(Graham's POV)

Today is finally the day Damon and I leave for my parent's house. We've rented a car to drive since flights are expensive around this time of year. We're going to probably drive straight through. It's a four hour car ride and we both made sure we had enough cds to get us through the silent twisting roads. This drive generally does make me nervous. Especially with how fast transport truck drivers can barrel down that highway.

"Did you grab the snacks?" Damon asks as he throws his duffel bag into the trunk. I nod as I double check everything from the front seat. My sketch book lies on my lap with some pencils and pencil crayons and there's cheese and crackers in a Tupperware at my feet. We're just about set to leave and my nerves begin to set in. I keep telling myself that I still have another eight hours before I have to see my family, but I know it's going to be awful.

I really do hope that they just assume Damon is my boyfriend so I don't have to actually verbalize anything. That would just be terrible if I have to explain to my parents and siblings that I now like men and will never have any children. That's going to hit my mom hard. She wants grandchildren so badly. My brother gave her a little bundle of joy to fawn over and so did my sister. I have yet to meet either of their children. I didn't even get a call when they were born. That's when I realized I was truly the black sheep of the family.

Now we finally hit the road. I look out the rear window and watch my apartment building shrink the further Damon takes us. An acoustic guitar Alex gave us sits in the backseat. Damon practically begged me to take it and I just couldn't say no. I was on board with the idea in the first place because I know when the time comes for me to drive, he'll be serenading me. I hate driving but it makes it easier for me to not flat out refuse doing it.

All this has made me realize is that Damon has convinced me to not run away anymore. It was always my go to solution. I'm always running. I'm so tired of it though. All these years of thinking that my London apartment would be it for me are finally over. There's life outside. I'm almost willing to live it. I know Damon will be my final push to it. I open my sketch book and begin to doodle with the warm fuzzy feeling still in my chest.

"I hope your parents get you a puppy for christmas. Like, imagine this ride but with a puppy. Instantly better." Damon speaks after almost two and a half hours of silence. It makes me crack up a bit and shake my head. That would be an awful idea but I can let him dream.

"Let's just focus on getting there, yeah?" I smile and he laughs from the driver's seat. I'm in a great mood for once but there's still a nervous pit in my stomach. What if my family doesn't approve of our relationship and kicks us out? How will Damon even feel about me if that happens? The thought of him leaving because something my parents might do only brings me pain and it hasn't even happened.

"Something's wrong." He says quietly as he looks over to me. I look back. I desperately want to tell him to keep his eyes on the road but even if I did it wouldn't stop him. His blue eyes pierce into mine before he looks back to the highway. "It's going to be okay Graham. They're probably happier to see you than you think."

"What if it's not going to be okay though? I-I... there's too much that could go wrong and we're barely staying for three days. Can we just turn around?" I don't even mean to ask to go home but I want to. I want to just curl up under some blankets and spend christmas the way I want to. Alone with Damon. That would beat visiting my parents any day.

"Graham. Everything will be fine. Just breathe and think about how we can make out in your bedroom when we get there or something okay?" He smirks and I try to hold back my smile as I roll my eyes. It's hardly a good reason to let go of all my fears and doubts, but he's just made me feel infinitely better.

A gas station comes into view and Damon stops at a pump, getting out of the car. I let out a small sigh as he stands outside in the cold. On top of me being stressed, I have to drive now. I hate driving. It's like I'm risking my life every time I get behind a wheel. Now I also have Damon's life in my hands as well. I'd never forgive myself if I hurt him. I'm not a bad driver, just a nervous one.

Slowly, I step out of the car and stretch. My muscles are stiff from sitting still for so long and I have to pee so I make my way inside to pay. The man at the till looks like he hasn't slept in literal years and doesn't speak a word to me which I am thankful for. I quickly use the bathroom before exiting back to the car, this time sitting in the driver's seat. The wheel feels foriegn in my grip as I exhale and begin to drive. Damon hums a Nirvana song as he taps his fingers on the dashboard. I want him to play the guitar, but I'm scared to ask him. We continue on like this for the next hour.

It seems I'm finally getting my wish, because Damon begins to unbuckle his seatbelt and dangerously tries to crawl into the backseat. Naturally, I start to freak out completely to the point where I pull off into the nearest spot off the highway which happens to be the parking lot for some nature trails I'd be surprised anyone would ever give the time of day. I breathe heavily as Damon finally sits in the backseat with the guitar rested on his lap.

"Why'd you stop driving?" He asks clueless. I give him a look and he just shrugs and picks put some simple melodies. I turn off the car and grab the cheese and crackers. Here is as good a place as any to stop and eat. I guess I could eat when I get to my parent's in half an hour, but I wouldn't want to burden them with feeding us. Damon finally settles on playing a few Bob Dylan songs, saying that it's only right on the acoustic. I guess I agree with him in some sense.

I face the backseat as he begins to finish his rendition of 'It's All Over Now Baby Blue'. He flashes me a quick smile and leads forward and pecks my lips. I giggle and run my fingers through his hair.

"We should probably hit the road again." He points out and my bubble is popped. We've been at the desolate parking lot for a while now and the sky is beginning to go dark. It doesn't help that we left London rather later than we wanted to. I blame it on the alarm, Damon blames it on me pulling him back into bed after it went off. I guess it just wasn't loud enough.

The roads look quite icy but I know it's something I can handle. It's not snowing so this last half hour should be a breeze. Damon crawls back up to the front seat once again and buckles himself in. Slowly, I drive back onto the highway and begin to pick up speed. Damon puts a cd in and it calms my nerves as we drive by the welcome sign to the town I grew up in.

The outskirts of town are far nicer than the suburban neighborhood my parents live in. They like to be close to the action and people though. They've always been like that. My grandparents used to live far into the country and going there was probably my favorite childhood memories. They had chickens that I would chase with my dog and goats that would chase us. I have virtually no fond memories of my grandparents themselves because they were actually quite mean though.

Before I even know it, the car is parked outside my parents home beside what I think might be my sister's car. I assume it is because all the tacky bumper stickers. Damon looks at me as if he's silently asking if I'm okay. I can only nod but if I really got into how not okay I am right now, we would be sitting here for hours.

"You ready?" He asks as he finally goes to open the door. I want to lean over and smack his and away from it just so we could enjoy this last five minutes of no one trying to pry into our personal lives or ask uncomfortable questions. I don't though. I stay firmly planted in the seat with my hands still on the steering wheel. I have to be ready. I have to prove to everyone that I'm strong. I have to prove to Damon that I can overcome my fears.

One deep breath, two, three, four. At last I step out of the car and help Damon grab our stuff from the trunk. It's going to be okay. He told me so. I have absolutely no reason not to trust him. At least he's not given me one yet.

Standing outside thit brightly painted door gives me so many memories. Some I wish I could forget, and some I wish I could relive. I look to Damon for reassurance. He smiles and kisses my cheek. It warms me from the cold but also opens a whole other can of worms.

"They don't know about us." I almost whisper. I dont want him to take it the wrong way, but if my parents are against it, I at least want to catch up with my family for a little while until being thrown out. At the very least I would like to meet my niece and nephew. My mother always gushes about how adorable they are. Despite the fact that I dislike almost everyone, children don't get on my nerves half as much as adults do. They're just funny and always seem to have a lot of livelihood.

"I know. I won't kiss you in front of them or anything." He promises and I nod. He gets it. One last moment of bliss before I knock. I turn and place my lips on his quickly before straightening out my jacket and knocking on the door.

Moments later it swings open to reveal my mother with her arms wide open. I hug her for the first time in years. I usually hate hugs (with the exception of Damon's) but this was long overdue. I can hear her sniffling against my chest and it makes my heart hurt. I was so wrong when I thought she wouldn't care about me leaving.

"Graham darling, look at you! You're all grown up!" She wipes at her teary eyes. I can hear everyone else in the livingroom talking about their mundane lives and it comforts me in a way I thought it never could. This place will never and could never actually be home for me. Home is in bed with Damon back at London. This is just familiarity. I would never to be one to argue against it though. "C'mon. You can say hi to everyone. Oh! And this must be your friend Damon! I'll get your dad to bring your suitcases to your rooms-" She babbles on as she leads the two of us to the livingroom. This is where the fun truly begins.

***

2007 words.