Hayden seemed to be more nervous than what I realized as we grabbed the table for lunch. We arrived a few minutes before everyone else and made our way over while the waiter dashed off to go refill someone's drinks. We didn't say anything for a few moments as both of us glanced over the menu, having never been here before. I didn't even know why my parents had suggested this place, it was far too... fancy for something like this.
"I definitely don't want to order something cheap that would make your grandparents question my income." Hayden murmured.
"Babe," I squeezed his hand and saw he was kidding partially but still a little wary. My pulse had been racing ever since we got in the car to get to the restaurant. Now it was just a matter of waiting for everyone else.
The waiter came back with a sympathetic expression, "sorry for dashing off. Shall I start you two off with something to drink?"
"Just water for now please. We're waiting on the rest of our party to get here," I explained.
"Not a problem, I'll be back shortly."
"It may not be as bad as what I keep imagining it to be." I murmured to him as he looked around and back at me.
"If I can handle the difficult students who I teach every semester, I'm sure I can handle your grandparents. They just want what's best for you."
"I know." I looked up and saw my mother enter along with the rest of the group. Before I could get up to get them, she looked in my direction and waved.
"They're coming?" Hayden noticed the change in my expression.
I nodded and waited to get up until they were at the table.
"Oh Dasha, you look beautiful." My grandmother came over and embraced me tightly before letting go to look me over again. "Have you done something to your hair?"
"I cut it but nothing else Nana."
"I see," her hazel eyes sparkled as she stepped back when Hayden stood behind me.
"Nana, Pops, this is my fiance, Hayden."
Hayden stepped forward and shook hands with both of my grandparents while my parents stood back for a moment.
"It's nice to finally meet you Hayden. We've heard lots of things about you." Pops said and I shot a look towards my parents.
"Well I can only hope that what they said was at least interesting none the less." Hayden smiled and hugged my parents briefly before we all took our seats.
"Indeed, you can call me Sue-Ellen and this is my husband, Mark."
"I'm glad that we were able to get together to formally meet." Hayden squeezed my hand under the table while I continued to internally hold my breath.
On cue our waiter came back around to take their drink orders while I gazed at the menu again. My appetite was far gone but I would have to eat something.
"Split with me?" I whispered to Hayden as he nodded and pointed out a few things that looked good enough to stomach.
"So Hayden," Nana began with what looked to be a genuine smile. "I'm told your a teacher?"
"Yes, I'm a professor and teach a couple of history courses at the university."
"How interesting. So how did you and Dasha meet?"
I looked at my parents, waiting for them to interrupt. Surely we weren't going to tell them the truth?
"I think that's a story we should save for after lunch. It's quite... long." My father chuckled as my Nana seemed to accept the answer.
"Fair enough, but I expect the story on how you proposed in the meantime. The ring is stunning, even if it's not traditional."
Neither of us said anything for a moment as I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes. What the fuck was that supposed to mean?
"Well, Dasha is no ordinary woman so the ring was designed to her tastes." Hayden explained before diving into the story about our engagement while I listened intently. I loved hearing him retell it every time someone asked us. It never ceased to amaze me how enthusiastic he was about proposing.
"Do you have a date set?"
"After I graduate next month we'll really start planning things." I explained as my grandparents seemed to accept that answer as well.
"Are we ready to order?" Our waiter returned and directed the attention as everyone ordered something different from the menu.
"Where are you from Hayden?" Pops asked this time.
"Duran, it's a small town not too far from here."
"I know the place, we've driven through it a few times. A quiet town it is."
"Yes sir, it's very quiet."
"There's quite a... mix of people there too isn't there?"
"I mean, most towns have many different cultures but yes. My family is personally a mix of cultures so things are different."
"I see."
Hayden shifted under his gaze as I felt the anger slowly build up in him. I knew if we didn't change topics soon something would be said that was going to be regretted later.
"Mom, you said that you recently went to visit Laura up in Kansas? How was that?" My mother directed the conversation once more.
"Oh it was lovely! She was doing just fine..."
I tuned out the rest of the conversation and silently tried to see if Hayden was alright. His facial expression had changed back to a neutral one so there was no telling what he was thinking. I personally was ready to go after the comments made and couldn't imagine how it would go when we told them how we met.
"You must see each other quite a bit since you're on the same campus?"
I spoke up, "not really. The university is pretty large and my classes are on the opposite side of where he teaches."
"I see the apple doesn't fall from the tree..." Nana spoke and eyed my parents.
"Mother, now is not the time for this." My mom spoke rather directly as my grandparents slowly put the pieces together.
"And you approved of this?" Pops eyed my dad as Hayden's mouth dropped.
"Mark, this is not the place to make a scene. Our daughter is happy with Hayden and he respects her."
I felt pride for my parents accepting my relationship with Hayden and tried to calm the unsettling fear in my stomach.
"All I can say is back in my day, interracial marriages were not a thing."
Hayden stood up as did I right as the waiter came around the corner with our food.
"Hayden," I grabbed his wrist gently to try and keep him from losing it.
"If you'll excuse me, I believe I'll be leaving along with my fiancé. It's clear that we're not wanted here and I would rather be around those who will not disrespect me because of my background."
I didn't even look at my parents as I followed Hayden outside quickly and waited for him to unlock the car. I knew hell was about to break loose inside.
He gripped the steering wheel while the keys sat on the dashboard and closed his eyes. Never in my life did I think it was going to go that direction. It hadn't occurred to me that my grandparents would have been discriminative.
"I'm sorry." I whispered, too afraid to put an arm around him as he visibly shook.
"Would you like me to drop you off at your apartment? I need to go for a run."
I felt my heart shatter when he said the apartment and not his house. He didn't want me around him because of my family. How humiliating was this going to be?
"That's fine." I whispered and jumped when he grabbed the keys before starting the car.
The drive took ten minutes and I got out without saying anything to him because nothing was going to get through to him. Slowly I made my way up the stairs to my floor and felt with each step I was walking into something that wasn't going to be easy to fix.
Once I got to my door I realized I didn't have my apartment keys, they were at Hayden's.
"Fuck!" I called Rose's cell and prayed she was in the apartment.
"Hello?"
"Rose, are you at the apartment?"
"Yes, I was about to leave though to meet Sean, why?"
"I'm outside and forgot my keys at Hayden's."
The door opened seconds later as she took in my face. "Dash what happened?"
I shook my head and clung to my best friend as the sobs began to take over my body.
"Okay sweetie, take a deep breath okay? Did something happen to Hayden?"
I didn't know how to reply to that and tried to take a breath. It only ended up being a gasp before starting over.
"My grandparents... they said some things and it set him off. We... we left lunch and he dropped me off here."
"He didn't take you to his place?" She frowned. "That's... odd. I can call Sean and tell him I'll be late."
"No, it's okay. I just... I'll just do some things while I'm here."
"Are you sure? I can stay."
"No," I hugged her tightly. "Thank you, but I'm okay. I'll call you if I need something."
"Okay," she regarded me for a second before grabbing her things and leaving.
I walked into my bedroom and saw there was a pile of laundry that needed to be folded. So before I could let my mind linger on anything I started cleaning and folding. More than likely my phone wouldn't be going off for a few hours so there wasn't any need for me to have it near me. I hadn't seen him this mad in ages so there was no telling what was going to happen.
The stupid part of me feared that he would want to leave. That this was too much, but I knew all we had to do was not invite them and just accept that they weren't welcomed. The people who saw how we were and support us were the ones who mattered.
After folding all of my t-shirts I grabbed my phone anyways and sent him a text for him to read whenever he wasn't as mad.
'Words can't describe how embarrassed and ashamed I am right now. I love you Hayden Blaze and I promise you that nothing anyone says would ever make me ashamed to be yours. Take whatever time you need to cool down, just let me know when you're done? Dash <3'
"Please don't let it take too long." I whispered and went back to pairing my socks up. The only thing I wanted to do right now was hold Jasper since my fiancé was inconsolable.
**I wanted to make this chapter longer but the fact that I wrote it and could update made me happy. Guys this semester is about to be hell so I really won't be active much. Sorry... :( but I will do my best to write small portions whenever I get the chance so that I can update.
Also I wrote this because at one point this happened when I was dating my ex at the time. I never realized how many people didn't approve of interracial couples. It pissed me off but I felt it needed to be highlighted. As long as that person makes you happy, it shouldn't matter their age, gender, religion, etc. you do you and don't worry about the haters! Getting off my soapbox now.**