Opposites Attract

Welcome to the Family

December 7th, 2013 - Around 6:30 PM

Dean sat alone on the rock wall just outside of AJ's house, kicking his feet together, still partially shocked at the note he read. His parents had abandoned him, the rest of his family basically doing the same thing in that very note as well. Inside the house, AJ stood in front of her parents, with her brother sitting near the counter to the left.

"AJ, we can't just let him stay here." AJ's mother stated.

"But, mom! Dad, he stayed here during Thanksgiving Break!" AJ argued.

"Yes, but that was only for a few days. This would be all the time! And don't get us wrong, AJ, we like Dean, we think he's a good kid and an excellent boyfriend for you, and we feel terrible for what his parents have done, but we can't trust him.' AJ's dad replied.

"How can't you trust him?" AJ asked, nearly shouting.

"AJ, he's a sixteen ..." AJ's father started to speak, but was cut off by his wife.

"Seventeen. Today is his birthday." AJ's mother informed her husband, who nodded his head.

"Sorry, he's a seventeen year old boy! His hormones are raging, trust me, I was seventeen before, I know what it's like!" Mr. Mendez argued his daughter's previous statement.

"He's smarter than that! Sure, his transcript may not say that he is, but he is! Josh, back me up on this." AJ called on her brother to defend her, which he did.

"Mom, dad... I don't think Dean would try anything. Plus, if he did, AJ would probably tell him to stop, and he would, because from how I see it, AJ means too much to Dean for him to lose her." AJ's face turned into a smile at her brother actually taking her side. AJ's parents collectively sighed, before AJ's mother talked.

"Doesn't he have any family in town?"

"No, he doesn't. His parents were his only family in the entire state!" AJ told her parents what Dean told her on the way back to her house. AJ's parents sighed once again.

"Fine. He can stay here." AJ's mother finally agreed. AJ ran at her mother and hugged her hard, AJ's father nodding in agreeance.

"But he sleeps on the couch." AJ's father stated, causing AJ to pout.

"Um... hello?" Josh spoke up. "Where am I supposed to sleep?"

"That's right. Joshua sleeps on the couch while he's here." AJ's mother turned to her husband, who began to think.

"Why can't he sleep next to me?" AJ inquired. Her father bursted out in the laughter, but Joshua and Mrs. Mendez just stood there, not laughing. AJ's father quit laughing, and looked around the room.

"Don't tell me you're seriously considering that." AJ's dad nervously asked.

"Well, I mean, we're right next door. We'd be able to hear if anything was happening." AJ's mother made a point.

"Yeah, and I mean... he'd be able to hold me while I sleep, which may make me sleep and make me... feel safe." AJ expressed her mindset.

"No. Straight no." AJ's father denied his daughters plea.

"Dad... you and I both know... they're gonna be sleeping in the same bed anyways when AJ moves out. Why are you delaying it? The sooner it happens, the easier it is to cope with." Joshua chimed in once more. AJ's dad hated to admit it, but Joshua was right. At this rate, AJ will probably end up sleeping next to Dean sooner or later. "Also... you let me sleep next to my girlfriend in my bed when I was AJ's age."

"That's different, Josh. That was only for a few weeks, this could be for months!" AJ's dad fired back.

"Well, if you could trust me... why can't you trust AJ?" Joshua retaliated. AJ's dad looked at AJ, and saw her hopeful eyes stare up at him. As cute as his daughter was, he wasn't budging because of her. He was budging because Josh was absolutely right. He couldn't delay the inevitable.