The rain teemed from above like water dumped from a bucket and the icy winds sliced through the air as we pulled up in front of the restaurant. Tonight was dad's night to have us and I wasn't excited about what he had planned. He wanted to impress us with his new girlfriend, Carol, and a fancy restaurant to try and make up for what he did last time, but I wasn't fooled. This was how he worked, he thought that mistakes could be fixed with money. But this one couldn't.
"So James," my dad started, babbling on to my older brother about football and girls as we got out of the cab and made our way into the entry of the fancy restaurant in front of us. I couldn't care less about the football techniques they were discussing and tried to block them out as we waited for a waiter to take us to our seats. The decor of the restaurant was classy and elegant with a shiny white tiled floor and low hanging dim lights above every table. The wood tables were square and dark ombre in color with padded black chairs and set places at every seat. A tall champagne glass was placed at every seat and the napkins were rolled up in fancy, silver napkin holders. Quiet chatting could be heard as well as the clinking of champagne glasses and the scraping of silverware on plates. The waiter soon came and lead us to our table where my dad pulled out the chair for his girlfriend and then sat down. What a gentlemen.
"What will you be drinking tonight folks?" The young waiter in his teens asked us as soon as we sat down.
"I'll have a Brandy please sir." My dad responded eagerly. I rolled my eyes. Of course dad was getting an alcoholic drink, when wasn't he drinking? I ordered a water and watched as my dad's girlfriend rolled her eyes at me. What a witch. After taking everyone's drink orders the waiter scampered off to the kitchen to fetch our drinks and an awkward silence fell over our table.
"Excuse me Connor," Carol spoke up, causing me to have to engage in a conversation with the devil herself, "It's silly, but your dad has never mentioned any girls involved in your life." I immediately tensed up and watched as my dad's piercing eyes met mine and gave me a warning look.
"That's not really your business." I snapped back, causing Carol to smirk at my sudden outburst.
"Oh but I think it is." She replied smartly, and then looked over at my dad with puppy dog eyes.
"Oh for christ's sake just tell her what you are." My dad disappointingly muttered while sighing and then running his hands through his hair.
"I'm gay," I stated loud and clear, " and I don't really care what you think." Carol practically screamed and then covered her mouth with her hand. A few people turned around and glared at Carol before turning back to their expensive meals.
"David, you let this nasty homosexual live with you!" she exclaimed, "Being gay is a sin and isn't right!"
"Now Carol calm down honey, you don't need to get upset. I only have him one day out of the week and the rest his mom has. James stays with me permanently." My dad blurted out frantically to try and assure the witch that I wasn't a problem. I sat silently as the cruel words my dad had said pierced me. James was giving me the death glare from across the table, silently accusing me for ruining the night once again.
"May I please use the restroom ?" I sputtered as I gave my dad a pleading look. My dad nodded swiftly and then turned to comfort the witch after this horrible trauma she had to deal with. What a shame. I quickly navigate my way through the labyrinth of tables, covering my face on the way so no one would see the tears threatening to spill from my eyes. I made it to the bathroom and was about to pull open the door when it came slamming open right into my face knocking me to the floor.
"Oh my god I'm so sorry" I heard an Australian accent mumble and a young boy my age bent down to help me up. I looked up and was immediately meet with a pair of stormy blue eyes that eyed me up and down intensely. "You okay?" The voice asked confused when he saw the puffy red eyes of the boy on the ground in front of him.
"Um, yeah I'm fine I just..." I stuttered as the intense gaze of the boy beside me made me shiver. "I'm Connor" I finally burst out offering my hand to the boy in front of me. Oh god what a lame move I thought to myself. The brown haired boy smiled and grabbed my hand pulling me to my feet.
"Troye." he replied shaking my hand. I couldn't help but notice the dark blue nail polish adorning his nails. "Are you sure you're okay? You look like you just died and then came back to life." He smirked dropping his hand and shoving it into the pocket of his black suit pants. I let my eyes wander to his curly brown hair and perfectly chiseled face and then on to the tight suit jacket and then finally the black dress shoes he was wearing before answering.
"I'm okay, just not the best night."
He nodded, "Maybe I'll see you around sometime?"
"Maybe" I replied as I walked into the bathroom and he walked back to his table. As soon as the bathroom door shut I let out a sigh of relief I didn't know I was holding. Damn, that boy was good looking. I walked to the sink, which was a crystal bowl on top of a counter and splashed cold water onto my face. I rubbed my eyes and then grabbed a paper towel to dry of my face. "Get yourself together Connor" I mumbled to myself and then pushed the door open and made my way back to the table. My breath caught in my throat when I realized the table was empty. I looked around frantically thinking that maybe I was at the wrong table but I wasn't. My own dad left me. I tried to delay the panic attack that I knew was setting in, but it was no use and my body started to tremble violently as I stumbled towards the entrance to get out. I was gasping for air as I waddled through the expensive people and chairs and burst my way out through the wide double doors right into the pouring rain. It was raining a little harder than I remembered and I was instantly soaked and chilled to the bone. I shivered as I started crying. My warm, salty, tears did nothing to stop the chill in my body as they poured from my eyes like the weather outside. I don't remember how long I sat there in the rain with my clothes sticking to me and my hair drooped down my face. But all that was left of my heart from that night was one mangled piece, beating in flashes like an almost burnt out lightbulb.
