Dinner 2

Elena.

The look on his face as his eyes met mine showed a look of confusion, and then in a split second, he was able to compose himself. He obviously did not realize that I was his next-door neighbor, and judging from the way his shoulders stiffened, I was sure that it was not a pleasant surprise.

I just smiled faintly at him, moving aside so that he could step in. He only gave me a brief nod and slipped past me. I followed a few steps behind until we parted ways upon entering the open living room.

"Welcome, Mr. Lockwood, I'm so glad you could make it!" my mother said cheerfully, wiping her hands on her blue apron.

My mom came out from behind the kitchen counter and gave him a welcoming hug. I rolled my eyes and walked over to the couch. My mom was always friendly with everyone, although I'm sure if she knew who Killian was, she definitely would not act like that.

Killian and my parents talked to each other while the food was being made, which I think made the cooking time even longer. Zayn came to join me on the couch, sighing as he realized that there were only a few minutes left for us to eat.

By the time my parents and Killian were done talking, enough time had passed that I was too hungry to care that he was even there. Lexi was completely silent, just as she had been a few days earlier. It hurt me, her blocking me out, but I understood how she felt.

I sat at one end of the table and Killian sat at the other. Us being directly facing each other did nothing to lessen the heat in my chest. However, our eyes never met, he was always looking at his plate, and I was looking anywhere else but at him.

I breathed a sigh of relief when my mom started putting the food on the table, but glared at me when I tried to take some. I could hear her nagging voice from inside my head, 'Wait until everything is on the table, you hungry wolf.'

The very last dish was finally put down and I started to pick it up. I gathered the food on my plate, taking a bite of the bread while eating it myself. After everyone had collected their food, my mom started the conversation.

"El, how was your day," my mom asked. Taking another bite of the bread, I really didn't like the way she was squinting at me.

"Fine," I grumbled as I stabbed the salad with my fork. My mom tucked a strand of her brown hair behind her ear, giving me another look that meant some kind of explanation.

Then I took a deep breath and sighed, "I just, don't do much."

Placing the fork on the edge of the bowl, my hand tore apart another breadstick. My mom hummed, before turning to my brother, and asking how he was doing. I was glad that Mom was detaching herself from me because I knew that she was only trying to get answers from me because we were together. On another day, she probably would have been satisfied with just a simple "fine".

I sat quietly as my parents and brother had a little talk. My brother was a little more convincing with the questions and easily able to start a conversation. After she seemed to be done asking us, she then turned to Killian.

"Where are you moving from, Mr. Lockwood?" my mother asked kindly.

Killian picked up his water glass, looking very interested in it. He stirred the water in it and looked at my mom.

"I'm from Washington," he said, taking a sip of his water.

My mom replied politely. "I see, Virginia must be very different."

Killian just shrugged. "I guess so."

Seemingly unsatisfied with his answer, my mother pressed on. "Then what about your old pack, how are they doing?"

Then I took a deep breath and sighed, "I just, don't do much."

Placing the fork on the edge of the bowl, my hand tore apart another breadstick. My mom hummed, before turning to my brother, and asking how he was doing. I was glad that Mom was detaching herself from me because I knew that she was just trying to get an answer from me since we were having dinner together like this. On any other day, she would have been satisfied with a simple "fine".

I sat quietly as my parents and brother had their conversation. My brother was a little more convincing with his questions and easily able to start a conversation. After she seemed to be done asking us, she then turned to Killian.

"So, where are you moving from Mr. Lockwood?" my mother asked kindly.

Killian picked up his water glass, looking very interested in it. He stirred the water in it and looked at my mom.

"I'm from Washington," he said, taking a sip of his water.

My mom replied politely. "I see, Virginia must be very different."

He just shrugged. "I guess so."

Seemingly unsatisfied with his answer, my mother pressed on. "Then what about your old pack, how are they doing?"

He did not answer for a few seconds, and his hand turned white as he gripped the glass. I was worried that it would break because of his seemingly strong grip.

Instead of breaking it, he simply set the glass down, a sweet smile gracing his face. A shiver ran through my spine as I watched her calm down suddenly.

"They are quite good," he said simply, his ice-blue eyes staring back at my mother. Although I had no idea about him, or his pack, I could tell from his tone that he wasn't telling the truth.

To be frank, I was very impressed by his easy-going attitude to letting things go. He then instantly engaged in a conversation with my father, all the annoyance from the previous question gone. It was almost admirable, if not a little creepy.

Dinner continued in the same manner, my parents continuing to throw pointless questions at each of us. Just as I was about to finish eating, my mom launched another burst of questions.

"El, Jane's mom said that you have a new English teacher, is that true?" she asked.

Killian and I looked up simultaneously, staring at each other for a few moments. I cleared my throat, fiddling with my fork.

"Yeah," I fell silent.

"Well, what do you think of him?" She asked with sparkling eyes.

"Well, he is an asshole," I smirked, then glanced at my mom. "His quality is high, I will tell you that. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't have something going for him."

"You're kidding me of course, right El," my mom warned, shooting me a look.

I looked into his eyes, my teeth chattering as I saw him raise one eyebrow at me. That damn little bastard.

Lexi whines, begging me silently to let him go. I put down the fork, pulled the napkin from my lap, and set it on the table.

"I'm tired," I said curtly. "I'm going to sleep."

Then I stood up and picked up my plate and water glass. Leaving the table with one last glance at Killian, I put the dishes in the sink and climbed the stairs to my room.

I fell onto my bed as soon as I walked into my room, snuggling into my blankets. He was already interfering with my life in every way possible. What a nerve he has.

I pulled the pillow to my face and screamed, hoping they couldn't hear it downstairs. If a pillow could muffle the sound of gunfire, then it could probably muffle my voice.

After feeling exhausted, I closed my eyes and let myself be lulled to sleep.