Chapter 9

It was a while before Elizabeth was home. Of course she wanted to know all about my first day of school. I told her all about it. I even included what Braden did for me. She was over the moon about it. After changing into more comfortable clothes, I went downstairs to help Elizabeth cook. George finally came home while we were still cooking. After the food was ready, we had dinner together. Elizabeth was so happy about Braden helping me, that he got an extra serving of meat and dessert.

"I'm glad you're actually helping Phoenix at school, but if anyone asks, I'm still telling them that she's my daughter-in-law," Elizabeth threatened sweetly.

"Mom!" Braden protested.

"What? Do you have a girlfriend I don't know about?" Elizabeth questioned. Braden sighed before slumping in defeat.

"No," he answered.

"Is there another girl you like?" Elizabeth asked. Braden shook his head as his eyes went to the table.

"Then I don't see why Phoenix can't be my daughter-in-law," Elizabeth concludes. George ate his food quietly as my cheeks heated. I noticed that George normally didn't get involved. All the bickering happened between Braden and Elizabeth. He normally just sat back and watched them, or ignored them. Still, it was kind of embarrassing that Elizabeth was shipping us so hard. Honestly, I think she just wanted to see Braden in a relationship. She told me when we went shopping that she'd only met one of Braden's friends. He seemed pretty popular at school, but those all seemed like shallow friendships.

Shallow Friendships was the name of one of his songs on his debut album...

I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand as the thought hit me. Braden wrote all the music by himself on his debut album, and Shallow Friendships was one of the more popular songs.

"Mom... why are you trying to marry off your teenage son?" Braden's words pulled me out of my thoughts. He was still going back and forth with his mother.

"Because I worry about you," she said dramatically. I could tell she was being sarcastic, but it felt like there was some truth behind her words. She worried about her son and whether or not, he was meeting good people and thinking about his future. I wouldn't put it past Elizabeth to give the stereotypical "grandchildren" line.

"Have you given any thought to what you want to do after high school?" George finally spoke up. I spooked slightly, as his voice reminded me he was still there.

"I don't know yet," he answered unsurely.

"Make amazing music," I smiled absentmindedly at the same time. The family paused as they looked at me. I watched their faces as I tried to read them. It was something I shouldn't have said out loud. It was a fact from the future that I shouldn't have revealed. I was having a hard time keeping my mouth shut. If I didn't figure out how to keep the future a secret, there would be no future to go back to.

"How did you know I was into music?" Braden asked. I laughed awkwardly and set my fork down.

"Isn't it every teenager boys' dream to be a rockstar?" I asked. Braden shook his head as he watched me carefully.

"Not at all. Teenage boys my age are thinking about college admissions and what they really want to study," Braden debunked my comment.

"Well, you should do what you're passionate about. Who knows? It may just pay off," I said vaguely. I really hoped I got away with that one. Although, Braden's calculating face said otherwise. Elizabeth went back to picking on Braden and I hoped my comment was forgotten. After dinner, I went up to shower and get ready for bed. I was exhausted. Trying to relearn everything I thought I knew was tiring. On my way back to my room from the bathroom, I ran into Braden again.

"How did you know about me wanting to peruse music? Really?" He asked. I stopped in my tracks as I took a deep breath before facing him.

"All I can tell you is that you should keep at it. I bet you're amazing," I smiled lightly before running into my room. After I finished getting ready and iced my bruises, I went straight to sleep. Hopefully school wouldn't exhaust me as much tomorrow.