Josh finally comes strolling into the house an hour later and I glare at him. It doesn’t take that long to take Trisha home. Whatever. I finish my dinner and head up to my room to shower and get ready for bed. It took me a half an hour to do my homework and I was so tired I fell asleep effortlessly.
The next day was Saturday, which meant that Drew and his parents were coming over for game night. It turns out my parents enjoyed their company about as much as I enjoyed Drew’s.
“You up?” Asks Em, coming by my room.
“If I wasn’t I am now.” I groan from beneath the covers.
“Good, I have something I want to talk to you about.” She replies, sitting on the edge of my bed.
“What is it?” I ask, pulling the covers off and sitting up.
“Do you remember Mark Cooper?”
“Yes, he’s that kid in your brainiac club isn’t he?”
“Yes.” She smiles.
“What about him?” I ask.
“We’re sort of seeing each other and he’s upset that I haven’t introduced him to mom and dad yet.” Em answers.
“OMG, you’ve had a boyfriend all this time and you haven’t said anything to me!” I reply, shocked.
“Dad makes a big deal out of everything I do as long as it has something to do with academics, but what if he’s not as supportive in my personal life?” She asks.
“There is no what if, he won’t be.” I scoff. “Look, you have to do what’s right for you Em. Dad’s looking out for you but sometimes there are things far beyond our control that happen.”
Like falling for your childhood best friend who happens to be the king on campus and having him turn your whole life into a giant fairytale. Or at least a good book.
“Yes, like falling in love.” She sighs.
“What are you two talking about?” Mom startles us both.
ABORT CONVERSATION, ABORT!
“Nothing.” We answer simultaneously.
Mom eyes us both suspiciously then leaves the room and we burst into laughter. I love my mother but confiding in her would be confiding in my dad and it usually results in his ruling with an iron fist.
“How are things with Drew going?” Asks Em.
“Well, Drew is Drew and so far I haven’t found one thing I don’t like about him.”
Em and I talk for a few more minutes then headed downstairs to eat breakfast. Josh sits across the table from us glaring at me and I knew it was because Drew was coming over later.
After breakfast I head up to my room to busy myself with something until Drew came over. My cell phone began to vibrate and I smiled when I saw Drew’s name on the caller ID.
“Hey.”
“Hey you.” His voice sounds sexy even through the phone. “I can’t wait to see you later.”
“I know I can’t wait to see you either.” I smile.
“What game are we playing tonight?”
“Mexican Train.”
“Never heard of it.” Drew laughs.
“You’ll like it, it’s really fun.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“There’s something I want to talk to you about.” I grimace.
“What’s that?”
“I’m going to tell my parents about us tonight. I figure as long as you and your parents are here my dad won’t trip out as hard about us dating.” I run my plans by him.
“Or it could have the opposite affect, flip out and kill us both.” He teases.
“I’m not going to lie, he’s going to be very angry. But I don’t want to hide our relationship from him either. I’m just going to hope he understands. It’ll suck if he doesn’t. Who knows, maybe if we promise to be good and abide by whatever rules he gives us he’ll let us continue to date.” I hope.
“Your dad seems like a pretty reasonable man and if I had two daughters as beautiful as you and Em I’d want to lock you up too.” Drew delivers his first corny line. “I know how most guys think, and it’s never about anything good.”
“Is that so?” I chuckle. “Does that pertain to you?”
“Yes, sometimes.” He admits. “Once you reach a certain age it’s all you can think about until you do it and even then I think you start to think about it even more.”
“Honesty, I like that.”
Drew and I talk on the phone all day until he has to stop and get ready to come over. I tore my room apart looking for something cute to wear and then put it back together. I decided on a dress my mom bought me as a homecoming gift when I got out of boarding school that I haven’t worn yet. It’s a charcoal gray off the shoulder sweater dress with a black belt.
My hair is a mess so I pull the ponytail holder out, spray some detangler in my hair, and brush it all back. I was going to put it in a ponytail, but I wanted to do something different today. I grabbed a headband off my dresser and used it to slick my curly baby hair back.
“Wow, you look gorgeous.” Josh appears in my doorway.
“You think?”
“Yes silly, Drew is a lucky guy.”
“I’m going to tell dad about us tonight.”
“Good.” He sighs, relieved.
“Are you sure my hair doesn’t look too flat?” I ask.
“You look fine.” He laughs.
Josh goes downstairs and I head into the bathroom to curl one part that looks like it has gone flat already. I hear Mrs. Taylor’s voice downstairs and realize Drew and his parents are already here. Pulling the curling iron out of my hair, I spray some perfume on and hurry downstairs to say hi. Before I can turn the hall into the living room I see Drew walking towards me.
“Wow.” He says.
“Hey.”
“You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” I blush.
“I was looking for the bathroom.” He continues to look me over.
“Oh, it’s this way.”
I grab Drew’s hand and show him where the bathroom is at the end of the hall. He didn’t too bad either if I may say so myself. He’s wearing jeans, a black t-shirt, the new Jordan’s and a black and white letterman jacket.
“Oh, hand soap.” I said, realizing it isn’t on the sink where it should be.
I look underneath the sink until I find some and place it on the sink so he can use it when he was done. When I turned around to face him, Drew has the same look in his eyes he did the night of the dance. My heart slams into my chest and panic spreads throughout my body wondering if he’s going to try something with my parents walking around. I can’t get busted with him until I tell my dad about us first, it would only make things worse.
Drew took a step towards me and I quickly took a step back only he kept coming. I backed up as far as I could until I ran into the bathroom sink. He shut the bathroom door behind him and locked it.
“Drew, what are you doing? If my father ca…”
“Sh.” He places his index finger up to his lips and shushes me.
He’s leaning in for a kiss and I’m frozen in place until his lips touch mine. My mind goes blank. I mean I know I’m kissing him…IN MY HOUSE of all places, but all I can think about is the way he twirls his tongue around mine, and how soft his lips are. I thought about pushing him away but I didn’t want to. Why does he have to be such a good kisser? I placed my hands on the side of his face and his strong hands grip my waist, pulling me closer. Something about the danger of getting caught and him being so bad made me want him even more.
“Okay stop.” Drew whispers with his eyes still closed.
He rests his forehead against mine and we both stand there trying to catch our breath. I look into his eyes and he smiles wickedly.
“I really have to go.” He laughs.
“Go where?” I ask, still reeling from that kiss.
“To the bathroom Sidney.”
“Oh yeah, the bathroom…right.” I chuckle, still coming down from that kiss. Drew stares at me with this smile on his face and shakes his head.
“What?”
“Get out.” He laughs.
“Oh, right.” I shake my head and leave.
Really Sidney? The guy tells you he has to pee and you just stand there like an idiot embarrassing yourself. Ugh! That was so not sexy.
“Hey sweetie, Drew was looking for the bathroom did he find it?” Mom asks.
“Mm-hm.” I nod. AND THEN SOME.
“Good, come help me set the table.”
I help my mom set the table and when Drew walks by to join his parents whose talking to dad I smile.
“Is there anything I can do to help too?” He asks.
“Sure, help Sid set the table.” She answers, handing him some dishes.
Drew kept acting goofy while we set the table and I kept laughing. At one point my mom glared at me like she knew we were together and the hair stood up on the back of my neck.
“William, dinner is ready.” Mom announces to dad.
Dad came into the dining room with Mr. and Mrs. Taylor and I went to get Josh and Emily. I grab the seat next to Drew and after saying grace we all began to eat.
Dad and Mr. Taylor talked about work, while Mom and Mrs. Taylor traded recipes. Drew surprises me by grabbing my hand underneath the table and holding it while I try to gather the courage to tell my dad. I am so freaking scared.
“Dad, I would like to say something.” Finally gathering the courage. “Well, tell you rather.”
“I’m listening.” He gives me his undivided attention. They all do. The entire table is now quiet and everyone’s eyes are on me. I swallow hard and squeeze Drew’s hand for strength. He squeezes back and that gave me what I needed to continue.
“Well, Drew and I…we sort of…well I was wondering if I can have your permission to date him.” I finally spit it out. My Dad immediately begins to choke on the bite of food he’d just shoveled into his mouth and now he’s glaring at me. “I’d like to also point out that you know his parents and you know he comes from a good family. You know him. He’s a good person dad. Please. I’m telling you because I don’t want to hide it and I’m trying to be more honest with you. I hope you understand and please-please-please let us date each other.”
“Is this true Drew?” His dad asks.
“Yes. I’d like to date Sid.” Drew nod. “With your blessing, of course, mister Stansfield.”
“We’ll be really good and before you say anything dad we’re willing to follow any rules you give us.” I make sure and add.
“I told you already that you can’t date until you’re eighteen Sid.” Dad reminds me.
“I know, but we really like each other and I SWEAR I’ll be good.”
“You’re sixteen.” He scoffs. “Not to mention you just got out of boarding school and have no concept of what it means to be good.”
“Dad, please.” I plead with him. “I will be good. You have my word.”
“No, I said eighteen and I meant it. Look, I’m glad you had enough respect to ask me first.” Or Not. “But my decision still stands. You are not allowed to date until you’re eighteen, end of story.”
I looked over at Drew who looks just as disappointed as I am, and as much as I hate crying in front of people, tears began to fall from my eyes. I wasn’t crying because of Drew I was crying because even when I decide to do the right thing my father refuses to cut me some slack. I’m not his daughter I’m his prisoner. He has me locked up in this house and he won’t let me do ANYTHING.
“Sid.” Drew wipes my tears away.
“This is so not fair.” I huff, upset.
Pushing away from the table, I go to storm out of the room when my dad stops me. I knew he was going to do this. I knew he wasn’t going to be understanding or at least try and meet me half way. He just wants to destroy any chance at happiness or a social life that I might have.
“You’re not happy unless I’m miserable. Why can’t you meet me half way? I’m giving you what you want and trying things your way, so why can’t you cut me some slack?” I ask.
“You’re sixteen! No, Sid.” He begins raising his voice.
“Hey, stop…its okay. If I have to wait until you’re eighteen I will.” Says Drew, giving me the ‘what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him’ look.
I lean over to Drew wanting to piss my father off for holding on to me so tightly and kiss him as hard as I can. My dad went from angry to livid, but I didn’t care. Even as I’m being yanked away from Drew, grounded, and sent up to my room, I didn’t care. Needless to say, after that display of affection the Taylor’s went home.
My dreams are crushed, my heart is broken and my dad is threatening to send me back to boarding school.
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