The Speech

Chapter 12

Dylan's POV

"What are you doing here?" She asks me.
"Parents came home." I tell her. I know I just saw her this morning, but its feels like days. She's dressed up nice, a flowy strapless dress, with her wavy hair covering her shoulders. I miss her and I hate it.
"Well, enjoy your dinner." She says quickly and tries to walk away.
"Seriously?" I ask surprised by her tone.
"What do you want from me Dylan?" She asks with an exasperated sigh.
"An explanation? A conversation? A fucking Hello?" I try to stay calm but we both know I'm pissed.
"There's not much to say Dylan. We broke up this morning, it is what it is." She says, as carefree as she can.
"Yeah and over what?" I question.
"You know what." She says, crossing her arms.
"Right because I told you I found coke in your jacket pocket." I finally say it out loud for the first time.
"It's not because you found that. It's because you're gonna make a big fucking deal over it like the time I cheated and I just don't want to have shit thrown in my face anymore." She says annoyed.
"And why shouldn't I make a big deal about this May?" I ask, raising my voice a bit too much. She looks around, making sure no one overheard our conversation.
"Because it's not something to be worried about. I don't even do it often!" She defends.
"So what is the point of your infrequent coke usage? Honestly?" I ask her. She rolls her eyes.
"I just like it. From time to time I like to fucking snort coke for the same reason everyone else does it! It feels good. I like the way it feels. And you won't get that cause you've never done it Dylan." She looks defeated, which is not a look I often see on her. I reach my hand in my pocket, remembering how I put the bag in there.
"Then why don't I try it?" I ask her. She stares at me, shocked.
"You're crazy." She says with a laugh.
"Why? Because I wanna try the 'thing that's not a big deal'?" I ask sarcastically.
"Try it if you want Dylan, I don't give a shit if you do." She says with a roll of her eyes.
"Then let's go do it." I point my arm out in front of her, implying for her to lead the way.
"I don't have any on me thanks to you." She responds. I toss the Energizer bunny at her.
"There." I tell her. She opens it up, looking at the bag then back at me.
"I just want to experience the thing that's worth leaving me over." I say to her, she opens up the bathroom door, looking inside to see if anyone's in there. She looks back at me.
"Come on."

Theo's POV

"Here, taste." Haley holds a spoonful of sauce up to my lips.
"Well?" She asks.
"You're right, best in town." She smiles.
"I told ya. And don't go asking the recipe, it's a family secret." She says proudly. I give a laugh.
"Okay, I won't ask." I say. She reaches up into the cabinet and pulls down two wine glasses.
"And that's for?" I question. She sets them down and grabs a bottle from the fridge.
"Red wine pairs perfectly with this. I won't let you have it any other way." She demands.
"And your parents won't notice?" I ask. She laughs.
"They're Italian Theo, if I didn't have wine with my dinner they'd be ashamed." She tells me.
"How did I not know you were Italian?" I ask.

"My last name never gave it away?" She asks, confused. It's then that I realize I have no idea what her last name is.
"Maybe it would have... If I knew what it was?" I respond, ashamed.
"Theodore. You don't know what my last name is?" She says, astonished.
"Do you know mine?" I ask, trying to prove a point.
"Theodore. W. Blake." She says, hands on her hip, and eyes locked on mine.
"Oh wow, looky there... You've even got the middle initial. " I quietly say. She places a plate down in front of me, and pours a glass of wine.
"Looks like we need to get to know each other a little better before dessert." She only glances up at me after this statement.
"What does the W stand for by the way?" She asks.
"Wayne." I tell her.
"Savellini." She says, already answering my question.

She takes a seat next to me, her glass in hand.
"What else do you not know about me Theo?" She asks before taking a sip.
"Any siblings?" I question. She shakes her head.
"Only child, and I wouldn't want it any other way." She says confidently.
"Dig deeper Theodore." She tells me.
"What are you doing after high school?" My attempt at a better question is poor.
"Berklee. And yes all the way in Boston. That's why I have no intention of having a serious relationship in high school." She informs me.
"So that's why I only have your attention for tonight?" I retort.
"Well you've had it for longer than that Theo, but it's getting time for me to share it." She says with a smirk.
"I think we know plenty about each other." I tell her. She turns towards me.
"Oh yeah?" She says, batting her eyes.
"Enough to only have your attention for the rest of the night at least." I respond, trying to not look at her lips.
"But I can feel the conversations are about to get interesting."

Jackie's POV

Dylan's been gone for almost 20 minutes. It seems like I'm the only one who's noticed too, his parents are too fixated on Jayden right now to notice. And Avery looks like she's about to burst if her mother taps her hand one more time.
"Did I miss much?" I suddenly hear Dylan's voice whispering in my ear. I quickly look towards him, trying to check his appearance to see if anything happened.
"Only the adoring comments about Jayden." I respond, he laughs a little while taking his seat.
"Where did you go?" I ask him.
"Bathroom, I was sobering myself up a bit. Splashed some cold water on my face. Took a little longer to work than a shower." He winks at the end. His peppy tone is throwing me off a little. I'd say it's more likely that he snuck off to drink more with the charming attitude he has going.

The waiter comes back, placing down all our drinks. A scotch on the rocks is placed in front of Dylan and I quickly start to panic. Did he actually go off to the bar and get drinks? Did he order one more before walking away and forgot? Is he about to be busted right now, in front of his parents and this high end restaurant?"
"I didn't order this." Dylan tells the waiter, while trying to hand it back to him. His dad speaks up before the waiter can.
"I did son, have a drink with your old man." He pats him on the back. How did I miss him ordering that? Probably because you were obsessing over where Dylan was.
"Thanks dad, but I'm good." Dylan says, a smile still plastered on his face. He passes it along the table towards his dad.
"Since when do you pass on a drink with me?" His dad asks, sounding offended. He picks the glass up and harshly slams it down in front of him. Dylan's mom seems to be distracting the rest of the table from they're conflict. I can't seem to look away though. I notice under the table that Dylan is bouncing his leg at 90 mph and discreetly lay my hand on his knee. Dylan lifts the glass from the table, swirling the ice around.
"Whatever you want pops." He raises it to his lips and downs the whole drink, then slams the empty glass in front of his father.

Dylan looks down, seeing my hand on his knee and finally stops bouncing it. Sitting up straight and adjusting his legs, I slip my hand away. His dad does a quiet laugh, one that sounds like he would throw the glass at Dylan if he could. Then he gently moves the glass further to the center of the table.

Avery's POV

Mom won't stop showing us pictures from their trip. Picture after picture and somehow Jayden finds something to comment on, or ask about for every single one. My mom loves it, she gets to go on and on about herself. It only gets interrupted when the food finally arrives. There's three waiters here to set our food down, that way everyone gets their meals at the exact same time. It's crazy the little things that these high scale restaurant's do. Mom and dad are now breaking off into a conversation about business and Dylan seems to be chatting Jackie's ear off while she tries to eat. Jayden lays a hand on my shoulder.
"You doing okay?" He asks. I nod my head and give a smile.
"Yeah, great. Just a little tired." He gives me a sympathetic smile.
"You want me to stay over tonight? Give you a ride to school in the morning?" It's been a while since Jayden stayed over. Typically I send him home because I don't want him to see what I actually look like in the morning, before the makeup and the hairdo. So any time he stays over, I wake up extra early just to do myself up and lay back down. It's exhausting, hence why he doesn't stay often.
"Yeah, that sounds good." Guess I won't be getting too much rest tonight.

I look over at Dylan and Jackie and see her raising a hand to his forehead. In a check your temperature kind of way.
"Is Dylan okay?" I whisper over to Jayden and he plays telephone over to Jackie. Instead of a verbal response she shoots me a look full of worry that says "I have no idea". His food still sits in front of him, not a bite taken. My father seems to notice it at the same time I do.
"Eating your dinner a struggle now too?" He says to Dylan.
"I don't think he's feeling well dad." I jump to defend him.
"He should've stayed at home then. You didn't have to waste my money, and be unpleasant company." He bitterly responds, looking at Dylan. The waiter walks back over with the check, handing it to my father. 

"Well."  He starts,  pulling out his wallet, and throwing down a few hundred bills. 

"We better catch our flight." He walks over to me, and I take it as my cue to stand.
"Love you princess." He says giving me a hug. He shakes Jayden's hand, and flashes a smile to Jackie, but when he gets to Dylan he just mumbles something and turns back around to my mother.
"We'll call you from New York dear!" My mom says as they head out the door. I look behind me, taking in the faces of everyone. Then I take a look at how much money he left. A two hundred dollar tip lies there, and against my morals I take a hundred back and shove it in my purse. A payment for making it through dinner. I tell myself. Forgive me for stealing part of your tip waiter.
"Are we ready?" I ask the group and Dylan is the first out the door.