"I don't want you to feel pressured to come. Honestly, you don't need to go, I'll be fine on my own." His breath tickled my neck as he spoke. We were curled up on his sofa waiting for his latest 'favourite film' to start. I had never heard of it, but he insisted it was one I would love, and it was 'my sort of thing'.
"Hey, I want to go with you, if you're not ready for the family introductions yet, just say so. It won't bother me, but just know that I don't feel pressured into anything, I'd love to go to one of your legendary family dinners with you!" He ran his fingers through his hair, his eyebrows pulled down into a frown.
"Good, I'd love you to come too. Just remember that whatever my mom says, your sleeping in my room okay?" He muttered as he gently kissed my forhead, still frowning.
His shoulders tensed as we drove onto his mothers estate. He had been silent the whole drive, and at first I guessed he just thought the dinner was a waste of time, but now I knew there was something else bothering him, something he hadn't told me about. My questions about the said something were answered repeatedly with Neanderthal-like grunts.
I watched out of the window, gazing at the buildings that people claimed they lived in. They looked more like castles, buildings that should be preserved, not lived in. But I guess that growing up in a bedsit with a mom and three siblings made me appreciate finer things more than these people ever could.
Eli's hand closed tightly around mine as we pulled up to the house, and although it seemed impossible, his shoulders tensed even more. His eyes widened as we drove closer and when he looked down at me, he looked scared. No, vulnerable. He reminded me of a scared child. I squeezed his hand, trying to reassure him that whatever he was suddenly so worried about, would be fine. He gave me a small smile for the gesture, and pulled me closer until he was holding me against his side. His free hand ran up and down my arm, and he buried his face in my neck while taking deep breaths.
The first time I slept over at his house, he had had a nightmare and he did the same thing then that the was doing now to calm himself down. It was then I realised that he was genuinely terrified of something inside of his mothers house. I used my free hand to run through his hair while I left soft kisses on his cheek, trying to comfort him. Just as he started to calm down, and finally relax, Spencer's voice interrupted. "We're at your mothers house sir." His monotone voice caused Eli to tense back up immediately. He took a deep breath though, and climbed out of the car while I thanked Spencer.
When I finally manoeuvred myself out of the car, desperately trying to avoid dirtying my floor length gown, Eli wrapped his arm around my waste. I could feel the hand resting on my hip shaking, but his face showed no sign of his anxiety.
"Elijah! My darling." His mothers voice rang through the air as we walked into the entrance hall. She walked towards us, but stopped as she looked me up and down, her eyes settled on Eli's arm which was still wrapped around my waist. When she finally moved her eyes away, she scrutinised my appearance again before turning back to her son. "Who is this Elijah?" Her tone was suddenly cold. A grey haired man whom I assumed was Eli's father joined us in the hall, along with a bright eyed girl who looked the same age as me. Eli's arm tightened even more around my waist and pulled me even closer into his side. I turned my head and sent him a small smile, before squeezing the hand resting on my hip. He looked down at me, and I could see the fear in his eyes that he was trying so desperately to hide. His sister stared at me for a while, looking confused, but when she caught my eye she smiled, putting me slightly more at ease. His father on the other hand, didn't even spare me a glance, he just stared at Elijah's face, a small smirk on his lips.
"Mother." He greeted her without touching her in any way, he just sent her a nod. "This is my girlfriend, Sydney. She's staying with me." His mother looked at me again, only this time her expression was horrified, but she didn't comment. "Syd, this is my sister Elena, and that's Steven, mothers husband." He introduced me quickly, and I could feel the tension in the room growing. His sister gave me a quick hug, and a kind smile before their mother interrupted.
