All Tonight

Fort Collins Co. January 12, 2013

"I really hoped that you would be here for me, Chris. I know you're still mad but it's my birthday and I'd really love if you showed." I whisper into the phone pressed to my ear. It's Chris's voicemail. Not to say I'm surprised because he hasn't answered any of my calls.

It's been nearly two days since we had our fight. He walked out of my dorm room and I haven't heard from him since. I knew I should've told him the truth but I just couldn't bring myself to it.

Me and Chris have been together over a year now and I still haven't told my parents about us. When he found out he was furious and started accusing me of all sorts of things. Saying that I didn't want to be with him and that I didn't love him half as much as I said I did but I do. I do love him more than anything and I want to be with him.

I've met Chris's entire family and he hasn't met any of mine. The problem isn't Chris, it's my parents, they're conservative and controlling. Chris isn't like all the other guys that I've been set up with. All those guys were boring. They were all trust fund babies who went to church every Sunday. They went to country clubs and wore polo shirts and went skiing in the Alps. They'd would grow up, be in the family business of scamming people for money, have a wife that they cheat on and a family they don't like to see and thrive on their drug problems that everyone turns a blind eye to.

That's the life my parents want for me. They want me to be some rich guys wife and be a stay at home mom but that's not the life I wanted. My parents know nothing about who I want to be or who I am really. The person they think I am is not me at all. They think that I'll just listen and obey everything that they say. That I'll be a yes woman and won't argue.

I've been hiding the true me from them since I was little because they don't want to see that. Either way I love Chris and I don't want to hide him from them forever because I think that Chris is going to be my forever. Maybe eventually my husband if I ever change my mind and decide to get married. So I told my parents about Chris yesterday and asked can we have dinner so they can get to know him. I've been calling Chris ever since to tell him to come but he hasn't returned any of them.

I go back to the table where my mom and dad sit. They sip at their water and talk quietly amongst themselves. They look up at me when I approach. "Is something wrong?" My dad asks.

I swallow my pride, I don't think Chris is coming. I really wanted them to meet him. Maybe they'd put aside all their beliefs because I think they'd really really like him as much as I do. "Chris can't make it to dinner." I say taking a seat at the table across from my parents.

"Why not?" My mom asks. I need to think of something quick so they don't think that Chris is just a bail out. He isn't like that but truthfully I don't know what's going on with him right now.

"His niece is sick." I tell them. It's not far from the truth, Anika is sick but not as sick as I make it seem. She just has a small cold.

"Oh that's too bad. I was really hoping to meet the guy your head over heels for." My mom says.

I give an awkward smile. I'm going to kill Chris if he doesn't have a good excuse as to why he's decided not to answer any of my calls or texts.

"We should order." I tell them. The sooner this dinner is over, the better. I can't believe Chris would do this to me on my birthday. It's not that I actually care for my birthday but he should know how important this dinner is.

We order our food and it comes sooner than expected which is good. I can't help the embarrassment over this. I told my parents about Chris and he doesn't even bother to show. What does that say about him. I thought I could rely on him.

There's a scuffle at the front entrance of the restaurant that captures a lot of attention along with me and my parents. I look to see Chris having a hushed argument with the hostess, Dean.