Action (DNF)

Chapter 50: Parents house

50 chapters in... Holy shit
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George POV

My breathing was fast paced and ragged as the car pulled to a stop in front of the house I remembered from my childhood, and with a quick glance I realised it was exactly like it had been as a child. Clay’s car slowed to a stop behind a red people carrier. Once we slowed to a stop he looked over to me.

It was clear he was waiting to see what I wanted to do, whether I wanted to get out now, or just sit here for a few minutes, and that I was grateful for. I leaned back in my seat and took a few deep breaths while the blond watched me. “How are you feeling?” He asked after a minute or so.

“Nervous.” Was my one-worded response, and it was obvious that he understood why I was feeling that way. After all, this was my first time seeing my family in years, especially all together.
“If you don’t want to do this then we don’t have to.” He reminded me, a reassuring hand moving to rest on my shoulder. “Just remember that, alright?”

I nodded before shifting awkwardly in my seat. “Maybe I should go and buy something else as a gift for them.” I muttered. “I mean, I just bought chocolate and a bottle of wine. Should I get them something else? Like flowers, or a movie voucher, or maybe…”

Before my rant could go too much further, Clay moved his hand to my shoulder. “You don’t need to get them anything. The wine and chocolate will be fine, alright? Your parents and sister will be happy to see you regardless of whether you’ve got presents or not.”

“Even though my sister has kids. I’m their uncle, I should have gotten them some kind of present for missing all of their birthdays and Christmas’.” I continued, since this would be the first time meeting my sister’s husband and kids, I wanted to make a good first impression.

“You can get them gifts another time.” Clay responded. “After all, you don’t know a thing about them. You don’t want to get them something they won’t like.”
I just nodded at what he said before falling into silence. I tried to think about what my options were, and eventually I just nodded at him.

We’d brought some chocolate and wine on the way here, so we could give that as a gift, and maybe at some other point during our stay I could buy everyone gifts. I didn’t want to bombard them all on the first day I was here. So I glanced back over at the blond and muttered about how I was ready to go.

He and I both got out of the car at the same time, with him moving over to me so that he could hold my hand. The walk from the car to the front door wasn’t a long one, but it felt like it took at least ten or so years. Memories of myself and my sister as kids were resurfacing in my mind after years of being dormant.

The two of us remained close with each other, a sense of worry about being here present in both of our demeanours. After a very drawn out walk, we stopped on the patio in front of the door, and I instantly changed my mind, taking a small step back and causing Clay to look over at me worriedly.

“Maybe this is a mistake…” I muttered awkwardly. “We should just go find a motel and spend the night there instead. This is not going to go well if we just…”
“George.” Clay cut me off. “You don’t have to do this, but we’ve driven for so many hours, and they’re expecting us. At the very least we’ll say hi and drop off the chocolate and wine.”

I didn’t give the blond a verbal response, standing silently and thinking over what the blond had said. “George…” Clay began again. “We…”
“We could stay for a little.” I muttered. “After all, if we don’t then we came all this way for nothing. Besides, they are expecting us so it is only polite.”

Clay’s face relaxed as I said that before he motioned to the door. “So, do you want to knock or do you want me to?” He questioned as he prompted me closer with a gentle pull on my hands. I just looked over at him expectantly, making it clear as to what I wanted him to do. After receiving a reassuring squeeze from him, Clay stepped forward and knocked for me.

A couple of moments passed, and as we waited I shifted closer to the blond as the two of us heard footsteps approaching. Then the door opened and I was met with a face which I hadn’t seen since before I left for university. My sister. “George!” She grinned as she saw me before pulling me into a hug. “Oh my Goodness, it’s been ages since I’ve seen you!”

“Hey Sarah.” I responded, my awkward and anxious mood disappearing as I hugged her. “I haven’t seen you in ages either. How are things going?”
“Oh, being married, working, and having two children can make things vary from day to day.” She responded. “Sometimes I feel like Queen of the world, other times I’d love to just leave.”

“However,” she continued after a moment. “You are the one I should be asking about. After all, you’ve become famous since I’ve last seen you, and you’ve got a boyfriend!” I just blushed as she began complimenting me before taking a step back so I could introduce her.
“Oh, Sarah, this is my boyfriend Clay.” I said with a smile.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The blond beside me held out his hand for her to shake. “George has told me quite a bit about you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too,” my sister replied. “You will want to be careful though, my kids love your movies… or at least the child friendly ones that we allow them to watch.”

“Anyway, come on inside. You have to meet your niece and nephew George, and my husband, he is just the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.” As she spoke she began dragging me, the same way that she would back when we were kids and she wanted me to go and do something annoying and girly in her room.

Clay just chuckled as he followed after us and we were brought into the living room. I barely breathed as I attempted not to stumble after her, and when we stepped into the living room she let go of my arm.

As the blond appeared behind me we looked into the room. On the floor was a pair of small children, no older than six or seven playing with some blocks on the floor. Behind the two of them though, were three people, two of whom I recognised instantly. “Hi Mum, hi Dad.” I greeted in a timid voice when they looked over at me.
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1192 words