You're My Backbone

"Pizza's here! Come and get it bitches!" John shouted from the front door. Pat stood up and rushed over to my brother who held three boxes of pizza in his hands. Pat took the top box and peered in.

He made a disgusted face. "Anchovies?"

"That would be mine." Halvo took the box out of Pat's hands and walked in the dining room.

We followed Halvo into the room and gathered around the large table, grabbing slices out of the boxes and pouring ourselves soda.

I took a seat next to Garrett who was filling his cup.

"They gave us salad?" John scrunched his eyebrows together,pulling a plastic container of salad out of a brow paper bag filled with utensils. "Shit. How much did I pay for this?"

Jared patted John on the back. "Oh well. Who wants salad?"

The guys decided on taking some salad and John walked into the kitchen to find a spoon to serve it as the rest of us began to enjoy our lunch.

John invited the guys over for no apparent reason, but I didn't mind. Ever since John confessed that he was cool with Garrett and I going out, everything had been a lot better. Garrett and I actually got alone time and there really was no drama revolving around.

"So... June.... Garrett, what's happening with prom?" Pat asked wiggling his eyebrows.

Garrett rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I asked her about a month ago Pat."

"Oh la la." Halvo joked.

"Who are you guys going with?" I asked, taking a bite of my pizza.

"I asked Gianna Harvey," Kennedy said. "she turned me down."

"Aw Ken." I commented,expressing my sorrow.

"She's a bitch anyway," Halvo commented. "In third grade, I let her borrow some of my crayons, and I had the good pack too- ninety fucking two various color assortments in that pack. Anyway, she gave them back to me and about half of them were run down, some M.I.A and the rest were completely broken."

Halvo shook his head, biting into his pizza.

"Whoa there." Kennedy raised his eyebrows.

"Freaking bitch." Halvo mumbled.

I shook my head and let out a laugh.

"Me and Olivia Tyler are going together." Pat confessed, looking away from the table.

"What?!" Jared exclaimed. "Olivia Tyler, as in the girl you've had a crush on since, I don't know, kindergarten?"

Pat blushed lightly and shrugged.

"That'a boy Pat." Garrett raised his plastic cup to Pat and the rest of the guys followed.

"We're not technically together, but I think I might ask her the night of prom."

"Hey don't worry about it," Halvo assured him, "not all of us can be as lucky as those two lovebirds over there and actually be in a relationship."

I peered over at Garrett, stifling my smile. He cracked a grin and leaned in. I quickly pecked him on the lips and the guys bursted out in a chorus of "Awwws."

"Hey hey!" John exclaimed from across the table. He was waving a wooden spoon at us, which I assumed was for the salad.

"None of that at the table! Or in the house for the record."

I rolled my eyes jokingly and backed away from Garrett.

"That's what I thought. Now who wants this damn salad?" John asked and received responses from a couple of the guys.

From behind me, a throat cleared. I turned around to find my mother standing there with her arms crossed over her chest. The room fell silent and I let out a heavy sigh. No doubt that she just saw Garrett and I.

"June, could I please speak with you?" She asked.

"Yeah." I stood up and glanced at Garrett who was giving me a hopeful expression. I returned it with a less than enthusiastic smile.

I followed my mother into the hallway, where the boys still could hear us clearly. I shook my head and ignored this. Sometimes my mother wasn't the brightest....

"I thought you said that boy wasn't your boyfriend." She questioned.

"That was then. This is now." I stated.

"So he is your boyfriend?"

"Yes."

I mother shook her head and gaped at me. "What is this about June? Since when have you started-"

"Mother," I cut her off and closed my eyes. I sucked in a breath before I began. "I love you. I really do. You're my mom and I know you're only trying to help me reach a better life, especially considering what this family and I have been through in the past few years. But, god, Mom, I like him a lot. I've never had a boyfriend before and this is my first and in all honesty, I've been cautious. I've never jumped into a relationship before and Garrett and I were friends before this."

"I don't even understand why you started hanging out with your brothers friends, who happen to be boys."

I rolled my eyes. "They're good kids mom. They are in no way like John's old friends in Colorado. They're polite and nice and decent and just," I shook my head, sighing."you don't know them."

My mother continued shaking her head and avoiding eye contact with me.

"Listen to me, please. That's all I ask."

She finally looked up at me.

"Garrett is so sweet and so good to me. You have to let me live sooner or later Mom. I know your intentions are clear and good, and I thank you for that, but you don't have to be worried about these guys. They're my friends," I looked at her and bit my lip. I then released it and sucked in a breath. "I finally have friends Mom. A boyfriend who cares about me for crying out loud."

She was silent, looking down at the ground.

"He asked me to prom," I licked my lips, waiting for a response."I'm going with him too."

She finally looked up at me, her eyes glassy. She nodded her head. "Okay, okay."

I smiled lightly and hugged her lightly. "Thank you." I responded.

I let my mother in the hallway and walked back into the dining room, which was quiet. I raised and eyebrow, grinning. "Eves-droppers."

The guys erupted in laughter as I took my seat next to Garrett. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. Once I was, he pressed his lips to my temple. I sunk into his side and closed my eyes. I smiled as I opened them and noticed my brother looking at Garrett and I with a light and pleasant smile across his face as the rest of the guys continued on with a different conversation.

I guess he fully approves.

"June! Who's taking you to get your prom dress?" Kennedy asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't really thought about it."

"I wanna go!" Pat cheered.

I furrowed my eyebrows together. "You like shopping for dresses?"

"Well, I want to help you."

"I'm coming too." Halvo announced.

"Same here." Jared waved and I laughed lightly.

"I'll go." Kennedy joined in.

"What the hell is wrong with you people?" John questioned. "Do you even know what it's like shopping with a girl?"

"Yeah, but this is different. It's a dress." Pat said.

John shook his head. "She's still a girl."

"Good to know." I nodded my head and Garrett chuckled next to me, the only one who understood.

"Well, you don't have to come John." Halvo said.

"Fine. I won't."

"Good, no one wants a Debbie downer anyway." Halvo stuck out his tongue, then looked over at Garrett and I. He pointed his finger at Garrett. "And you, don't even think about coming."

"Why?"Garrett asked.

"You're not allowed to see the dress! That's the number one rule!" Pat announced.

"It's prom! Not a wedding!"

The guys shook their head and I gave Garrett a smile.

"Fine! Gare and I will do manly shit without you guys then!" John stood up and crossed his arms over his chest.

I shrugged. "I'm fine with that."

"Good."

I rolled my eyes and laughed. "Have fun."