"Hello, Alex! Hello Darcy, darling!" exclaims Penny. You stand awkwardly, twiddling your thumbs.
"Hi, Mum," says Al, hugging her. Penny leans in to hug you, and you hug her back.
"How're you doing, love?" Penny asks in your ear, during the hug.
"Pretty good," you say. You still feel awkward and nervous and you don't know why.
"Hey, you okay?" Al whispers in your ear, not loud enough for Penny to hear.
You nod and he pats your back gently, in attempt to comfort you. Penny walks in, and sits on Alex's grubby sofa. She pats the cushions beside her which signals you and Alex to sit down beside her.
"So, how is my little talented boy?" Penny grins. Alex rolls his eyes, obviously embarrassed.
"I'm fine," he says, with a smirk on his face. Penny turns to you and smiles.
"And how are you, Darcy?" she asks.
You gulp.
"Ahh..yeah...eh..I'm good." you mumble. What was the matter with you? Penny nods, as if she understands, and then turns back to Al.
"So I don't get any offers for a cuppa then?" Penny laughs. Alex jumps up, ashamed he forgot to ask.
"Oh, shit, sorry" he mumbles. Then he flushes pink, realising he just cursed.
"Language!" Penny says, swatting him with a newspaper that lay on the coffee table. She laughs fondly, watching him shuffle into the kitchen. She turns to you.
"I'll miss him, you know" she says, quietly so he won't hear. She sighs, with a sad smile on her face. "Still, I'm so proud of him" she says. You nod.
"I'll miss him too," you say. She puts her hand on yours sympathetically.
"I know you will, dear" she says quietly. "I still can't believe he's going, Penny, what the hell am I going to do?" you exclaim, you start getting really upset.
"Hey, hey, it's alright lovey. You can come visit me anytime!" she says, pulling you into a motherly hug. Alex walks in, struggling to carry three full mugs of tea.
"Is everything okay?" he asks, putting the tea down on the coffee table.
"Yeah, it's just fine lovey," Penny says, ending the hug and picking up her cup of tea. She takes a sip.
"I'll miss you, sweetheart" she says, ruffling Alex's fluffy hair. He shrugs her off, putting it back in its place.
"I'll miss you too," he says, smiling at his Mum.
"So what are you two thinking of doing today?" Penny asks, taking another sip of tea.
"Ehh, I was gonna take Darcy out tonight, if she up for it?" Alex says, turning to you as if he was asking for permission. You nod at him and he pulls a cute little face at you.
"Ah, how sweet," says Penny, proud at how well she raised her son. Alex nods uncomfortably.
"What time do you leave tomorrow?" Penny asks him. He suddenly looks really sad, as if he's just remembered.
"The plane leaves about four, we gotta be at the airport around one," he says. He looks up at you and smiles sadly.
"Ring me before your plane leaves, okay?" Penny says.
"Yeah, course," says Alex. He looks a little uncomfortable, as if he was doing something wrong by leaving.
"I only came by to wish you luck, I better get back," says Penny, awkwardly standing up. Alex stands up, walking over to open the door.
"I'll miss you, darling, be safe alright?" says Penny, stroking Alex's soft little cheek. Alex nods, and gives her a kiss on the cheek.
"Take care of yourself, Darcy, you'll be fine," she says, giving you a quick hug. You hug her back thankfully.
"Bye, Mum," Alex says, his voice breaking a little. It sounded like he was going to cry. You walk over and hold his clammy hand. He squeezes it tight. After he closes the door after Penny tears start streaming down his poor little face.
"Oh, sweetie" you say. You pull him into a hug and he cries onto your shoulder. You stroke his hair, in attempt to comfort him.
"I'm leaving everyone behind," he howls.
"Hey, don't be upset. It's your last day," you whisper. He sniffles then kisses your cheek.
"Yeah, okay," he says, wiping his red eyes. You smile at him and he smiles back, giving you a little kiss on the bottom of your mouth.
"Right, we are going to dinner," he says,going into the bedroom. He pulls out an adorable suit he's had forever, and starts getting changed into it.
"It's gonna be great," he says to himself, pulling off his socks.
