**I.D.N.O.T.**

Chapter 14 – Family Dinner

We continued following the path we had wandered earlier that day until we arrived back at the edge of the tree line, where we could see the parking lot that bordered First Beach. Megan's black Ford was one of only two parked cars along the rocky beach coast.

I didn't want our time together to end. Today had been so wonderful. Talking to Megan had become easy, laughing effortless.

"Hey, you want to come over for dinner? My house isn't far. You could call your mom so she won't worry," I offered, trying to sound casual. Really my heart was beating so hard and fast that I couldn't believe it hadn't broken through my rib cage and landed on the sandy ground. It still might. She smiled and I held my breath.

"That would be nice," she began, and I couldn't help beaming, "but..." My face instantly fell. "Well, it's already kinda late. Mom hates it when things are last minute. I think I'd better head home for tonight."

"Oh. Sure. No problem," I responded, a littler flatter than I would have liked. Stupid, stupid Leah! Why couldn't I fake nonchalance any better than this?!

"I'm sorry!" Megan added quickly, easily picking up on my disappointment. "I really would like to! Maybe some other time?" She smiled tentatively.

"Of course!" I offered cheerfully. "Well, I'll see you around I guess," I smiled until I had turned away from her, then I let my face melt into the mask of disappointment that fit so well.

"Wait!" she called out before I'd taken more than three steps. I turned around, raising my eyebrows at her.

"Changed your mind about giving me some relief from my annoying little brother at dinner?" I joked.

"Sorry…not tonight," she chuckled. "But I don't have your number! I'm gonna need that, ya know. I'm pretty sure friends don't just wait to bump into each other in the woods to hang out."

"Wait, what? That's not how you pale-faces do things?" I said, pretending to be shocked. She laughed easily at my joke. God, what a great laugh. I caught my thoughts and forced them in a different direction. "Ok…you ready?" I asked. She nodded. "3,6,0,5,5,4,7,8,7,4" I rattled off. Her fingers flew as she quickly punched each number on her phone's keypad.

"Alrighty then." She locked her phone and slid it back into her pocket. "You'll be hearing from me!" She called, smiling.

"I better!" I teased, before waving and walking on. She may not have wanted to come for dinner, but this was definitely a step up. She waved to me as she drove by me on her way out of the reservation. I waved back, smiling blindly, like an idiot. Picturing the look on my face, it was all I could do not to smack myself. Ugh.

I walked back to the house slowly. By the time I could finally see my front door it was full dark outside, the moon beginning to rise over the trees. The porch light was on for me. I opened the door and walked casually in.

"Leah? That you, honey?" Mom called from the kitchen.

"Yeah! Sorry I'm late!" I yelled back, as I headed for the kitchen.

"You're actually not all that late," she said calmly, as she rose to hug me, "Seth and I just sat down about ten minutes ago or so."

"Oh, good." I hugged Mom and received her quick kiss. She was wearing her yellow flowered apron, as she went to get me a plate. I ruffled Seth's hair and sat in the empty seat between him and Mom's place. Seth scowled at me silently, and angrily smoothed down his hair.

"Hey, Seth…" I began slowly, "Look. About this afternoon…"

"It's no big deal." He shrugged. He was trying to make me think he wasn't hurt, but I his eyes said otherwise. I knew him far too well for him to fool me now.

"No it is." I continued. "I was grumpy and cranky. You know I haven't been sleeping all that well…and I just snapped. But it wasn't fair to you. I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said." Instantly, his shoulders dropped a good two inches and his constant subconscious smile was back.

"Yeah…well, I really shouldn't have kept bugging you. I probably deserved some of it," he conceded.

Mom came back with a heaping plate of pork chops, green beans and mashed potatoes. She set it down in front of me with a smile.

"Wow, Mom!" I commented. "Special occasion or something?" I asked as I reached for a crescent roll from the basket in the center of the table.

"Well, I just thought it would be nice to have a calm family dinner before things get rushed with Seth going back to school next week." She smiled sweetly at Seth. I nearly choked on my roll. "After all, senior year is a big one!" She chuckled, while Seth blushed.

I looked over at my baby brother, now seventeen years old, nearly eighteen. Crap. When had that happened. If I forced myself to look at him objectively I could see that he wasn't the little eight year old brat tagging along with me and my friends, or the fourteen year old making gagging noises when he found Sam and I making out for the first time. He was tall, muscular, tanned and smart too. It was no wonder half the girls his age were trailing after him. If things felt this strange to me I could only imagine what it must have seemed like to Mom.

"Mooom…" he moaned, "can we not? Please?"

Seth's whining brought me out of my reverie. Mom and I laughed.

"Sure, baby," she crooned at him. He only groaned in response. "So how was your day, Leah? You seem like you are feeling much better now than you were this morning," she obligingly changed the subject from one of her children to the other.

"Yeah. I am feeling better. I made a great new friend today." I smiled, thinking back on the day. Seth snorted at that, and I reached out to slap him. He ducked under my hand and shoveled more potatoes into his mouth.

"Oh, really?" Mom asked excitedly.

"Yeah, remember that girl I told you I helped find her down from the mountain the other night?" I felt more than saw Seth perk up at that. "Well, I met up with her again today and we spent most of the day wandering the paths and talking. She's really great." I told her in between bites of food.

"That's great! Anyone I know?"

"I doubt it. She's new to the area. Moved her with her mom this summer. Her name's Megan."

"Oh, yes. The Masterson girl." Mom commented coolly. Both Seth and I nearly choked at that.

"Wait, what?" I spluttered. "How do you know her?" I asked, completely stunned.

"Oh, no, I don't. I just heard about her and her mom from Charlie. They sound like very nice people. He met them at the dinner one of their first nights in town. Said they were eating out since they were still unpacking. Nice that Megan has a new friend in town so quickly." She went back to cutting her pork chop as Seth and I gaped at one another.

"Yeah, that's nice of you, Leah," Seth recovered first. "It's almost like you're the kid who offers to sit next to the new kid at lunch. Never pictured you as that kind of person!" He laughed loudly.

"Maybe you should invite her over sometime?" Mom offered. "I'd love to meet her and her mom, make them feel welcome."

"Sure, Mom. I'll ask," I managed, before spearing more green beans with my fork.

"Good!" she smiled and stood to take her plate to the sink, mumbling something about making a pie for them, or would brownies be better. Seth and I looked at each other again and laughed.

A/N: Ok. An update in a timely fashion – the world must be ending. Sooo, I know that up to this point the story has been a lot of fluff. I'm thinking maybe one more chapter and then skipping ahead pretty majorly in time, to some better action and conflict. Any objections? I'd love to hear everyone's opinions. I'm open to adding scenes you would like to see, you just have to let me know. Reviews are, as always, very welcome. Thanks to those of you who read, follow, favorite and review! See you soon! ~~Kate