Back to Me

The Dinner

I was still at Jason's doing homework. We had been having a great time together; we usually do when we're together. Jason left to answer the phone and when he came back I could sense a change in his mood.

"Who was on the phone, Jason?" I asked curiously.

"That was Peter. He wants you home in half an hour because Melissa is bringing her fiancé home for dinner."

"Like I could have possibly forgotten." I mumbled sarcastically.

"You don't sound excited, Spence, why would that be?" He asked even though he knew the reason full well.

"Why do think, Jason? Melissa has to have all the attention, she can do no wrong, and I've never cared for her choice in guys. So in other words, this dinner is going to be awful and monotonous. And you're not invited so I'm going to have to go through it alone." I ranted in reply.

"I'm sorry you're going to have to sit through dinner with them alone. If I was invited I would definitely go just to keep you from dying of boredom." He assured me but I could tell he was lying so I called him out on it.

"Yeah right, Jason. You would rather get a tooth pulled without any medication than sit through dinner with my family and Melissa's fiancé. Even if you had been invited you would have faked a life threatening illness just to get out of it."

"As usual, you're probably right. You're my sister, Spence, and I love you, I really do, but..."

"But not enough spare me from the dreaded Hastings' family dinner?" I finished.

"Hey, nobody's perfect." He stated defensively and I couldn't help but laugh.

"In your case, Jason, I have to agree." I teased.

"Right back at you, Spence." He replied as he too started to laugh.

/

Surprisingly the dinner was actually tolerable. It wouldn't be my first choice on how to spend my evening but it was still tolerable. Wren turned out to be very charming and kept the conversation interesting. I was actually surprised that Melissa was with him because most guys she went out with were just like her. But Wren seemed to have a caring personality, something which Melissa definitely didn't have. Maybe he would rub off on her and she would become a more likable person. But I wouldn't set my hopes on it because my motto in life is 'Hope breeds eternal misery.'

After dinner I excused myself and sat on the bench on the back porch. I wanted to enjoy the last of the summer weather before the cool of fall and the bitter cold of winter. Usually one of my favorite things to do when I'm sitting outside is read but today I just wanted to sit and relax.

"There you are, Spencer. I was wondering where you ran off to." Wren said as he closed the door behind him.

"You're a medical student but you smoke?" I questioned when I got a whiff of smoke. "Does Melissa know?"

"Melissa doesn't have to know everything." He replied and I felt the bench move as he sat at the other end.

/

I brought my books to the front desk to check them out just as the library was closing. Some were for pleasure and some were for school. I had been here ever since school let out because I was avoiding home. My parents were out of town as usual and Melissa and I had gotten in a fight this morning so home was the last place I wanted to be. I put the books in my messenger bag and was walking out the door when I realized that it was pouring rain and that I had to walk home. And of course I didn't have an umbrella or even a jacket since it was mid-April and the weather had been perfect earlier.