Teenage Antichrist Book One: A Journey of a Sister's Hatred 1991-1992

Chapter Fifty-One: The Secret Date

It was a week later when Natalie was allowed to go back to school. The bruises on her face were still noticeable but they weren't as bad as they were. John picked her up on her way to school.

"I'm really glad to have you back," John said. "School hasn't been the same without you,"

"Yeah, I've missed being at school with you, too," Natalie replied.

"So how are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling okay. I just wish the bruises would hurry up and heal,"

"So do I,"

Natalie hated the bruises on her face but she refused to let them get her down.

"John, what I've really hated about these bruises is I haven't been able to go out," she said.

"Yeah, that's understandable," he said.

"I want to go out on Saturday night to the drive-in. Can we do that?"

John was reluctant to answer that question at first considering the last time they went there Daniel died. But he wanted to get on with the rest of his life.

"You bet we can go to the drive-in," he said. "What's showing?"

"I honestly don't care," she replied. "Just as long as we go out,"

John was more than happy to agree with Natalie's sentiments.

*****

During dinner that night it was still uncomfortable for Michelle and John to sit at the kitchen table with their parents but John didn't care as his spirits had really been lifted.

"I've got great news," he said. "Natalie and I are going out this Saturday night and I can't wait,"

"This Saturday night?" Mr. Slater asked.

"Yeah," he said. "What other Saturday night would it be?"

"Your mother and I are going out for dinner and we need you to stay home and look after Michelle," Mr. Slater explained.

That was the last thing Michelle and John wanted to hear. She felt that it was an insult while he felt that it was unfair.

"Oh, come on," John said. "Natalie and I haven't been out for ages,"

"And I'm not a little girl," Michelle said. "I don't need John to stay at home to babysit me,"

"Look, you two can complain about it all you want but it's not going to change anything," Mr. Slater said. "Your mother and I are going out for our anniversary and that's final,"

Michelle and John hated the situations they were in and that there was nothing they could do about it.

*****

John didn't call Natalie the night before because he didn't want to tell her bad news over the phone and he didn't want to admit that the bad news was real. The next morning he focussed on getting ready for school as fast as he could so he could see Natalie and tell her the bad news and get it over and done with. As he was in the bathroom brushing his teeth he heard a knock on the bathroom door and when he looked to his right he had expected to see either one of his parents but he didn't. He saw Michelle standing in the bathroom doorway and he was annoyed about it.

"John, there's something I need to ask you," she said. "Have Natalie's bruises healed yet?"

John bent over the sink, spat and watched out the excess toothpaste before straightening himself up.