When I awoke the next morning, it was to the steady rhythm of Ryan's chest rising and falling. I felt each exhale breeze through my bangs as he breathed in and out. It was warm and tickled ever so slightly on my eyelashes as my eyes fluttered open to stare up at his face. He looked tired as he slept, but content in a way I hadn't seen him look before. I almost hated the fact that I really needed to get up. It was probably already past 11:00am and I had homework.

Screw homework. It can always be done later.

I snuggled closer and took deep, slow breaths, easing myself back into a deep sleep. I hadn't slept in for years and I wasn't about to miss out on sleeping in on such an enjoyable morning. However, when I was almost unconscious again, the door to Ryan's room burst open and Mrs. Richards stormed in. "Ryan, how long do you plan to sleep this morning?" she asked in a huff.

As I tried to orient myself, Ryan startled awake and sat up. Still being undressed, I ducked under the covers slightly as Mrs. Richards eyes narrowed on me for a moment before they grew wide. She looked at her son. "Ryan..."

He quickly shook his head to dispel any thoughts she was having. "I know what you're thinking and I swear it's not that. I've been meaning to tell you," he said, even though it really was what she was thinking and we both knew he hadn't had the slightest notion of telling his mother.

"Tell me what?" she asked suspiciously.

*******

"Sorry, I didn't tell you right away... It only happened recently -ish- and I didn't get to tell you," Ryan mumbled as he hung his head. He had lent me a t-shirt and shorts to wear, and now we were standing in the living room with both of Ryan's parents sitting in front of us, arms crossed, faces full of an impassiveness one only saw on T.V. I hid behind Ryan shamefully and peeked around his shoulder only when addressed directly. His parents didn't look happy.

"How long has this been going on?" Mrs. Richards asked.

"Sort of just since yesterday. After you guys met, Jacob," Ryan said timidly.

The sort of accounted for the couple of weeks that Ryan and I had known about the other's feelings, but hadn't acted on them. However, I bit my lip, feeling slightly guilty since it hadn't even been twenty-four hours since our official relationship began and we'd already... done it. It was a little embarrassing and I wished I could blame it on teenage sex drives.

Mr. Richards narrowed his eyes at me and I paled under his gaze. Ryan put an arm out as if to block me from his stare, and cleared his throat. "Please, if you're mad, then leave Jacob out of this. Let him go home," he said. Mrs. Richards glanced at her husband and he returned the look. Ryan and I looked between the two of them.

Mr. Richards turned to Ryan. "Please, give us a minute," he requested. Ryan started to pull me out of the room, but his dad stopped him. "No, let us talk. We'll call you in a minute."

Ryan glanced at me nervously and I gave him a pleading look. He kissed my cheek comfortingly, despite the looks he received from his parents and whispered, "I'll be right outside. If they start making trouble, I'll stop it," he promised. I didn't want him to leave, but I nodded and watched him exit the room, the door closing behind him.

I was still watching the door when Ryan's parents cleared their throats, drawing my attention back to them. "Sit down, please," Mr. Richards said.

I lowered myself onto the couch in front of them and folded my hands in my lap tensely. Mrs. Richards just looked at me calmly. "I have just one question," she said.

"Yes, ma'am?" I said.

She stared at me for several silent seconds before her face softened ever so slightly. "Do you love our son?" she asked.

I was taken aback by the sudden question and paused. "Well... yes," I finally said. "I do very much. He's my whole world," I said confidently. However, I only realized in that moment that what I was saying was completely true. Ryan really was my whole world. He meant everything to me.

Mrs. Richards smiled lightly when she heard my resolve. "Come here," she said. I stood and walked forward timidly. "Ryan has made many friends in the years that he's grown up, but none are quite like you. Hold his heart carefully, will you?" she asked.

I stared at her. Then I nodded quickly. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good." She stood up and hugged me. "You're a part of the family now," she said.

Mr. Richards stood too to pat my back and the nervousness I'd been feeling slipped away. Now I saw where Ryan learned to be so kind and loving. He was the spitting image of his parents kindness.

Mrs. Richards pulled away with a smile. "Well, you must be hungry. I'll whip up some breakfast for you and Ryan while you guys get dressed," she said.

I nodded slowly and headed for the doors to the living room, hoping to leave as quickly and painlessly as possible before I had to answer anymore embarrassing questions. As I opened the living room door to the front hallway, I found Ryan standing just on the other side staring at me with an expression of surprise. "Did you really mean that about me? That I'm your world?" he asked quietly.

I blushed a dark crimson. "Well, yeah," I said. "Of course, I did."

Ryan smiled and cupped my face in his hands so he could plant a big kiss on my lips. I stared at him, wide eyed. He chuckled and leaned his head on my shoulder. "I love you too," he said as he interlaced our fingers with both hands. His hands were warm.

*******

After breakfast, Ryan and I went back upstairs. Though Ryan's offer to wash my hair was enticing, I insisted on taking a shower alone since I was too embarrassed to shower naked next to someone else, despite the fact that I just layed naked with someone all night. Ryan was currently using the shower, so I stood in his room getting dressed in my clothes from the day before. I was slipping my pants on when my back pocket buzzed. I pulled my phone out and saw my dad had been texting me all night.

"Be home by 10:00am, please."

The memory flashed by of me leaving my house in the middle of the night with someone my dad didn't know and my stomach dropped. "Oh, shit," I said. I tugged my pants on and buckled them quickly. After slipping my shirt over my head, I was just about to hurry out of the room when Ryan walked out, towl around his waist. I'd have blushed if I wasn't preoccupied with the fact that I needed to get home.

Ryan noticed my rushed movements and frowned. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"I was supposed to be home this morning and I didn't tell my dad where I was. He's flipping out," I said and tugged my jacket on.

Ryan's eyes widened and he quickly got dressed as well. I waited nervously until he was ready and then we raced downstairs. He called to his parents as we left the house that he'd be back later before we ran down the street towards my house.

I tried to read some of my dad's texts as we ran.

11:36am: "Where are you?"

12:23pm: "Did I do something? Are you okay?"

1:49pm: "Are you hurt? Did something happen? Please, answer, Jacob. I've been calling you and you haven't picked up once."

2:12pm: "Please, whatever it is, I want to apologize."

I frowned in confusion at his last text as Ryan and I hurried towards my dad's house. When we reached it I pulled out my key and pushed the door open. At first, I didn't see my dad at all and I frowned. Last time I was out late he was sitting in the living room waiting for me all night. Ryan too seemed surprised as he looked over my shoulder as we entered the house and looked around. I was about to call to my dad when I turned and looked into the kitchen to see him talking anxiously to someone...

"Mom?" I said. I stared at her and she glanced at me. She looked sober for once, her eyes not glazed over and her nice blouse going well with her dark black leggings that she definitely hadn't owned when I was living with her. One thing that hadn't changed though was slight narrow of her eyes as she looked at me; still full of dislike for the very sight of me.

When my dad heard me speak, he rushed forward. "Thank goodness. Where have you been?" he asked. I stepped back out of habit when he reached for me and he paused. "Sorry, I forgot you don't like hugs."

Ryan seemed confused by the situation, but said nothing as my dad started questioning me about my whereabouts. "Where were you? I was so worried when you didn't return home," he said.

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked from my dad to my mom and back again. "I was at Ryan's," I said. "What is this-"

"Why didn't you call or text me? Do you know how worried I was?" My dad asked frantically, ignoring my concern.

I cleared my throat, annoyed that my questions were being brushed aside. "Sorry, I didn't know I needed permission to sleep over somewhere." I said it coldly on purpose, too concerned with the reason why my mother was standing in the kitchen of my father's home.

"You don't, but you could've told me where you were going. You don't tell me anything and it makes me worry," my dad said.

I glanced at Ryan and he looked down at the ground. I turned to my dad. Fine, he wanted to know about my life? He'd get a detail he probably wasn't ready for. "Actually," I said, "you're right. I have something big to tell you."

"Oh?" my dad said. 

When his eyes showed confusion, I stepped closer to Ryan, grabbing his hand tightly for support in case this plan somehow went horribly wrong and possibly backfired in some way. "We're dating," I said before I could talk myself out of if.

The room went silent and my dad stared at me. Then he coughed. "Really?" he said. "When-... When did this happen?"

"Last night," I said.

My dad paused. "Well, I'm happy for you. It's good to know that you're easing into life a little better now," he said, smiling. "I hope this makes you happy."

Ryan squeezed my hand and I felt the tension release from my shoulders as I nodded. "I am," I said.

I didn't realize my mother had stepped up behind my dad until she put a hand on his shoulder, smiling at him in a way that was too friendly. The happy feeling went away when he glanced at her, then at me. "Oh, yeah. I'm actually glad you brought something like that up. I have something to tell you as well," he said. He put his hand over my mom's and smiled. "Your mother and I have decided to get back together."

My plan backfired.

*******

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