Day 3. Pressure

Riza

I looked out my window onto the large backyard of the house where my sweet 16 party would be held. It was the morning of my party and everyone was rushing to get everything ready for the afternoon. I sighed before returning to my bed. I was happy to celebrate my birthday but I wasn't happy that I was having such a big party where 90% of the guests were my parents' and not mine. I would have to spend the entire event greeting people completely unknown to me to please my parents and worst of all I would have to spend much of that time with that jerk Frank Archer.

Frank was a boy a couple of years older than me who was an absolute lout and a jerk but who knew how to behave in front of his parents and adults to win their favors. My parents had hinted on several occasions that they would like me to marry that idiot in the future since he was the heir to their family's company and because they were friends of his parents. However, I couldn't tolerate Frank, I could tell he was a sexist and a first class asshole so I would never in a million years marry him and I had told my parents so, but they had been ignoring me saying that I was just talking nonsense typical of my age. For God's sake, it's the 21st century to still be arranging marriages. But anyway... I decided not to press the issue for the time being since I still had a few more years of freedom before I had to seriously plan how to get out of this madness.

Unfortunately, however, I had been forced to have him be my date for the party, and even though I didn't invite him or accept, my parents did whatever they wanted. I was upset that they wanted to set me up with someone I didn't even tolerate but I would try my best not to let it ruin my day.

I was sure my grandparents would help me detach from that jerk since they knew I couldn't tolerate him and maybe with a little luck I could spend a few minutes with my best friend Roy, although I was aware that it would be complicated since my parents had put everyone to work. Without a doubt Roy had become my best friend and, along with Becky, a true friend. He appreciated me for being myself, not for my social class or money or family. With him, I could just be Riza and if it were up to me, I would have definitely asked Roy to be my date for the party.

I could no longer fool myself. The friendship I had with Roy had definitely evolved to the point where I now liked him. I enjoyed spending time with him, sharing adventures and even helping us with our homework. Not to mention he was obviously getting his growth spurt and was a very handsome boy. Unfortunately I didn't know if Roy felt the same way about me and if my parents found out in case we started a relationship they would surely fire his aunt and him and I couldn't allow that. They were great people, hard working, honest people who worked hard every day. Although I knew it was a bit crazy, I dreamed that once I finished my career and became independent from my parents, maybe I could tell Roy how I felt about him and he would tell me he felt the same way and we could be happy. I didn't care about wealth, I preferred the love of a family and I had the feeling that I could get that with Roy, of course if he reciprocated my feelings.

After a few hours, when I returned to my room to finish getting ready, I noticed a small box with a letter on my dresser. I immediately smiled as I imagined who it could be from. I took the letter and read it:

Riza,

Happy Birthday!

I know this birthday is special for the girls so I wanted to give you a little something that I hope you like. I probably won't be able to see you during the party because of the amount of guests there will be but I will give you your hug the next time we spend time together.

I appreciate you very much and wish you the best today and always.

Your friend,

Roy

I opened the small box to find a beautiful gold stylized R-shaped charm inside. It was gorgeous and probably expensive, but I knew that if Roy had bought it for me it was because he really wanted to and I wouldn't disparage his gesture. Reaching into my jewelry box, I grabbed a chain that would match the charm, slipped it on and put it on, smiling broadly in front of the mirror at how good it looked on me. It was small, simple but beautiful, just the way I liked things. That kind of detail made my heart race at the possibility that maybe Roy felt the same way about me.

Shortly before the party started, Frank arrived along with his family. He presented me with a huge, heavy bracelet that I didn't like, but by my parents' orders I had to wear it in addition to putting up with Frank the whole time. As the party progressed I looked around to try to see Roy who I finally caught a glimpse of in the distance helping to carry the food to the tables. On a few occasions our eyes met and every time he smiled at me even though I knew he must be tired from all the work and from putting up with the bad treatment from some unpleasant people.

After a couple of hours, I went into the house to go to the bathroom and to try to escape the party for a few minutes. When I came out of the bathroom I was startled to find Frank waiting for me outside.

"What are you doing in here? Guests are supposed to use the downstairs bathroom off the foyer." I said somewhat annoyed.

He just shrugged his shoulders. "What took you so long?"

"That's none of your business, you're not my father to be telling me the time." I started to walk but he grabbed my arm a little roughly as I passed him.

"Your father asked me to come and get you and even if he hadn't asked me I would have done it because I wanted a moment alone with you."

"First, take your hands off me you're hurting me." I said trying to wriggle free but to no avail.

"I think you should start behaving with me already, Riza. After all our parents have told us since we were little that we are going to get married-"

"In your dreams. I don't like you and you don't like me so let's get this over with."

"Of course I like you, cutie, but you won't let me show it to you because you keep avoiding me but I'm getting tired of it and I'm going to put an end to it." He said before he started leaning in to kiss me and I immediately with all my might broke free from his grip and slapped him hard.

"Don't you ever think of touching me again!" I said as I pulled away from him and I could hear him curse and start trying to grab me again but as I reached the first floor I was met with the person I wanted to see more than anyone else all day.

"Miss Riza, is something wrong?" Roy asked as he saw me upset and in a hurry, plus he had undoubtedly caught overhearing the discussion as he had every intention of going upstairs to see what was going on and was glaring at Frank.

"Nothing's going on, you can just get a lick." Frank said annoyed. How I hated the way he treated others who were not of his own class! Roy had never sympathized with Frank plus he knew I detested him.

"He asked me, not you." I angrily replied to Frank before picking up my pace again to get closer to Roy but asshole Frank grabbed my arm again and I being annoyed slapped him again to get him to let go of me. "I told you not to touch me again!" I yelled at him but this time he grabbed me tighter and just as I was already thinking about hitting his crotch with my knee, Roy intervened by pushing him away, trying to keep me from falling over from the movement.

"You heard the lady. She said to let go." Roy said annoyed as he stood in front of me protectively. I had never seen him so annoyed.

"Look clerk, if you don't want to lose your job you better stop meddling where you don't care."

I could tell how Roy clenched his hands into fists to try to control his anger. "I'm not leaving unless Miss Riza asks me to."

"You don't know who you're messing with-"

"The one who doesn't know who he's messing with is you, Frank. So go back to the yard and leave me alone if you don't want me to tell your dear mommy the way you treated me." I interjected trying to get that jerk to leave me alone.

"Oh dear, I've been looking for you, everything ok?" Said my grandfather who noticed the scene and looked at me worried.

"Yes, Grandpa, all good, thank you." Fortunately my grandfather knew I didn't tolerate Frank and noticed my discomfort at the time.

"Very well." He looked at Frank. "Boy, your parents are looking for you, let's go back to the party and let Riza come back when she's ready. It's never good to interfere with the ladies' trips to the powder room." My grandfather said as he took Frank away so as not to give him a chance to protest and winked at me before leaving.

I sighed in relief. Roy turned to look at me. "Are you all right?"

I couldn't help but smile. "I am, thank you, although I must admit that if you hadn't intervened I probably would have made an attempt on that idiot's manhood."

Roy laughed lightly. "Do you really think he has?"

We laughed together, it was always like that with Roy.

"You're right, thanks."

"No problem."

I placed my hand on the charm hanging around my neck. "By the way, thank you so much for my gift, I loved it even though you know you shouldn't have bothered."

Noticing that I was wearing her gift, his gaze brightened. "It's no bother at all, it's a special date and I wanted to give you something special. I'm glad you like it." He said smiling at me.

As I noticed everyone was at the party and taking advantage of my grandfather covering for me for a few minutes I took the opportunity to approach Roy and kiss his cheek. "Thank you so much Roy, I love the charm and will wear it always." I said smiling noticing that he reciprocated my smile but had blushed just like me.

"You're welcome." He cleared his throat. "I have to get back to work but...hmmm..." He began to scratch the back of his neck nervously and at that moment I noticed how handsome Roy looked in his tuxedo and how tall he stood. Over the past few months I had noticed that he was gaining several inches, where before he was a little shorter than me, now he towered over me by a few inches. Roy extended his hand towards me, "Would you grant me a dance?"

Without hesitation, I placed my hand over his. "Of course, I thought you'd never ask."

He laughed lightly and taking advantage of the music playing from the courtyard we started dancing. "If it weren't for the fact that I know your parents would be very upset, I would ask you to dance with me like everyone else." I stopped and took his hand, disturbing him. "What's wrong?"

"We're going to dance like everyone else." I said smiling as I started directing him to the courtyard.

"But..." He stopped. "Riza, remember I'm a worker here, it won't look good in front of your guests if you dance with me-"

"I don't care, it's my birthday and I deserve to at least dance with whomever I want."

"But-"

"No buts, come on."

When we reached the dance floor we started dancing and I could notice and feel Roy tense at first, but as we danced he relaxed a bit.

"Roy, my boy, would you allow me to dance with my darling granddaughter?" Said my grandfather after a couple of pieces.

"Of course, sir." He looked at me. "Thank you for granting me these pieces." He said smiling at me.

"Don't I deserve a birthday hug?" I said smiling before I hugged him surprising him but after a couple of seconds he reciprocated the hug.

"Happy Birthday, Riza." He whispered to me and although I wished the hug lasted longer, we reluctantly pulled apart.

I kissed his cheek again. "Thank you, Roy."

He smiled, curtsied and pulled back. My grandfather took my hand and we began to dance. "I know you are very fond of that boy, but dancing with him in front of everyone especially in front of your parents will only get him in trouble." He said quietly so only I could hear him as we danced.

"Grandpa, it's just a dance, besides he's my friend and my birthday, don't I deserve to choose who to dance with and spend my time with on this day? I've had enough of putting up with that idiot Archer." I said exasperated.

"Honey, remember that your grandmother and I are on your side, but unfortunately the final say is up to your parents. They were not happy that you danced with Roy and before you protest, I agree that he is a good boy and you deserve to choose who you dance with on your big day. However, you know your parents are closed minded and I have no doubt that in a moment your father will reprimand you for it and unfortunately the ones who are going to have it the worst are Roy and his aunt."

I ducked my head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get them in trouble but he's my friend, if it were up to me, I would have chosen Roy as my partner today instead of that jerk. I'll do my best to make sure my parents don't fire Roy or his aunt." I said raising my head.

"Don't worry, your grandmother and I tried to appease them, but you need to be more careful next time." I nodded. "Now, moving on to a more serious topic, did Archer hurt you before I came in the house earlier?" He asked me seriously.

"He wanted to forcibly kiss me... I slapped him and when I escaped his grip he held me again when Roy showed up and helped me, otherwise I probably would have left him lying on the floor crying for his manhood."

My grandfather laughed. "That's my granddaughter, although I'm glad Roy would have stopped him because otherwise it would have become quite a scandal as soon as your parents found out."

"I know, but I really wanted to."

"Little girl, you have to know how to pick your battles, right now you can't do much because you're still under your parents' care-"

"Taken care of? They're never there for me and when they are they're not completely there for me. You and my grandmother are the ones who are really there for me along with Roy and his aunt."

"I know, dear, but what I mean is that until you can stand on your own two feet you can't freely choose how you'd like to."

I sighed. My grandfather was right. "I understand, I have to be more careful."

"That's my girl."

We heard someone clear their throat behind us. Turning around we saw my father who didn't look too happy.

"Father-in-law, I hope you don't mind if I dance a few pieces with my daughter."

My grandfather reluctantly released me. "Go ahead." The relationship between my grandparents and my parents was somewhat strained but fortunately my grandparents had managed to handle everything to keep me from being prevented from seeing my grandparents.

We started dancing and just as my grandfather had warned me, my father began to scold me. "What the hell were you doing dancing with the clerk?"

"Dad, you know perfectly well that Roy is not just an employee, he is one of my best friends."

He looked at me in annoyance. "Your mother and I thought the little scene you had with him in front of everyone was in bad taste. For God's sake you are our heiress, you shouldn't even rub shoulders with the servants, if we have allowed you to make friends with that boy it's because your grandparents are always intervening and because we can't deny that his aunt and him do their job very well. So you had better behave properly Riza because otherwise I will take more drastic measures."

"Yes, father." I merely said, I didn't want to make things more complicated, just as my grandfather had told me, I had to learn to pick my battles, at least for the time being because once I was independent I would walk away from all of this, because I wanted my freedom at all costs.

"Hey, Riz, this party sure was mind blowing." My friend Becky said to me later as we sat at a table. She was my best friend, her parents owned a boutique chain but luckily, they were like my grandparents, kind and simple, just like Becky, otherwise she probably wouldn't be my best friend.

"Yeah." I said without sounding so excited.

"I'd be willing to bet that the best part of your party for you was sharing those pieces with Roy." She said quietly to me. She knew him because I had told her about him and she knew I had feelings for him.

I couldn't help but smile slightly. "Yes, it was. At first we were dancing inside the house but I wanted to show him that I wasn't embarrassed to be seen with him but-"

Becky sighed. "Your parents, yes, I noticed. Well at least you had a few minutes with him."

"That I did. You know, Roy gave me this charm for my birthday." I said showing it to her.

"Wow, it's really nice, he really went out of his way to save it."

"Yeah, but you know I don't care what it's worth, I care about the nice gesture he made to me."

"You know, I think he must have feelings for you, but probably because of your parents and the kind of people we have to deal with, he can't bring himself to tell you."

"Maybe, but whatever it is I have decided that I will try very hard to become independent as soon as possible and do what I want to do. I've had enough of having to do everything my parents tell me to do, of spending time with who I don't want to just to make my image in our social circle look good."

"That sounds good, friend. I'm already looking forward to seeing your parents' faces when that day comes." She said smiling at me.

I smiled. "Me too."

Roy

"What the hell were you thinking, Roy? Riza's parents were extremely upset and told me that the next time they see you hanging out with Riza at such an event we'll be fired." I tensed as I listened to my aunt's scolding.

"I didn't do anything wrong." I tried to defend myself because, even though I knew what my aunt was referring to, I had no regrets about the great time I'd had with Riza, much less could I get the couple of kisses she'd given me on my cheek out of my mind.

"You know what I mean." She exhaled heavily. "Roy, you're a smart boy and a very good one, but you must understand that even though Riza is not like the people we served at the party today, she and her parents belong to a completely different social circle than we do. The vast majority of those people don't get to know people for who they really are, but for what they have, so they will always see us as inferior beings. We don't care about that because you and I know that what really matters is our inner selves but unfortunately Riza's parents are very fixated on other people's possessions."

"It was only a few pieces."

"Roy, I'm going to be very clear and maybe a little rude but it's for your own good, boy. I can see a mile away that you like Riza and I don't blame you, she's a nice girl and you're at the age to be a boyfriend, but you have to be very clear for your own good that she's in a very different league than we are. We don't belong to her social group and she doesn't belong to ours. Her parents would never allow a courtship between you and in the end the one who would be hurt the most would be you, my boy, because not only would they break your heart, but they could also block the doors for you to achieve your goals."

I ducked my head. I knew my aunt was right but that didn't make it any less painful to realize. "She's just my friend."

"See to it that she stays that way, Roy, remember it's for your own good. The social class pressure is high, so it's unlikely that such a relationship can thrive. So please stop deluding yourself, you have the skills and qualities to fulfill all the dreams you set your mind to, so don't let a simple youthful crush block your future."

I sighed. "Understood, aunt."

"Well, since Riza's parents are upset, you'll be taking care of the garden and garage chores, you won't be doing any work inside the house until further notice. For your own good, you'd better stay away from Riza for the next few weeks."

I lifted my head. "But we had planned to spend next Saturday at his grandparents' house."

"Sorry, Roy-Boy, you're not going. I don't want to give Riza's parents reason to fire us. Remember, college is getting closer and closer and we need all the money we can get for you to study. I'm not going to put your future at stake."

I sighed resignedly. "All right."

"That's the way I like it, now let's rest it's been a long day."

That night I had a hard time sleeping because I couldn't stop replaying in my mind the great time I had had with Riza and I decided that for that night I would allow myself to admit to myself the feelings I harbored for her. She looked beautiful in her dress, well she has always been beautiful but without a doubt her dress tonight looked great on her. I still found it hard to believe that she had decided to wear the charm I had given her.

I couldn't help but smile like an idiot when she kissed me on the cheek. I was in love with my best friend and even though the moment we experienced today gave me hope that maybe she felt the same, I had to eliminate that feeling from my heart because even though it pained me to admit it, my aunt was right. Riza's parents would never allow her to be in a relationship with me because unfortunately they looked more at social class than at the person. I had a complicated future ahead of me, because I had to bury my feelings deep inside because Riza Hawkeye could never be anyone but my friend.