erik menendez // if you love me..don't let go

chapter seven

"You remember Jose and Kitty?" Dad asked as he sipped on his wine glass. "The neighbors on the other side of the block?"

"Yes, I remember." I straightened up. "And I don't think you remember, but one of his sons, Erik," I let out a shaky breath at his name. "Is actually my friend. We're in a lot of the same classes."

"Oh, really?" Dad arches one eyebrow. We're sitting at the table eating dinner. We usually don't have family dinners, or Daddy Daughter dinners, because Dad is busy a lot of the time. But for some reason, he wanted to discuss something "important" as he called it. So of course he brought out the finest cutlery and glasses, and even the finest table runner. We're only two people, was that really necessary?

I nod my head in reply.

"Well, I don't know if I've told you this, but me and Jose are actually pretty close in the work business." He gently folded his napkin off of his lap and set it on the table. He was definitely about to say something serious.

"Okay.." I jester at him to continue.

"Hm." He seemed to be stalling.

"Dad, just say it already." I rolled my eyes and huffed, I am not a patient person.

"Okay. So we're being invited to take a tour in New York for thinking about expanding our business." He finally let out. I perked up.

"We're going to New York?" I was in absolute disbelief. I think I was excited, I mean come on, It's New York. Why would anyone want to turn that offer down? "You didn't turn the offer down, right?" I just had to make sure.

"No, of course not. It's still open." He seemed to be so relieved when I expressed my excitement for this offer. Did he really think I was going to say no? "But we'd have to go soon. In about a week."

"Oh. Oh?" I did some calculations in my head. "In the middle of October? I'm going to miss a bunch of High School. It's my senior year!" I furrowed my eyebrows. It's not that I was sad about missing school, I was just scared. Since this was the year that mattered for college, I knew I had to be on top of everything. I wouldn't want to have to make up a bunch of work when I come back.

"That's why I haven't accepted the offer yet." Dad pursed his lips into a severe line, but then quickly raised his eyebrows as if he remembered something. He then continued to tell me how I could just get all of the work ahead of time and do research on my own.

I let that thought marinate a bit in my head before I agreed. I mean, it didn't really have to take that much convincing, I just didn't want Dad to think I was so eager to be skipping school.

"Thank you, Dad. I love you." I walk over to his chair and give him a kiss on the cheek. He grinned from ear to ear and I walk off to the kitchen to place my dishes in the sink.

"Oh, and Scarlett?" He called out to me once I started walking up the stairs.

"Yeah?"

"The whole Menendez family will be coming, not including Lyle since he's at college."

***

"I think it's just crazy that you're going to be basically living with a cute boy for like a week." Annabelle was on my bed and kicking her feet back and forth as she watched me attempt to pack for New York.

"Ten days." I corrected her. Yeah, ten days with Erik. Last night I was letting that compile in my head. At first, I thought it would've been a bad thing. But now that I thought about it, why would it be bad? Me and Erik are already friends, we have a good connection. Nothing could be wrong. It might be a bit awkward at first, but then it will pass and we will have fun. "Also, I don't know how much time we will actually be spending with each other. It's not a vacation, you know. It's for work." I reminded her.

Anna seemed to ignore that part. "Oh how I would love to go to New York." she sighed as she painted her nails. "You're going to the city, right?" She looked over at me expectantly.

"Yeah. I think we might be staying in Brooklyn but then taking the train or whatever it's called to Manhattan every day."

At that, Annabelle let out an amazed gasp. "Oh, Scarlett, I'm so jealous!" She closed her nail polish and walked over to open a window to let the scent out. "I've heard so many good things about Brooklyn. It's apparently gorgeous!"

"Oh, really?" This I have not heard. "Tell me."

"Well there's beautiful parks, wonderful brownstones, and amazing people!" She seemed to be in her own world and she practically danced around my room as she laughed to herself. It was like she was imagining herself being in Brooklyn, and that's why I adored her so much. She was always so naturally poetic and saw the good in just about everything. She was never the pessimistic type of person, and if she was, she never showed it.

"Yeah, I guess so." I now got a burst of excitement and nervous butterflies in my stomach. I was going to New York City!