No! Of course not... I don't like her," I quickly said, defending myself then I abruptly stopped, feeling kind of stupid. My mother probably had no clue about my attraction toward Maura so she didn't mean what I thought she meant. She just wanted to know if I like her as a person. As a teacher. But my guilt was eating me inside so I wanted to clarify everything. I felt so silly. I just wanted to keep my feelings in secret and I was hiding it from everyone, maybe overdoing it since I answered so defensively.

"Why don't you like her, Jane?" My mother seemed really surprised by my answer.

"Oh, actually I do. I-I... I don't know, Ma. What's this? Interrogation?" I exclaimed and walked away from the table, going to my room.

"Come back here, young lady!" my mother shouted after me. "You have to help me clean up."

"I have to study, Ma. But you see, Frankie and Tommy are here. And they told me they really want to help you out."

AN: The new chapter is ready as I promised you, guys! I didn't get many reviews on the previous chapter and I wonder why. You just didn't like the previous chapter or perhaps you lost interest? I hope you like this one. I still am not sure where I would take this story but if there's no interest I should know. Please let me know who is interested what do you think. Tell me what you think about my story so far and about this new chapter. Thank you in advance.