Meeting Family. ~ A Joshifer One Shot ~

  "Stop biting your nails Jen, you're gonna meet my family and you look like you're going to be executed." Josh said. 

The couple was on their way to a family reunion with Josh's relatives and Jennifer had been stressing out during the whole trip. No actually, she had been stressing out since the day Josh asked her to go with him. He had to beg for her to accept, and she finally did - though she immediately regretted it. 

 "I know right." She answered. "I can't help it, I'm so freaking nervous. Actually, I think I may throw up on their doormat when we get there." 

Josh rolled his eyes. She was such a comedian. He took a quick look at her, as he was driving, and saw that she was looking very pale. 

"Oh my God are you OK ? You look like a vampire !" He asked, concerned.
"Seriously Josh ? I told like a hundred times that NO, I was NOT OK."
 "I thought you were joking, you're always overreacting about everything !" He said.
"Well thank you very much for that. I'm not always overreacting, I am really anxious about the fact that I'm going to meet all of your family. I've been asking myself lots of questions recently like 'are they gonna like me ?' or 'Am I going to say something inappropriate like I always do ?'. It really matters to me, I want them to like me but at the same time, I know me and I know that I'm too spontaneous or that, sometimes, I say things I shouldn't say. So no, I don't think I'm exaggerating." 

 After her speech, she folded her arms against her chest and turned her back on him to look at the landscape through the window. Josh sighed and put his right hand and on her thigh. She didn't react, infuriated and offended. 

 "I'm sorry hun, I didn't want to hurt your feelings. I didn't know you were taking all this so seriously, but I'm also glad you do." 

Once he saw she still wasn't going to answer, he kept going. 

"Actually, it's pretty sweet. It's quite rare to see you getting in such a state. No honestly, I'm really touched that it's important for you to meet my family. Thank you... I love you."

She still didn't answer, but he saw her giving a faint smile and smiled too. She wasn't mad. As glad as he was to get a smile out of her, he knew that it was the moment to leave her alone. And so did he. They did not talk for the rest of the ride. About an hour later, Josh parked in front of his uncle and aunt's house. Many cars were already parked in front of the property, Josh discreetly cursed. He would have preferred to arrive among the first ones so that Jen could meet the people one by one rather than all at the same time. Anyway, they'd have to deal with it. He got out of the car, expecting Jen to do the same, but instead, she stayed inside the vehicle. He walked to her side and opened the car door.

"Come on sweetheart, get out." He said, waiting for her to take his outstretched hand. 

When she eventually did, he helped her to get out of the car and took her other hand. 

"It's gonna be alright, I promise. Some of them may be a little strict and may have weird principles, but don't worry, they're not mean. And you'll see, Uncle Stan is the best, he is very welcoming, you'll love him !"
"Yeah but what if they don't like me ?" Jennifer asked in a quiet voice.
"Well, if they don't like you, which is not going to happen, well they can go to hell ! I don't care if they don't like you, I don't need their permission, I love you and who cares what they think or say. OK ?"
"OK." she replied in a small voice.

He smiled and kissed her cheek. She smiled back and they walked toward the front door. Josh pushed the doorbell button and a few seconds later, the door opened to a tall and big man with a huge mustache.

"Uncle Stan !" Josh shouted, letting go of Jen's hand and taking his uncle in his arms.
"Hey Joshy ! It's been a while !".
"It is ! How are you doing ?" The dark-haired boy asked.
"Great, really great thanks ! Oh don't stay outside, come in !"