"I still think we should tell your parents." Dillion said, leaning against the kitchen counter. He had one hand on his hip, the other on the counter top. 

         "Dillion, I said I'm not ready to do that right now." Maleena's voice raised, grabbing four plates from the cupboard, turning to look at her boyfriend.  

          "Why not?!" Dillion shouted, standing up straight off the counter, walking over to Maleena. "My parents have known since the day I asked you to be my girlfriend, so what's the big deal? Why won't you let me have a formal dinner with your parents? I still haven't even met your brother officially." 

         "Because, I'm just not ready to tell them that we are officially dating, yet. We didn't know each other for even a week before we made it official. I'm worried they are goin' to think it's too early for us to be putting a label on anything yet." Maleena explained, carrying the plates and silverware into the dining room.

        "Mal, we have been dating for three weeks! I don't know how much longer I can wait before I accidentally let it slip when I drop you off at your house after one of our dates." Dillion shouted. Seeing the look on Maleena's face that she got whenever they fought, he let out a sigh, crossing the room to wrap his arms around her from behind. "I'm sorry for shouting, baby. I am just so proud to call you my girlfriend that I want to tell everyone." Just to show he meant it, he softly dropped a kiss on Maleena's neck. Usually the gesture was enough to make Maleena not mad at him anymore, but he had a feeling it wouldn't work this time.

            Trying to fight the feeling that ran up her spine whenever Dillion kissed her neck, Maleena told him to stop. "Not now, Dill, please. I'm still mad at you." To show she was serious, Maleena turned around to face him, about to wiggle away from him.

          Dillion leaned in slightly, about to kiss her on the lips, but Maleena pulled back so he couldn't. "Why don't you ever let me kiss you?" He said in a frustrated, but quiet voice.

          "I've explained this to you a thousand times, Dillion. I have never kissed a guy on the lips before, and when I do, I want it to be with the right guy, and on my time." 

       "Do you not think that I'm the 'right' guy to share your first kiss with?" Dillion asked, his voice beginning to raise again.

      "I never said that! I'm just saying that we hardly know each other. You're the first guy to show an interest in me and I want to take things slow. Our whole relationship has been rushed and happened so fast that sometimes I swear I get whiplash from how fast everything is happening." Her voice was louder than she had meant for it to be, but she was upset at Dillion. He had been pressuring her to tell her parents about them being official, and he had attempted to kiss her on several occasions. "I'm just not ready yet, okay? I want you to respect that!"

       "So, what, I'm supossed to schedule when I can kiss you based on when you feel you're ready?" Dillion followed Maleena back into the kitchen. She had been at his house so much recently that she knew where practically everything was. She would go as far as to say that she's at Dillion's house more often then she's at her own. Standing in the kitchen, Dillion took the glasses Maleena shoved at him as she angrily stomped back out to the dining room.

       Slamming the bowl of salad down on the table, Maleena spun around to look at Dillion. "In a way, yes. It should be special, but above everything, I want you to respect me and respect my boundaries!"

      "I do! I do respect your boundaries!" Dillion's voice boomed over Maleena's.

       "No you do not! If you did you wouldn't-"

       "Hey, kids, we are home." Dillion's mom unintentionally interrupted Maleena by walking into the house, her husband in tow.
   
       Thankful for the break from the exhausting fight her and Dillion was having, Maleena excused herself from the tense situation to plaster on a smile, crossing the room to give Jenny, Dillion's mom, a hug. "How was the play?" Maleena asked, giving Dillion's dad, Frank, a hug.

       "It was wonderful! The cast did such a wonderful job. We will have to take you and Dillion to it sometime!" Jenny exclaimed happily, looking past Maleena to where Dillion still stood in the dining room, one hand on the table and the other by his side. He seemed to be watching Maleena with his parents, in awe she could mask her anger so easily.

       "Well, I'm glad to hear y'all had a great time." Maleena smiled, ignoring Jenny's glancing at Dillion. She couldn't stand to look at her boyfriend right now; she just needed a few more seconds to calm herself down so she could be civil with everyone at supper, Dillion included.

      "Excuse me." Jenny said walking into the dining room, leaving Frank and Maleena still standing in the entryway.

       "Hey, Dill." Maleena heard Jenny greet her son.

      "Hey, mom." Dillon replied in a saddened, monotone voice. He really did hate arguing with Maleena. She was unlike any other girl he had ever dated, and his parents absolutely adored her. But, she was way out of his league, and he feared she isn't ready for a serious relationship, but yet, he still didn't want to give her up. The more he was with her, the harder he fell for her, even if all they really did anymore was fight. 

        Maleena turned her thoughts away from Dillion and back to her conversation with Frank. "Thank you for letting me come over again tonight."

       "Well, thank you. You're the one who's been making us delicious meals." Frank chuckled. "You know you're welcome anytime." He reached out, giving Maleena's shoulder a squeeze. "What do you say we go get some supper? I'm starvin'!"

       With a fake chuckle, Maleena followed Frank into the dining room. Jenny was in the bathroom washing up for dinner, and Frank went through the dining room out to the garage to get a case of soda for the fridge, which left Dillion and Maleena alone in the room.

      Dillion reached his hands out to rest on Maleena's shoulders. "Mal, I'm really sorry for-"

       Maleena took a step back, forcing Dillion's hands off her shoulders. "I need your help to finish carrying out the food." Her voice was coarse. She didn't look at her boyfriend when she spoke, knowing he would use his brown eyes and charming smile to manipulate her into forgiving him again so they could make up and move on, something she wasn't ready to do.

       "Of course." Dillion submitted, following behind Maleena into the kitchen.

       "Do y'all need any help in here?" Jenny asked, appearing in the kitchen.

      "No thank you. It's our chance to serve you. You just go sit down. We have this." Maleena plastered on the smile that she used to hide the fact that her and Dillion were fighting...again.

       "Alright." Jenny returned the smile, taking a seat at the dining room table.

       Dillion and Maleena carried the rest of the meal out to the table, taking a seat next to each other. Dillion didn't grab her hand to hold at the table like he usually did.

        "Wow. This looks amazing! Let's pray so we can eat." Jenny said, holding out her hands.

        Maleena cast a glance at her boyfriend before slipping her hand reluctantly into the one he held out to her. Instead of lacing her fingers into his, she just rested her hand in his palm, ignoring his watching eyes.

         After the short prayer was over, Maleena jerked her hand free from Dillion's, grabbing the basket of rolls from the table.

        After everyone's meal was dished out, they dug in. "Mmm, this is so good! Maleena, wonderful job, sweetheart. Dillion, you have finally found yourself a girl who is a good cook. She's one to keep around." Jenny said, still not aware that her son and his girlfriend were in the middle of a big fight. Dillion's parents were aware that him and Maleena were having problems and fighting a lot, but they don't do anything about it. They just assumed, like everyone, that Dillion and Maleena were both too stubborn, and wouldn't break up. 

           "Thank you." Maleena said in response, nodding politely as she finished her dinner. 

           Maleena was putting dishes into the dishwasher when Jenny appeared into the kitchen. She added a few dishes into the sink, apologizing for adding to the load. Jenny grabbed a couple of plastic leftover containers from the drawers in the kitchen island before offering the leftovers to Maleena. 

           Starting the dishwasher, Maleena said, "Thank you, but we still have more leftovers than we can finish right now." 

           "Okay. Well, maybe by the time you have to head home, you will have changed your mind." Jenny smiled, putting the containers into the fridge. 

            Just as Maleena tried to think of an excuse as to why she had to get home and couldn't stay, Dillion make his appearance into the kitchen. 

           Hardly looking at his girlfriend, he said to Maleena, "You ready to go, babe?" 

          "Aw, no, you can't leave yet. You just got here. At least sit down and let's chat for a bit." Jenny pleaded, still not picking up on the fight that was happening. 

          "It's alright. I have been so busy recently that I haven't spent much time with my family, so I think it would be better if I head home. Thank you, though." Maleena plastered on that practiced smile, giving Jenny a hug. 

         "Alright. Well, thank you for the supper. It's always nice to see you." Jenny smiled.

         "Aw, you're leavin'?" Frank, Dillion's dad, asked. 

         "Yeah, sorry, I have to get home." Maleena used the excuse after giving Frank a hug. 

         "Okay. Well, you're welcome over anytime. Supper was delicious." 

         "I'm glad." Maleena smiled, obeying Dillion's hand on her back, trying to tear her from the conversation.

          Once outside, and in Dillion's truck, Maleena let him have it. "Why did you want me to leave so bad?" She angrily grabbed her seat belt, latching it into place. 

           "You said it yourself, you're spendin' way too much time with me, so you have to get home to your family." Dillion didn't look at Maleena, instead, he kept his eyes fixated on his driving. 

           Maleena scoffed. "I did not say that I am spendin' too much time with you. I said I have been really busy recently. Which is the truth. Don't put words in my mouth, Dillion."  

           "Whatever." He mumbled with a shake of his head. 

          "What is wrong with you?!" Maleena shouted, turning in her seat to look at Dillion. "You practically dragged me out of there. I like spendin' time with your family. You, of all people, know how hard this move has been for me, and you know that I don't like our new house as much as our old one. I don't like bein' home that much, so if I want to stay out at your house, I can, okay? I'm goin' through a lot with this move, so just cut me some slack, alright?" Maleena ripped into her boyfriend. 

          Dillion didn't respond for a while. He just let Maleena yell at him. When they were about ten minutes from Maleena's house, Dillion spoke up. "Look, babe, I'm sorry. Okay? I know it doesn't seem this way, but our fights really do stick with me. I tend to move on too quickly from our fights, and I think that they're harder on me than they are on you, and they stick with me for a lot longer than they do for you. But, in the end..." Dillion reached a hand over to rest on Maleena's knee. "I'm really worried I am goin' to lose you." 

         "Dillion..." Maleena shook her head. "Your sweet talking isn't goin' to work every time. Maybe when we first started dating, but things are more serious between us now, and it's not gonna work anymore, I'm sorry." 

          "Babe, this isn't me sweet talkin' you. The feelings I have for you are different than the ones I have had for any other girl, ever, and I mean that. I really hope that you can forgive me and that we can put this fight behind us." 

           "Dillion, I'm not ready for that, yet. I'm not ready to just forgive and forget. We need to set boundaries in our relationship. I'm not goin' to kiss you until I am ready. Purity, in all forms, is very very important to me. So, until you can respect me and treat me how you should treat me, then, I'm sorry, but things are goin' to be tense between us. It's just the way it is." Maleena shifted, silently asking Dillion to get his hand off her knee. For the remainder of the ride to her house, the truck was silent as Maleena stared out the window. 

           Once Dillion's truck stopped in the driveway, Maleena jumped out, thanking Dillion for the ride. "Hang on, I will walk you up." Dillion turned off his truck, hopping out of the cab. 

            Maleena opened the front door, walking inside. Luella looked up at Maleena from her dinner plate in the living room. "Hey, honey. Y'all are home early." Looking behind Maleena, Luella said hi to Dillion. 

           "Yeah, I know. I decided that it was probably good if I got home to spend time with y'all." Maleena slipped off her boots, walking further into the house, Dillion following her. 

            Wayne stood up from the couch to shake hands with Dillion. "Y'all have a good time tonight?" He asked, giving Dillion a look. 

            "Yes sir, my girlfriend is a wonderful cook." Dillion said, intentionally adding emphasis to the word "girlfriend." 

             It was a good thing that Wayne had dropped Dillion's hand, or else he probably would have accidentally squeezed it too hard in response to Dillion's comment. Luella jumped up from the couch, joining the group. 

             "Your girlfriend? Wayne, did you know about this?" Luella asked in surprise. 

             "It's news to me." There was a small smile in Wayne's voice. At least one of her parents would be happy for them.

            "Yes, sir. We have been official for three weeks." There was a sly smile on Dillion's lips as he wrapped an arm around her waist. 

            "Dillion why are you-" Maleena started, glaring at her boyfriend. 

            "And when were you goin' to tell us about this, young lady?" Luella asked in her motherly tone, already clearly upset. 

             "I was goin' to, but there was never a right time!" Maleena shouted. 

             "In three weeks, there hasn't been a right time?" Luella raised her voice. 

            Dillion's hand slid off of Maleena's waist. He didn't mean to start a fight between Maleena and her parents. "Um, I think I am goin' to head out." 

            "Yeah, I think that's a good idea." Maleena growled, glaring bullets at Dillion.

            Dillion walked out of the house without Wayne or Luella noticing. Once in his truck, he laid his head back against the head rest. He realized how bad that he had screwed up. Letting out a breath, he looked back to Maleena's front door. He knew that he probably should have gone back in there an apologized to everyone, but the other part of him knew that would only cause more problems. 

            Taking in a deep breath, Dillion pulled out his phone. He shook his head as he dialed the number of the only person who could help him in this situation. Pulling his phone up to his ear, Dillion counted the rings. 

              "Hey, good lookin', whatcha cookin'?" The girl answered with her typical greeting.  

             "Hey, Sarah, what are you doin' right now? If you're free, can we please meet somewhere?" Dillion knew he was going to regret his next decision, but he had to get over his and Maleena's fight somehow.