ANTEBELLUM: XI

RAMSEY BIANCHI

I PUSHED PAST THE DOUBLE DOORS THAT LEAD INSIDE VANITY FAIR'S BUILDING, ETHAN TRAILS BEHIND ME WEARING ONE EARBUD ON. I step back, encircling my arm around his, before we continue our walk toward Aunt Ivana's office. Ethan pushes the elevator's button, seconds later the elevator doors open and we step in, the door sealing behind us.

 I push the seventh-floor button as it begins to move upward, I step back with a content sigh as I turn to Ethan with a smile.

"Well, someone's a happy loser," Ethan mumbles, his expression amused as he stares at my happy smile.

I decided to act as if it was nothing, "Oh, tu sabes, life is present. I'm just happy to be alive and healthy, those are good reasons to be happy."

Ethan raises an eyebrow, his expression clearly stating he didn't buy it. "Okay, loser. You're acting strangely, you're either being your sarcastic self or your Kill Bill self, there's no in-between."

I shrug, my smile never wavering. "Well, there's always a first."

Ethan groans loudly, "Come on, spill it. Don't leave me in the dark here."

Unable to contain my own excitement, I burst into fits of giggles as I turn to face my cousin, Ethan stares at me. Half eager and half scared, I do admit he has a point, it's been a while since I've felt this much excitement and happiness for something. I wasn't even this excited when Coach announce Midtown Track and Field was participating in the Outdoors Nationals, and running is like my utopia. This is all Peter Parker's fault, this boy changes my attitude in seconds, I can be grumpy but if he crosses my peripheral vision my whole demeanor changes into something more relaxed and content. It's incredible how you change over a stupid crush, gee.

"He he, this loser has a date!" I squeal like a little girl; Ethan's eyes widen in horror just as the elevator's door dings open.

"God has mercy on that poor soul," Ethan says, my smile drops and turns into a scowl as we both step into the editing floor.

"Excuse me, he was the one who asked me out!" I defended myself, I knew Ethan was just saying things to get to me, but who said I was mature?

Ethan scoffs, I walk beside him with my arms crossed. "Right, and who is this dude who asked you out on a date? Are you sure it was a date, tho? I mean, you could have imagined—"

"— Peter Parker." I cut him off with a proud smirk, Ethan threw me a glance before a teasing smile appeared on his face.

"Uhh, wait until Mom hears of this. I had a bet running between her, Connor, and me to see if Parker made a move, seems like I won forty bucks." His grin was as big as a gold digger.

I pressed my lips together as I grimace, the newfound truth of my family betting on my love life made me feel embarrassed and very uncomfortable. Made me wonder also, how did they know. I never told them about my crush on Peter, not even Connor knows, and he's the one I speak the deep stuff to. I frown as I thought of the last and only person on my list of friends.

"I'm so gonna kill Gwen." Ethan drops his arm around my shoulder and pulls me to him as we near my aunt's office.

"Ramsey, honey, we all found out the night of your birthday." I shoot him a questioning look, "You see, when you wander off on your own for too long, Mom sent Connor to look for you and I tag along. We found you laughing and posing for Mr. Parker, that was such a Rose, and Jack saw you two pulled off. That's how Connor, Mom, and I found out."

I groan in defeat, knowing fully well Aunt Ivana is gonna question me about everything. I can almost picture her as Ceaser Flickerman asking me for the details.

"Lord have mercy," I mumble to myself.

Ethan eagerly pushes me inside my aunt's office, she looks up from some papers scattered on her desk. "Hello, my ducklings."

Both Ethan and I groan at her embarrassing nickname, Aunt Ivana smiles nonetheless and wraps her slim arms around us. She squeezes us before placing a tender kiss on our cheeks. "Come, I need your help with this magazine cover."

I walk beside her. "Hold on, you're gonna want to hear this."

I close my eyes and mumble, "Someone kill me now."

"Our sweet little, Ramsey, has a date." I open my eyes as I stare out of the window, refusing to meet my aunt's curious stare. "Care to venture a guess of whom this valiant and chivalrous man is?"

"You're the worst." I direct my gaze at Ethan, who just winks proudly at me.

Aunt Ivana gasp, "Don't tell me it is who I think it is?" Ethan's smirk widens, "Peter Parker?"

"Bingo! We got a winner! Ding! Ding! Ding!" Ethan cups his hands around his mouth as he turns in circles while chanting, before stopping abruptly. "You owe me twenty bucks, by the way."

Aunt Ivana jumps as she squeals in delight before running to embrace me, I groan as she squeezes too hard. "Please, stop embarrassing me." I cried dramatically.

Aunt Ivana pulls back; her arms securely place on my arms as she stares at me with excitement. "Tell me everything, give me the details, girlie."

"Ahem, the twenty bucks, mademoiselle." Ethan placed his palm up.

Aunt Ivana throws him a glare. "First, we have to hear it from her. See if it was her who asked him out, or was it, Peter."

They both turn to look at me, I made a mental note to never share anything with my family ever again.

"He tried to ask me out, but he never got the words out, so I invited him to Holy Tacos tomorrow." I simplify the story, shrugging as I gently remove my aunt's hands from my arms.

I moved toward her desk and examined the five different covers for next month's Vanity Fair Magazine, all while ignoring Ethan's tantrum full of denial while my aunt tease him about what a sore loser he is. In simpler words, the scene was chaotic.

"No! No! I refuse to believe that!" Ethan shook his head, "She's lying just to get to me."

"That's what you get for celebrating early, everyone knows not to do that." Aunt Ivana places her hand on her hip, "Now, go get me a black coffee. Rams, you want something?"

I look up from the desk. "Same as you."

"Very well, now off you go."

"And the money?" Ethan asks, Aunt Ivana just sent him a knowing look, causing him to groan once he realized he was about to pay his part of the bet. "Women." He mumbles in annoyance as he exits the office and made his way to the company's cafeteria.

🅷🅾🅻🅰

HOLA RAZA!! Honestly
It's so adorable to see
Ramsey, so hyped for her
Date with Peter. Also Ethan
Is THAT kid that uses movie
References to explain himself,
Reminds me of myself.

HAHAHA

Also, who of you guys watch
13rw?? I CAN'T WAIT FOR
THIS NEW SEASON. I feel like
It's going to make me cry, this
Series is so emotional but its
Definitely worth it. I feel like
Something BAD is going to
Happen to one of them, as a
Consequence.

Tell me what'd you expect
Of this season finale.

ALSO, don't forget to give this
Chapter love.

Stay safe, kids💘