Maybe Perfect

Skyler

It's been three days since I moved into Shane's house and things have been great. Tyler used to come by and ask me about my health and then the three of us would watch movies. As for Shane, we cleared our misunderstandings.

That also means I get my job back as his assistant. He really said that he would have not accepted my resignation if I applied for it.

It was not him and I feel bad for judging him. It made me feel guilty every time I saw him knowing the truth. Shane took his days off work to take care of me which was surprising as Tyler once said Shane never takes leaves from work whatever the reason. "The reports didn't arrive yet." He says and Tyler hands out an envelope to Shane.

"Are you talking about this?"

Shane takes a look at the envelope and nods."Yes."

"The postman handed it to me when I was entering. I have to go see a friend. I should leave. Take care, Skyler." I stood up from my seat and hug Tyler."Yeah.Good night Tyler."

"Bye Skyler."

"Bye Ty," Shane mumbles while hugging him. I love their bond as brothers. They stick for each other through thick and thin. Seeing them made me wish, maybe if I had a sibling.

"Skyler, you should get to sleep. It's late." Shane keeps the reports on the table and says. I take a look at the time. It was eleven only. There was no way I could sleep before one."I am not a child Shane. I am fine and I want to see the reports."

"I know you want to but you need rest. We can see it tomorrow." Did I mention how stubborn he gets for things like these? He won't listen to a no for an answer. He was correct. I was fine but I was exhausted. So I didn't argue with him. "Fine. I am going. Good night."

"Good night."

Shane

After Skyler went upstairs to sleep. I washed all the dishes and made some coffee. I sat by the couch and take a look at the papers Tyler brought. Then my attention lands on Skyler's reports. I open the envelope when the telephone rang.

I left the envelope on the table and went to receive the call. I pick up the phone. It was Mom. "Hello, Shane. You weren't picking up your phone so."

I noticed the charging socket and sigh. My phone was on charge but the switch was off. "My battery died and looks like when I told Ty to put it on a charge he didn't turn on the switch."

"Don't blame it on him. Is Skyler fine? Tyler told me about her."

"She is fine now."

"God bless her. It must be a hard time for her. Take care of her. I can exactly feel how she feels. I called you to invite you both to dinner. I want to meet her since I see my big boy changing a lot since she arrived and Tyler can't stop talking about her too."

"That's so not true. I am just helping her." Okay, maybe it's true. I did change a lot. A lot to be precise since she came. I laugh at the thought of it.

"You can't lie to me, Shane. I mean your Dad was helping me too. I was a stranger yet he let me stay at his house and gave me a job. Now you know the rest. Your situation reminds me of us."

"Ok, mom. We will see about that. I will be there with Skyler.Good night."

"See you tomorrow." After Mom hang up the phone. I was thinking about mom's words when I went upstairs to sleep. Was I only helping Skyler out? Obviously not. I knew it was something and then I see the light coming out of Skyler's room. I went in to check and she wasn't asleep. She had a diary in her hand and she was writing something so deep in thoughts that she didn't notice me. "You aren't asleep. What are you writing at this hour?"

"It's none of your business." She snaps back closing her notebook clutching it close to her chest. I pestered her into telling me. The secrecy was killing me. I wanted to know what she was writing.

"Come on. Tell me."

"It's a diary. I am going to sleep now. You can too."

"Show me." I come closer to her and she glares at me."It's a diary, not a notebook for you to read. Now let me sleep. Will you. Good Night."

"Good night." I was really curious now that I knew she has a diary. I also wanted to see if she has mentioned me in it. Don't blame me. I was really curious.

I step outside her room and stood outside. After some time when I felt she was asleep, I sneak in and as soon as I touch the book on the tabletop, she turns on the lamp and slaps my hand."Not a chance. Don't even think about it."

"I thought you were asleep." I was shocked. I really thought she was asleep. I sigh in disbelief. She is smart and knows me well. "I knew you would come in to see. So I faked that I was sleeping to catch you red-handed."

I was about to leave but then I remembered about the dinner mom said. I forgot to ask her. "Busted. Anyways since you are awake I wanted to tell you we are going to my parent's house for dinner. Mom invited you too."

She jumps off the bed and looks at me shocked not believing what I said. She stuttered while she spoke."What?No...no...I Uhm...I cannot I don't I noo nooo."

"It's fine. They are my parents. They will not eat you." I said with a smile to assure her. It's time, to be honest. If fate works in my favor and she has feelings for me. I will introduce her to them any which ways might as well now.

"What will I do at a family dinner?"

"Mom personally wants to meet you," I say and she thinks of something to get out of dinner. Now that she lives with me she cannot come up with an excuse.

She touches her forehead pretending she has a fever and coughs. If she weren't fine I wouldn't have agreed with mom in the first place. "I think I am feeling sick."

Typical Skyler, I know she is acting to escape but she can't act in front of me. "Nice acting you have. We are going. Please, She will feel bad if you don't show up."

"Fine."

*****

Shane

"Are you ready Skyler? I have been waiting for the last ten minutes now." I shout out for her from downstairs. I looked at my watch and impatiently waiting for her. What is taking her so much time?

"Is it good? Do I have to change? I never had dinner at somebody's place before, Shane..." She came down the stairs and I looked at her. She was wearing a sky-bluish frock embroidered with colorful flowers. She had matched it with blue feather earrings and gold heels.

Was she always this pretty or I am noticing this now. I was a fool to have not noticed it. Good, you look perfect. "You look fine."

I didn't know what to say. I am not used to complimenting girls. She frowns a little when I say you look fine. I sighed. I wonder how dad does it. He is so smooth and it's just so hard at least for me. I can only imagine how he does that.

"Let's go."

We get in my car and we start driving to my parent's place. I glanced over at Skyler and she looked out of the window drowned in thoughts. I had to call her that we reached and need to get down.

We stopped in front of the door. I could feel the nervousness radiating off her. I held her hand and she shifts her gaze at me.

"Don't worry. You already met Dad and Tyler. Mom and Taylor are nothing if you handled Tyler and Dad." She chuckles at my comment and I was relieved a little. She sighs

"I am joking. My mom is strict and Taylor is really really mean. Careful."

I could see the color of her face fade and now she was sweating. I could imagine what she was thinking. I laugh and she looked at me nervously.

"Relax. You are nervous. I am joking Skyler." I rang the doorbell and Mom opened the door. She hugs me as soon as she sees me.

"I missed you a lot."

"I missed you too but I will choke if you don't leave me," I say laughing and Mom pulled back. She turns to Skyler smiling."You must be Skyler."

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Smith." She said still nervous. I can't help she was nervous but in a little while, she will be comfortable. I was sure of that. "Don't be formal. Call me Ava. You look pretty."

"Thank you." She nods smiling. Mom lets us in."Everyone is waiting. Let's go in."

I could see her taking a look around. We walk over to the living room. Dad and Taylor were sitting on the couch and we sat down. Mom beside Dad and Skyler beside me. "I feel like I am intruding on your family dinner." She says and Dad replies to her."Oh no-no-no. It's totally fine."

"You already met Dad, Mom, and Tyler. That's Taylor, Tyler's evil twin." I say jokingly and Taylor rolls her eyes.

"Shut up. He is joking. He is the evil one of us. Nice to meet you, Skyler."

Taylor speaks up and Dad looks at me."Shane, A word with you." He then walks to his room

"Ok, Dad."

"I will be back," I whisper in Skyler's ear and then left with Dad. I wonder what he has to talk about. I hope it's not bad.

I followed him to his room and look around. It is the same as it used to be. I remember the times when Tyler, Taylor, and I slept in their bed and Mom Dad would read to us till we fell asleep.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"You tell me. Skyler and you. The last time you were fighting like you would kill each other with just your stare and suddenly I come to know. You carry her from the archive room when she collapsed and take her home. You go to her house to convince her to come back when she resigned and then you let her stay at your house and top of that you are taking leaves to take care of her. Surprising and shocking."

Looks like Tyler gave every update about Skyler and me to Dad and even if he didn't. I was pretty close to Dad and Mom. He knows me inside out. Of course, he would have suspected it. Anyone close to me will."How do you know? I didn't even say anything."

"I am your Dad. I have watched you grow. It's not normal when you allow your assistant to stay at your place. I know you and your love for your solitude." He says like it was obvious. If it is that obvious why can't Skyler see that? I remember Dad telling us their story of how they met in a bar and Dad allowed Mom to live with him when she was just a stranger. Then he hired as his assistant.

"I don't know. It all happened so fast. I have never felt like this for anyone before and I don't know what to do." In all my life, I never had such strong feelings for anyone. I dated a few girls in high school and college but nothing serious. The last relationship I had was in college which lasted three weeks. The longest I ever dated someone and the last. So when I started feeling things for Skyler, I was confused. I didn't know what to do.

"I knew it. You are not good at expressing your feelings but if you don't tell her about your feelings you might lose her to someone and then regret it later." David says. I was sure that I have strong feelings for her and I feared having heartbroken. What if she doesn't reciprocate my feelings? What if this is too fast."I feel this is too fast."

"When you know, you know. When I met your mother I knew she was the one. Yeah, things are different with you two but almost the same." Mom and Dad had an epic love story. I always admired how they were. I always wished if I were to find love. It would be like them. I cannot even compare myself to Dad. "Dad, you were an expert at this. I don't even know what to do. I couldn't compliment her when she asked me how she looked."

Dad laughs looking at me this nervous. There is always a first time."Don't worry about the outcome and just do it. You don't want to regret it later."

"Thanks, Dad. I knew you would know what to say." I hug him and I was relieved to talk with Dad. I wanted to talk to someone for a long time and talking with Dad helped me. I was no longer nervous than I was before. Then I heard Mom yelling."David, Don't tell me Shane and you are not coming out for dinner."

"Come on Shane. She will kill us."

We both laugh and immediately come out to the living room.

"Where is Tyler? I swear if he doesn't come in five minutes he will see my worst side."

"Text your brother. He is in big trouble." Dad whispered in my ear and I sent a text to Tyler immediately. I know how Mom can be when someone is late for dinner. We sat at the dinner table and I saw Skyler happy. I knew she would mix with them.

"I am back and that too before dinner." We all look at the door. Tyler came running through the door panting and gasping for breath. He takes a seat beside Skyler as Mom served dinner.

*****

"The dinner was delicious. I loved it." Skyler exclaimed. Mom is the best cook. She owns a chain of restaurants and Taylor helps her in the business."Thank you, dear."

"Skyler what about your parents? Where are they? Tell us about them." When Taylor asked Skyler about her parents I looked at her. She never talks about her parents and I knew she would not like it.

"You don't wanna know about them. Excuse me, I have to use the restroom." She had tears filled up in her eyes and she left the dinner table.

"Taylor, she doesn't talk much about her parents. Don't do that again. I will go see her." I went after her excusing myself from the dinner table. I saw her washing her face as wiped her tears.

"Skyler, I am sorry about Taylor."

"It's fine. Can we go home please?" She choked on her words. I knew she wasn't fine. I wish she could share her pain with me.

"Sure..." We came out and I hugged everyone and exchanged goodbye. Taylor apologized to Skyler and she smiles faintly. Then we headed home.

The ride back was silent and I didn't start the conversation because I knew it was a hard topic for her to talk about and I believe that she will tell me when she can.

As soon as we reached home she went off to sleep after saying good night.

Skyler

When Taylor asked me about my parents. I couldn't meet my gaze up to them. A wave of guilt washes over me. I had tried to not think of it the whole evening and I was dreading the question but then it goes.

I excused myself from the table finding it hard to control my tears.

Shane follows me and he apologizes but I don't know what to think.

We went back home and I went off to sleep but couldn't. I tossed and turned around the bed thinking of it. I cannot hide it anymore. I will tell him everything tomorrow morning. I was imagining how Shane would react.

The night was long. Early morning I took a shower and went downstairs for breakfast. We sat down at the table by the pool. Shane noticed my sadness. This is it. "Shane, there is something I want to tell you."

"Yess tell me, Skyler." I was hesitant at first. I was scared of Shane's reaction to it. He won't understand and I know it. No one has and I don't expect him to understand.

"You don't look fine. What do you have to say?"

Shane held my hand and comforted me. Whatever be it, He deserves to know and so I told him everything. How I went to the police station the other day to the truth.

He deserved to know even if that means he will kick me out once he comes to know about it. He didn't say a word and listened to everything. "Trust me, Shane, I didn't know anything about them when I met you. Please say something."

He had a blank expression on his face. He was analyzing what I just said. After a few moments, he said in a low tone. "Leave."

"I knew this would happen. Please give me a chance. I am not like them. I am sorry." I joined my hands trying to explain. He stands up and places his hands on the table with a loud thud. He yells at the top of his voice."I said leave..."

(Oh no! Shane knows and he is furious. What happens next? Will Skyler leave or she will convince him?)

Find out in next

...Thank you for reading...