"Where were you yesterday?" Dana, a girl from school, asked.
"Stayed home." I told her.
I put my books in my locker before closing it.
"So, you really think this is going to work out?"
"What is?"
"This silly little long distance love you got going on."
"First of all, it's "have going on" and yes, I do."
She rolled her eyes at me correcting her grammar.
"I think it's a waste of time. Let me know if you ever dump him."
With that she walked away and down the hall. I muttered a not very nice word and turned to go to my first class. The teacher droned on and on about something stupid like usual, it was English and I could pass this class with my eyes closed. Which is why most of the time I zoned out and today my topic of choice was: Why don't people understand? What was so different about dating someone who at this moment is in another country? I understand we were still young, and young love can be clouded, but he loved me and I could feel it. That had to mean something, right? We already were talking about the trip here so I knew he was serious about it.
"Elizabeth?"
I jumped out of my skin as the teacher called my name.
"Yes?"
"The bell rang five minutes ago."
I looked around the room and my cheeks burned with embarrassment.
"Oh, right. I'm sorry."
I stood up quickly as I gathered my things quickly. I hurried passed Mr. Harrison towards the door.
"Is everything okay Elizabeth?" He asked.
"Yeah, it's fine." I smiled.
I rushed out of the room and to my next class. When I got home I had a project to work on for science and technology class. We had to build a robot and present it to the class the next day. Thankfully they sent us home with everything we needed because if not I would've failed.
"Cupcake! Don't chew on that!" I scolded her.
She was chewing on my phone cord but as soon as she noticed I spoke she darted into my bedroom and laid down in her bed. I smiled and continued to work on my robot, I was going to have it be able to grab and let go of certain objects. It took hours but when I finally completed it I was proud, he could pick up anything from a soda can to a pencil with ease.
"Dinner time Cupcake!" I said.
It was my dinner, but she was my only friend so I talked to her. I opened up the fridge and freezer and glanced over my options. I didn't feel like making a big meal so I decided on chicken nuggets. I grabbed them and tossed some in the microwave.
"Chicken nuggets it is."
Meow!
I smiled and filled her feeder while I waited for my nuggets to heat up.
Cupcake was a very easy cat to take care of, the only time she really made her presence known was when her litter box was messy. That was the only thing that I struggled with is remembering to change the filter in her litter box because it was tucked into the corner of the bathroom. It was a good thing that she took to reminding me every time I forgot.
...
Dinner at Millers, 7 PM tomorrow night. Formal Attire.I groaned.
"Great."
That was the letter that was taped to my door when I returned from school. I tore it off and went downstairs. My phone went off the minute I dropped my backpack on the floor by the dining room table.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hey baby." Connor said.
Instant smile.
"Hey."
"How was school?" He asked.
"Same ol' same. "
I sat down at the table.
"I missed you."
"I miss you too, how was your day at school?"
Connor was lucky, Connor lived in a normal family. So that meant he got to go to a public school and had friends to talk too. His parents loved him and actually wanted to spend time with him, his father was a doctor and his mother taught preschool. I was jealous of his life, something that he said he never understood.
"Blah, coach pushed us a little hard today."
Did I also mention that Connor was the quarterback of the football team? Never did I think that I would be the girl dating the quarterback.
"Well you have a big game coming up. Remember-"
"Soak in lavender to relax my muscles. I know baby and I will."
"You better."
There was a silence between us, but it was normal because with him I didn't need to talk all the time.
"I have another dinner party to go too." I finally said.
"When?" He asked.
"Tomorrow night. The Millers this time, which doesn't make sense because mother hates Nancy Miller who is wife of Frank Miller."
"And they are?"
"Some big donor to the company. God I'm sick of going to these things."
"Then don't go." He said flatly.
I was shocked by his answer for a moment.
"I have to go."
"Why?"
"Because, appearances and such."
We spent a few more hours talking before bed. He kept trying to convince me not to go to the dinner party as a statement but I wasn't sure what would happen.
The next night at 6 PM I stood in front of my mirror and looked at myself. I was in my deep purple gown with my black gloves that went all the way passed my elbows and my heels were black to accent my gloves. Mother and father were already there, they had to go early to help with some business things and they were sending a driver over in an hour for me. What was the worst they could do to me? If I didn't go? They couldn't disown me or cut me off because in the end it would make them look bad. It was the one perk of being the rich kid to my so called parents, they had to keep me so that they wouldn't look bad. Out of pure confidence I quickly changed and threw the dress on the ground before quickly dressing into a more casual but still nice outfit. I guess I was worried about looking nice if I were to be spotted. That was the least I could I guess.
I managed to find enough cash to call a cab. I paid the gentleman and stepped out of the car before walking up to the building. There was a karaoke bar that allowed all ages except for drinking obviously, you had to be twenty one to drink there. I took a deep breath before stepping through the door, it was the first time I had done anything rebellious and it was actually exciting. I smiled at a group of people who were standing by the door. The first thing you saw was a karaoke machine and there was already someone on it. I stood there next to this other lady and cheered the person on, even though truthfully they weren't very good.
"It's your turn!" The girl shouted over the music.
"What?!" I gaped.
"You're next!"
Before I could object I was pushed behind the karaoke machine. There were about seven people now standing and waiting for me to pick a song. I nervously scrolled through the playlist before selecting one of the songs that I knew. I picked the microphone up trying to ignore my hands that were trembling with fear. It was rocky at first, but soon enough people started to cheer me on as well. I felt welcome here and that people actually liked me which is something I'm not used too.
The song came to an end and I smiled before stepping away for the next person. I awkwardly stood there for a few moments before deciding to go to the bar. The bartender asked what I was having and for my I.D., obviously I was underage so I stuck with a simple can of coca cola. I tapped my fingers on the can and looked around. Before I knew it this guy came and sat down next to me. I smiled politely at him before going back to browsing the place even though I had scanned it a million and one times.
"My name is Trevor." He said.
I looked at him.
"Uh, Samantha."
I didn't know what came over me, but it just came out. Besides, I was already going to be in deep trouble for ditching the dinner party. If word got out that Elizabeth Gipson was at a karaoke bar sitting next to a complete stranger, that would just change everything. I was already going to hear about how "difficult a position" I put mother through, like she was incapable of coming up with a lie.
"Do you come here often?" He asked.
"No, first time."
"Nice."
He looked older, and I was getting this feeling coming off of him that told me he was not a good guy. I may be a sheltered child but I knew when something wasn't right. I took a nervous sip of my drink and gave a look to the bartender.
"So, Samantha, care for a dance?" He asked.
"No. No, thank you I have a boyfriend."
"That's a shame, could've been fun."
The next thing I knew I heard a click, like someone just took a picture kind of click. My heart stopped and I looked around and sure enough someone was taking a picture of me.
"No! No pictures!" I screamed.
The guy took off running.
"Sorry I have to go!"
I tried running after him, but he was gone.
I was also going to be dead.
Bum, bum, bummmmm...
