Everglow

Chapter Nine: Coward

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Rowan's POV

We all sat around the dinner table, each with a plate of Finn's famous spaghetti and meatballs in front of us. I wasn't in the right headspace to be sociable this evening, but here I am, surrounded by my family, Victoria and Eva.

One weight had been lifted off of my shoulders since Victoria apologised and I'd come to the understanding of why she told the school of Melissa bullying me. It's something I have to accept now, I can't go back in time and change things; but the ache of anxiety from the whole day was unfortunately still taking its toll on me.

Dad had informed me of the parent meeting that I had to attend with him tomorrow morning at the school, with Melissa and her father being there too and I don't think I'm ready to face her so soon; I couldn't think of anything worse.

I looked over towards Dad, who was sat at the head of the table, he was spinning some spaghetti onto his fork; He seemed tense. Hell, the whole atmosphere around the dinner table has been tense ever since Hunter was shouted at by him to 'get his ass downstairs'. Eva, Vic and I couldn't hear what was being said downstairs after that and I was in no mood to eavesdrop; I have worries of my own. But now we're all having to suffer the awkwardness it's caused.

"This is really good spaghetti, by the way Finn." Victoria broke the silence.

"It really is." Eva agreed with her.

"Thanks girls." Finn smiled back at them before turning his sights onto me. "How about you, Ro? Enjoying it?"

"Mhm." I barely nodded and avoided eye contact by looking down at the plate of spaghetti and twirling some of it around my fork.

"You haven't even taken one bite of it." Finn pointed out.

"I'm not that hungry." I shrugged.

"You've not eaten all day, Ro." Aaron spoke up from beside dad.

I shrugged again and leaned back in my seat.

"Lost my appetite." I continued to stare down at the plate of food that looked delicious, but I couldn't bring myself to eat, and the third awkward silence of the evening settled upon us all again.

"A'ight imma head out." Asher slammed both palms down on the table and pushed himself up from his chair.

"Sit back down, Ash." Dad said a little too forcefully, he sure wasn't taking shit from anybody today.

"I'm done though." Asher gestured to his empty plate.

"Well you're not leaving until everyone's done."

"Rowan hasn't even attempted to start eating!" He slumped back down in his chair. "we'll be here forever. I've got things to do."

Dad loudly dropped his fork on his plate, making us all wince. "Why've you always got to ruin dinner for us with your annoying and snarky attitude?"

"This dinner was ruined before it even started, thanks to Hunter." Asher raised his voice in defence. He wasn't wrong.

"Me?" Hunter feigned surprised. "You mean thanks to Maddox for snitching on me to dad."