Chapter Six

School races by as the three of them learn how their relationship works. Charity marvels at how easily the three of them have come together as a unit. She has moved into the center room with Remy and Dylan leaving only her belongings in her other room. Every moment with them is reassuring her that she belongs here.

Remy and Dylan are in bliss. Although Remy cannot publically be with either Dylan or Charity he is happy to have them here in his haven. He has never been in a public relationship anyways and so the secrecy doesn’t bother him. Even if it were to get out, Remy’s parents know he is gay and will accept them all with open arms. He leans back in the bed nestled in Dylan’s arm and watching Charity study besides them. Life is perfect until Dylan’s phone rings.

Dylan answers and his face immediately drains of color. He says nothing for the duration of the call. He merely hangs up and looks at Remy, “my father is in town. He is here to visit.” Remy blinks and stands up immediately,

“he is here? Like, here here? In the building here?” Dylan nods and looks down with his hands clenched and jaw tense. Remy nods and immediately grabs his things. He runs out of the room and vanishes into his own. Charity looks up at the mad dash confused,

“What’s wrong? Where is Remy going?” Dylan looks over at her and shakes his head. Charity never hears anything when she is reading,

“My dad is here. He doesn’t know that Remy goes to school here too. He doesn’t like him because, you know.” Charity looks at him in awe,

“Oh.” Dylan nods and gets up ready to usher her into her room before his father is knocking at the door,

“Son! I told you I was here. Why are you not here to greet me?” Dylan looks at her apologetically and goes to answer the door, when he does a man with peppered hair and a firmly pressed business suit is revealed. He is tapping his foot irritated, “is this any way to treat your father?” He pushes himself into the room in time to see Charity as she opens her door with her books in hand, “Who is that?” He asks harshly. Charity stops in her tracks at his voice.

“Father, this is Charity. My girlfriend.” He says tersely. Dylan’s father looks over at Charity and huffs,

“very well. She can come to dinner too. Get dressed and meet me in the car. Don’t embarrass me.” He says sharply and turns on his heel stalking down the hallway.

Dylan sighs and looks at Charity apologetically, “just put on a dress. I am sorry for this.” He goes to his room and puts on a pair of slacks and a button up shirt. Charity rushes to her room and pulls on her nicest dress. It has a high neckline and goes to just above her knee. She bites her lip hoping it is appropriate for a fancy dinner and slides on her only pair of brown heels before meeting Dylan in the hallway. Dylan smiles when he sees her,

“You look beautiful.” He leads her down to the parking lot. A limousine is waiting with a body guard standing at the door. People around campus are staring confused as Dylan and Charity enter. The drive to the restaurant is silent and Charity fidgets with her dress nervously. Dylan looks at his father sullenly as the man is solely focused on his phone. He never could stop working.

They are brought to a five star restaurant and lead to a table. As they sit down Dylan looks at his father, “you had time to make a reservation? How long have you been in town?” He asks as they are handed their menus.

His father looks up from his phone and scoffs, “my world doesn’t revolve around you Dylan. I had a meeting. I merely thought you would like to see your father.”

Dylan clenches his jaw and refuses to speak for the rest of dinner. Charity looks from Dylan to his father not sure what to say. She folds her hands in her lap and eats quietly. Things continued in this way until Dylan stands,

“I have to go to the bathroom.” He says to Charity apologetically and he is not gone for two minutes before his father speaks for the first time since food arrived.

“So my son is dating you. Who are you? You seem…. Boring. Who are your parents? Do you always dress like that?” Before she can answer he holds his hand up, “it does not matter. I had my men look into you while we were eating. You’re nobody. Not even pretty.” Charity cannot believe the words she’s hearing and she looks at him in utter shock. “Look, I don’t have time to be nice. My son is from higher stock then you. A union with you only makes him look bad. Break up. He can gain nothing from being with you.”

“ But sir I—“ before she can go further Dylan returns and she shuts her mouth not wanting him to know about his father’s displeasure. Why was she not good enough?

The rest of the dinner is continued in silence and so is the following car ride home. When they get out of the car Dylan’s father looks at the pair of them and then announces, “it was good to see you son. I will visit again.” He then closes the door and the car drives off leaving Charity and Dylan standing alone outside the dorms.

Dylan sighs and takes her hand, “glad that’s over.” He pulls her inside and when they get in they see a note from Remy saying he was gone for the day. Just in case Dylan’s dad wanted a tour. Dylan sighs and leans over to kiss Charity who lets him but does not return the gesture.

He frowns and begins to lead her to the room, but she slips her hand out of his. “I think I am going to sleep in my room tonight. Goodnight.” She turns and vanishes into her own room for the first time in months.