rumour has it | ✓ [ old version ]

「 twenty 」

CHAPTER TWENTY

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With the help of my fingers, I help dad by flattening down the back of his collar that he couldn't get. We're going to dinner with the Preston's at a restaurant ten minutes away and since this is a fancy restaurant, we needed to dress nicely. This could go many different way; it could go bad, good or absolutely horrible. When the collar looks decent, I step back and allow him to check himself out in the mirror, looking his outfit over.

"Thank you sweetheart." He says "we should get going, we don't want to be late." He tells me and I nod my head, agreeing with him. We begin to leave his room and go down the stairs, my mind goes into overdrive thinking of how this evening with go. Who knows what Julia or Natalie will say? Dad doesn't know of my relationship with Mitchell, but he may find out soon if I don't tell him myself.

"Dad before we go there's something you need to know." I inform him which causes him to stop just near the front door. He turns around to face me with raised eyebrows, encouraging me to go on "Mitchell and I are kind of-." I begin to fiddle with my fingers and urge the throw up to stay down "dating." I finally say, finishing my sentence.

Dad's eyes go wide "y-you mean Mitchell Preston? The boy you've hated since the beginning of high school?." He asks and I nod my head. Goodness, I have truly hated Mitchell for so long, haven't I? since the beginning of high school to the end, well maybe. He looks to the watch on his wrist "we'll talk about this when we get home, I don't want to leave them waiting."  He says.

I take a deep breath "that went better than expected." I mumble to myself as we exit the house and make our way to the car. Dad gets into the driver's seat of his black Mercedes as I hop into the passenger's seat. Once our seat belts are on, dad starts the car and begins to drive in the direction of where the restaurant is.

"You're dating Mitchell Preston?." Dad asks, shocked.

"I thought you said we'd talk about this when we get home." I remind him. Honestly, I just wanted time to think about what I'm going to say to him and decide how much of the story I should tell dad.

"Yea well, I changed my mind and don't change the subject!." He replies "you will tell me right now young lady when this relationship begun and how you hatred for him turned into this?!." He orders me. Oh no, this is what I was afraid. Him freaking out about something that isn't even real. Besides the last relationship I had didn't turn out great and he's been afraid of me getting a new boyfriend ever since.

I sigh "it's a long story-." I begin "but all you need to know for now is that it isn't going to last long and that it isn't real." I finish and from the corner of my eye, I see a confused expression cross his face, but he doesn't. Instead, he just focuses on the road. My eyes watch the cars around us and the scenery that passes by in a blink of an eye.

However, my scenery quickly changes when we pull into the parking lot of the restaurant. After Dad parks into an empty space and turns off the engine, we get out of the car before entering the exquisite restaurant. Someone's there behind a wooden stand, wearing a suit and a tie with his badge on his back blazer. The restaurant is beautiful; it's being illuminated by fairy lights that are hanging from the roof, tables are evenly spaced out where people eat their meals while talking to one another.

"Hello sir, how many I help you today?." The suit wearing male behind the wooden stand asks with a smile on his face.

"Yes, we have a reservation under 'Preston'." My dad replies.

The male in front of us nods "right this way." He says and begins to walk away and soon after, we follow him. We move our bodies through the gaps between the tables, being careful as to not bump into any and ruin someone's dinner. The table the Preston's reserved for us is at the back behind everyone else and hiding from those around us "here you are sir." The male says when we reach our table.

"Thank you." Dad says and the man walks away, leaving us alone.

Mitchell stands up "hello princess." He smirks before wrapping his arms around me. I want to throw him off of me, but I remind myself that this is a front for his family especially his grandma. I also have to remind myself that I'm giving Mitchell a chance to prove himself worthy of my presence. I don't want to waste my time on someone I already know is a huge jerk.

"Mr Reynolds." Mr Preston greets my dad and gives him a handshake. After we've all greeted each other, dad and I take our seats at the table. Me sitting in between Mitchell and Natalie while dad sits in between Mr Preston and Athena. Julia sits across from me, next to Mr Preston. Instead of speaking, we look through the menu for what we want to order. Everything looks delicious.

"Hello, my name is Ryan; I'll be your waiter for this evening. Can I start you off with anything to drink?." Ryan asks with his notepad and pen ready at hand. Athena, Mitchell and I all just order water whilst all the adults order some alcohol of some kind. We could have gotten alcohol too, but who's going to drive the adults home when they've had too much to drink?

"So Julia, how long are you staying in town for?." My dad asks the elderly woman.

Julia smiles "one more week." She answers and my eyes widen at how much time has passed. At the beginning of this, I wanted this month to go by quickly, but now I kind of didn't want it to. What's going to happen at the end of the month? How am I suppose to get to know Mitchell when the end of this week is over, when this fake relationship is over?

Ryan returns with our drinks and places them in front of us "here you go-." He begins "are you ready to order?." He asks, but his eyes are directed somewhere else. With raised eyebrows, I follow his line of sight and my eyes find Athena who's blushing in her seat. Oh, something is going on here and I'm going to find out. After telling Ryan our orders, he leaves again and we continue our conversation.

"So princess, are you excited that this month is almost over?." Mitchell asks, whispering in my ear, so the others didn't hear. I sigh and give him a small smile, fake or real? I didn't know. Am I honestly ready for this month to end? To be honest, I had fun; getting to know Julia, spending time with the Preston's and, as much as I hate to admit it, hanging out with Mitchell.

"Depends, are you?." I whisper, avoiding the question.

Ryan returns once again, interrupting our conversation. Grabbing our food from the tray in his hands, he places our meals in front of us one by one "is there anything else?." He asks, his eyes still on Athena.

"Yea-." Mitchell begins "can you stop looking at my sister?." He questions glaring at Ryan who bows his head in defeat or to hide his blushing cheeks. Mitchell's question wasn't a question, but was instead a command. Grabbing my glass of water from in front of me, I take a sip as my eyes become ping pong balls, beginning to dart between Mitchell, Ryan and Athena.

Well this just got interesting