216 days till graduation. 216 days till my life begins.

So. Today has finally come.
I was dreading this day. Secretly hoping to get out of it somehow but no, today's the day.
What day you ask?
Well, today's the day I meet Travis's uptight, stingy, annoying, controlling, sadistic, arrogant, big-headed, egotistical, materialistic, narrow-minded rude Lawyer parents.
His words, not mine.
Nothing to worry about isn't?

So the other day in the café, Michael didn't really tell me how he knows Travis. He just got all grumpy and even told me to go home early since it was my first day.
I thought we had our shifts at the same time, but he didn't show up yesterday. Instead, I met his mum, Katherine Hamish. She's a really nice lady. Very pretty as well. I could see where Michael gets his good looks from. We talked about books and I actually enjoyed working. Who knew?

Anyways I thought I'd ask Travis today if he knows Michael. The curiosity is getting to me.

I laid out my dress yesterday. 
Ok fine, it's not my dress. It's Anne's. I couldn't find any dress in my closet that said 'I'm a genuinely nice person, I care about your son a lot, please don't kill me.'  It's in a shade of purple. I love purple. It's a bit high neck, which I also love, it's got a cute black belt and the bottom half falls down in pleats. It's got this aura of sophistication that I'm hoping to pull off. I also borrowed these killer cream open toed high heels from Samantha. I'm just hoping and praying that I don't fall on my face in those. I'm probably going to destroy them by the end of the night. I'm guessing its a bit pricy but it's not like Samantha was going to wear them anyways. And its for a good cause.
Or that's what I keep telling myself.

I put on the dress. I tie my hair up in a high ponytail. It looks nice. I think. Slip on the heels. My feet are already starting to kill me and with that I'm all set.

I go out and sit on the porch. I enjoy sitting out here. You can see a bit of the beach from here. You can see kids getting excited to jump into the water, you see surfers getting ready to take on a wave, you see others come just to sit alone and think. The beach is definitely a great place to think

My dad used to tell me "You know something Lou, every time I stand before a beautiful beach, its waves seem to whisper to me: If you choose the simple things and find joy in nature's simple treasures, life and living need not be so hard. "
How did the man who really enjoyed life become..
Never mind.
Don't go there Lou.
He's been popping up in my head a lot recently. It has got to stop.

I see a Jaguar XJ pull up in front of my house.
Having rich parents has it's perks.

It's 6. He's early. Like an hour early. He gets out of the car looking as hot as ever with his shades on and goes over to the passenger side and opens the door for me as I approach him. He's wearing a white button up shirt, black dress pants and a black blazer. He's even sporting a tie. A bit too formal for a dinner with your own parents isn't?

"You look gorgeous Lou." he says and kisses me.

He pulls apart first though.

"Can we just stay in my room and kiss? All. Night. Long." I say moving closer to him. As if we could be any closer than we are now.

"Babe, you have no idea how much I'd love that but we really can't cancel. And my parents have a thing with punctuality. We have got to hit the road right now." he says, quite seriously. His parents must be more strict than I thought.

"Fine." I say pouting a little. Just as I'm getting in he kisses me again.

"I'll get us out of there as soon as I can. And ice cream after that I promise." he says and gets into the car and before I know it, we're off.

We make our way to the posh side of Brighton.
We just make casual small talk on the way there and listen to a bit of the radio.

It's takes us about 45 minutes to get there. He stops in front of a massive townhouse. I knew he was rich but damn. I feel like I've come to another town altogether.

He parks the car and takes me inside. The interior of the house is how I'd imagine the inside of Buckingham Palace to look like. Not even kidding.
The outside of the house doesn't look that big but inside. Just damn. I don't even have the words to describe the place. I could definitely get lost inside this place, which makes me cling to Travis's side. He doesn't seem to mind. For now.

We finally go into this dining hall. I'm pretty sure that the size of this  dining room alone is the entire ground floor of my house.

The room looks quite modern, has a couple of what one would call "Modern Art" up on the walls.
At the end of this long table which seats 12 I see a man and woman, scrutinizing my every move.
I stop clinging on to Travis now.

His parents, are both dressed very smartly and pull of the sophisticated look with absolute ease. I find my palms becoming sweaty. I just don't get why I seem to be making such a big deal out of it. Travis and my mum talk like best friends. This shouldn't be any different right?
They just look like they belong to a league of their own.

"Mother, Father, this is Louisa William Edwards." he says very curtly.
I now feel like I should've rehearsed even speaking before coming here.
"Louisa this is my father, Mr. George Darcy and this is my mother, Mrs. Diana Darcy." he then introduces me to them.

"Pleased to meet you." I say and shake hands with both of them. I feel like I'm at a meeting with the Queen. I might curtsy any second now.

"Do have a seat." his mother finally says. She sounds quite posh.
Travis sits by my side and his parents sit opposite us.

"So this is the girl you can't seem to stop talking about." his father says. His words should make me happy but he doesn't say it in a fun and happy kind of way. "I was expecting someone better to be honest. You can definitely do better Travis." He adds.

I was taking a sip of water and kind of choked on it when he said that.
All my fears are coming alive.
Great start to the night.

"Father. Please don't." Travis says.
Really? That's it? Wow.
I was expecting a little more defending I guess.

"So Louisa tell us about your parents." his mum says.

Oh god.

"Well my mum is a general surgeon in the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital down on Eastern Road." I reply.

"What about your father?" she further questions, her facial expression not really changing a lot.

"Well he passed away a few years ago." I say. I don't talk about my dad quite often and it's really taking everything I've got not to break down at the table.

Louisa. It's for Travis. This means something to him. Stay Strong.

"How did he pass?" his father further enquires.

The really don't know when to stop asking questions do they?
I haven't even told Travis this. I've told him that dad passed away but he doesn't know how.

"Well umm he umm took his own life." my voice cracks as I say it. I cough to cover it up and I put on a straight face, hopefully they don't catch on.

Travis turns to me and his eyes go wide. I try not to look at him because I know that I may break down. He holds my hand under the table and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

"My word. Travis, I'm sorry son, but this girl isn't right for you. Her own father thought death was an easier option than sticking around with her."

I think his dad says something else but I can't seem to hear it.
Everything that has been in my mind for what seems like so long has been just spat out in the open.

I can see Travis's mum stifling a smile.

I can't do this anymore.

I get up and walk of there as fast as I can. I won't give them the pleasure of seeing me in such a weak and pathetic state.

I think I hear Travis call after me.

I just want to get out of here. Now.

Maybe Travis's father is right though.
If dad loved me then why'd he leave me?