Obsessive Book Nerd

7. A Wonderful Dinner

"Annabelle, we are having guests over tonight, they are done of my most special clients so I expect not to hear a word from you. You will show them your upmost respect. Now go upstairs a clean yourself, and put on something more appealing."

Annabelle nods, turning away from her mother, walking up the stairs. You would think what her mother told her would make her upset right? It doesn't. Annabelle has become numb to the hurtful words that she hears from her mom.

She hasn't always been like this. She used to be a very caring mother. Complementing her daughter often, encouraging her to do her best. They would go out every Wednesday night and have a mother-daughter dinner at their favorite dinner. They would both eat the pancake platter, having contests on who could eat it the fastest.

All that ended when Annabelle's father died. Just like that.

Ever since then, her mom has put up these walls. Now she is bitter towards her daughter. All she focuses on is her work; when she isn't, she focuses on Annabelle's grades at school.

Always sometime of business.

"Anna! Get down here, they are almost here!"

Sighing, Annabelle looks at the mirror; it's reflecting a girl with red curly hair, with a solid black dress on, topping it off with her signature red flats.

"Anna you should have pulled your hair back, it looks to messy. Well it's to late now so go put the plates and forks on the table. Hurry!"

Rolling her eyes, Annabelle does what her mother says, quickly checking over everything to make sure it's right.

Right as she gets done Setting the table the doorbell rings.

"Anna get over here!" She walks to her mom in a quick pace, only to have her self be poked and prodded by her mom.

"Okay, you're as good as your gonna get tonight. Remember my rules." And with that, her mother turns around and walks to the front door. Greeting her guests with a smile and handshakes. Acting like a completely different woman.

"Hello Miss Davidson, it's really nice to have you over, now come come, we don't want our dinner to get cold."

Not even introducing Annabelle to the beautiful looking lady, her mother walks straight past her. But the lady does not.

"Susan, who is this?" She stares at me, a smile slowly forming on her lips.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, this is my daughter Annabelle. She will be eating with us tonight."

"It's nice to meet you Annabelle, my son should be here in a few minutes. He had an errand to run before." Annabelle nods, looking at the ground not knowing what else to do.

"The dinner is ready, so we can go ahead and sit down." Annabelle's mother says while smiling, which is a rare thing.

Just as they all sat down the doorbell rang. "Annabelle, answer the door." Her mother demands, no please or anything. She nods and gets up, slowly walking to the door, nervousness running through her veins, hands shaking.

She opens the door, not looking up whole saying the signature, "Welcome to the Grace's."

"Annabelle?" She felt her heart stop. Looking up she saw the one and only Christopher Davidson.

She couldn't breathe.

"What are you doing here?" He asks; he couldn't believe the girl he's been trying to figure out for the past couple of days is actually right in front of him. Outside of school too.

She looks at him for a few seconds taking him in. He's wearing a light blue button down shirt with black jeans and blue vans to top the outfit off. She could only think of one thing when she saw him.

Beautiful.

Wait what? 'Why would I even think of that?' Annabelle thought to herself.

Last time she got herself involved with a boy it didn't go that well.

"Hello?" Annabelle was thrown from her thoughts by a hand waving in front of her face and a smirking Christopher.

She took a step back before turning around, figuring he would follow.

They both walk into the kitchen, Christopher's mom noticing us first.

"Christopher! I'm glad you could make it dear." She looks at him with such motherly love it makes Annabelle cringe. Her mom hasn't looked at her in that way in a long time.

****

It's twenty minutes in and the questions haven't stopped.

They've been directed towards Annabelle's mom the whole time until-

"So Annabelle, how do you do I'm school?" She opens her mouth to answer, but her mom beats her to it.

"Oh she has all A's."

She is lying through her teeth.

"Well that's impressive." Christopher's mom nods in approval.

"So where is Mr. Grace tonight?" she asks. Tears instantly form in Annabelle's eyes, but her mother seems un phased.

"Oh he's just on a month long business trip."

Annabelle loses it. She can't handle listening yet anymore of her mother's lies. So she stands up quickly, he chair almost falling over, and runs to her room. She hears her mother yelling at her to come back but that's clearly not happening.

She gets to her room and locks the door. She leans against it and just stares into nothing. Annabelle couldn't believe that her mother just said that. He isn't away on some random business trip.

He's dead.