Meeting her Parents

After a long drive to end our trip, we arrived in front of a large home in the forest, it was isolated 30 minutes from the nearest town. As soon as we stop, her mom is walking down to meet us. Cassandra jumps off, removes her helmet and runs into her arms and hugs her.

"Happy birthday, Cassandra."

"Thank you mom, I guess you should meet Aristide in person," I pull off my helmet and climb off of the bike, revealing my actual size and walk over to her and shake her hand, "He was nice enough to bring me here."

"Nice to meet you, Aristide, I didn't think you were this tall, you are a giant," She says looking up at me, "Thank you for bringing Cassandra here."

"Yeah, I get that a lot, but since I wasn't going back home this summer, I thought I might as well, since she offered."

"You can leave your motorcycle, right there, it should be fine, I'll go get Cassandra's father so you can meet him," She left us both and walked around to the back of the house.

"This place is amazing."

"I guess, I don't know when to tell them about you."

"With the present I'll give you, you can then."

"What do you have in mind?"

"A surprise," I respond walking next to Cassandra, "I guess that is your father?" I say as her mother walks towards us with a large figure. I hold out my hand as he approaches and he shakes it, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Miller."

"Thank you for bringing my daughter here, hopefully it wasn't too long," He was cold, his words weren't but his tone was, "How are you doing, Cassandra? And happy birthday." She hugs him.

"Thank you, Dad!"

"Come inside, come inside, let's not stand around here."

"I'll go get the things we brought over so, go on without me," I say as I begin walking back towards my bike, Cassandra grabs my hand, "Yeah? What?"

"Do that later, okay?"

"If you want."

We sit down in their living room. Her parents look at me and begin to make me feel awkward, "Where do you know Aristide from? You have never talked about him."

"He was new this year, so I decided I would try to get new friends, try at least."

"Just friends?"

"Mark, let's not do this, she'll tell us if it is true, when she wants."

"What sports do you do, Aristide?"

"Football, I am on the school's team."

"What position?"

"Defensive Tackle."

"What team do you follow?"

"None, I don't really watch, so yeah."

"Mark, please, don't scare the kid."

"How old are you?"

"17, no, 18."

"Recent birthday?"

"Actually his was today as well, dad."

"Ah, okay then."

"Cassandra, do you want your gift now?"

"Gifts," I correct her, "I have something for her as well."

"Um, yeah, I would like that."

"Wait here, I'll go get it," Mr. Miller gets up.

"What gift did you get me, Aristide?"

"Like I said, a surprise," My heart is beating at 100 miles per hour, I am extremely nervous, her father is terrifying. He came back quickly with a wrapped gift and places it on the table. Cassandra places it on her lap and begins to open it, slowly unwrapping the gift. It reveals a box. She opens it and it reveals a bag. She seems so happy, far more than I thought she would from a bag. After thanking her mom and dad, she turns to me. I take a deep breath and then lean forwards and kiss her. She has wide eyes then realizes and pulls me towards her. Both her parents are looking at us wondering what is going on. We separate and I see her father glaring at me.

"I'll explain," Cassandra starts, "Um, me and Aristide, are, um, boyfriend and girlfriend, we have been together for a few months and yeah," Her father gets up and leaves, saying nothing, "Dad, please, dad!"

"He never like you having boyfriends, I am fine with it, it is just a little sudden I guess, but, I think he'll just be in his gym again, he has been doing since you said that you had a boy that he didn't know bringing you here, he is too proud to admit it."

"Where is his gym?"

"At the back of the house, I am not sure if."

"I'll talk to him, what could be worse than me ignoring him and his concern, I am the problem, so I'll be the solution."

I walk into the gym and see him lifting atlas stones, alone. I stand in the doorway as he easily lifts five of ten stones. He turns and notices me, "What do you want?"

"I know it's sudden and not in the best way that you found out that I was going out with your daughter, but I kinda want to stay with her as long as I can, so I was wondering if there was something you wanted from me to see me as, I don't know, worthy to be your daughter's boyfriend."

"Okay then, big man, you waltz into my house and now you want me to just accept you?"

"That isn't what I said."

"You are asking me to give you a task or something to show me that you are worthy for my daughter?" I nod, "Let me think about it, I'll tell you later," I nod again and walk out of the gym, leaving him to lift his stones. I sigh as I see Cassandra waiting for me outside of the gym.

"What did he say?"

"Nothing."

"Let's unpack, and I'll show you my room."

"Okay," She grabbed my hand and nearly yanked me off of my feet, "You seem eager, I didn't ask, did you like my gift?"

"Yeah, I did, but I haven't given you a gift, maybe you wanted one?"

"Being here with you is a gift already, but before we get to that, let's go unpack."