Chapter 25

The restaurant was so quiet you could probably hear a pin drop. The clinking of glasses, the soft murmur of other conversations, and the distant hum of classical music filled the air. It felt stuffy like the kind of place where you couldn't laugh too loud without getting kicked out.

We had all settled into our seats around the large, perfectly set table. Elijah sat at the head, with Megan next to him, and Easton beside me. Henry, Miles, and Alex were across from us, surprisingly not trying to strangle each other for once.

It was weird. Everyone was behaving.

I sat quietly, my arms crossed tightly over my chest, glaring at the smooth, polished tablecloth like it had personally offended me.

The others, of course, were being their usual charming selves. Henry was actually answering Megan's questions without his usual sarcastic remarks. The twins weren't pulling any of their usual pranks or teasing each other across the table. Even Easton was being polite, nodding along to whatever Megan was saying.

The waiter approached our table with a polite smile, holding a small notepad in one hand. "Good evening. Can I get you all something to drink before you order?"

Elijah, being the responsible one, spoke first. "I'll have a glass of red wine, please."

"Same for me," Megan chimed in, smiling at the waiter. She tucked her hair behind her ear, her nails painted a perfect pale pink.

Easton sighed. "I guess I'll take one too."

Henry perked up immediately. "If Easton's having one, I can have one too, right?"

Elijah turned to him with an unimpressed look. "Henry, you're—"

"Eighteen," Henry interrupted, smirking. "Which, if you recall, is legal here."

Elijah rolled his eyes, clearly debating whether or not to argue. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. But just one glass."

Henry grinned triumphantly. "Make it a good one," he told the waiter.

The man nodded, jotting it down, before turning to the twins. "And for you two?"

"Coke," Miles said immediately.

"Same," Alex added.

The waiter finally turned to me. "And for you, young man?"

"Apple juice," I muttered, avoiding eye contact.

The twins smirked at each other.

"Juice?" Alex teased. "Feeling extra grown-up today?"

I shot him a glare. "Shut up."

Megan giggled softly, like it was adorable. "Aww, that's cute."

I gritted my teeth, my grip on the table tightening.

The waiter finished writing down the drink orders and collected the menus from everyone—except me. I was still staring at mine like it was written in another language.

"Are you ready to order?" the waiter asked, glancing at me.

Elijah noticed my hesitation. "Give him a minute," he said smoothly.

The waiter nodded and turned to Easton instead.

"I'll have the steak, medium rare," Easton said.

"I'll take the same," Elijah added.

Megan smiled, setting her menu down. "I'll just have a Caesar salad with grilled chicken."

The second she said it, my stomach twisted.

Oh, so she could eat just a salad, and that was fine. But when I did it, it was a problem?

"Make mine the sirloin, medium," Henry said, clearly pleased with his wine win.

"Burger for me," Miles said.

"Yeah, same," Alex added.

The waiter turned back to me. "And for you?"

I hesitated again.

Easton leaned over slightly. "You'll like the pasta," he suggested quietly. "Or they have grilled chicken."

The idea of eating chicken made my stomach feel even worse.

"Do you have a kids' menu?" I asked before I could stop myself.

Megan laughed softly.

"Oh, sweetie," she said in that annoyingly gentle voice. "I don't think a place like this has a kids' menu. Not many kids come here."

The twins lost it.

Henry bit his lip, trying to hold back a grin.

I could feel my whole body go tense.

I was not a kid—I was 15.

I also wasn't even that small, I just looked younger than I was. But that didn't mean she had to point it out again.

"Well, maybe they should," I snapped. "Considering the portions here are probably too big for normal people."

"Adrian," Elijah said sharply, his voice low but firm.

I flinched.

His tone wasn't angry, but it was enough to make my stomach drop.

Megan quickly waved her hand. "It's okay! They are quite big."

I glared at my menu, now feeling completely trapped.

Easton must've noticed, because he spoke up, his voice calm. "He'll have the pasta."

The waiter nodded, scribbling it down. "Would you like any sides with that?"

I just shook my head, still fuming.

The waiter collected my menu and walked off.

The conversation picked back up around me, but I wasn't really paying attention.

The twins started talking about football, Megan asked Henry about school, and Easton and Elijah started talking about work.

It was weird seeing all my brothers acting normal.

Even Henry, who usually had an attitude about everything, was actually being... polite.

I forced myself to focus on the conversation.

"So, Megan," Henry said, swirling his wine glass dramatically. "What do you do?"

Megan smiled. "I work in marketing. I handle branding and advertising for a few companies."

Alex nodded. "That sounds cool."

Miles smirked. "Does that mean you could get us free stuff?"

Megan laughed. "Maybe, if you're nice."

The twins immediately put on their most innocent faces. "We're always nice."

Elijah snorted. "Yeah, right."

Megan turned to me again, clearly trying to include me. "Do you like school, Adrian?"

I shrugged. "Not really."

The table went silent. Awkward.

Megan shifted slightly, clearly trying to keep the conversation going. She stirred the glass of wine Elijah had ordered for her and smiled. "So," she said, looking around at us. "How's college going for all of you?"

Henry rolled his eyes. "The usual. Boring. Annoying. Full of idiots."

Megan laughed softly. "Well, I guess some things never change."

Miles grinned. "We're on the college football team, so that's pretty cool."

"You play football?" Megan asked, genuinely interested.

"Yep. I'm the faster twin," Miles said, smirking at Alex.

"In your dreams," Alex shot back, rolling his eyes. "I've got better stats."

Megan giggled like they were the most entertaining people in the world.

I clenched my fists under the table.

I hated how easy she fit in.

It was like she was already part of the family like she'd always been there. And I couldn't stand it.

The food finally arrived, and I barely touched mine.

I picked at my salad, pushing the leaves around my plate. The pasta looked okay, but my stomach was still too tight.

Megan barely touched her food either, but no one said anything about that.

Elijah, however, wasn't about to let me get away with it.

"Adrian, eat your pasta too," he said.

I stabbed a piece of lettuce. "I'm not hungry."

"You need more than just salad."

I scowled. "Megan only ate a salad."

Henry choked on his drink.

Elijah exhaled slowly. "Adrian—"

Megan, to her credit, didn't seem upset. "Elijah, it is fine and I had a big lunch," she said lightly.

I crossed my arms. "So did I."

Elijah gave me a warning look.

I could feel the heat rising behind my eyes again, and I hated it.

"I need the bathroom," I muttered, shoving my chair back.

The second I got to the bathroom, I pulled out my phone and texted Lucas.

Adrian: This dinner is a nightmare.

Adrian: Megan is fake.

Adrian: And Elijah is being a jerk.

Lucas replied almost instantly.

Lucas: What happened?

Adrian: She basically called me twelve.

Lucas: Oof.

I groaned, slumping against the sink.

I wished I could just leave.

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Word count: 1223

hey would you be interested in other characters pov's if so let me know.

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More chapters will be coming out soon.

*EMMA HETHRON*