Against One's Wishes

Chapter 1

Louis is throwing on his coat, taking one last glance in the mirror, adjusting the collar; he's wishing he'd never agreed to go to this idiotic play on Broadway with his father.

But once again, Louis couldn't tell him no... that's the story of his life. He knows his father means well and only wants what is best for him... but Louis can't help but think he's meant to be living another life.

His father and he moved here to New York 3 years ago in 1941; his father is the district attorney who expects Louis to follow in his footsteps one day. He wants excellence for his son... attending university, even marrying a woman he hardly knows.

None of it is what Louis truly wants, however. And though he isn't sure what exactly it is he's wanting, he only knows that it has to be better than the life he is currently being forced into.

He sees his father's car pulling up out of his apartment window and he's taking a deep breath before he's grabbing the key to his apartment and leaving.

"Good evening, Mr. Tomlinson," the elevator operator Mr. Wilson is greeting Louis as soon as he's stepped in.

"Evening, Tom," Louis sighs while the doors are closing and Mr. Wilson is taking Louis down to the lobby.

"Plans tonight?"

"Uh, yeah... going to the theatre with my dad," Louis replies and glances around the elevator. "Not looking too forward to it, to be honest."

Mr. Wilson chuckles, "I've seen several of the new ones on Broadway... you might be surprised. The new one that's just begun a few days ago seems to be drawing the crowds in..."

"Is that so?" Louis asks and pretends to be interested..

"I've heard a lot of good things about it."

Louis licks his lips and lets out a breath; of course Broadway is where his father is going. His father has become friends with many of the local businesses, including the theatres... and Louis knows he's mainly done it for him. He wants Louis to broaden his horizons, become involved in the culture around him.

But Louis has no intentions on doing so. He's completely content staying to himself in his apartment, with the occasional outing to Central Park or to drink his thoughts away at a bar.

Louis tells Mr. Wilson goodnight and heads out of the revolving doors of the upscale apartment building, one his father had picked out for him.

"Well, look, you're right on time," his father William is saying as their driver is opening the door for Louis.

Louis tries to refrain from rolling his eyes while he's climbing in his father's glamorous but expensive car.

He stares out the window at the passing sights while on the drive, not even paying attention to his father's conversation that's aimed at him.

"Louis," his father says loudly.

Louis turns to look at him, "what?"

"Were you not listening?" He asks his son.

"Sorry," Louis mumbles.

"I was just talking about Alice coming over from England to stay," his father replies with a smile on his face.

Louis sits speechless; he doesn't want to see her. But of course, once again, his father decides this for him.

"Uh, when is she coming?" Louis decides to ask.

"Probably in a few weeks," his father replies, "her parents are paying for her hotel in downtown Manhattan."

Louis nods and forces a smile, "sounds brilliant."