Shit! My brain reached for ideas of any excuse for why a boy was standing in my doorway. I searched my parent's expression, hoping they wouldn't think we were just messing around. My parents were never strict, but they weren't much for random boys either. I could just imagine the thoughts going through their heads. I wanted to hide, my face turning bright red, Gage standing in the doorway ripe as a tomato.

"Who are you?" My mother questions, her voice concerningly pleasant. She seemed confused, I mean who wouldn't be?

"I don't know who that is? Sir, what are you doing in my house?" I tried to act confused. As if he was a stranger I've never met before, my eyes begging him to go along with it.

"Olyvya, your parents are here, cool!" His excitement filling the room with both confusion and happiness. My parents excited about the reminder about how they were reunited with their daughters, but confused by the strange man standing in the living room. Sammy and I both slumped down, she was the only person who understood how weird my parents could be around boys.

"Mom, Dad, this is Gage he lives down the road, we have been using his private beach since we got here." I decided to get the awkward part over with. Gage just stood with a wide smile on his face before reaching his hand out to shake my fathers.

"His private beach?" My mother beamed, the idea of a private beach really did seem elusive to our family. It was something we would never be able to afford. I nodded my head before moving the group to the couch. Taking our seats we continued chatting about the different things Sammy and I have been doing. Things like the drive down here, moving in and enjoying the sun and waves. I explained to them about the farmers market, my mother taking in every word I was saying like it was my final words. My father on the other hand, never took his eyes off Gage, the men staring at each other like they were having a secret conversation.

I tried to make sure everyone was still talking, Every time there was an awkward pause I would interject with something random about the interior of the house, or about the household objects that were here when we arrived. My parents and Sammy would shoot me weird looks. They were probably concerned about my mental health, honestly, I was too at this point.

"Do you guys want to go get something to eat?" My father clapped his hands together, quickly standing before heading into the kitchen. He leaned against the counter, pulling his phone out to search for restaurants.

"Yes, I am starved." Sammy piped in, jumping from her spot as well. Everyone gathered in the kitchen discussing the many dining options we had. Finally, we settled on a small Diner that was local to Washington.

"This looks really good." My mother yelped as we head for the door, everyone including Gage piling into my parent's car. I quickly pulled out my phone shooting a text to Sammy. Her phone dings loudly when she receives it.

To: Sammy

Why is Gage coming with us?

Sammy shot me a look, shrugging. She must have been just as confused as I was about the whole situation. I turned to look at Gage, his attention out the rear window of my parent's Malibu. My father pulled out of the driveway and onto the road towards the diner.

Trees covered every empty space, a misty fog covered the road, the whole town seemed dead. Like there hadn't been movement in the last four-hundred years. I waited in anxious excitement to arrive at the Diner. The drive followed the ocean, the waves crashing against the beach. The tiny diner was on the opposite side of the road, a small parking lot.

My dad pulled into a parking spot, everyone dove out of the car ready to eat. This inside of this place has a giant whale painted across the wall, covering half the door.

"Look we are walking into its stomach." My father laughed, cracking himself up with his dad jokes. A few humbling chuckles followed, but really everyone was taking in the interior of the eatery. The whale that was plastered across the outside had nearly tripled on the inside. The hostess was quick to seat us, Gage, Sammy, and I all day together, while my parents sat opposing us. I felt slightly squished in the middle my elbows bumping with the others constantly.

"So Gage, what do you do for a living?" My father leans forward, his hands folded on the table. I shot Sammy a pleading glare. Mouthing the words 'help him', she nodded, leaning forward to match my father's body language.

"So, Dad, what do you do for a living?" she turned to look at me shrugging as she did so. Her face told me she thought she had it under control but very obviously not. Luckily the waitress arrived to take our drink order. I let out a sigh of relief.

"Oh Richard, let's not talk about work here." My mother smacked his chest before turning and smiling at the waitress, ordering her drink.

"Okay, but we will be talking about it." Gage nodded in response to my father. My father's finger pointing at Gage like he was scolding a dog. I felt bad, but Gage shouldn't have come along. My body slowly boiled with anger the longer Gage sat next to me. The waitress returned with our drinks before taking our orders and rushing away again.

"So are you and my daughter dating?" The hostility between Gage and my father was unbearable. My body shriveling up on the inside with every question my father asked Gage. We needed to talk, Gage and I. I was still trying to figure out that kiss and now this. I couldn't take it anymore.

"No..." Gage stuttered, searching for any response possible.

I smacked my hand against my forehead. This night was going horribly wrong.