Him and I

XXI

"I'll see you guys, don't do anything I wouldn't do." I said, getting out of Chris' car at the same time as my sister. "Willow, you'd do a lot, so I'm not sure if that's the right thing to say." Sam said, swinging her backpack over her shoulder. "That's exactly why I said it."

Sam and I made our way to the front door and I got out my keys, unlocking the door. "We're home!" I shouted as we walked to the kitchen. "Hey, how are you?" Vernon asked, hugging both of us. "Fine, you?" Sam asked. "I'm alright, long time since I've seen you." He spoke to Sam. "Yeah, well, no offence, but I don't really like being here, but Dad said I had to stay two weeks since I wasn't here last month."

"That's all right, but you don't have to." Vernon said, giving her an understanding look. "Oh, Dad said I have to and I don't wanna get in any trouble." She said and he nodded. "Okay, yeah, you can stay, what about you Willow?"

"I'm leaving Sunday afternoon, as always and I'll be back in a few weeks." I said. "Oh, I almost forgot, your Mother and I are going out with Quinty and Hailey tonight, your Mother forgot you were staying this week, so she didn't get you any places, I'm so sorry."

"It's alright, we'll have some pizza or something." I said and Sam nodded. "Hey, Vernon, would you mind if my boyfriend came here tonight since you're all not here?"

He shook his head. "Make him come here a bit before we leave so I can meet him and then he can stay until we're back." He said and she nodded again. "Maybe you can ask someone as well?" He asked me and I shrugged. "I'll see."

"You should ask Isaac." Sam said and Vernon frowned. "Miller, by any chance?"

"Yeah." I said. "I work with his Dad, I didn't know you knew him." He said. "Well and his Dad is married to my ex-wife, but that's besides the point."

"Yeah, we... hang out sometimes." I said and he nodded. "He can come, too, if you want him to, maybe a bit earlier as well? He didn't show up at the meeting on Sunday, so I didn't get a chance to meet him." Vernon said and I nodded, getting out my phone.

~>~

The doorbell rang and I got off the couch, pulling down the hood of my Dad's old hoodie. "I'll let them in." I shouted before anyone else could and went to open the door. "Hey," Parker said, Isaac right behind him. "Hey." I said, stepping inside so he could go and get my sister. "Hey." Isaac said, awkwardly shifting inside. "So, why the sudden invite?" He asked, pushing his hair back. "Vernon is going out with the rest, but my Mom forgot us, so Sam and I are not going." I said, leading him to the living space. "Oh, alright." He said, looking around.

"Ah, you must be Conan's son?" Vernon said, extending his hand. "You certainly look like him." Isaac shook his head. "Nice to meet you, sir." He said. "No need to call me sir, I'm not her real Dad, so, Vernon's alright." Vernon said, letting go of Isaac's hand. "Then you're Samantha's boyfriend, right?" He asked Parker who nodded in response. "I am, Parker, hi."

"Okay, girls, we'll be back by eleven, order pizza or something and don't do anything stupid or your Mom might kill you." He said and I put my hands into the pocket of my hoodie. My Mom walked into the kitchen, Hailey and Quinty right behind her. "Isaac?" Quinty said. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I'm with-"

"Willow, who's this?" She interrupted him. "Mom, this is Isaac, he's my," I looked at him. "friend." I said and he nodded in agreement. "With benefits, you mean." Quinty spat and I took a deep breath. "This is the guy you skipped school with last time, isn't it? Another one of your many bedpartners." My Mom asked, accusingly raising her eyebrow. I rubbed my temple, shaking my head. "Yeah, so what?" Isaac asked my Mom, his tone calm. "Don't talk back at me." She said, glaring at him. "What is your problem? Why would you slut-shame your own daughter?" He asked.