18 Meeting the Parents

Am I supposed to be this nervous? I feel like I can't breathe.

I mean, it wasn't like he was my boyfriend, so it was like meeting my friends' parents or my neighbors. Right?

I'm just gonna stop thinking and get ready.

Lalalalalala!

I've only had one official boyfriend ever and I didn't have to meet his parents when we started dating because they already knew me. That was one of the perks of dating my brother's best friend.

I mean, I wasn't dating Max, but we've been on a date and we obviously like each other. What if meeting his parents ruins our chance to be together?

Gahhhhhh!! Stupid brain!!!

I didn't want to wear something too fancy, because I still wanted to feel like myself. I still wanted to feel comfortable. I don't know how his parents would judge me, but honestly, I don't care.

Atleast, that's what I keep telling myself.

I just settled for a pretty, long-sleeve top and cute skirt. I put on some makeup, accessories, and cute shoes. I finish the look by straightening my hair.

Not too long later, I heard a knocking on the front door. I rush to the door, already knowing who it is.

"Hey, Spence! You ready," Max asks me after he pecks me on the lips.

When did we start kissing so casually?

"You can't tell that I'm ready? Maybe that means I should change." I start to walk away, but he pulls me back to him with a chuckle.

"You look great, babe. Are you that worried?"

"Yup," I answer, sighing.

"It'll be fine, Spencer. Don't worry. I got you." That's like saying don't suffocate while there's a pillow being pressed against your face.

We walk over to Max's house and he lets me in. The inside of his house looks way different from mines.

While mines looks all colorful and cozy, even though it's really empty feeling to me now that Nick is temporary gone, his looks all modern and classy.

It feels kind of cold and dead in here, to be honest. Like a hospital or cemetery.

I heard voices coming from the dining room. It sounded like a pretty serious conversation, but when Max and I walked in, it all stopped.

There were three people in the dining room. Two older people that I guessed were Max's parents and a guy that was younger. Older than me, but younger than Max's parents.

" Xavier?! What are you doing here?" I'm guessing this wasn't planned.

"Hey, brother," the Xavier dude said. I'm guessing that's Max's brother.

Wow, I'm good at this guessing game.

"You must be Spencer. I'm Mrs.Davis, Max's mom, and this is Mr.Davis, Max's dad."

Wow.

They didn't even tell me their first names. I already don't feel comfortable. I could already feel the tension from the moment I walked through the door.

Talk about awkward.

"Hi, Spencer. Sorry for crashing your dinner. I'm Xavier. Just heard my brother had a girlfriend and wanted to see."

GIRLFRIEND?!?!!?

When did this happen?!?!

I give an unnoticeable glance towards Max and he gives me that 'Sorry. Just go with it.' look.

"Nice meeting you guys."

We all sit down at the dining table. It was already set with all the food.

Hmmmmm. Foooooddd.

The only thing I could rely on to give me comfort.

"So, Spencer. How are you doing? How's everything been since you moved," Mr.Davis asks me.

"I'm doing great. I fit right in just fine. Haven't had any problems." That's a fat lie.

"So, what do your parents do for a living," Mrs.Davis was quick to jump in.

"My mom is a traveling scientist."

"Are your parents separated? Is that why you haven't brung up your father," Mrs.Davis continues.

Wow.

"Have you ever went skydiving? It's really fun," Xavier changes to subject.

"Don't be rude, Xavier. I was asking her a question," Mrs.Davis jumps back in.

I admire Xaviers effort to change the subject, although it failed.

"Mom," Max tries to stop her, but I just wave him off, telling him it's ok.

"He's dead, actually." Max's parents just continue asking me questions, not saying sorry for being rude or showing any shame or sympathy.

Who raised these humans?

"What department are you in," Mr.Davis asks.

"I'm in the arts. I do photography and I paint."

"Well, that's not very productive. How do you expect to pay bills as an artist? This is ok with your mother?" Mrs.Davis gobbles up some of her food, although thats the wrong word to use since she's being as lady like as she can be. I just used the word gobble because her attitude reminds me of a goblin.

Cold heart.

I haven't even been able to take a bite of my food.

These people are so negative! How does Max live through this? I see why his brother left.

"Well, my mom just wants me to be happy. As long as I'm happy doing what I love, I can figure the rest out," I answer her classily, not showing my annoyance.

"I guess everyone is raised differently. Our boy Max here will be sticking to criminal justice. It's proactive and will assure him a steady life. None of that art nonsense," Mr.Davis chimes in.

Max was right. His parents were stubborn.

"What if Max were ever unhappy with that path? Wouldn't you want him to be happy?" Max looked at me crazy, giving me a 'what are you doing' look.

"What's not to be happy about? Once he's successful, he can buy all the things in the world," Mrs.Davis says.

"Have you ever heard of money can't buy you happiness?"

"Then they must've not had enough money to solve them." Did she just quote Ariana Grande?

"Alright. Would you guys stop? I'm right here! No one is deciding what I do with my life," Max finally speaks up.

"Oh please, Max. Your life is already set for you," his dad says, brushing him off.

"I can't stand you guys anymore." And with that, Max gets up from the dinner table. "Do you want me to take you home," he asks me.

I get up from the table and say goodbye to everyone, taking my plate of food with me.

What? I wasn't wasting food.

That dinner didn't last long at all.

"Wow. That was great," I hear Xavier say when we leave the dining room, voice full of sarcasm.

Max walks me back to my house.

"Look. I'm sorry about what happened. Really sorry," Max tries to apologize.

"It's alright. You wanted me to meet the people in your life. There's nothing wrong with that. The real question is are you ok."

"Of course I'm ok."

"You sure? Because with a girlfriend like me, I'm bound to drive you insane," I say jokingly, trying to lift his spirits. He laughs, showing his dimpled smile that I've come to adore.

"You want to come inside and watch a movie or something? I know you probably don't want to go back home."

"Only if you let me pick the movie," he says, pulling me closer to him by my waist.

"Hmmm, ok." I stand on my tippy toes and peck his lips.

"I'm gonna need a better kiss than that," he says and I laugh. He lowers his lips onto mine for a slow, passionate kiss.