Chapter thirty-five: Boyfriend meets parents (Ellie's POV)

Zach and I looked at each other as soon as Ashley said those words. 

"It's been a month?" I asked again. 

"Yeah," she replied, "What are you going to do?" she repeated. 

I watched as Zach looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to answer. "I- I don't know," I cleared my throat. The bell rang and we all began grabbing our stuff and heading for the remaining two periods. 

While we were walking, Zach came up to me and grabbed my arm, pulling me back and away from the others who continued walking to class. "There's something I need to ask you," he said while scratching the back of his head. 

"Is this about the month being over?" I asked hesitantly. 

"What? No, no. That's completely up to you. I don't know if I'm staying in the apartment either because my parents will be back soon. That's not it," he said, stammering over a few words. 

"Okay," I said slowly and unsurely. 

"I um-" he sighed, not knowing how to say it. 

"Just say it. It can't be that bad," I shrugged. 

"Just say it," he nodded, "Right," he mumbled under his breath. 

I stood there waiting patiently while the hallways began getting empty and deserted, eventually just leaving us two. 

"Okay, I wanted to ask-" he cleared his throat, "Will you be my girlfriend?" he huffed, finally spitting it out. 

"What?" I gaped at him, "What are you- how did- what?" I sputtered. 

"Huh?" He looked at me in confusion. 

"How did you decide to ask me this? Why um- why do you want me to be your girlfriend?" I asked hesitantly. 

"Because I have feelings for you," he shrugged. 

"No, I- that's not what I meant," I huffed, biting back a smile. 

"Because we've been together for almost three weeks, basically almost a month. I think that's long enough to lock it in. And I may have lost the bet because surely you're not in love with me, but I was sort of hoping I could walk away with a girlfriend. I really like you, Ellie. I want to lock it in and put a title on it. And I want to commit. One hundred percent," he explained. 

"Is this supposed to help me decide whether I stay at the apartment or not?" I narrowed my eyes and him playfully. 

"Maybe," he mumbled. 

"Well, I don't know if I can stay at the apartment," I paused and stepped closer to him, "But I do know that I can be your girlfriend," I grinned. 

"Really?" he smiled back, seeming surprised. 

"Did you think I was going to say no?" I chuckled while pulling him into a hug. 

"No, I- I didn't know," he laughed while hugging me back before pulling away enough so that he could kiss me. 

"Back to class, you two," Mr. Prichard said as he walked by, grabbing print outs from the printing room. And then we headed for class, smiling uncontrollably like idiots. That's what we are. 

Idiots. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Are you sure that's what you want though? I mean, we can stay," he said, waving his hand dismissively while I packed my things. 

"I would have stayed a little longer but I didn't know my parents were keeping track of the month. They're expecting me back home. In one piece. I have to go," I huffed while folding up the last of my clothes and putting them in the bag. Then I went to the bathroom to grab all my things but as I turned around to leave, I crashed into him. 

"Why are you leaving me?" he pouted, putting his arms around me. 

"I'm not leaving you," I said, putting my arms around his neck, "I'm just leaving the apartment." My phone rang before he could whine and pout any further. "Hello?" I asked. 

"Honey, are you coming home tonight?" my mom asked. 

"Yes, mom. I'm packing," I cleared my throat while shoving the remainder of my clothes in my bag. 

"Your dad wants to speak to you, here." 

He does? Strange. 

"Dad?" I asked. 

"Ellie, I want you to bring Zach over tonight. For dinner." 

I dropped the clothes I was throwing in, extremely shocked. "W-what?" I stuttered. 

"I haven't spoken to the kid since he's got back. I'd like to see him," he said. 

Out of the blue? Why does he want to see him? 

"Dinner tonight?" I questioned. 

"Yes," he answered. 

"O-okay. I'll see you then," I said before hanging up. 

"What was that?" Zach asked as I hung up and turned to face him. 

"You're invited to dinner. Tonight." 

I let out a breath while straightening out my dress. It felt weird. Walking into my own house feeling like a guest, like a stranger. It's more so the fact that I'm having dinner with my dad and my boyfriend together while they meet for the first time. Since he's become, my boyfriend. 

"Maybe we should have just stayed at the apartment," I mumbled. 

He did. He stayed at the apartment. He's refusing to move back to his house, he doesn't want to stay with his parents but he's here for dinner with my parents. The whole ride here, he had been adamant that tonight was going to be great but I wasn't so sure because my parents don't like me dating, to be blunt. 

They didn't like it when Zach would come over before he left, they didn't like James, which okay, that is understandable, I just hope they like Zach now. 

"All right, let's go," he said while pulling to my front door. 

I grabbed my keys and unlocked the door before we stepped inside. It felt foreign. "I'll leave my bags upstairs, you meet my parents," I said while taking my bags from him. 

"Oh, come on. I can't do the whole boyfriend meets parents thing alone," he whispered while footsteps echoed until my parents came into sight. 

"Hi, honey," my mom pulled me into a hug while my dad simply nodded at me. 

It's always going to be like this, isn't it? 

"Well, um- why don't you put your stuff upstairs, and then we can get some dinner in?" my mom said, offering Zach and me an escape with a smile. I smiled back at her before Zach went upstairs with me where he set my bag down and I took a minute to soak in my room. It was still my room, it just seemed incomplete. 

Zach and I stayed upstairs in my room for a while, talking and discussing what we'd say if certain questions were thrown our way before my mom called us downstairs for dinner. 

"So, Zach. How has it been being back in town?" my dad asked him. 

"It's been great, a lot changed but everything still feels sort of the same," Zach answered. 

"How so?" 

Isn't my dad just wonderful at making conversation? 

"It's more so the people changed. The place is the same," he shrugged in response. 

"And are you still into soccer?" 

"Yeah, still into soccer," he nodded. 

This is going to be a long dinner. 

Finally, dinner was over and we were cleaning up. Zach and I volunteered to clean while my parents went and did something else. I don't know what they're doing, they're probably talking. 

"Are you sure you don't want to come back to the apartment?" he asked as we finished up the last of the dishes. 

"Are you sure you don't want to stay next door so I sneak in and out easily?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. 

"I can't stay with my parents, it's like an endless cycle of interrogation and questioning. It's too stressful," he huffed, "Just come back to the apartment, please?" He turned to face me and took my hands in his after we finished up all the dishes. 

I glanced at my parents who were sitting and talking on the couch. "You go ask them," I said. 

"What? They're your parents, you go ask them," he retorted. 

This was like two kids arguing about who is going to ask the waiter for more ketchup. 

"They can't say no to you, though. My mom can't, she literally loves you. Always has," I gave him a pointed look, "At least come with me." 

He nodded and we headed over there. 

"Thank you so much for inviting me over, the food was great, Mrs. Hart," he grinned at my mom. 

"Come by any time. Treat this place like yours, Zach. I'm so happy to see you two together. We've missed you in this town," she replied, offering him the same smile he offered her. 

"I was hoping I could go back to the apartment," I cleared my throat. 

"But you just got here," my dad frowned. 

"Mr. Hart, I'm hoping to spend more time with your daughter. And I'm staying in the apartment. So, can she please just drop by there often? Please?" he asked. 

"Of course, she can. Just have her come here once in a while. Don't forget about us," my mom teased. 

"I won't," I grinned.

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Chapter thirty-five

Sorry, I haven't been updating as much, I just have a lot on my plate and it's been a stressful time for me for personal reasons and school, of course. But I'm trying to update at least once a day, sorry for the delay <3

Next Chapter: Cloud nine