We Got Something They Don't

I met up with Matt in front of my locker. He was wearing what he had on when we arrived at the school: jeans and a long t-shirt. His hair was the way it was when we got out of the car—clean and perfect. Not that I thought he was the grey-hoodie-wearing-stalker-but a part of my brain suspected everyone.
“How was your run?”
“Good, calming, up to a point.”
“Did you trip?”
“No,” I replied as he took ahold of my backpack so I could open my locker. “Just thought I saw someone watching me.”
“Some people like to use the track, if they can get onto the grounds. Maybe they were afraid you’d rat them out.”
“I’ll go with that,” I replied.
“I mean, maybe it was cheerleader serial killer,” Matt said with a slight smile.
“Not helping.”
“Sorry.”
“You’re forgiven.”
“Are you still coming over this weekend for the ritual? I mean, dinner?”
“Yes, and, speaking of rituals, my grandmother wants you to come see her for Thanksgiving."
"In Missoula?"
"Yes, how does that sound?"
"Sure. How does the rest of your family feel about it?"
"I haven't asked, but Grans usually has the last say. But they actually like you now."
"They do? I’m still pretty sure your uncle wants to bury me under concrete somewhere in Riverfront Park.”
“You wouldn’t have gotten in front door if he felt that way.”
Matt looked away for a moment and then back to me. Something was on his mind. “My parents, they’re going to ask like a million questions. It’s their nature.”
“What do I need to study up on?”
“Well, we need to make sure our how we got together story is kind of tight.”
“You’re right. I guess we can’t say we met years ago. Do they know?”
“I described you as the girl I knew for a long time but could never get close to.”
“So they don’t know?”
“There’s no reason to tell them. If you want to say it, then we can. I’m behind you either way.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“I’m all for however you want to do it, but, it’s not necessary. That person isn’t you.”
“I know,” I replied as he put his free hand on my shoulder.
“So you like spaghetti?”
“As long as there’s garlic bread.”
“Oh yes, so much that we never have to worry about vampires.”
I gathered the rest of my books and we walked down the hall to our respective classes.

I wanted to think that Matt’s parents would simply ignore us. Maybe a question here and there but it wasn’t like we were courting or were betrothed since birth to one another.
Since I didn’t have siblings growing up, I had missed out on the experience of having a large family. Of course, with my parents, maybe that was a good thing. Still, the thought of having someone else to talk about things and bounce ideas of of…Sure, I had Krys, and I was grateful we lived close to each other, but how would I had been if we more siblings or cousins?
“My brothers can be a a little obnoxious with saying things without thinking. One wonders where they get that?”
“It’s a mystery.”
“I’ll keep them in line.”
“No, no, let them be, I mean, what’s the worst thing they could say?”