Chapter 7: The Lunch
After a long and heavy workout - and I must say, having a handsome face is definitely unfair; I could feel a few girls at the gym flirting with me just through their eyes - I went to buy the groceries Gloria had asked for and then headed back home.
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Once I'd taken a shower, I spent some time browsing the internet.
"Basically, the stocks are behaving just like they did in my past life, with a few extra companies around," I murmured.
Apple, Nvidia and Amazon were the three I had studied the most thoroughly, the ones with the most complete data in my mind - though I still had plenty of information about other companies.
"Even the revenue and net profits are identical. Once I get the prize money, I can put part of it into call options."
The doorbell rang. I went downstairs and saw that the Dunphy family had arrived. I greeted everyone and sat on the couch with Haley, Alex, and Manny.
"Jake, got anything interesting to talk about?" Haley started the conversation.
"Well, you're going to meet the girl I'm seeing - Brenda Feldman," I replied, adjusting myself on the couch.
Haley leaned in, curious and hungry for gossip. "What's she like? Is she popular?"
Alex snorted at Haley's second question.
Before I could respond, the doorbell rang again.
"Jaaake, Brenda is here!" Gloria called from the door.
"I'm coming!" I yelled back, getting up and heading over.
"Hi, Bren," I greeted her with a small kiss on the lips.
"Brenda, this is Gloria," I introduced.
"His new mama," Gloria smiled warmly.
"That she is," I agreed with a grin. "Cool, right? I got a Latina mom."
Then I introduced her to the rest of the family. Brenda was a little shy at first, but nothing too serious.
After that, we sat back down on the couch, my hand resting gently on her waist.
"So, Brenda, you study at Venice High School?" Haley asked, noticing the pendant she wore.
"Used to," Brenda corrected. "This was my last year - I was a senior. I'm starting college in early September. But I'll be there in August for orientation."
"Which college are you going to?" Alex asked with mild interest.
"Yale. Chemistry major," Brenda replied.
"Yale??" Alex blurted out, stunned. "You're going to Yale? What are you doing dating my cousin?" she asked in disbelief.
"Thanks, Alex. Love you too," I muttered dryly.
We basically never talked properly; she just assumed I was kinda like Haley. Not that I had shown much of my intelligence.
"He's funny and a charmer," Brenda said, laughing as she glanced at me.
"You forgot good-looking and a good kisser," I smirked, flirting with her
"If you're going to Yale, why were you working at the mall?" Manny asked, intrigued.
"To earn money - to help pay for our Prom," she explained. "The treasurer lost all the funds and ran away. It was supposed to be in May, but we had to postpone it to the end of this month."
"How did that even happen?" Alex asked.
"He blamed a broker named Jimmy Cooper, but the broker denied everything. Jimmy's a rich guy from Pacific Palisades. In the end, John - the treasurer - just disappeared," Brenda explained, finishing the story.
"Look on the bright side - now you can go with me to Prom," I joked
"Oh my God! You've been in Los Angeles for barely two months and already have a Prom to go to?" Haley said, sounding betrayed.
"Prom? What Prom?" Claire asked, approaching with a glass of wine in hand. The rest of the adults - Mitchell, Cam, and Jay - were gathered nearby, while Gloria held Lily.
The conversation replayed itself for the adults, who quickly became impressed with Brenda.
"Chemistry major at Yale?" Claire murmured.
"I want to be a doctor," Brenda confirmed.
"Ay, Jake, you need a beautiful suit for Prom!" Gloria spoke, excited by the idea.
"I've already found some good ones to rent," I pointed out.
"No need! Jay will buy one for you, right, Jaay?" Gloria overruled me immediately.
Jay chuckled and patted my shoulder. "I'll buy you a new suit - but you'll have to take good care of this girl. She seems like a nice one." He gave Brenda a polite nod.
Then we all sat down to eat some traditional Colombian food.
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Later, the Dunphys were the first to leave - surprisingly to Alex's dismay, since she enjoyed talking with Brenda. After that, Mitchell, Cam, and Lily (who had to be pried from Gloria's arms) said their goodbyes as well.
"I think I'll go too, Jake. I need to study," Brenda said softly.
"Study? You're just starting college!"
"I want to finish AP Calculus AB/BC, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, and AP Physics so I won't have to take them in college," she clarified.
"I can help with all of them. Only in biology my knowledge isn't that high," I offered.
"You?" she asked, astonished.
"You think I can't handle it?"
"I don't want to say something hurtful…" she hesitated, then smiled. "Okay. But if this is just a trick to get me into your room, I'll be mad."
"It's not," I shook my head, then added with a grin, "Although the tuition fees will be paid with kisses."
She rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless.
Gesturing towards my room, I went to talk to Gloria and Jay first - they'd told me to feel at home, but I still thought it polite to let them know.
"Are you going to study with her in your room?" Jay looked at me, not convinced.
"Which subject?" Gloria joined Jay, crossing her arms.
"She wants to be a doctor, so… human anatomy," I joked, earning a slap on the arm from Gloria.
"I'm kidding, kidding. We'll be studying calculus, physics, chemistry, and biology."
"And you actually know about that?" Jay asked skeptically.
"I can handle it."
"Okay, but leave the door open," Gloria warned.
"No problem. But we'll be making out during the breaks. And if it weren't for Manny, an open door wouldn't stop me anyway," I said playfully, already running to dodge another slap from Gloria.