Chapter Seven: Dawn

October 24th

Christian and I spent the afternoon together. We caught a bus down The Square. I'd never been there with him before. Whenever I go with someone different, it's always a new experience.

The first thing we did was go eat the Tea Shop. We sat down and ordered our food.

"You've been here before, right?" he asked.

I nodded. "I'm not strictly allowed to, but Maggie and I have come here quite a few times. You come here?"

"My brother used to bring me here all the time," he said. "Before he ran off to college, I mean. It's weird being the only one left at the house with Dad."

"I'll bet," I said sympathetically. "I wouldn't know, being the oldest."

"I'm the baby. I guess that has its ups and its downs. But I was lucky. Neither one of my brothers ever treated me like I was younger. Even though I'm four years younger than George and eight years younger than Frank."

"Wait," I said, smiling a little. "How did you end up with a cool name and they're George and Frank?"

He blushed a little and smiled. "Well, my name isn't really Christian."

"What?"

"We're Italian, right? Well, like three quarters or whatever, but it's pretty strict. My mom actually lived in Italy until she was eight. My dad's half Italian, and then it quarters up. So they wanted their children to have traditional Italian names. My name is Cristoforo. Which is the Italian version of Christopher, actually, but I was always called Christian because when George was little he couldn't pronounce Cristoforo and he called me Christ, and then everyone called me that. At some point my mom figured it was sacrilegious and the name Christian came about."

"That's fascinating," I said. "What are your brother's names?"

"Giorgio and Francesco." (He wrote them down so I could see how all of them are spelled.)

"Why don't any of you go by those names? I think they're cool."

Christian laughed. "You would! That's what I like about you, Dawn. You think things are cool that most anyone else would find silly. You make your own path. You don't just go with the crowd."

Why did I ever worry that Christian wouldn't like me for anything else than myself?

Our waiter (who had blue hair and three nose rings) brought out our food. He paused and did a double take.

"Christian! How you been, man?"

"Not bad," Christian replied, smiling. "How are you? Did you get that, uh... infection cleared up?"

"Old news, man, old news. I hear you're in a band."

"Very true. I just joined up in August."

"Sweeeeet. Yeah, Josh was in."

"Loitering?"

"No, no, he had some dude with him and they bought a bong."

"Oh, yeah."

"They insisted it was just for show. But I don't know a guy who buys a high quality bong for show."

"Doesn't everyone insist they're for show?"

The waiter laughed. "That's the truth! Enjoy the food."

My eyes had been going back and forth like it was a tennis game. Finally, they set on Christian. "What was all of that?"

"Josh is the idiot drummer. He doesn't have a job, and if he didn't play drums like a master, he'd be dead weight. He kind of is anyway." Christian shook his head. "I don't know what to do about him, really."

"What are the other guys in the band like?" I asked.

"Perry's cool, Tristan is... okay. They're good musicians, that's what's important."

"So it's just the four of you?"

"Yup. Me on guitar and vocals. Perry plays bass, Tristan plays guitar, and Josh on the drums."

"I'd like to meet them." I didn't really, especially since I know what they sell at the Tea Shop, and I'm well aware what a bong is. However, I was curious about these guys that Christian spends so much time with.

"You will," he said. We didn't discuss the subject again. I forgot about it until I started writing this entry.

After we left the Tea Shop, we shopped around and Christian bought me a package of incense and a box of herbal tea. He got himself a CD.

I guess it was a good day. I have a funny feeling about his band buddies. I've met his friends at school and they all seem like nice guys. I can't figure out what he found so appealing about the band guys, if they were drug addicts or something. I know it's a band life, but Vanish isn't into that. So I don't know why Christian's band would be.

I came home at seven-thirty, way before my curfew and Dad jumped all over me.

"Where were you?"

"Out with Christian," I replied.

"I knew that. But where did you go?"

"The mall," I lied. I didn't need a lecture on The Square and I certainly didn't need a lecture on what Christian might be doing there, and where he could possibly, in the regions of Dad's mind, be taking me there.

"The mall, huh?"

"Yes," I said, hoping he couldn't see through my lie.

"Well, you should have been home earlier."

"It's not even eight. And I have a nine o'clock curfew on Sunday."

Dad put his hands on his hips. "Dawn."

"What?" I know he doesn't like Christian, but I couldn't figure out why he was acting like this. It seemed so out of character for him.

"Go to your room," he said.

I stared at him for a moment and then did. If he thought he was punishing me for being home over an hour early, that's fine. But I just wanted out of that conversation.

October 25th

I can't believe it. I just can't believe my own ears. I have to write this down or I think it might just be a dream. I just got off the phone with Mary Anne. My sweet, kind, step-sister whom I love dearly, who is not sneaky and does not do things behind her father's back.

Or at least she didn't.

We're chatting about me coming to Stoneybrook for Thanksgiving (I'll be leaving Wednesday afternoon on a surely crowded plane and then I'll be coming back Sunday night. I've had my tickets for a month, and I was lucky to get them).

"Dad and I are working on getting Sharon to let us cook a turkey," Mary Anne said. "We promised that we'd do everything and she wouldn't have to touch it at all. Not for just her sake, I'll admit, but we don't know what could end up stuffed in our turkey if we don't do it ourselves."

I laughed. "That sounds about right."

"How's Christian?"

"Good," I replied. "How are things going with Derek? Is the long distance relationship working out now that school's started?"

"Oh, yes. He always makes time to make sure to call me or send me an email. Derek is kind of something I wanted to talk to you about, Dawn."

"Want me to check up on him?" I asked with a giggle. Even though Mary Anne is dating him and he goes to my school, Derek Thompson isn't someone I know very well.

She laughed a little. "No, nothing like that. Derek and I have been talking about Thanksgiving break and we thought it would be fun if he could come visit. You know, he could catch the flight with you."

"Uh, okay."

"Yeah, I thought it'd be cool."

"I don't mind," I said, "but... you've told Richard about Derek, right?"

Mary Anne's laugh was a little forced and high pitched. "That's the other thing. See, you've told Sharon about Christian. Everyone knows about him and all... Dad doesn't need to know about Derek."

"Then how... what?" I was seriously confused.

"Dawn, this might sound silly, and I don't know how'd you feel about this, but... do you think while you and Derek are here, you could, you know, pretend that Derek is Christian while Dad and Sharon are around?"

"WHAT?"

"It's a crazy idea, I know, but if Dad knew that I was dating a sixteen year old, I'd never be allowed to talk to him or anything. Even if he is on the other side of the country."

I couldn't believe it. Not only was this idea crazy, insane, and totally unlike Mary Anne, it has DOOMED TO FAIL written all over it.

"How is Derek going to get a ticket?" I thought maybe if I put a simple problem forward, it would stop this insane plan. "I could hardly get mine. Not for Thanksgiving weekend."

"It's not a problem. Derek can get his ticket whenever."

"But getting a ticket even now, that's expensive."

"I don't know if you noticed from over the summer or not, but... Derek's kinda loaded," Mary Anne said. "Really, it's not going to be a problem."

I guess I hadn't thought about it. Finally, I went with honesty. "Mary Anne, I don't think I'm comfortable with this. And... how does Derek feel about this?"

"He's okay with it as long as he doesn't have to kiss you." She laughed like it was a joke. "Dawn, you get to see your boyfriend all the time. I haven't seen Derek since July."

"You knew this was going to be a problem going into this," I said.

"I know, believe me. And we don't want to do it if you're not comfortable with it."

"I'm not."

I could practically see Mary Anne frowning. "Oh, come on, Dawn. It's not that big of a deal."

"I'm not going to act like your boyfriend is mine! Why don't you just tell Richard about him and save us all a lot of hassle?"

"Because Dad wouldn't understand." Mary Anne was starting to get angry.

"He'll understand even less when he finds out you made such an elaborate lie. You really should have told him the moment you got home."

"Well, it's too late now, isn't it! I can't tell him now, not when it's been three months."

"That isn't my problem," I said stiffly. "I kept your secret, but I'm not going to lie to Mom and Richard about it. I refuse."

Then, Mary Anne hung up on me.

She might be mad, but I don't think I'm wrong.