It's us against the world

49 - McDonald's

We finish the game and Amanda won by far. Leah's dad came second and I came third by one point. Leah, however, got about 20 points the whole thing and did not look like she enjoyed the game.

"Can we get food now. I'm hungry." Leah asks, trying to get as far away from this place as possible.

"Are you sure it's not just because you were absolutely horrendous at bowling Le?" I laugh with Amanda.

"No. Can we get McDonald's?" She asks, trying to steer away from the topic that is ruining her day.

"Yes bubs. Come on now. Let's get some food." Amanda smiles, not wanting Leah to have an awful time. Amanda places her hand on my back and guides me to McDonald's.

As we get in the restaurant Amanda says that I can have anything I want but I don't want to buy too much so I opt for a medium chicken nugget meal with a coke.

Leah gets a large double Big Mac, really trying to get as much as she can.

"Mmm, thanks Amanda. This is delicious." I smile, wanting to be as polite as possible.

"No problem hun. It's really lovely having you here." Amanda replies, taking a big bite out of her burger.

"It's been really lovely with you. Thanks for having me round." I make sure to thank her for inviting me over as I know I could've been intruding on family time.

"So what's your family like?" I am asked by Leah's dad, forcing me to almost spit coke out my nose.

"Oh. Uhm- I'm not very close with my family. Well- I'm closer to my mum but I've not really spoken to my dad in a while." I lie, not wanting to get into all my family drama.

"Oh, that's a shame. Why are you not close with them?" Amanda asks, not knowing what's gone on previously with my family.

"Just don't really get on with them. I mean, I get on with my mum but she's just very over the top with everything." I laugh, trying to keep vague on the topics I share just yet.

"Oh. I see. But they're okay with you being gay and all?" Amanda asks again, intrigued to my life and not realising that's the problem.

"Mum!" Leah sternly tells her mum off, not wanting me to me uncomfortable.

"Sorry bubs, just wanting to know more about your 'friend'." Amanda winks, trying to keep quiet, knowing anyone can hear these conversations.

"It's okay Amanda. My dad doesn't really agree with it. Actually just yesterday he phoned out of the blue and told me that I shouldn't hang out with Leah and stuff anymore because it would make me gay." I laugh, now finding it funny and happy to share this story with Leah's parents, who of course did not find it funny one bit.

"Well, if you ever feel you need some support. You've got us." Amanda smiles, wanting to make me feel included in their family.

"Thank you. I do really feel loved with you guys." I smile back, really loving this family love.

—

As we get back in the house, we go and sit down in the living room, the four of us spread out on the two sofas. Me and Leah on one and Amanda and David on the other.

Leah wraps a blanket over the two of us and places her hand on my thigh, allowing a small smile creep its way onto my face.

"Right, darling. What would you like to watch?" Amanda asks me, bringing a smile to my face.

I honestly couldn't take another moment of socialising. Don't get me wrong, I've loved today with Leah's family, but I'm so emotionally worn out that I just need to go somewhere and just be alone so I can charge my social battery.

"You know what Amanda, I've had such a lovely time today but I'm exhausted. Is it alright if I go to bed?" I ask politely, not wanting them to think I've hated hanging out with them, because I have not, I've loved it.

"Yes, that is fine. I don't think we will be up much longer either." Amanda laughs, keeping my anxiety to a low. God, she is an amazing mum.

I subtly take Leah's hand and squeeze it, indicating to her that I need to speak to her in a bit.

She smiles at me as I stand up "I'll be up in a bit babe."

I nod at her and walk up the stairs to Leah's old bedroom.

I slump myself onto her bed and sigh. Not a bad sigh but a sigh full of relief I made a good impression and full of all my emotions from today.

I grab my phone and begin to type out a message to Beth when it randomly dies on me so I throw it down next to me and groan.

I have no charger so I can't charge my phone so I just lay on the bed with my legs hanging off it.

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A/n: okay guys
I'm currently watching the USA game and it's actually so shit but it's so exciting cuz USA can actually be knocked out right here right now and it just makes me so happy and sorry but Musovic is playing rlly well today 👏🏻
Also MY NEW ENGLAND SHIRT IS FINALLY ARRIVING TOMORROW SO THATS SO EXCITING!!!!
Excited to play Nigeria tomorrow and should be an easy win I hope AND KEIRA IS GONNA BE BACK WHICH WOW OMG ITS JUST THE BEST NEWS although that China match was something else 6-1 without Keira 🥹😭
This game is so tense and I'm literally watching it as I'm writing this and oh- oh my god- it's gone to penalties 🫣 I'll let you know how it goes guys x I can already feel the heart palpitations 🤪
Anyway, enjoy this chapter like I'm enjoying my life 😙 (jokes I've got so many tests to do)
But on the plus point, I'm writing a new book 😚, not on here but like a proper non- fiction book and it's so interesting to do this research and stuff but anyway babes.
Live laugh love xx
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