Emily

We ate our dinner quietly, he kept glancing at me through out the dinner.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked me.

"Nothing." I said to him with a small smile, hoping it didn't looked forced.

"You know, if we're in a relationship. We need to be transparent and share our concerns and happiness with each other? If I said something that might have upset you. You need to let me know, so that I can fix it because if you keep quiet and keep it to yourself. You will be hurting yourself and I don't want you to hurt all by yourself because of me."

"It's something embarrassing." I said to him.

"You shouldn't feel embarrass about anything, especially not with me." he frowned.

"You have been with lots of girls, while I'm inexperience and you're my first boyfriend..."

"I'm your first boyfriend?" his eyes widened.

"Yes." I said feeling uneasy by his reaction. I thought he knew.

"Sh*t." he said.

and I squirmed uncomfortably on the chair.

"I mean, I'm glad I'm your first boyfriend, baby. Now, that you're saying I'm your first boyfriend. I have to work harder than planned. I can't let you slip away from me." he said looking determined and I blinked a couple of times. "You must have had a lot of expectation from your first boyfriend. I will try to be the best one."

"That's not what I meant." I said to him. "I meant to say, you've been with lots of girls and I'm inexperience when it comes to the relationship. I'm awkward and I don't know what to do.... I'm scared you'll get bored in this relationship and with me."

"Baby." he said shaking his head, "I'm the one who should be worried you'll walk out in this relationship." he grab my hand and squeezed it. "You're amazing and beautiful and I like you much more than you do."

"I'm not so sure about that one." I said.

"I think so, though." he said with a small smile.

Everett dropped me off home at eight pm. I see Dad's car in the drive-way.

"Have a goodnight, baby." he said as he took my hand and kissed my hand.

"You too, Everett." I said.

"Your dad must be home?" he asked.

"Yes, that's his car." I pointed to the dark SUV.

"You know Em, I spoke to him before and honestly- I don't think he dislike you, I think he dislike himself."

I cocked my head to one side, I didn't understand where he was going.

"It's just my opinion." he said and stroke my head, gently. "Things will get better..." he said and I hoped so, too.

He kissed my cheeks and I stepped out of the car after that.

Dad was sitting in the living room for the first time after forever and was watching T.V. He usually watch in his room.

"You're home.." he said.

"Hi Dad." I said.

"Was that Everett who drove you home?" he asked.

"Yes."

I thought he would ask me more questions, but he didn't.

"It's getting late, you should shower and go to bed.." he said to me.

"Okay." I said as I walked towards the stairs.

"How's school?" he asked, quietly.

"It's good." I said.

"Good." he said.

"And Dad, my friends and I are going to have sleepover on the weekend."

"Will you be here for Thanksgiving lunch?" he asked. "Your cousins will be here."

"I'll be there." I said and he nodded his head.

I took a shower and came out with a text from Everett asking me what I was doing. I smiled as I turned off the light and opened his message and texted him,

"I just took a shower."

"I miss you, already. I will pick you up tomorrow morning. I told Evan about it."

"Did I tell you, tomorrow after school I'll be studying with Aaliyah and Bloom at the public library."

"You didn't, but okay.. do you guys want me to drop you off there?"

"We can manage, we can get some girl's time."

"Okay, but I will pick you up after that."

"Okay."

"Have a goodnight, beautiful."

"Have a goodnight, Everett."

The next day, I saw mom making in the kitchen when I came down. I smelled cinnamon and I see her putting cinnamon rolls on three plates.

"There you are, breakfast is ready." she smiled as I put my bag down.

"Good morning, mom." I said to her.

"Morning, honey. I haven't been seeing you a lot these days due to my shifts."

"I know, mom." I give her a small smile.

"How's school going on?" she asked.

"It's going okay, have a test this Friday ." I shrugged. "Morgan is coming over tomorrow to study for our test on Friday, and she might be staying over."

"Its been a while since she stayed over, is London coming over as well?" I wanted to tell her, that London and I were not friends anymore, but chose not to.

"We're not in the same class for that test." which was somewhat true and she nodded her head.

"It's nice to see you making friends this year." she smiled and I give her a small one. "But I want you to focus on music. Once your therapy is over. I want you to focus on music."

"Okay." I said quietly.

"I hope you get an offer from Berklee College of Music or Manhattan School of Music."

And I just nodded my head and cut the cinnamon rolls.

Dad came out of the room while fixing his tie.

"Honey, do you need help with the tie?" Mom asked him.

"Sure." he said as mom went to help him with his tie. Moments like this makes me forget about the fights they have. They haven't been fighting for a long time and I hope it stays that way. I think they felt better after letting me know what was in their mind.

I wondered if I should tell them now about my plans for college, I didn't get any responds from college yet, and I didn't want to have my hopes high in the field that I wanted. I think I will let them know if I do get the offer letter of the course of my choice.

My choice, that sounded unrealistic and different. I made a choice, but will my choice pick me?