The Reality of my Dream

Chapter Forty-Four: Meeting the Jackass

Chapter 44: Meeting the Jackass

I watched Shawn during our car ride.

His eyes never left the road racing towards us in the windshield. His knuckles were white and his right eye would twitch every now and again. Not once did he smile, not even when his favorite song played through the speakers. His breathing was steady and full, his chest rising and falling gently. His teeth were gritting constantly and his eyebrows were continuously moving. His thumbs tapped erratically on the wheel and his left leg was bouncing a different rhythm.

Although he would never admit to it, I could tell Shawn was just as nervous as I.

His hand was shaking slightly as he turned off the ignition and he glanced over at me.

“It’ll be fine.” I said unknowingly, and I’m sure very unconvincingly.

He gave me a nervous nod before we both slowly got out of the car. I could feel myself physically shaking and raced my hands through my hair. I wiped under my eyes and walked over to Shawn. He took my hand in his and we walked into the small cafe, the same one Ryan took me to the day he asked me out, and into the day permanently etched into my memory. Thursday, March 13th.

I looked over the faces of the people sitting and eating dinner, I was no help- unable to correctly identify the man known as my father. “Do you see him?”

Shawn continuously looked at one spot, “Yeah.”

We slowly walked over to a small booth towards the back of the cafe and towards a man with his back to us. His jet black hair was a direct match to his jet black clothing and heart. We got closer and sat across from him in the booth, I looked up and his gray-blue eyes sparkled in the lighting. I cringed to find the smile in his face, I don’t want him to be happy. “Shawn, Lynsey!”

“Hi dad.” Shawn said and I looked over to see him grinning slightly.

“Yeah, whatever. Hi.” I groaned, I don’t care how unwelcoming I sound- he doesn’t deserve this- I’m only here for Shawn.

My father sighed at my greeting, “Lynsey. I thought we raised you better than-”

“We?” I interrupted laughing, “We? Really? No. You do NOT get to say ‘we’ you did not raise me, mom and Shawn did, not you.” I crossed my arms and sat back in the booth.

He turned to Shawn, “How have you been?

“Good.”

“Good. How’s college?”

“Good. Real good.”

“That’s great. Lynsey,” I cringed, “how’s school been?”

“Fine.”

“How about the boy you were with, huh?” he raised his eyebrow and I clenched my teeth.

Shawn turned to me, “How does he know about Ryan?”

“Uh-”

“So you didn’t tell him?” my father pressed. I glared at his smirking face.

“Have you met with dad without me?” Shawn asked, slightly pissed off and slightly confused.

“No.” I turned to him, “He- he… You know what- we aren’t here to talk about me. This is about you explaining.” I turned to the smirking jackass before me.

He cleared his throat, “Alright. What do you want to know? I’m an open book.”

“Why are you insisting on coming back into our lives?” I asked.