"How'd it go?" Phil asked me as we sat together in the park after school the next day. "I was going to message you but I had a lot of chores to do and was knackered by the time I was done."
"It's okay," I told him as I kicked my feet on a dirt patch in front of the bench we were sat on. His arm was pressed against mine.
"So, how'd it go?"
"Fine."
"Just fine?"
I had pretended to be asleep when my dad walked into my room that night, leaving a sandwich on my desk for me to have. I tried to leave the house early in the morning but it didn't work out how I'd wanted. My dad had anticipated my every move and was waiting for me in the living room. It looked like he had been sleeping on the sofa - messy hair, same clothes he had on last time I saw him.
"He wants to meet you," I said.

"Who did you stay with?"
"A friend from ballet," I blushed.
"Just a friend?"
"Well... um... you know," I stuttered out. Were we partners? Lovers?
Loverboy isn't all he seems, those damn texts wouldn't leave my head.
"I'd like to thank them," he said. 
"Oh?"
"In person."
"Oh."

I looked over at Phil. He was holding my hand, it was warm despite the chilly air.
What secrets was he carrying around? Was he going to hurt me? I squeezed his hand and he immediately squeezed back. He wouldn't hurt me, not again. Not now Alfie wasn't there... unless he was still friends with Alfie.
What is your secret? I wondered as I stared at his hand, fingers intertwined with my own.
"Don't you want me to meet him?" He asked me and scrunched his nose up like a rabbit. 
Is he a wolf in sheep's clothing? I shook my head, my fringe falling into my face. How could someone that looked so innocent make my head and heart hurt so much? 
"O-of course I do... I just don't know if you'd want to meet him," I said and bit my lip. "Besides, are we really in the parent meeting stage of this relationship?" 
"You met my mum before we were going out," he pointed out. 
"That's exactly the point," I said in exasperation. "Before we went out... isn't it different now?" 
"I still feel the same about you as I did then. You need to stop being so focused on labels," he told me with a small smile. 
Labels ruled my life. All I'd ever known were labels; from a young age when the doctors first stamped "transgender" on some paperwork and then much later when I stamped "Bisexual" on my Myspace profile. Now, I was trying desperately to find a label for Phil and me... he was my boyfriend but can I really say those words when I'm sure he's hiding something from me? Damn, labels were hard to let go. 
He nudged his knee against mine after the silence had stretched out for too long. 
"When should we meet him?" 
"Um... well I guess now?" It was a question but he took it like a statement.
"Come on then," he said and jumped up. 
"Wait, really?" I asked in surprise, my butt firmly glued to the bench.
"Yeah," he said and pulled me onto my feet. "Race you!" 
By the time it took me to react he was already by the gates at the end of the park.
"Phil! Wait!" I called and reluctantly ran to catch up with him. 

                               ~

"You're nervous," it wasn't a question, Phil knew that something wasn't settling well in my stomach. 
"I guess..." I trailed off, not wanting to talk too much about it in case the feeling got worse.
"You're not worried about me are you?" he asked and gave me his signature grin. He took hold of my hand. "I'll be a gentleman," he promised and I felt his lips brush my skin.
I pulled my hand away and laughed. He straightened up and his face turned all kinds of red. I didn't even know there were that many shades.
"Just." I closed my eyes and tried to think of some advice. "Be nice."
"If they're nice to me," he said with a shrug. His face pulled into a neutral expression, lips tugged tight at the edges. 
"No, just..." I rubbed my shoulder anxiously and met Phils eyes. "Please, for me?" 
"Even to your mum?" he sighed.
"Especially to her," I said then thought about it for a little bit. "You can be subtly mean if you want."
It might get her out of the house quicker.

I ushered him into my house. It had recently been decorated but the smell of paint no longer hung in the air. It was the exact opposite of Phils house but, again, I didn't bring it up. I didn't mention the look in Phil's eyes as he stared at the 60" TV in the living room or as he scanned the games dotted on the ground. I didn't mention the way he trod lightly on the carpet like he was worried he would ruin it. He had the same expression on his face as I expected a nerd would have when stumbling upon the playboy mansion; a cautious awe. I never really thought of my house as 'posh' but I suddenly realised how nice it actually is. Or was before the she-devil entered it and condemned it. 

"Dad!" I called out but lo and behold it was my mum who greeted us first. She held her nose up in the air, squinted her eyes at Phil - it would've been comical in any other situation but it just irritated me instead. "You remember Phil," I said to her.
"Oh yes," she replied and stared down at his outstretched hand like it was covered in mud. 
"A pleasure to meet you again, Mrs. Howell," Phil said a little too sweetly. 
"I'm sure," she said but her tone was bitter. 
"Whats for tea?" I asked, just to stop the awkward conversation before it could get too far. 
"Ask your father," she said and slumped off to God knows where. 
"My dad's a lot nicer," I reassured Phil. 
"He can't be any worse," he replied with a smile. 

 AN:
Wowow I don't know how to feel about this chapter but I've been swamped with work lately and this was the best I could do '^^
- Rach x