"Being Ben's"

9. Not my family dinner

He's always in a pissy mood after he speaks to his dad. I wonder what they talk about, if it's just strictly business or if it's family related. It kind of seems that there's no line in between family and business.

I looked at him looking out the window, I had no idea where we were going. Yes, Albany to his "meeting" but where in Albany? To meet who?

Just as I was thinking about the awkwardness of the situation, we pulled into a driveway in front of a house that was by far, bigger then Rivera's was. I looked over as I heard Rivera scoff, he was looking at the house shaking his head.

I furrowed my eyebrows.

That's not the reaction you'd expect from any other situation then you're annoyed by the person inside. He got of the car and I watched him walk up to the steps then I got a ping of fear that flowed through my body, making me shiver.

Is this anxiety?

I got out of the car and caught up to Rivera, sticking by his side.

"Добро пожаловать, мой друг." A man said, smiling widely as we entered the foyer of his home. I'm pretty sure this was his home anyway. Rivera started taking off his coat and I helped him, taking mine off too. "Thanks Novikov." He said strained as the man hugged him and he stood there awkwardly.

Novikov was just as tall as Rivera but thicker but at the same time he was extremely fit.

"Let's go into the dining room." The Russian man said as he smiled, nodding. Rivera brushed himself off from the hug and nodded, looking at me. I nodded slightly.

"Dinner is on the table." Novikov said turning around. I was confused on how he didn't notice me or acknowledge me in anyway, he obviously saw me though, right? Were all the men in this "business" like this.

We stopped at the doorway of the living room and I gulped. It looked like a family dinner, all the people in this room looked related. I looked at Rivera who narrowed his eyes at the table, looking around the room. Everyone at the table stared at us, my cheeks turned pink and I looked down hoping my hair would hide my face.

Probably not, it's kind of short right now.

Did he only bring me along so he wouldn't be the only one who felt awkward here? I mean I cannot understand a single word being said by anybody in this room and obviously he spoke multiple languages so he couldn't have been feeling as awkward as I am right now.

I felt his hand on my arm, he pulled me closer to him as he glared across the table.I had a feeling someone said something about me but why would he care?

I looked at Novikov and he, finally, looked at me then to Rivera. They spoke, in Russian, saying something then nodding and Novikov walked to three open chairs, Rivera following and pulling me behind.

We sat down, Rivera in the middle, dropping my wrist. I looked up to a lady who was speaking with someone across the table over everyone else who was trying to talk over everyone else. She was wearing to much perfume and the food in front of me smell good but the smell of food made me want to throw up. I couldn't eat, not now anyway.

I got up without thinking, or knowing where I was going. I heard Rivera call my name, once twice, maybe three times but I keep moving. I had to get away, calm down. My head was racing with thoughts of what if and all the sounds, sents and things to look at. It felt like I was going crazy.