East Kids - Tessa & Elijah

Chapter 14

Elijah

"Are you finally done, Elijah?" my father shouts from downstairs. I sigh annoyed. "Give me another minute", I keep closing my shirt. He discussed it with me almost the whole day and to finally have my peace, I agreed after some time. After all, I really don't feel like discussing the whole day.

I really don't understand why I should dress up for this meal. It's just a visit to the restaurant and nothing more. Parents always have to panic unnecessarily.

I quickly slip into a pair of black shoes and tighten my belt. The trousers are not really my size. A last look in the mirror tempts me to go through my hair again before I leave my room.

Quite leisurely I walk down the stairs and try not to turn around again.

Not that I'm afraid to have dinner with this family, but I just don't feel like it. Once my father is in love, it's like a drug rushing through a body. Then he forgets me and everything that was important to him and has only eyes for her. And if it is not so, he will still demand that I get along well with them. But that is the last thing I want. Already now I can say that it will never be the same again, as before, if their relationship works. Besides, Dad's flame has a daughter and the last thing I want is a sister.

"There you are at last", out of the corner of my eye I see his expectant look. It was once again so clear that he would demand good behaviour from me. Unfortunately this is only not my thing at all. "Yes, finally", my tone is hard and emotionless.

"Great", he doesn't seem to have noticed that I'm not happy about what he's up to: "Let's go." The elevator doors open and we enter together.

My fingers close around the metal railing that was attached to the wall of the elevator for the older people here in the house. I use the unyielding material to finally release some pressure. Why did my father have to buy another woman? Aren't the people he already has enough for him?

The journey to the restaurant takes a felt eternity, in which my father and I sit quietly next to each other and do not say a word. Apparently he noticed that I was not looking forward to the coming event with much joy. But I haven't dared to say that to his face yet. He seems to be really happy and even if I don't feel that way, I don't have to destroy his mood before the meeting starts. That would be really bad even for me.

Relaxed, he steers the car to the parking lot behind the pizzeria we are going to today, slows down the pace and stalls the engine awkwardly. Sometimes I really wonder where he learned to drive.

But before we get off, he turns on his seat to me: "Please be friendly to Hayley and her daughter, Elijah". I sigh reluctantly: "I'll try. But I can't promise." "All right, that's enough for me," he unbuckles and gets out before I have another chance to reply.

One last time take a deep breath and do it right away. How the meeting will go so far, I cannot estimate at all. Either it will be all right or total hell.

I look skeptically at the pizza house. "What kind of woman is that if she wants to go to this store," I judge skeptically. My father gives me an examining look: "I suggested this place." "Why is that then?", my tone is a little derogatory when I look at the shop. "I just wanted to try something new", he shrugs his shoulders indifferently. "But that's not a permanent state, is it?" I sound skeptical. "Don't be so cynical, son," he rebukes me: "You promised to be friendly." "I know," I admit. "But only when we're inside the restaurant."

Without another word, he grabs my arm and pulls me inside the restaurant. It was clear that he would take me at my word again. So he just opens the swing doors and storms in. So within a few seconds I'm standing between some other guests in the restaurant and would love to sink into the ground. What did my father get me into?

But since I promised to behave myself - or rather to try it - I am pleased to ask: "Is your girlfriend already there? I watch him as he lets his gaze wander through the room. Strangely enough, it's quite revealing to see how his facial expression changes. At first he is quite neutral, but when he doesn't seem to find it, his mood drops a little. But then the corners of his mouth rise at once and his eyes begin to glow.

A little confused by his reaction, I follow his gaze. A dark-haired woman waves to him, also smiling. She seems to be about his age.

Immediately I have to admit to myself that she looks very nice and seems to be really happy to see my father. She earns me some extra points, but I would never admit that.

Her daughter seems to be standing next to Dad's girlfriend. As soon as I see her, one of my eyebrows goes up. Because although she turns her back to me, she looks a little familiar to me. I just feel like I know the way the black hair falls over her shoulders and the proportions of her body. Oh my God" is the only thing I can say when our eyes meet. Almost instantly my heart sinks into my pants. Seriously? Why does my life hate me so much!