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 morefortable 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 d you''re actually helping Phoenix at school, but if anyone asks, I''m still telling them that she''s


    my daughter-inw," Elizabeth threatened sweetly.


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    "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-inw," 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 rtionship. She told me when we went shopping that she''d only met


    one of Braden''s friends. He seemed pretty popr 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 popr 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. Iughed 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 myment.


    "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 calcting face said otherwise. Elizabeth


    went back to picking on Braden and I hoped myment 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.