The Hopeless Romantic ✔️

Chapter nineteen.

I was happy. Extremely happy that I couldn't even describe it. If someone had told me that this would happen at the start of my senior year, I literally would have laughed in their face. Because, this was my dream. It was something I had hoped would happen in the future and it did.

I didn't ever think that Jace, the hottest and most popular guy at school, would ever want to even talk to me. It felt strange and unreal and I honestly couldn't believe it. It had been a week since Jace asked me out and to my surprise, no one at school looked at us strangely or made fun of Jace for dating a nobody. His friends were also super nice and it felt like I was somebody.

Dating Jace had made me forget about the fact that my mom was looking for another house. Further away from here. Further away from Jace. She knew I was dating him but, she couldn't do much about it. We were on one salary and that wasn't enough to pay the rent and the rest of the bills.

I accepted it, Jace didn't.

It was a Saturday and mom was on her computer looking for cheaper places to rent. I was sitting at the dining room table helping her look when we heard a knock at the door. I sighed and got up from the table, I knew it would be Jace so I was happy about that when I opened the door, smiled faintly and let him in.

"Plans for today?" He asked, strolling in. "Hello, Miss Winters."

"Morning, Jace." She looked up from her screen to give a smile before returning back to it.

"Today?" I asked, thinking. "Helping my mom look for places to live."

His face dropped and I didn't realise how cute he looked today. I noticed it everyday, but today I noticed it even more. The stress was disappearing every time I saw him, it was amazing. I took his hand and led him to my small bedroom and we both sat down on my bed. "I have something in mind," he told me, "it's probably not as great at looking at houses and I don't even want to do it, but my parents want to meet you and they're in town this weekend."

His parents. I didn't even think about that when he asked me out. It didn't even cross my mind, his parents were always on business trips and I hadn't actually spent any time at his house. He always surprised me by coming over to my place, I didn't know why. "Okay, I would love to meet them."

"Are you sure?" He questioned. "I don't want to rush you into things and I don't want it to be awkward."

"Why would it be awkward?" I laughed. "I think it's time for me to meet the parents."

I did have a few questions lingering around in my head. Would they even like me? I was pretty sure I was not like his other girlfriends who were way hotter, thinner, prettier and well, outgoing. I was shy and I sometimes I found it hard to keep a conversation going. Sure, I was okay looking but, I was not popular. Would they even like that?

"Great," Jace said with an uneasy smile, "dinner tonight. My sister will be there as well. I'll come and pick you up. But, be prepared."

I chuckled. "It's okay, I can walk across the street." I said as my cat started purring below me, he jumped up and made himself comfortable on my lap. I started petting him. "It should be fun!" I tried to sound more enthusiastic but, I was pretty sure he could see the nervousness in my eyes.

He nodded. "Okay, but I warned you."

*

We spent the rest of the Saturday afternoon watching Netflix movies. It wasn't a double bed so it was hard for both of us to sit and watch a tiny computer screen. "I better go, my parents will be home in about an hour." He told me, getting off my bed and standing up.

I stood up too, and closed my laptop lid. "Okay, I'll see you at six."

He nodded, kissed me on the cheek and took my hand. "You sure will."