Alchemy •Dan Smith•

twenty three

"So your mom is too chicken to talk to you?" Dan asked, after I told him the phone conversation I had with my younger brother.

"Yeah! I don't get it, I haven't done anything to her, you know?" I replied, taking a drag from the cigarette we shared.

"Maybe she forgot what your like and didn't want to risk causing you harm?"

He didn't know much about the issue with my sister's death. Nor how my mom wasn't one to worry about silly things like hurting someone's feelings from reaching out.

"Maybe."

We sat for a few minutes until I was reminded of the upcoming banquet at my parent's house.

"Hey Dan?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, um, I'm going to be traveling to my parents house next weekend, for this b-banquet thing. And they asked if I could bring anyone, so would um you and maybe Ralph want to come? It's an all weekend thing, if your with me anyway, and so we would p-probably share a room and um-"

"That sounds great, Jade. Thank you for inviting me. I will ask Ralph tomorrow."

I smiled up at him, and said a grateful thank you before laying down the sad rules of engagement when it came to my family.

Don't mention anything remotely suspicious unless they bring it up.

Make sure my dad likes you before you worry about my mom.

My brother is an asshole.

Don't mind the judgmental and rude comments they make, I know they are terrible.

Even if you don't enjoy football, my dad will talk about footballers until you know everything about them.

The list went on.

.•*.•*.•**•.*•.*•.
Dan's POV

She asked me to meet her family. Something someone would ask their boyfriend to do. Or just friends. Good friends? Are we good friends? Maybe.

My thoughts wandered as I began getting ready, it still didn't process that I would be spending a whole weekend at her family's house. It must mean she trusted me enough right? Or maybe it's just because she had nobody else.

I didn't ask Ralph, even though I told her I would, because I wanted to spend the time just us two. Not that I was going to try anything. Just wanted to spend time with her and didn't want Ralph to third wheel and sleep on the floor.

Hopefully I wouldn't be sleeping on the floor either.

Hopefully her family would like me. I mean her bringing a fat tall awkward guy wouldn't settle well. She was so perfect and her family probably wouldn't be anything less. Even though she doesn't talk the best about them, they had to have some sort of perfection to raise a daughter like that.

Okay. She said to dress a little on the nicer end and pack as such, so no t shirts or sweatshirts. Still keep the black jeans, seeing as I had nothing else.

I pulled on my black converse and adjusted my sleeves on my button up, rolling them slightly.

I then turned to the mirror and sighed, I looked like a joke. Her parents are going to hate me. Everyone there is going to laugh at me and snicker, I know it.

What was she even doing picking me to come? Maybe I can make an excuse on not going. I'm sure that would be fine. But I would miss her?

I continued to ponder my options, not coming to any conclusion when there was a knock on my door.

"Coming!" I hollered.

I grabbed my suitcase and did a double take in the mirror, bring my free hand into my hair to ruffle it. I blew out a spew of breath before going towards the door.

I opened it to be met with a very well dressed Jade. I normally saw her in skinny jeans and a jacket or t shirt, but now she stood in a black skirt and a white shirt, that discreetly showed a sliver of pale skin. Then she had a grey over thing, something I didn't know the name of, that made her look all the cuter.

"Ready?" She asked, smiling shyly.

"Y-yeah! Um y-you look stunning b-by the way." I stuttered.

She looked down, a small blush on her cheeks. "Your crazy Daniel, but you look pretty nice yourself."

"No I-I really think y-you look great, love."

She shook her head, "And I really think your crazy. C'mon Dan, we have a taxi to catch."

I closed my door, and she pulled her suitcase behind her as she pulled my hand along with the other.

What was I getting myself into?