I sling my backpack on to my shoulder and go home to where I'm supposed to go to. I check my watch and bite my lip.

Damn it, I was supposed to be home before 5:42, and what do I do? I think to myself. I am starting to go home at 9:42, how stupid am I? And now I'm going home at one, a late time, and two, I have to lie to Mom and Dad, again.

I sigh. "Great, I'm going to lie, yet again."

Jordan appears out of nowhere. "What do you mean?"

I stiffen. "You know what I mean, Dani, I-I kissed you, more than once.

"So?" Dani says hands behind his head. "That doesn't bother you? Cuz if it does, I can stop."

"No, it doesn't, but it does to Mom and Dad," I say, lowering my head.

"Oh, so, what you mean is that you have parents who are against you?"

"Yes, and I hate it," I say. I look up at the beautiful grey sky. A water droplet falls on to my cheek and I frown.

The rain comes down heavily and I look at Jordan. "Meet me at the park tomorrow after school."

Jordan smirks. "Sure thing."

-+-

I enter my apartment and take my shoes off.

"Where were you?" Mom asks firmly.

I stiffen. "Uh, I had to talk to principle after school..."

Dad doesn't look happy, and Mom tosses herself on to the couch, I walk to my room and sit on my bed with wet clothes.

I take my backpack off and set it on the floor, unzip it and take my books out, then I get clean dry clothes and a towel, I go take a shower.

I set my clothes on the toilet and turn the water on to warm it up.

When the water is on full heat, I turn it down a bit enough to not burn my skin.

I take my wet clothes off and get in the shower.

The water is nice, as I grab shampoo and squeeze some into my hand, scrubbing it into my hair.

I rinse my hands with the water and get conditioner, apply it into my ends.

I turn the water off and get out of the shower and dry off, get dressed again.

Then I exit the bathroom and go to my room. I put my clothes in my dirty clothes hamper; I go to the kitchen and get food.

Mom is there and gives me the death glare, I just ignore her and go back to my room.

I eat my food, take it out to the kitchen, clean it, then put it away. I enter my room and fall asleep.

But instead of the normal night I didn't dream about anything.

Dani is already waiting for me at the park after school the next day, which was surprising as usually I'm the one waiting for him. He grins at me and hops off the monkey bars, jogging over to me. He cupped my face in his warm hands, pecking my lips lightly. I savoured his touch, but not long enough before he shifted back, his hands moving down to grasp mine. "Come to my house today. My parents wanna meet you." I blinked at him, my backpack sliding off my shoulder and falling by my feet. "You told them about me? About...us?" I held my breath with trepidation, but I already knew the answer.

He shrugged, brushing those gorgeous honeyed locks behind his ears. "Yeah, but they're chill with it. They're not like your parents, Eli." My mind was buzzing with the realisation that Jordan's parents wanted to meet me. Me, of all people? I didn't even know that they knew I existed. "This is... this is really sudden, Jordan. I- I don't know. You should've told me earlier." His smile became mischievous and he leaned in closer to me. I felt my face heat with embarrassment, and I looked away from his steady gaze. "It'll be alright. Trust me, they're gonna love you. But not as much as I do."

Despite my earlier worries, I let my smile wobble into existence and squeezed his hands, hesitantly agreeing to this unexpected meeting.

***

I stand beside Dani at his front door, different greetings running through my brain at top speed. Do I be polite, or nonchalant, or overjoyed, or flattering? Dani said I should just "be myself", but being myself would mean I'd just freeze up and stay quiet and let him do all the talking. I have to make a good impression.


But all those thoughts flew out the window once his mother flung open the front door with a beaming smile on her face.