Mutual Hatred - Love Game (15 page)

The dads tried to hush Mr. Wise, but their attempts were futile. Mr. Wise coldly said, "Good day, gentlemen," and left.

Shelley could feel their eyes on her, so she felt it was her time to make a graceful exit. It wasn't like she hadn't expected these reactions. But all the same, their words stung. So they didn't think she could do it? Well
she'd show them
.

Brandon and his mom were waiting outside, just as they had promised. Brandon scowled when he saw Shelley.

"Mom do I
have
to go?" Brandon asked sullenly, eyeing Shelley.

"Yes you do," Mrs. Miller said firmly, "Otherwise I really will tell Shelley about that time you-"

"Mother, shut up!"

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about, dear," cooed Mrs. Miller, "You were such an adorable baby."

"I'm sure you were, Brandy-poo!" snickered Shelley.

"Shove it, Sinclair."

Brandon's mom smacked the back of his head, causing Brandon to say "Ow!" loudly.

"That's no way to talk to a girl, Brandon. And she's your
coach
too! In my day, we had manners. Didn't I teach you any?" scolded Mrs. Miller.

"You didn't have to HIT me, mother!"

"Well you deserved it," Mrs. Miller said triumphantly, "Get in the car. I'm driving."

Brandon grudgingly obliged, making a show of opening the passenger door and getting in, a cross look gracing his face the whole time. It was quite amusing that Brandon's mom had such a strong hold over him. But then again, whose mother
didn't
?

"I'm meeting my mom at Frisco's, if that's okay," said Shelley.

"Frisco's is fine, sweetie. We're not picky eaters. Well, Brandon used to be, but I'll tell you the story that goes with that another time," grinned Mrs. Miller.

Shelley was starting to really like Brandon's mom, mostly because she had a personality so similar to Shelley's. How someone like Brandon could be related to someone like Mrs. Miller was beyond Shelley. They were so different.

Let's just call it the eighth wonder of the world, shall we?

But then again, just because Shelley was the spitting image of her mom didn't mean they thought alike. Shelley and her mom were complete opposites-Claudia Sinclair didn't know the first thing about football; Shelley didn't know the first thing about designing clothes.

Mrs. Miller leaned over and whispered, "If my son gives you any trouble, just let me know. Although I daresay you'd never take his crap for a second." Her eyes gleamed with amusement as she said, "I'll give him a good spanking when he gets home. I know you'd rather do it yourself, though."

Oh, how scandalous! Mrs. Miller was a sly one. Knowing Shelley's luck, she'd probably join Destiny and Taryn in trying to get Brandon and Shelley together.

As if that would ever happen. Not in a million years. Not in this lifetime.

Right?

"Damn!" cursed Mrs. Miller, glancing at her watch. "I've got to pick up Morgan at school soon. Can we meet you at Frisco's in about half an hour?"

"Of course!" said Shelley, "Do you want us to order for you?"

"Don't worry about us!" waved Mrs. Miller, getting behind the wheel.

- - - - -

Shelley slid into her seat in a booth near the front of the restaurant. Her mom breezed her way in a few moments later, right on time. Shelley got up to give her mom a peck on the cheek and took her place.

"Hey mom, I hope you don't mind that I invited a … friend to join us, do you?"

"Who? A boy?" grinned Mrs. Sinclair.

"Yes. And his mom. And his sister too, I think," said Shelley.

"O-kay," Claudia said slowly. "May I ask how you know this boy?"

"He's on the football team."

Mrs. Sinclair's eyes widened. "Are you interested in him?"

"No way!" exclaimed Shelley. "His mom is pretty cool though. I think you'll like her. She promised to tell me stories about Brandon."

"Brandon as in the boy who gave you the necklace?"

"The one and only."

"I think he likes you," said Mrs. Sinclair, a sly grin on her face.

Shelley rolled her eyes. "Why does everyone keep telling me that?"

"Maybe it's true. I mean, if a boy gave
me
a necklace like that, I'd say he was interested."

"Trust me, Brandon's got something up his sleeve. He absolutely detests me, and I can honestly tell you that the feeling is mutual."

"Then why are we having lunch with him?"

"We're not," said Shelley, "He's just coming along because his mom is making him."

"I see."

"I hate it when you give me one liners like that, mom," Shelley complained. "It's impossible to know what you're thinking!"

"Don't you think that's the point?" smirked Mrs. Sinclair.

Coincidentally, Shelley looked up at the door just as Mrs. Miller, Brandon, and a girl Shelley presumed to be Morgan, walked in. Mrs. Miller's eyes lit up when she saw Shelley. Brandon's handsome face still held a scowl. Morgan's face was unreadable.

Shelley's mom stood up to greet Mrs. Miller. They kissed each other's cheeks and acted as if they were old friend meeting up after twenty years.

And the Oscar for Best Actress goes to Claudia Sinclair and Jana Miller!

Shelley laughed and introduced the two. "Mom, this is Jana Miller, Brandon's mom. And Mrs. Miller, this is Claudia Sinclair, my mom."

"Please, sit down," said Mrs. Sinclair, gesturing to the empty seats.

Frisco's was famous for their Fish n' Chips, which was what everyone ordered. While the moms got acquainted, Shelley decided to try and make small talk with Brandon's sister, Morgan. Unfortunately, Morgan didn't look very friendly. But
someone
had to break the ice, and Shelley's friendly personality instinctively told her to do just that.

"So, Morgan, I heard you were going to school?"

"Yeah," was the flat reply.

"Oh, where are you taking classes?"

"At the community college."

Morgan's straight answers didn't leave much room for conversation. Unaffected, Shelley tried again.

"So what year are you going to be in in college?"

"I'm not in college. I'm in the same grade as Brandon."

Surprised, Shelley asked, "Really? I've never seen you around."

"I don't go to Wilson. I go to Heritage Oak," drawled Morgan.

"Isn't that a um, special school? For really smart kids?"

"And troublemakers," put in Brandon.

"It is certainly
not
a correctional facility, little brother," corrected Morgan. "It's for the highly gifted. Obviously not you," she observed.

"That hurts a lot, Morgan. I thought we were family!" said Brandon, pretending to be upset.

Morgan patted her brother lightly on the back. "Now that you bring that up, I guess you should know that I don't tell people I have a twin."

"You guys are twins?" cried Shelley.

"Fraternal," Brandon said grimly.

"But you look nothing alike!"

"Hence
fraternal
, Einstein," sneered Morgan. "God you blondes are dumb."

Ouch.

"It's called streaks, genius. I'm a natural brunette," snapped Shelley.

"Touchy, touchy, aren't we?" Morgan grinned like a maniac. "And don't bother telling me how my brother is in bed. That's something I really don't want to know."

Shelley gagged inwardly. "Excuse me? What makes you think I would know how your brother is in bed?"

Morgan raised a just-waxed brown eyebrow. "Are you telling me he hasn't nailed you yet?"

"Morgan, you don't need to know about my personal life!" Brandon said at the top of his voice. "You are my sister. Make me mad. But don't talk about my sex life in public!"

"I was just curious, gosh. Looks like I'm not the only one on my time of month!" joked Morgan.

Brandon groaned loudly. Morgan shot him a dirty look.

"Hey Shelley you got a tampon I can have?" Morgan said to Shelley.

"I don't need to be hearing this," he muttered.

"If you don't shut up I'm gonna stick the tampon up
your
ass, got it?" Morgan said irritably.

Brandon immediately shut up and pretended to be interested in looking out the window. Morgan flashed Shelley a bright smile as Shelley discreetly handed over a tampon.

"Come with me," Morgan ordered.

Knowing it would be in her best interest to comply, Shelley obediently got up and excused herself. She followed Morgan into the bathroom, where Morgan briskly locked herself in a stall while Shelley waited.

"You know, if you have the impression that I don't like you, you're wrong," called Morgan.

"Is that so?' asked Shelley, inspecting her complexion in the mirror.

"Yeah. I just pretend to hate all of Brandon's girlfriends. I've never liked any of the girls he dates. They're so shallow and…" she trailed off, trying to think of a good word.

The toilet flushed.

"Empty-headed?" supplied Shelley. "Vapid? Slutty?"

"I was going to say boring, but those are much better," answered Morgan, coming out of the stall. She headed to the sink and said, "You know, you're not so bad. Brandon did well this time."

Shelley snorted. "I'm not dating your brother."

"Are you interested? Because if you are, I fully approve. I'll even do a little matchmaking, although I'm positive he likes you already."

"What? By the way he complains about me at home?" Shelley said sardonically.

Morgan shook her head; her honey brown locks moving along with her head. "I've overheard him talking to himself."

"Now I really do question his sanity."

"He really is a good guy," Morgan said earnestly, rinsing her hands and drying them with a towel. "If he really likes you he'll be good to you."

"Then obviously he doesn't like me. He's extremely disagreeable with me."

"Let me ask you this," Morgan said sharply, rounding on Shelley, "Do you like him?"

"Not particularly," Shelley answered dryly, "It's amazing that he can be related to you and your mom."

"That's only because he's letting you see the part he wants you to see. He'll change eventually; you'll see the Brandon Miller everyone else knows."

Shelley held the door open for Morgan, who sauntered out. She followed Morgan back to their table.

Brandon looked up and said, "Happy?"

"Are you insinuating that I was downright bitchy earlier?" Morgan said, clearly offended.

Brandon looked taken aback. "I-I w-was just wondering if you were in a better mood," he said, choosing his words carefully.

"Oh. Well in that case, I'm bright as a sunflower," Morgan replied cheerfully.

God it was like all of the Millers were moody. First Brandon, now Morgan. Who was next? Mrs. Miller?

Their food arrived and everyone ate in silence; apparently no one had bothered to eat breakfast. After everyone was done, Mrs. Sinclair and Mrs. Miller fought over paying the check. In the end, Shelley's mom won, but Mrs. Miller said, "I call it next time!"

On the way out, Brandon leaned in close to Shelley and whispered, "Don't think for even a second that just because my mom likes you means
we're
going to start getting all chummy. Brandon Miller doesn't do chummy."

"I wouldn't dream of it," snorted Shelley.

"Bye Shelley!" Morgan cried gaily, "Don't forget about what I said!"

Brandon narrowed his eyes. This time he didn't bother trying to be inconspicuous. "And just because my sister seems to like you doesn't mean we're going to be friends either."

"Who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself? Because I get the point!" Shelley said flatly. "I'm the coach and you're the player, in more ways than one."

"Fuck off, Sinclair, fuck off."

"Say that again and I swear I will make your life a living hell."

"Too bad, it already is with you in it."

"Hey, hey! Whoa, break it up here! You two need to chill out. Brandon, back off. Get in the car. Shelley, I apologize that my idiot of a brother has such a potty mouth. See you sometime soon, okay? I'll terrorize Brandon for you when we get home," said Morgan.

"Bye Morgan.
See you
Brandon," said Shelley as she turned to leave.

Shelley and her mom drove their cars home. They met in the garage. On the way inside the house, Mrs. Sinclair commented, "Well that was nice, don't you think? Jana's such a lovely person. And I'm sure Morgan and Brandon are just as sweet."

"Morgan, maybe," Shelley said bitterly, "But not Brandon."

"We were just talking about how you two would make a lovely couple," smiled Claudia.