Nine- Meeting The Parents I wring my hands together as the car passes by house after house. The hum of the engine is quiet, which makes the silence that more awkward. I can't believe I'm doing this. As think about it more, my hands behind to get cold and clammy. I'm not sure why I'm so nervous. I guess it's because I'm so used to not socializing, that I get anxious whenever I have to. I look out the window as I bite my bottom lip nervously. Why can't I be normal and not get to anxious? I'm such a freak... No! I can't be like this right now. We stop in front of a two story Victorian brick house with a white, rounded porch that wraps around the left side of the house. The house was beautiful and looked like a little castle. We got out of the car and as we walked up the stairs to the door my legs felt as if they would just buckle. My legs felt like jello. The inside was even more marvelous. The whole floor is a shiny, white marble tile floor. The entryway has a beautiful winding staircase that leads upstairs. "Christopher, is that you?" I soft female voice asked. A woman walked into the entryway. Her hair hair brown like Chris's and mid-length with loose waves. Her eyes are very green though. This must be his mother. Chris gets many of his featured from her. Her eyes flicker towards me. She politely at me, "Christopher, is this our dinner guest?" Just breath. I can't seem nervous or afraid. Breathe. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Fitz.", I say with the most confident voice I'm able to make. She shakes me hand firmly, smiling with the corners of her eyes crinkling, "It's nice to meet you as well. Christopher has told me good things about you. So, you two are just friends?" I felt my face get hot. Before Chris could say anything to his mom about her question, a man walks over to Mrs. Fitz and rest his hand in the small of her back. His hair is dark with grey specks and his eyes are very dark brown like Chris's. "So, you must be Mary we've been hearing about. It's nice to meet you, young lady." He says in a booming voice and shakes my hand. "It's nice to meet you too, sir." I say. God, I need to stay calm. We walk into a huge dining room with a long table with a pure cotton table cloth. We sit at the far end. His father at the end, his mother next to him, me across from his mother, and Chris next to me. There are different plates and bowls filled with different foods. The main course is chicken alfredo with sides of breadsticks and salad. I savor ever single bite, since I've never really had a meal this fancy before. Once dinner is done, we have a slice of cherry cheesecake for dessert. After that, his parents clean up the dishes and take them into the kitchen to clean them. Christopher leads me into the vast living room with a long plush, black, leather couch against the wall and two black leather recliners all facing a huge flatscreen tv. Chris looks at me, his dark eyes sparkling in the living room light, "So, did you like dinner?" I nod, "Yes. It was delicious. I don't think I've anything that good." He turns to face me, his smooth face serious. "So," he begins, "Do you consider us friends?" I freeze in my spot. What? What is he talking about? Yeah, I'm really socially awkward, but I try my hardest to seem normal and be a good person. "Um, what do you mean?" I ask. "Do you consider us friends? I'm curious." I hesitate for a moment. I think and think. Do I? I really hope so. I glance at him and nod. "Yeah, I do." *** It's about 11:30. The tv is on and Chris and I are watching the ball getting ready to drop and watch all the famous singers preform. His parents have gone to there room since it was getting too late for them. More singers and bands preform and we sit there, our eyes glued to the tv. Huge things may not have happened, but day has been the best I've had in a long time. As I watch the tv, something tugs at the back of my mind. When he picked me up earlier this evening, Christopher looked at me a certain way. He looked at me as if he was seeing me for the first time for who I really am. Was it my outfit? Or was it how well I cleaned up in general? I shouldn't think too much of it. After all I am a nobody... It's 11:57 and the people on the tv are getting ready to count down. This is the first time that I've ever spent New Year's Eve with someone other than my parents. And most of the time they were just shouting at each other. They start the countdown and I watch the little numbers in the clutter tick by at the ball gets closer and closer to dropping. 3.... Everyone gets their horns and streamers ready. 2.... People on the tv start to get anxious. 1.... Everyone blows theirs horns and throws their streamers. Couples in the crowd kid as everyone cheers and screams. I notice that Christopher turns to me. I look at him. His dark eyes are sparking with anticipation . He leans closer to me, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. He leans even closer and next things I know, his lips are on mine, kissing me softly. Happy New Year to me.