Emerald

14|FAMILY DINNER

The riot of

I don't know what I was expecting when I walked alongside Caslon into the Allway residence.

Their house was a two-story patterned with glass, pristine white decoration, and minimalism. Walking inside made me feel uncomfortable; I was like a third class girl walking into a beautiful palace. The house was disgustingly made in a similar style to the one next door, a cookie cutter design to match the neighborhood's cookie cutter personality.

It wasn't the type of place you'd call home.

I ran my clammy hands over the bottom half of my dress as my nervous feeling fluttered like butterflies.

This night could end in shambles.

Caslon, seeing my jittery hands, grabbed one of them and gave it a tight squeeze.  I inhaled sharply, hoping the extra air in my lungs should make my head feel less ditzy.

"I'm home!" Caslon yelled as we walked further into the house.

A young girl - who couldn't be a day over fourteen - popped out of the kitchen.  Her shy smile of white, pearly teeth blinded me.  Caslon smirks as she walks towards us.

"Hey, my little princess." He laughs as she swats his arms off her when he teasingly ruffles her hair. Her giggle echoes in the room.

Caslon steps back and turns her shoulders over to my direction.

"Riley, this is Cleo." She tilted her head in wonder. "Cleo, Riley." He gestured.

"Riley," The name rolled from my tongue, it felt familiar. "Nice to meet you." I held my hand out.

She shook my hand with a small smile. "Cleo," Riley tested out the name. "I like you."

I giggled before letting go of my grasp on her hand.

"Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" Caslon teased me.

"Oh, be quiet." I smacked his arm, which only made him laugh.

I turn back to Riley, her doe eyes glimmering in perkiness.

"Ok," Caslon grabbed my hand. "Let's meet my parents."

I suppressed a groan from my lips.

Caslon sighs. "Come on," He guides my hand as Riley stands by his other side.

In the kitchen, was a man in a crisp suit and a woman in a beautiful white dress that flowed to her ankles.

"Mom, dad," Caslon caught their attention. "This is Cleo."

I forced a smile onto my lips. "Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Allway."

"It's our pleasure." Mr. Allway said. "We've heard so much about you."

"That's nice to hear." I chuckled and I could see Caslon smile from the corner of my eye.

"Well," Mrs. Caslon started placing dishes of food on the table. "Let's eat."

I helped set the silverware much to Mrs. Caslon's courteous disagreement, before joining the rest of their family at the dinner table.

"So Cleo," Mr. Allway started the conversation. "What are your plans for college?"

'Common question.' Was my mind's first thought.

"I've applied to a few colleges." I answered. "I have my eye out for NYU; I hope to stay in New York."

"Oh," He said. "Any particular reason?"

"I have a job here that I really love. It's a small company called The Grey Park Bench." I slide a spoonful of mash potatoes into my mouth. "It's an organization to help the misunderstood," I spoke passionately.

"So like therapy," Mr. Allway filled in.

I could see Caslon give him a look.

"No actually," I held back my instinct to argue too aggressively, but I kept my tone firm. "It's a safe haven to comfort those going through rough patches in the road. I believe therapy is forced and not compliant to their patients.  We like to give people of our kind a choice."

I saw the expression on the two of their faces. It was unsettling.

"Is that an issue, Mr. Allway?" I questioned, staring at him expectantly as I cut my stake.

"No," He coughed. "Not at all."

I nodded mockingly.

Caslon's eyes met mine for a brief moment, pleading me not to make another scene.

I straightened my posture before breaking eye contact.

It didn't matter what Caslon expected of me anymore.

Tonight, I would speak my voice.