Hold My Heart Like A Hand Grenade:

Nobody's Perfect

So about three weeks passed with me and Joey being together and things were great when out of nowhere, I had another confrontation with Jazz. "Look, me and Joey are happy" I said as I seen her face at my locker "I don't know what you want but could you please just get over it." I'll admit I was mean but I was tired of her restless attempts to break us up. I mean, last week she 'accidentally' tripped into his arms. seriously? So anyways, here we were yet again but this time, something felt different. "Sure" she said with a mischievous smirk. "but have you ever met Joeys parents?" she asked. "No but I don't see what-" She cut me off by saying "Doesn't that make you think he's hiding something? Why else would he only have you over when he knows his dad won't be home and his mom won't bother him? hasn't is occurred to you that his parents might want to actually meet their sons girlfriend? or are you just as dumb as I thought you were? all I'm saying is, if you have any sense you'll question that." she walked away indifferently.

I'll admit that I tried to ignore it at first because of course, it was only Jazz, but it kept coming up. and it bothered me. a lot. "Joey" I began on our walk home with my hand in his. "I want to meet your parents." Suddenly he stopped. He looked at the ground, then at me. "Ok. but promise me it won't change how you think of me." Instead of questioning his request I simply complied. "I promise." I spoke softly. "Would you like to come over for dinner tonight?" He invited. "Yes" I said simply and so, it was set.

Aunt Brenda was thrilled when I told her Joey invited me to meet his parents and didn't even give me a lecture. "I'll pick you up at 7" She said as I got out of the car in front of Joey's. I walked to the door and knocked but before Joey answered I heard him say "look dad, just....don't screw this one up for me." he sounded angry at his dad I couldn't imagine why. He opened the door swiftly and gesture for me to come in. I followed. "Just uhh...Remember your promise yeah?" he said as he looked at the ground. "And uh....dont be mad." I nodded calmly but inside my head was a tornado of thought swirling in panic.

"Joey's got a girlfriend! Joey's got a girlfriend!" Came the cries of his younger brother. "Jake!" He yelled as his brother ran by and he caught him by the arm. "Jake knock it off!" he said embarrassed. "Sorry Sammi" he whispered looking at the ground. "Weeeellll" Said his brother Jake, stretching out the word. "What?" Joey asked looking his brother dead in the eye. "Aren'tcha gonna introduce me!" The little boy asked and it was so cute I couldn't help but chime in. "Yeah Joey, Aren'tcha?" I said mockingly but cute. he rolled his eyes and introduce me to his younger brother by quickly saying "Jake, Sammi, Sammi, Jake." I bent down a bit to be eye level with the boy and said "Hi Jake! Its very nice to meet you and I would like to thank you for consistently bringing me snacks when I'm here." His brother looked at me wide eyes and said "No problem! you're very pretty yknow!" And at those words Joey growled his brother's name and Jake looked down abashed. "it's ok Joey, I don't mind. he's just being sweet." I smiled as I returned to my normal height. "yeah well," Joey began, "he can be sweet with someone else's girlfriend ok?" I laughed and gently punched his arm. Then we began our trek to the dining room. Joey looked around and his eyes landed on me as we stood outside the dining room waiting to enter. He let out a deep sigh and pushed open the door. Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to see next.