Love is Hard

Walking in The Rain

Here I am, sitting at a dinner table, waiting for the time we all say goodbye. Except for when I accidentally run into Justin's ex-fiancé, I have never experienced such awkward silence. Jordyn is slurping, (yes, slurping.) her spaghetti. I bite my lip, as I swirl my spoon around my soup. I had gotten a small side as I waited for the others to finish. I take another bite, placing the dumpling in my mouth. Chicken Nokie soup, I get it every time I come here. Hillary was relieved when I didn't order salad.
"So many girls try to impress us by eating 'Healthy'," Hillary quotes while she wraps her fork around her Alfredo noodles.
"Girls are fake. They say they're healthy, and then they go home and eat a whole carton of ice cream." Jordyn snorts. I barely hold in my laughter, covering it up by placing my napkin over my lips. Jordyn seems pretty interesting to me, but her parents appearance hasn't changed. We actually got on the topic of football, and I found out that she roots for the same team!
"You are officially invited over for game night!" I say, way too excited.
"Yeah, Isabelle is one amazing host on those nights." Caleb speaks and I turn my head towards him.
"I'm not any other time?" I teasingly look hurt, making everyone but Mr. Thompson laugh.
"Of course you are!" Caleb preaches and I gently reach over to squeeze his hand.
"That's better." I smile innocently.
"I like this one." I hear Jordyn devilishly smile towards me, and I try to hide the fears that crept into my mind. Is she comparing me to his past girlfriends? Is he now? Am I different, from his past ones? Like bad? I get snapped out of my questioning brain by the sound of Jordyn popping her fresh piece of gum. She's tipping in her chair, and her father looks like he could sprint across the table and kill her instantly. We have all finished dinner, but I don't know if we're just waiting for the bill or actually "Hanging Out"....
"Well, Caleb, I finally got a tattoo." Jordyn exclaims and my eyes go wide. Caleb suggested his sister gets ink permanently embedded into her skin?
"What did you decide on?" Caleb sits up more so he could clearly see her face.
"Well, I got Troy's name," at the mention of his son, I could sense the tension and the angry look on Leo's face. "And I got the same as you...." Her voice goes softer on the last part.
"I didn't know you had a tattoo...." I gently whisper towards Caleb's ear.
"Well, if you've seen him surf, you've had to seen it." I hear the scoff in his father's voice.
"Actually," My memory flashes back to the last time we went to the lake, "He was wearing a T-Shirt when I saw him." There was a long pause, as if I should've known about it, considering I am his girl.
"Okay, well, I would love to stay and enjoy this lovely peace and quite," Jordyn places her feet off the table legs and onto the flat ground. "But I have plans with Jeffry." She stands and her eyes roll over all of us, slowly... until they land on me. "Don't let this one run away, Caleb." She aims her smart comment towards her brother, while glaring at me.
"Oh, trust me. I won't." I hear Caleb barely whisper. I turn my eyes away from Jordyn and I look into Calebs hazel eyes.
"Later, 'Isabelle'." She quotes with her fingers, before strutting off. When I hear the restaurants door chime, Hillary let's out a breath of relief.
"I was trying so hard, not to preach to that child!"
"Mom?" Calebs voice is etched with confusion and shock.
"Obviously, her 'top' was way too short. She could've put more effort in her hair, and more color in her attire... and what's up with making plans on the same night as our dinner?" Hillary's voice is more directed towards her, like she was asking for herself to reply with a reasonable answer.
"Hillary, she's twenty-one. She makes her own decision's...." Mr. Thompson finally speaks up.
"I know. I just worry about her." Hillary places her head in the palm of her hands. She rakes her hands through her hair, bringing her eyes up to take the bill from the server who just appeared at our table. Hillary gently stands and all of our eyes go on her, "I'm going to go to the lady's room." She properly announced. As she started to walk off, she glared back at me, sending a smile. I nearly yelled out for her to stay, but I bit my tongue.
"Well, dad, how have you been?" Caleb clears his throat, trying to sound thoughtful.
"I actually went to your brothers stone yesterday, and I didn't see any flowers." He snaps, his eyes holding anger waiting to be set free.
"I haven't been able to go out in a while...." Caleb looks at the edge of the table as if he was reliving the horrid past.
"Caleb. He was your brother; he deserved more respect than that!"
"I know, I'm sorry." Caleb's eyes look into Leo's, showing his sudden act of courage.
"Troy-"
"Troy, is gone dad." I feel the color drain from my face. Yes, I feel it. Leo allows his anger to spill out, as he slams his fist on the table while standing up. If it was possible, steam would probably be flowing off his skin. He violently straightens his suit jacket, and heads for the door. Caleb's eyes are fixed on the table, and when I gently slide my hand over his, he finally calms his angry facial features. His eyes melt into mine, and I give him a sympathetic smile. We break from our haze when Mrs. Thompson clears her throat.
"I'm sorry, Isabelle. You definitely didn't need to hear all that, or see it." She places her hands on her hips, and takes in a few breaths. "Well, I'd say this dinner is complete." Caleb helps me stand once he is flat on his feet. He gives his mother a hug and I try to remind myself to smile.
"Sorry mom." I hear him murmur. When they separate, she motions for me to hug her.
"It was very nice to meet you." She sweetly says when she pulls away. She waves to us both, and disappears.

°°°°°|°°°°°

"Sorry, about tonight." Caleb says calmly as we walk out the fancy restaurant.
"It looks like you two need to work things out, before I can be included." I have him turn to face me before we reach the truck. "Let's take a walk!" I nearly skip a couple paces away.
"What?" He smiles, but shows his confusion.
"Let's end the night with a nice, romantic," I raise my eyebrows while grabbing his hands, "peaceful walk!" He looks away, up at the sky and across the street, trying to decide whether to or not. "Come on!" I pout, looping arms with him.
"Fine." He smiles, accepting his defeat. We start off down the nearest sidewalk, out laughter spreading through the empty street.
"Now, you have to meet my parents; its only fair!" I say, more excited than I realized. I guess part of it was my parents are less uptight. My household growing up was always, "You get what you get." sort of code. If I wanted dinner, I had to be dressed appropriate and have washed and ready hands. I learned the hard way that the only way to leave the table is to be permitted, or to finish my veggies. My parents both worked two jobs, and yet they still made time for my brother and I. They never complained about bills or expenses, and when they did it was always in a separate room. Everytime my parents met one of my friends, it was like they were teenagers too. As I talk about my childhood, Caleb looks up and lifts his hand to feel the air.
"Its sprinkling." He informs me, turning his head to mine after a breif pause.
"So." I say seriously, before laughing.
"What about your hair, or your, beautiful might I add, dress?" He stops, trying to take off his jacket. When he places it around my shoulders, I giggle.
"Shouldn't I be the one worried about those things?" I question, taking his arm to walk again.
"So, you just want to continue walking in the rain? What happens when it down pours?"
"You don't love the feeling of rain on your skin?" I feel a sprinkle hit my cheek and I smile.
"I've never really took the time to really think about it...." He confesses.
"Well, now's the time!" I giggle loudly, as the rain starts to come down. Caleb grabs my hand and starts running for cover. When he pulls me under a small onning, I let go and shout as I twirl in the road.
"Isabelle!"
"Oh, come on!" I say, my arms out allowing the rain to soak my clothes. When I skip to him, I see him smiling. I grip his hands, trying to pull him out. He protests, but I eventually win. Before long we're both feeling the rain on our faces. He wipes at my eyes, telling me I had makeup running down my cheek. I give him a hug, hearing his wet suit squish.
"Thank you, for playing in the rain with me." I murmur as he take my hand and starts walking towards the truck.
"Anytime."

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- Emuna_Jasmine