My hands were almost shaking too hard to put on my mascara. Mom sat on the edge of the bed watching me. My hand slipped and the brush made a thin black trail down my cheek. When she saw the frustration in my face, she came to my rescue. “Sweetie, I know you’re nervous about meeting AJ’s parents, but you’re going to have to hold it together.” She was laughing as she touched up the smudge under my eye. “Everything’s going to be just fine. They’re going to absolutely adore you.”
“But what if they don’t?” I asked flatly
She paused for a moment. “Well, then they’re crazy.” She laughed again, but I didn’t find anything funny. There was a very real possibility that they would hate me and tell me to leave their home. Noticing my anxiety starting to build even more, she spoke up. “I know that the birthday incident left you a little gun shy, but you can’t assume that tonight is going to be a repeat.”
I could’ve lived without a fresh reminder of that night. Even though it was a month ago, the memory was still fresh in my brain. Since then, daddy had really tried to make a conscious effort to give me breathing room. We even discussed having AJ over again sometime in the not so distant future.
“I’m not trying to be negative, I’m just trying to be realistic. That way if things don’t go well, I won’t be as disappointed.
“Just try to have a good time and put the past behind you where it belongs.” She kissed me on my cheek and grabbed the turquoise cardigan she picked up for me to accompany the dress Angel and Aunt Lisa bought me for my birthday. I slid on my strappy gold heels and prayed that I wouldn’t slip on the ice. She stood next to me in the mirror and smiled as she smoothed the sweater.
The next second the doorbell rang and mom and I rushed down the stairs. Daddy was sitting in his chair as still as a statue. Although he was willing to let me see AJ, we had an agreement that included him not answering the door when he came over to pick me up. I fiddled with my curls as mom opened the door.
My eyes met AJ’s and we both smiled – seeing him never failed to give me a rush. Mom slid my coat over my shoulders and kissed me goodbye. “Have a good time you two. And AJ, tell you parents I said Merry Christmas,” she said, ushering us out the door. From his seat, daddy waved at me without lifting his eyes from the newspaper.
AJ held me around my waist as he escorted me to the car. “You were pretty brave to wear those shoes in weather like this.”
I smiled at him. “No, not brave, but I know that you won’t let anything happen to me.” He laughed quietly as he opened my door and helped me into the car. He climbed in and I noticed for the first time what he was wearing. Underneath his leather jacket I could see that he had on a white t-shirt, jeans and like-new white gym shoes. “Am I overdressed?” I asked.
“No, you look beautiful as always,” he replied reassuringly.
I continued to look over his outfit that was casual, and drastically stood out from my dressy attire. “But you have on jeans,” I shrieked. The anxious feelings returned again.
“Relax. I just didn’t feel the need to dress up. I’ve already met my parents, so I’m not really concerned with impressing them.” He laughed to himself. I glared at him and sighed which caused him to amend his statement. “Stop worrying. You look great. You would’ve outshined me no matter what I put on.” I looked over at him and tried to maintain my cold stare, but his kind words melted it away quickly.
It couldn’t have been more than forty degrees outside, but my nerves had me feeling like I was in an oven as soon as we turned onto his street. I fanned myself with my hands which prompted AJ to roll down my window. “You alright?” He asked.