The Charade
We finally got seated for dinner after an hour wait. My parents insisted on going to this new fancy Mediterranean restaurant that opened up a couple blocks away from our house. It's down town.
My dad and I sat next to each other and Harry and my mom sat next to each other. Harry across from me.
Something about tonight gave me a weird feeling and I couldn't figure out why or what the feeling really felt like.
There was a five minute moment of silence between all of us. We all stared at our menus, reading all the fancy appetizers and entrees.
Nothing sounding appealing to me.
I took my eyes off my menu and glanced up at Harry. He looked at me, raising an eyebrow.
"What?" He mouthed silently.
I shook my head and looked back at the menu, continuing to read the long titles of the food.
I looked at my dad out of the corner of my eye. He was reading his menu just like everyone else. But what I was really trying to do was see if the papers were still in his back pocket or if he put them some place else.
He must've changed his pants.
My back stiffened when the waitress came.
Her name was Diana and she was very nice.
"Can I start any of you off with drinks?" She asked nicely.
We all ordered water.
Then we went back to silence.
I kicked Harry harder than I intended to under the table to get his attention.
He gave me an angry look, "leave me alone!" He yelled. The people in the booth behind us heard him because they all of a sudden stopped talking.
"What's going on?" My dad asked, angrily.
I shook my head and closed my menu. "I'm not hungry." I crossed my arms in front of my chest, like a little child, and gave Harry an evil glare.
"Skylar, you gotta eat something." My mom looked at the menu for something that I would like.
"No. I don't like this kind of food." I said before she had a chance to start rattling off things I could order.
My dad looked at me, "now, why wouldn't you tell us that *before* we decided to come here?" He shook his head in disappointment.
"I just won't eat." I suggested.
Harry rolled his eyes, "princess." he whispered under his breath.
"You better watch it before I,-"
My dad cut me off, "hey, hey, hey what's happening between you two lately?"
"Nothing." Harry answered, slamming his menu on the table.
"There's been lots of tension lately." My mom folded her hands together.
"Tension? Nah." I slumped back in my seat and continued to stare at Harry.
The waitress finally came back with our food after waiting an hour.
I picked at the chicken and played with the pita bread but not once took a bite.
I was mad and confused and scared too. My parents have to know something about the death certificates.
"Skylar, why are you so quiet?" My dad asked, taking a sip out of his glass of water.
My eyes found Harry's and we stared at each other for a couple minutes before my mom interrupted, "look kids. . ." She started. My ears perked up like a dog when they hear another dog. She could be talking about the "secret" and I need to pay attention now. She continued, "now that you guys are older, you realize that you aren't really related so it may be weird considering the fact that you two are so close in age." She finished and I slouched back into my seat taking a look at Harry again.
My dad got involved, "but it's no different than being twins."
"We aren't having any problems between us, guys." Harry corrected them.
Our parents were silent and so was the rest of dinner.
Why was dinner so quiet tonight?
We always have something to talk about, even if its about Harry's dirty boxers that never get washed because he doesn't put them in his hamper.
This is unusual and I can't help but think that it's because my dad saw the certificates we printed earlier.
I wonder if he showed my mom.
Either way, this will probably tear our family apart and it'll be all my fault.
I'm in for many surprises but none that I can't handle.
