"So do I need to wear a suit?" Tyson asked that day in Math. It was the day before he was going to meet my parents, and the day I was meeting his. And I think it's fair enough to say we were both nervous.

"Ha-ha no. Not as long as I don't have to wear a dress."

"Come on now, a dress wouldn't be so bad would it?"

"Uh yes it would."
"You looked pretty good in that dress the other night."

"That was different."

"I don't think so."

"On second thought maybe I should wear that suit."

"Then my parents would definitely hate you." I said imaging the look on my dad's face if Tyson came into my house wearing a suit.

"Let's just both dress normal then." Tyson said and I nodded in agreement.

"Fine. How long until this stupid bell rings anyway?" I kept looking at the clock and it didn't seem to have moved at all since I lasted looked.

He laughed "A half hour now Sophie."

My stomach twisted and I sighed. "That's too long… I just want this to be over with."

Tyson laughed at me again. "There isn't anything to be worried about Soph, my mom is going to love you."

I smiled, he hadn't called me Soph before and I liked how it sounded. Oh god I was turning into a total Mary Sue… What was happening to my life?

We tried actually working on our assignment but found that neither of us could focus on math at the moment. After what seemed like an eternity the bell rang. Tyson walked me to my locker, before walking to his own. Then we met at the front doors. We walked to his car silently. The car ride was mostly quiet until…

"Calm down Sophie." Tyson said a little too calmly.

I was sitting in the passenger's seat of his car. He hand one hand on the wheel, and the other was holding mine.

"I am calm." I snapped. He laughed at me making my temper flare. I quickly took my hand away and turned to the window.

"Sophie. Come on, it's going to be fine. I promise you."

I rolled my eyes, but didn't say anything back.

After what seemed like forever we pulled up to a small house in a nice little neighborhood. Tyson, being all gentlemanly, walked around the car and opened my door for me before I had a chance to protest. He took my hand and helped me out of the car. I opened my mouth to say something but by the grip he had on my hand I could tell he wasn't as calm as he appeared and that now was one of those times you kept your mouth shut.

As soon as we got inside the house a small woman with blond hair appeared in the doorway to the kitchen.

"Your home early." She said with a warm smile.

Tyson smiled at her. "I… well… I wanted to surprise you." He said nodding towards me. Tyson's mom's eyes moved to me. "Mom, this is…"

"Sophie." She finished giving me that same warm smile. "You look just like your mother!"

I had never been told that before, so this surprised me. I forced back my surprise and smiled back.

"Thank you." I said guessing she had meant it as a complement.

"Come on in, you don't have to stand there in the doorway all day."

Tyson's mom ushered us into the living room.

"I set the table for two, but there is always room for an extra plate. So you are more than welcome to stay for dinner. I ordered pizza for tonight I hope that's ok."

"Yeah. Thanks." I said.

"I'm Tyson's mother by the way, if you haven't figured it out." She laughed. "Jenna Middleton." She said shaking my hand "But please call me Jenna."

"Sophie Goldsworthy." I said shaking back.

"Nice to meet you Sophie. Tyson just loves you! He talks about you all the time."

"Mom…" Tyson interrupted. His face was red, which was something I had never seen.

"Right well, I guess I should go set that other place." She smiled at me one last time, and walked away.

"Your mom is really nice." I said just to break the uncomfortable silence.

"Yeah." Tyson said sitting down. "Sometimes that's not a good thing though."
"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"Sometimes I wish she would just tell off some people, but she never does. She just lets them walk all over her. It really makes me mad."

I nodded. Just then the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it mom." Tyson called, standing up.

As Tyson was getting the door I sat down and took in the room. It was a cozy room, with a small TV. There was a guitar sitting in the corner of the room and I wondered if it belonged to Tyson.

I heard Tyson open the door but I didn't pay much attention to it. But what I heard next caught my full attention.

"What are you doing here?" Tyson's voice was low and harsh. It made me stand up.

"What I can't come see my son?"

"No you can't."

"Tyson is that the pizza?" Tyson's mom, Jenna, said coming up behind him. "Oh… KC… what are you doing here?" Jenna's voice didn't sound harsh though, it sounded just as cheerful as it had been when she greeted me.

Tyson's dad handed Jenna a white envelope. "I thought I'd get it to you early this month because I was late last time. I thought maybe we could have dinner or something together."

Jenna glanced over at me. "Look KC now… now isn't a good time. Maybe we can do something this weekend. I'm sure you and Ty can work something out."

"Why isn't now a good time?" Tyson's dad asked.

"Because it just isn't." Tyson snapped.

"Now Tyson you don't have to talk to your father like that." Jenna said calmly.

"Jenna, it's my only night off. I just wanted to have some time with my son." His voice sounded sincere. It made me feel a bit guilty, like it was all my fault.

Jenna sighed. "Well… maybe this isn't such a bad idea. Sophie should probably get to meet both your parents."

"Sophie?" Tyson's dad asked.

Tyson ignored him. "You say get to like it's a good thing. I'll go talk to her." Tyson turned around and started walking towards me. I looked around trying to pretend I hadn't heard the whole thing.

"I knew this would happen." He hissed as he walked into the room.

"What?" I said innocently.

"Don't pretend you didn't hear the whole thing. It's a small house, everyone hears everything." Tyson managed a smile. But the dark look in his eyes almost reminded me of my father's when he got angry with me.

"I'd love to meet your dad Ty."

"You haven't had a full conversation with him yet. You just wait."

Tyson introduced me to his dad and then it was time for dinner.

Awkward silences filled that dinner. Every conversation Tyson's dad tried to make was cut short by Tyson.

Finally I was so sick of this I asked the question I had been dying to ask all night.

"Jenna. You said I looked just like my mom earlier. How did you know her?"

Jenna smiled at me. "Well, we went to Degrassi together. I knew your father too. Your mom and I had our arguments, but in the end she was one of my only true friends."

Tyson's dad looked very confused, Jenna noticed this too.

"She's Clare Edwards's daughter." She explained.

A strange look crossed Tyson's dad's face. "Ah. Clare and Eli's kid." I looked at him, and he was looking at me. "How is Clare these days?"

"Good." I said even though I wasn't sure how true that was. "She's a lawyer. She's worked a couple hard cases lately so she hasn't been in the best of moods, but she's good." I finally finished.

Tyson's dad nodded. I looked at him, and this time I realized how much he reminded me of Tyson. They both had light green eyes, and brown hair. They're facial features were a lot alike too. I looked over to Tyson to do an official comparison and was surprised to see that he was looking at me. There was something in that look that scared me. I guess he noticed because immediately his face softened.

"My parents never tell me about their high school days." I said just to fill another awkward silence that had creeped up on us once again.

"My mom never shuts up about hers…" Tyson said grinning at his mother.

"Some of the best years of my life. Well what years I had." She said with a sigh. You might expect the end of this sentence to make the room go quiet and get all awkward. But that didn't happen. All that happened was Tyson's dad looked down.

"I was a cheerleader you know. Made lots of friends within just a couple days of being in Degrassi. It's a great place Degrassi." Jenna went on. "Lots of drama though. Your mother knows that better than I do."

I wasn't sure what to say to this. My mother and drama just didn't seem to go together.

"No way. Are you sure we're talking about the same person?"

"Oh yes. Your mother and your father we're the talk of the school on more than one occasion." She smiled at me. "Now who wants dessert?"

I had forgotten that my mother had been a pregnant teenager. It's weird how easily you can forget important things in your life. Like when you were born. Oh wait that's only me.

The rest of the dinner was peaceful for the most part. Jenna talked a bit more about her glory days at Degrassi. Tyson managed to have a decent conversation with his dad and it all seemed to work out. Tyson's dad left before I did. We all walked to the door together. Jenna and I both said our goodbyes and left Tyson and his dad standing alone at the door. I went to the living room trying hard not to overhear but Tyson had been right it was a small house.

"So when's the first basketball game?"

"You already missed it." Tyson said coldly.

"Right well when's the next one?"

"This Saturday."

"I'll be there."

"No you won't." Tyson's voice was still cold.

"You wanna bet. Look Ty I'm sorry I haven't been there for you a lot but that's going to change." He had that sincerity in his voice again.

"You said that to me when I was ten too."
"I mean it this time."

"I believe it when I see it." Tyson said but his voice didn't sound as cold as before. It almost sounded like he was joking.

"That Sophie, if she's anything like her mother, don't lose her."

And then the door was shutting and KC Guthrie was gone. Tyson walked into the living room where I was sitting on the love seat.

"Well that's my family." Tyson said sitting down beside me.

"They're nice. I like them. Better than mine." I said with a smile.

"Well I hope you enjoyed it because that's probably the only time you'll see my dad between now and when you're 21… if you're lucky."

"I see him at your graduation." I pointed out.

"If he comes…"

"Oh come on Tyson don't be ridiculous. I am sure your dad will come to your graduation. He's not that terrible. Maybe you just need to give him a chance." This was clearly the wrong thing to say.

"Give him a chance? I gave him 17 years of chances and every time he let me down. I'm more grown up than him. You just don't get it Sophie."

"I guess I don't. I should go." I stood up and grabbed my bag. I was out the door before Tyson caught up to me. He grabbed my arm and I turned around to face him.

"I'm sorry Sophie. It's not easy to see him… it gets me all weird. I'm sorry I ruined the night."

"You didn't ruin anything Ty."

We looked into each other's eyes for a couple moments. He was still holding on to my arm. Then I leaned in, closing the distance between us and kissed him.

"I love you Sophie Goldsworthy." Tyson whispered.

And although to some these words may seem to have come too early, at that moment they seemed perfect to me.

"I love you too Tyson Guthrie."

Then he took my hand and drove me home.

The next night came too soon. Since Tyson knew where my house was, he was going to was going to drive over after basketball practice. I watched out my bedroom window awaiting his arrival. My mom came home early on Fridays. So she was downstairs, and my dad had already finished his book, although it needed some editing, so he was in a much better mood. And I figured since KC and Jenna seemed to love my mother so much, she would love them back just the same. Therefore she would love Tyson. I knew my dad would be a problem so I was prepared for that, but otherwise I figured it would go pretty well.

I decided I better ask my parents to set another plate before Tyson got here. Unlike Jenna, my mother hated surprises. So I jumped down the steps and into the kitchen where parents were. My mother was getting ready to make spaghetti.

"Mom?"
"Yes Sophie." She sounded tired but cheerful at the same time.

"I was wondering if I could have a friend over for dinner."

"Sure sweetheart. Who is it Scarlett, Angelina?"

"No actually, it's a new friend of mine… a boy."

My dad who was reading the paper snorted. "Hear that Clare? Our little Sophie's got herself a boyfriend."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Just try to be nice ok? I really like him and I want you guys to like him too."

My dad rolled his eyes back at me. "We'll see." He said looking back down to his paper.

About 10 minutes later the doorbell rang. I jumped up quickly to open the door but my dad got there first. By the time I got downstairs my dad already had him inside and god only knows what he had said to him!

But in the part of the conversation I heard while coming down the steps, my dad was actually being pretty cool. Tyson introduced himself, and then they shook hands… all that jazz. Then I stepped in.

"Hey Ty." I said.

"Hey Sophie."

We smiled at each other. I was silently apologizing. Then I heard my dad go back to the kitchen and call for my mom. I didn't hear what she called back but my dad replied "You gotta see this."

Both my parents walked into our living room where I had told Tyson to make himself comfortable. He stood up immediately.

"Mom this is Tyson Guthrie. Tyson this is my mom."

"Nice to meet you." Tyson said with a charming smile. My mom barely nodded at him.

I could tell at that moment that she didn't like him. And I knew that this dinner would not be pleasant.

We all sat down at the dining room table. My mother was silent, this was her way of showing dislike. She gave you the cold shoulder. My dad on the other hand was being completely chill. It was almost like he liked him or something. The whole time I was in a haze, not really paying much attention to what anyone was saying, or what I was saying, and only picking at my food. I just kept thinking of how to make my mom like Tyson. At one point in the conversation I heard Tyson say something about his mother which reminded me.

"Mom." I said excited that I had found my way.

"Yes?"

"Well I met Tyson's mother the other day and she said she knew you."

"Oh really." My mother said in an uninterested voice.

"Yes." I said determined. "His father knew you too."

My dad gave me a warning look I didn't understand.

"I know." She said calmly. "I remember them both. Jenna Middleton and KC Guthrie…"

This hadn't been the reaction I wanted… in fact she seemed to hate him more now if that's even possible.

When we finished dinner my mother did nothing to disguise her want for Tyson to be gone. I walked with Tyson to his car.

"I'm sorry about my mom… she can be kinda psycho sometimes."

"Nah it's alright. She'll like me when she gets to know me. You can't charm everybody instantly." He smiled at me.

I kissed him goodnight and then he drove away. When I went back inside my parents were waiting in the living room for me.

"I like him." My dad said finally. "He's a pretty boy, but I like him all the same. Seems like a good kid."

I smiled at him "Thanks dad."

"Sophie… I think we need to have a private discussion." She looked at my dad who said and then left the room.

"What?" I asked.

"This Tyson boy, I don't think he's good for you."

"Well obviously! You practically ignored him the whole night!"

"I know, and it was wrong of me to act that way but I did know his parents."

"What does that have to do with anything?" I asked angrily.

She sighed "If he's anything like his father you don't want to be with him."

"What do you mean?"

"When I was in the 9th grade I dated KC Guthrie. And then he dumped me for Jenna Middleton, my best friend. Then a year later she got pregnant with his baby and when she wouldn't get an abortion he left her."

I was so taken aback by this information, I couldn't speak for a couple minutes. My mother had dated Tyson's dad… that's just plain weird. Then it sank in.

"Tyson is nothing like his dad!" I argued. "Tyson cares about me mom and I'm not going to let your past get in the way of that!"

"Sophie I don't want you to see this boy anymore."
"WHAT?"

"I don't want to see you get hurt, and if you're with him you will."

"Oh my god. I can't believe this mom! You're so horrible!"

"I'm sorry Sophie but my decision is final."

"You can't stop me from seeing Tyson that's what's final."
I stormed up the steps. Once in my room I grabbed my purse and phone and climbed out my window.

There was only one person I wanted to see right now.


AN: Sorry it took me so long to update… Reviews are greatly appreciated! Well until next time! :)