Autumn • Complete

Dinner

"Going anywhere nice?" Dad asks as I come down the stairs in a black waterfall dress and nude tights with black booties and Christians leather jacket.

"Don't know where he's taking me," I reply.

I had told dad in the morning that he was taking me out for dinner as an apology.  Going out to dinner with people is the really my thing,  and I rarely eat meals, and when I do I take then to my bedroom, where I'm not as conscious of people watching me eat.

The bell rings as Dad hugs me, and he goes to answer it as I 'grab my bag' from the kitchen.  I leave the door open but still strain to hear what dad's saying. It goes something like this:

".....Sir. "

"Mr. Andrews...and you..."

"Christian...dinner....surprise."

"Listen....Autumn...fragile...likes you....be careful...."

That's enough for me to hear; I sling my bag over my shoulder and walk out into the corridor, where whatever Christian is about to say is cut short. He gapes at me. Because of  my ugliness probably. He just needs to know, whatever happens tonight will not affect what im going to do. Nothing will divert me from my path now.

"You look beautiful, " he murmurs as we head out to his bike.

"Thanks," is my simple reply.

This time I'm prepared for the bike, and swiftly pull on the helmet and swing over the seat. Dad waves as we pull away. I think he's finally glad I've made some real friends here. It wasn't as hard as if thought it'd be. I've made more friends than I predicted I would've.

The restaurant is a beautiful little tranquil place, with a warm fireplace, and smells of burnt firewood and vanilla Christian leads us to a little corner table, where a slutty blonde waitress comes over to take our order straight away.

"Hi, can I get you refreshments?" She asks sweetly, batting her thick eyelashes that look as though she's wearing ten million coats of mascara.

"What do you want,  Autumn?" Christian asks, and I scan through the menu.

"Just a water, please." No need pigging out on sugary things when I'll soon be gone somewhere far, far away. And that somewhere is called Hell.

"A water and a coke," he gives the girl a small smile, which makes her flutter her eyelashes more and let out a little giggle that makes her sound like a stupid little girl.

I feel so stupid that I agreed to come here with Christian, as I won't eat anything. Nobody knows but me and my really annoying conscience. I'm starving myself.  I can't tell Christian, as he'll judge me for who I really am. Food disgusts me.

"Here are your drinks, " the slutty waitress returns, holding our drinks. She sets them down and asks what we want to eat.

"Autumn?" I look up at Christian. I hold my breath and scan the menu again. I let it out.

"A salad will be okay, thanks." Christian gets a double cheeseburger, which makes me want to throw up just thinking about it.

She leaves with our order, and everything blurs.  Christians face blurs. The room blurs. I pull my hands to my face. They too, are blurry. 

"Autumn? Autumn?" I grab my bag, ignoring him, and quickly leave the quaint little restaurant.  As soon as I'm out of sight, I run. I wouldn't have been able to eat the salad, either.

It's almost time, only a few more days, and then you can go, I tell myself as I run. As I run from everything I've ever had, that will soon be nothing.

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