Chapter 20

Eat the frog
To do something unpleasant to get it out of the way.

• o 🦋 o •

The rest of that entire night I paced back and forth and worried because I was sure I was going to screw it up somehow.

The next day it was time. Dinner at Mica’s. I placed my bike against the gates of Mica’s house and they opened automatically. 

I adjusted my tie and entered the garden. 

Before I even reached the door, Charles opened it and welcomed me. 

“Thanks.” I said nervously. I was so worried I looked bad, I didn’t even care to keep up the facade for Charles. 

“How do I look? Do I smell okay?” 

Charles smiled at me. “You look fine. Mr. Walters will be very pleased to see you.” 

I took a breath and followed Charles into the living room. Elegant music was playing and the table was fully set. With candles and all. The plates were freaking silver! I was sure it was real silver! Everything just looked so fancy and I was sure the shirt I had on was at least five years old!

Mica came into the room dressed to the nines as usual. Today’s outfit: white classy sneakers, soft blue dress pants and a white shirt with peter pan collar. He had a pin on his shirt with a tiny green butterfly. 

“James.” He smiled warmly. 

“Wow, you look amazing. This is great.” I tugged at Mica’s pin. 

“I’m glad you like it.” Mica smiled at the ground. 

“How do I look?” I whispered. 

Charles had gone to the kitchen to finish up the food. Mica leaned into my ear. 

“You look very handsome.” He whispered. 

Oh my gosh golly!! I was beginning to sweat again and freaking hell he smelled good. Was it weird if I just chomped down on his neck for a second?

A dark presence came into the room. Mica’s dad, dressed in black head to toe. He was so flipping intimidating. His black eyes were cast on us.

“James.” He nodded.

“George- I me- I mean Mr. Walters. Mr- Sir!” I curtsied. 

STUPID LEGS! STOP IT!

The man frowned at me for a moment. 

“I-I-I don’t know why I did that. I’m sorry. That was dumb.” I shook my head.

Charles came into the room with his hands behind his back.

“Well, I say we start dinner.” George simply said. He walked over to the table and Mica and I followed. 

Charles directed me to a chair right next to George and Mica sat across from me. 

“Mica? Say grace, please.” George spoke very quietly and monotonous, it was almost a mumble. 

Mica clasped his hands together and so did George. I just followed along with them and Mica began the prayer.

“Dear Lord, We have gathered to share a meal in your honor. Thank you for this food and for bringing us together to enjoy it. Amen.” 

“Amen.” George and I repeated. 

We dug right in. 

“I- I didn’t realize you were religious.” I muttered.

“You’re not?” George said without looking up from his plate. 

I began to sweat again. I could hear the judgement in his tone!

“Uh- Uh, no. Not really.” I stuffed my face with the food, which would’ve been delicious if I wasn’t so damn nervous. 

“Neither are we. We just pray for mom’s sake. She always liked the idea of a God, so..” Mica explained.

Just hearing his voice brought me relief. 

“That’s beautiful.” I said. I looked into Mica’s calm eyes and felt my stress lessen. 

“Mica tells me you play soccer.” George said. 

“Uh- yes! I’m on a team with Riley! You know her! She’s my best friend actually!” 

George finally looked at me. “Ah, yes. I know her.” He nodded. He looked annoyed just at the mention of her name. 

Crap! Of course! Mica told me he hated her!! Dammit!

“She’s very unruly, that girl.” George said quietly. 

I peered at Mica and he just shrugged. 

“I- I know she seems that way but.. she’s a great leader! And she’s the most caring person I know!” 

“She’s unfocused and undisciplined.” George said while cutting his meat. “Will you pass me the salad?” He asked Mica who quietly did what he was asked. 

“Unfocused, maybe, but.. I mean, one time she made us practice in the rain! I mean, that’s discipline, right?” I chuckled. 

I meant to lighten to mood, to say something nice but George just seemed annoyed by my talking. 

I glanced at Mica and he just shook his head as discreetly as possible. 

Crap!

We ate in silence for about five agonizing minutes before George began to speak again. 

“How is school?” He asked. 

“Um, good! Yeah, I’m-” 

“Straight A’s?” He met my eyes. 

Bone-chilling! That’s how cold his look was!

I gulped. “Uh.. yep.” 

“Really?” He squeezed his eyes together. 

It was like he was burning my soul with his gaze!

“No! I’m sorry!” I turned away. 

“So you just lied to me.” 

“I- well…” 

“Dad-” 

“Be quiet.” George snapped. He didn’t really raise his voice. If anything it was lower. Haunting. 

“I.. I’m sorry, it’s my fault.” I stammered.

“Who else’s fault could it be? Did anyone else lie?” 

“N-no, I just mean you don’t have to take it out on him..” 

“Excuse me?” 

I looked up from my plate. 

Mica was just staring at his, playing with his food. 

“I’m sorry, sir. I won’t lie again.”

“Are you telling me how to treat my son?” George went on.

“N-no. Of course not.” 

“That’s what I thought.” George continued eating as if nothing was wrong. 

“Mica,” He said after a while. The way he called him was like he was speaking to a dog. 

Mica looked at his father. 

“Eat.” He ordered. 

Mica did as he was told. 

I was so uncomfortable. That was my boyfriend! No one was allowed to treat him like that! Screw what his dad thought, I wanted to give him a piece of my mind! Mica was good at containing himself but I knew on the inside he was sad and it was my job to prevent him from being sad! Ever!

But blowing up at his dad would probably only make things worse. I had to fix this somehow! I took a breath and tried to move on.

“What are your hobbies, sir?” I asked. 

“Hobbies?” The man frowned. 

“Yes. Y’know, what you do in your spare time.” I nodded. 

“Hobbies are for retired people.” 

Of course he’d say that. 

“What do you do for a living then?” 

“I work as a Chief Executive Officer. On top of that I am obviously also the business owner of the company.” 

“Oh! Which company?” 

George seemed annoyed I even asked. As if it was so obvious! He gave me an annoyed look.

“Walters.”

Wait, what?! Like the restaurant chain?! We had Walters restaurants all over the city! Heck, maybe even all over the country.

“Of- of course! Wow, that is so cool!” 

George nodded. 

Damn, I knew they were loaded but.. this really took the cake. 

“Must be a hard job.” I said. 

“It’s not difficult at all. It just takes up a lot of time, that’s why I want my son surrounded by the right people when I’m not around.” 

“You mean people like me.” I joked. 

George didn’t even smile at my lame ass joke. Dammit. 

Mica was just quietly eating his food. This was going terribly. By the end of the night George would hate me even more than he probably already did. 

“What are your plans for the future?” George asked. 

Oh God! My plans for the future? Just get whatever good job I can get and hope to stay together with Mica forever and maybe adopt a dog or two? 

I scratched my head. I knew that answer wasn’t going to fly. But I was really bad at lying!

“I’m hoping to graduate high school and go to college and then get a nice job and a family later.” 

“What kind of job?” George asked. 

“Um.. any good job really. I’m open to anything.” 

“So you’re aimless.” George concluded. 

Jeez, this guy was tough!

“No, I’m open.” 

You should try it! I wanted to add. 

“Being ‘open’, as you say usually doesn’t lead to much good. Look at my son for example,” George gestured to Mica who finally looked up. 

“He started ballet when he was a toddler and remained on one straight path. If he had been as aimless as you he wouldn’t have been an apprentice at a ballet company. In fact, he wouldn’t have even had a chance of becoming a ballet dancer at all.” 

“Sure, but maybe he would be less tense all the time. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but he barely gets time to breathe! He’s always exhausted when I see him! Right?” I looked at Mica who seemed unsure of what to say. Before he even had the chance to reply George spoke again.

“Then maybe he isn’t working hard enough.” George glared at his son. 

“What?!” How did that make any sense?

“A runner doesn’t get tired from a couple of laps.” George explained.

I was losing it. Never in my life had I wanted to scream at someone more. But Mica looked so uncomfortable. I had to contain myself.

“Excuse me.” Mica said before leaving the table. 

I was ruining everything. 

George continued to eat as if nothing was wrong. 

His expression barely ever changed. His eyes were the only speaking part of his face. Truly, the windows of his soul.

“I’m sorry.” I said to George. “But I meant what I said. You need to cut him some slack.” 

George glowered at me. 

I gulped and continued. “You know Mica is a great dancer. But ballet careers don’t last that long! I looked it up! And if you want him to still be a great person at the end of his career you need to give him time to live! If he doesn’t find out what living is before then, he’ll have nothing left when ballet stops and it’ll destroy him!” 

“What do you think I’m doing letting him plan that ridiculous party with you?” George answered.

“Not just that! That night, when we were watching movies and you sent me away.. I heard you. You told him to practice! And at the ballet you said something to upset him! And then you made him walk home! If I hadn’t given him a ride he might’ve fainted and who knows-” 

“You did what?!” George snapped. 

His eyes were blazing anger at me. 

Shit! Why couldn’t I just keep my mouth shut?!

“I- No-” 

“Don’t lie to me!” 

I kept quiet and just tried to calm down. My heart was beating so fast. And I was scared.. but not for myself. For Mica. 

“He didn’t want me to give him a ride! I forced him! He really wanted to walk, I promise!”

George looked at me for a long time. It was unsettling but I didn’t look away. I needed him to understand what I had to say. I needed him to believe me. To hate me and not Mica.

George’s anger wavered and slowly turned into bone-chilling coldness.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” George asked after a while.. 

That question came completely out of nowhere! I couldn’t help but think of Mica and my face got hot. 

“No.” I turned away. 

“You’re very invested in my son.” George mused. 

“Yes! I care about him. As a friend!” 

“A friend? Is that what they call it these days?” George said coldly. 

I froze in my seat. 

“Listen boy,” George placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed into my skin. “Don’t get confused now. My son is not of your kind and whatever ideas you have about letting those fantasies out on him should be removed immediately.” 

He spoke softly but his tone, his voice, his hand on my shoulder were incredibly intimidating. A chill went down my spine.

“You’re lucky my son is so fond of you or I wouldn’t even let him near you. You need to control those eyes of yours or people will get the wrong idea. And then you can really kiss your ‘friendship’ goodbye. ..Or perhaps after that party is over and done with you’ll need to go find a new friend.” 

Mica came into the room right at that moment, a beautiful two tier chocolate cake in his hands. 

George patted my shoulder and smiled. Mica smiled back at him. He looked relieved.

“Everything okay?” Mica asked. 

“Just perfect. James is an interesting boy.”  

“He is, isn’t he?” Mica seemed to think we were best buddies. His gloomy mood from before was long gone. Meanwhile I was still shocked about what just happened!

Mica began to cut the cake.

George leaned in when Mica wasn’t paying attention and whispered “Don’t mention anything to Mica.”

I shot him a frantic glance and he squeezed my shoulder again. 

“James,” Mica said cheerfully. 

I looked up at my boyfriend. 

“It’s your favorite, chocolate cherry.” 

He looked so happy. Dammit. Now his dad knew about the ballet and about me liking him and.. he told me not to say anything but how could I not? 

“T-that’s great. It looks yummy.” 

Mica picked up on my mood. He gave me quick glance but said nothing. He gave us both a piece of cake. He looked at his dad who nodded before he cut his own piece. 

Their whole relationship was weird. It felt more like Mica was George’s puppet than his own person. I felt so uneasy I didn’t even enjoy the cake even though it was delicious. 

Dammit. George knew. Of course he did. I was a hopeless, useless open book. 

• o 🦋 o •

After dinner George shook my hand, giving me a hard squeeze and told me it’d been nice to meet me. 

There was no chance in hell I was ever going to see Mica again.

I was out in the garden, alone with Mica now. 

“What’s wrong?” Mica asked. 

I knew George would kill me if I said anything. But if I didn’t Mica would be totally ambushed whenever George was going to bring up the ballet. And punish him. What was he going to do? I couldn’t just keep my mouth shut!

I sighed. “I accidentally told-” 

The front door opened. “Mica,” George said. “It’s late. Come inside.”

Mica looked at me a little worriedly. Then he looked at his dad hesitantly. 

He sighed. “I’ll see you later.” 

“Yeah.” My voice was strained. So was my entire body.

Mica disappeared inside and George gave me a cold look before closing the door.