"Macy, why are you calling during school?" Her mother asked.
"Well, mom, I just, uh, wanted you to know that the amazing, awesome, sweet guy, Joe, I told you about is coming over after school." She said, smiling.
"Mm, really? Well, I guess we'll just see if he's as awesome as you say."
"Oh, trust me! He is!" They said their goodbyes, and Macy nearly skipped back to class. This really would be piece of cake.
"Mac-aaay." Joe sang, walking over. "Ready to go?" He asked, smiling.
"Uh, yeah, yeah. Just let me get my sweater." She said. "C-Can you hold this for me?" She held out her baseball bat. He eyed it for a moment, before taking it from her. She dug through her locker quickly.
"Macy, chill. There's no rush." She bit her lip.
"Right. No rush." She nodded, pacing herself (and her breathing) as she pulled her jacket on. "Okay, now I'm ready." She said as he pushed the bat into the locker before closing it. He smiled.
"Lead the way, Ms. Misa."
"Mom, dad! I'm home!" Macy yelled, walking inside her house.
"Kitchen!" Her mom's voice yelled back. She placed her bag down and unzipped her jacket. Joe, always the gentlemen, helped slip it off her shoulders and placed it on a coat hook. She blushed, leading him to the kitchen.
"Mom, dad. This is Joe."
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Misa." He said politely, shaking their hands.
"Likewise, son." Her father said.
"So, Joseph." Her mother started. "Tell us about yourself." Here we go.
"He seems like a very nice boy, Macy." Her father said, nodding as they had huddled into the living room to talk privately, leaving Joe in the kitchen. "But, a month?"
"I know that's a long time, daddy, but he has no where else to go."
"No family can take him in?"
"No family lives around here." She shook her head.
"Well." Her mother started. "I guess it's alright with me." She grinned, turning to her dad.
"Okay. But on one condition."
"Anything!"
"He sleeps downstairs." He demanded.
"On the recliner? Dad, that's so uncomfortable." She said, making a face and looking over at the couch, where their dog, Mikey, was sprawled out on. That was his bed, he wouldn't let anyone sleep on it besides him. And the reclining chair was extremely lumpy and uncomfortable..
"Are you suggesting he sleeps in your room?" He asked, crossing his arms.
"No, no!" She bit her lip. "I dunno." The guest room had been changed for the baby that was on the way. Her mother was 7 and a half months pregnant. She understood that it might be a problem to have Joe stay here now, but he said he'd help out where ever he could. So, her mom turned to mush about it.
"Honey, he could sleep on the floor. We have that extra mattress." Her mother said kindly. He frowned.
"He has a purity ring." She blurted. "Nothing would happen." He sighed.
"Alright."
"Really?" She squealed. They nodded, her mother flashing a smile. "Thank you! I'll go tell him!" She quickly made her way back to the kitchen, accidentally slamming the door open and startling him. "Joe!"
"Macy?" He stood from the table. "What happened?"
"They said yes!"
"Really?!" A wide smile spread across his face.
"Uh-huh!" He swooped down, bringing her in his arms and lifting her into the air.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She giggled, hugging him back. That's when she realized who she was hugging. Her body stiffened. "Breathe, Mace." He chuckled.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." She stepped back.
"I'm gonna thank your parents." He smiled, stepping out of the room. She let out a deep breath, holding her heart. This was gonna be a long month.