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Lisa's Family Dinner with the Woods
After a long day, Lisa hurried home, eager to wash away the stress of school. She took a long, soothing shower, then slipped into comfortable clothes, trying to shake off the anxious feeling building inside her. Just as she settled onto her bed, there was a soft knock on her door.
"Lisa, can I come in?" It was her mother.
"Sure," Lisa replied, perching on the edge of her bed. "Good evening, Mom. How was your day?"
Her mother entered and sat beside her. "Busy, as usual. The restaurant was chaotic today."
Lisa admired her mom, who was a talented chef and owned a thriving restaurant. "So, how was school?" her mother asked, her expression shifting from fatigue to curiosity.
"It was great! And guess what?" Lisa took her mother's hands excitedly.
"What?" her mom asked, a smile creeping across her face.
"I made a new friend! Girls' night is on!" Lisa squealed, her excitement contagious.
"That's wonderful! I'm so happy for you," her mother beamed, genuinely pleased.
"Her name is Cassie Blake, and she's really nice," Lisa added, her thoughts drifting to the fun they would have.
Her mother's expression faltered momentarily. "What happened to Jade? I saw her earlier, and she looked... upset. Do you know what's going on?"
Lisa sighed, then recounted everything that had happened at school, omitting nothing. When she finished, her mother looked thoughtful.
"Regardless of what she did, don't push her aside. She's still family. It might not be easy, but please do it for me."
Lisa nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. "I won't, Mom. I promise."
"Good. When you're ready, come down for dinner. I made chocolate cake for dessert," her mother said as she stood to leave.
Once alone, Lisa grabbed her laptop and scrolled through videos she'd saved from Liam, trying to distract herself from thoughts of Jade. The evening slipped away, and before she knew it, Friday had arrived.
As she got ready for school, her dad walked in with an announcement. "We'll be having dinner at Mr. Woods' house tonight."
Lisa's heart sank. "Dad, can we skip it? I was really looking forward to girls' night."
Her dad raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Who's Mr. Woods?"
Lisa's stomach churned. "You know, Lucas Woods' dad?"
Her father chuckled, "You don't have a problem with him, do you?"
"No, not at all. Just didn't expect it, that's all." Lisa's voice was steady, but inside, she felt turmoil. She longed to be with Cassie, not to sit through a stuffy dinner.
"Anyone against going?" her dad asked, glancing around. When silence followed, he declared, "We'll leave by six. I'll make it up to you for ruining your plans."
"Okay," Lisa muttered, her heart heavy.
Suddenly, Jade piped up, "Uncle Scott, is Mr. Woods Lucas' dad?"
"Yes, dear. I hope you'll get along with him," her father replied.
"Sure! If you say so!" Jade grinned, clearly excited.
Lisa couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I'm sure Lucas will be thrilled to see you," she quipped, sarcasm lacing her tone.
Jade shot her a glare but said nothing. Their mother interjected, "Lisa, mind your manners!"
"What? I was just stating a fact," Lisa replied, but her mom ignored her. She sighed, resigning herself to the dinner.
During lunch, Lisa shared her disappointment with Cassie. "I can't believe I have to cancel girls' night for a dinner!"
Cassie's frown deepened. "That's such a bummer. I even told Jason about our plans!"
"Don't worry," Lisa reassured her. "Dad promised to make it up to me. He's always generous when he makes promises."
"But I'm really upset," Cassie lamented, her disappointment palpable. "What about Jason? He's probably laughing at me right now."
Just then, Jason appeared, pulling up a chair beside them. "What's this about laughing?"
"Nothing!" Cassie protested, clearly flustered.
"Don't be shy, Cass. You're talking to me, right?" Jason nudged playfully.
"Not about you!" Cassie shot back.
Lisa sensed Jason's relentless curiosity. "We're not having girls' night anymore," she said, deciding to spare Cassie from further embarrassment.
"Why not?" Jason asked, genuinely intrigued.
"Because my dad planned dinner with his friend," Lisa explained.
Jason burst into laughter, tears forming in his eyes. "So I'm the one she didn't want to see?" He grinned at Cassie.
Cassie crossed her arms, feigning annoyance. "As if you'd ever be that lucky."
"Seriously? You guys need to lighten up," Lisa said, frustration creeping in.
"Lisa's getting mad!" Jason teased, ruffling her hair. "Don't skip meals; I like you just the way you are!"
Lisa laughed despite herself, and soon they were all giggling, the tension easing.
Meanwhile, at the Woods residence, Lucas was taken aback by his father's announcement about the dinner. He didn't think much of it until he overheard his mother ask which family they were visiting.
"Mr. Powers," his father replied.
Lucas's heart raced. Lisa's family? He felt a strange excitement bubble within him. Why? He didn't know, but it felt significant.
Later that day at school, Lucas couldn't wait to see Lisa, but she was absent, leaving him disappointed. He finally spotted her during lunch, her laughter ringing out as she chatted with her friends. A wave of jealousy washed over him as he noticed how she smiled at the boy beside her, ignoring him completely.
He couldn't pinpoint when his feelings for her had developed, but he knew he was ready to pursue her. He silently vowed to make Lisa his.
"Dude, you're staring at her again," Derek interrupted, dragging Lucas from his thoughts.
"I'm not staring," Lucas snapped defensively.
"Yeah, right. You always look like that when she's around," Derek teased.
"Whatever. It's not like I'm planning on talking to her," Lucas said, irritated.
"Wanna skip the family dinner and hang out with me instead?" Derek suggested, knowing how much Lucas hated these events.
"No, I think I'll pass. I want to keep this one personal. Just family," Lucas replied, determination settling in.
"Sure, man. Your loss," Derek shrugged, but Lucas felt relieved that he hadn't hurt his friend's feelings.
As the evening approached, Lucas found himself both eager and anxious.
Meanwhile, Lisa's mother called from downstairs. "Lisa, are you ready yet?"
"Just a minute!" Lisa shouted back.
She admired herself in the mirror, wearing a chic black silk dress that hugged her figure perfectly. With minimal makeup and her hair styled elegantly, she felt a mix of confidence and unease.
"You look stunning, sweetheart!" her mother exclaimed as Lisa descended the stairs, earning a proud smile from her father.
At the Woods residence, Lucas was ready for the evening ahead, though he couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation bubbling inside him. The moment he heard the knock on the door, he raced downstairs, heart pounding.
Lucas opened the door, only to be met by a pizza delivery guy. "Uh, wrong address," he muttered, shutting the door quickly, feeling a mix of annoyance and excitement.
When he finally saw Lisa and her family arrive, he felt his breath catch in his throat. Lisa looked breathtaking, and for a moment, all thoughts of the dinner faded away, leaving only the desire to connect with her.
"Lucas! Good evening!" Mrs. Powers exclaimed, her voice warm.
He nodded, swallowing hard, his gaze locking onto Lisa's, who was trying her best to act nonchalant.
"Wow, my girls look beautiful!" Mr. Woods said, beaming at both Lisa and Jade.
In that moment, the stage was set for an evening that would change everything.