Save Me

21

           

I dressed in a simple Peter Pan collar dress and knee high socks. I combed through my hair before going down stairs.

            In the living room everyone had gathered. I swear everyone who lived in this pack house was here for the dinner. What could be the occasion that had everyone coming together? As I entered the room, I had caught the attention of everyone unintentionally. I made eye contact with some but avoided others.

            Michie came up to me smiling. "You're walking," she beamed.

            "Yeah, salt bath works wonders." I said. "What's going on?" I asked under my breath.

            "Nothing."

            "You sure?" I asked sceptical. "The entire pack is here."

            "Not really, just everyone who lives here." She corrected me getting technical.

            "Dinner's ready," Mrs Archer announced.

            Everyone made a beeline to the dining room. It could easily accommodate the entire pack and extras if necessary. There was no designated seats, today everyone sat where they pleased. Our little group managed to sit together. Michie on my one side and Eli on the other, next to Michie was her boyfriend and Zak. Opposite me was Finn, who I made eye contact with. He gave me a sad smile, which I returned with a forced one of my own. Next to him was of course, Evelyn.

            I quickly scanned the table her brother, he was seated as far away from me as possible next to Bill on the other side of the lengthy table. I was glad he wasn't anywhere near me.

            Various dishes were put on the table as everyone helped themselves to the food. My heart contracted feeling heavy, this was the last dinner I was about to have with these people and the tears that threatened to spill were becoming hard to control especially with Finn sitting right in front of me as the conversation I had unwillingly had with Kayla kept popping into my head.

            I force fed myself, shoving food into my mouth in a robotic mindless state for the sake of my child though I was not very hungry at all.

            Dinner finished and dessert was served. It was nothing fancy, just ice cream and jelly. I scoffed that down and had second helpings.

            I sat on the armchair stuffed full and content. I spent hours into the night talking and hanging with the rest of the pack just like old times, like I wasn't pregnant, like nothing changed and everything was okay.

            "You okay?" Eli asked sitter on the arm of the chair.

            I leaned back looking up at him. "I don't want to go," I said. "But I don't have an option."

            "We all have choices."

            I shook my head. "I don't," I sighed looking over in the direction of Mac he was watching me, throughout the night him and his father had kept a close eye on me even though they kept their distance. Then in the direction of Finn. "If I did I wouldn't be sitting here having this conversation with you."

            "Don't worry, it will get better."

            "And if it doesn't?"

            "This entire pack will be paying a visit."

            I chuckled. "Yeah right." I got up stretching. "I'm so tired."

            "You should go bed." Zak said.