Well, enjoy Mixed by Gabriella Valentine!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
His hands were pale when they intertwined with hers. They were strong and rough and she could feel the class ring cold against her own hand. She liked the feeling of being connected with him on such a simple level. PDA was never something she liked. He knew that and so holding hands was all they did as they walked through the crowded high school halls. His green eyes looked down at her as she waved to friends walking by. They reached an area less crowded and he brought his head down to her ear.
"Elsie, you're beautiful," he whispered. Her cheeks grew hot, but he couldn't see the pink in them. She chuckled and looked up at him.
"Not enough to deserve you, Nick. How did I get this lucky?"
"You didn't get lucky, I did. Hey, what are you doing tomorrow night?" His voice grew a tone of nervousness.
"Homework, I guess. Why?" She was suspicious. Tomorrow would be a Thursday. Not exactly a good night to have a date.
"I want you to meet my parents," he said it quickly and with rushed words like it was the hardest thing he's ever had to do.
"Oh, okay. I'd like that," she felt her own fit of nerves bubbling in her stomach.
"Great! I'll pick you up tomorrow after football practice," he said, kissing her on the cheek and guiding her into her fourth block class.
***
She looked in the mirror one last time. Her hair had decided it would be nice and curl today. The brown locks fell well below her shoulder. She'd toned down her amount of eyeliner and put a natural golden eye shadow on. It made her light brown eyes look less plain.
Dresses weren't her thing, but for tonight she had put on a casual sundress with a black jacket. The greens and yellows that moved throughout the dress made her tan skin glow. She smiled and walked out of her room.
He was waiting downstairs. For once he wore a tucked in button up shirt with a pair of dress pants. It added to his amazing good looks.
"Beautiful, as always," he smiled and grabbed her hand to kiss. She felt like a princess being taken away by her handsome prince.
"Thanks. Mom," she said to the lady sitting on the couch perviously in conversation with him," I finished my homework so don't worry about me being home too early."
"Mrs. Greene, I'll have her home by 9:00 if that's not too late," he said with sincerity.
"Don't worry about it, sweetie! As long as she's back before 11:00 you're fine! Have fun and behave like a lady, Elsie."
"I will, mom. Bye."
The two walked to the door and he opened it kindly for her. She smiled and walked through to his Jeep waiting in the driveway. They both laughed the entire way to his house. His normal comedian ways magnified in order to make her comfortable with meeting his parents. She felt confident as he opened the door to his mansion of a home. A tall man with the same green eyes and a petite woman with his black hair sat on a leather couch sipping wine when they entered. Both adults were unbelievably attractive. It was no wonder why he had turned out so perfect. His parents waved them in and his father stood to greet his son with a hand shake. His mother stood behind and waited her turn to hug her handsome child.
"So this must be the Elsie we keep hearing about," his father's low voice said with a welcome tone.
"You were right, Nick! She is beautiful! Look at our son, Marshall. He's picked quite a lovely young lady!" His mom's cheeks were rosy and kind.
"I, uh, thank you," she said shyly, keeping her eyes on the floor. She wasn't good with compliments.
"You two must be hungry. I know you are, Nick. I mean, when are you not?" Father and son laughed together and they led her into the museum-like dining room. She had become more comfortable and sat at the chair that he had pulled out for her. His mother brought out multiple dished piled with food. They prayed and began to eat.
The dinner was wonderful. His family was so kind to her. All four laughed at jokes and she complimented his mom on the well cooked meal. She was beginning to feel at home when his mother asked a simple question.
"Do tell me, dear, how do you get so tan? You must have laid out all summer!"
"Oh well, it's natural, actually. My mom is from Chile and My dad is Black. I guess I'm just sort of the middle ground of their two skin tones," she said comfortably. She was not expecting what happened next.
The two parents looked at each other with confusion and then the father looked at his son with disapproval. The father's voice was bitter and cold when he said, "Nick, I need to see you in the kitchen. Now." She could tell that he was confused, too.
"You better leave, Elsie. And I don't think you should see our son anymore," the mother said with ice in her tone.
"I don't understand," she said, standing up slowly and walking toward the way she had come.
"I'm sorry, but we just can't have you seeing our son anymore."
His mother opened the door for her and before she had stepped outside she heard his father's voice echoing throughout the house.
"How dare you bring a nigger's daughter to our home! What were you thinking?! We raised you better than that and you decide to disgrace this pure home!" His father sounded like a monster.
" I was thinking that I loved her and that you would too. No matter what she was."
That was the last thing she heard before his mother gently pushed her out of the house and closed the door. She walked home that night. As she entered her home with smeared make-up and a red nose her mother asked, "Honey, what happened?"
"You and Dad happened. I happened."
She ran up to her room and stared at her own brown reflection. It wasn't her fault she was brown. She didn't understand. Her hands reached for the high heel on her foot and threw it at the mirror. It smashed and shards flew everywhere. A few hit her arms and she screamed out in pain. Another scraped her forehead. She passed out and in the hospital they said it was from loss of blood. He wasn't there. There was no pale hand to stroke her cheek and tell her everything would be alright. Silently she cried.
A doctor walked in and spoke softly to her, "Don't you worry, little miss. You're pretty face will be alright. Gracious, you are quite beautiful. You must be mixed, am I right?"
This made her cry even harder. Between sobs she answered.
"Yes, I'm mixed."
