It's Complicated

Chapter Two

"Hello Mrs. Forestor, Abigail." Isabelle's own mother says with a warm smile, holding out a perfectly manicured hand to shake ours. My mother accepts with an equally warm smile. I, on the other hand, plaster on a taught smile and try not to squeeze the life out of the woman's hand.

   "Mr. Kooper, Isabelle." My mother nods in their direction. The both smile cordially back.

   "Oh, I know!" Mrs. Kooper exclaims, a wide grin practically splitting her face in two. "Why don't we all sit together?" I can feel my smile falter as I silently beg my mother not to accept the ridiculous invitation.

   "What a wonderful idea!" My mother readily agrees. With that, we all make our way inside. I'm dragging my feet. I do not want to spend the next hour or two with the Koopers' perfect little family. Minus one, of course. Isabelle's little sister, Meagen, isn't present.

   "Where's your other daughter? Meagen is it?" My mother asks, as if reading my mind. Mrs. Kooper flashes a big smile.

   "She's over in Europe, actually. They have a great equestrian boarding school over there. We were quite reluctant to let her go as it's so far away, but she just simply had to. Once she sets her mind to something there is just no telling her no. She'll be back at the end of June." I tune out my mother as she gushes along, probably explaining all about how I had wanted to do things like that when I was younger, but how we simply couldn't afford it.

   Looking to my right, I notice Isabelle walking with her shoulders slumped and her eyes glued to her feet. Strange behaviour for someone who won her class just hours earlier. The conversation gets put on hold as a beaming young lady wearing a short black skirt, white button up, and the most uncomfortable looking shoes approaches our group.

   "Table for five?" She's asks, voice way to happy for my liking.

   "Yes, Dear, thank you." Mrs. Kooper replies.

   The waitress grabs five menus from the stand and turns, saying, "Right this way." We follow single file behind her, weaving through the full tables of the packed restaurant. She stops at a larger sized booth, smiling as we all slide in, my mother and I on one side, the Koopers' on the other. "Your waiter will be Seth. He'll be right with you." She flashes us one last smile before turning and leaving.

"Isabelle," Mrs. Kooper's harsh voice sounds, "do pay attention." Looking up I see Isabelle flushing red, her father stoically ignoring the two ladies, and her mother frowning down at her menu. After a few confused, and extremely awkward, moments I pick up my own menu, simply for something to do with my hands. I skim through, not really reading as I already know what I want. Finally, our waiter, Seth, arrives and breaks the tense atmosphere hanging over the table.

   "Hi, my name is Seth and I'll be your waiter for this evening. Can I start you off with some drinks?" My mother and I both order large glasses of ice water. I tune out as Mrs. Kooper starts asking questions about the various red wines that they have.

I notice Seth eyeing Isabelle up and feel a twinge of disappointment. My pale skin and bland, blonde hair has never stood up against her perfectly tanned complexion and long, silky black hair. Isabelle, however, pays the young man no mind, further irking me. How come she gets all the attention, even when she doesn't even want it? After the other family has settled on drinks, Seth leaves, but not without one last longing glance at the girl across from me. She doesn't even glance up in his direction.

"So, I've heard rumours around that Josephine is moving?" I look up sharply at the sound of my coach's name.

   "Yes," My mother sighs, making my incredulous gaze shift to her, "I've heard those myself. I'm waiting until after the show to really talk to her about it." I continue to stare stupidly between the two ladies.