Chapter 10
"Where's Jeff if I may ask Mrs. Winger?"
"Please call me Doreen, and if you must know Jeffery went to go buy some dinner."
"Cool, I just came up to check up on Jeff but it's clear that it's best you two catch up."
"No please stay, I want to meet the young man who has become my son's best friend."
"Alright, I got nothing else better to do anyway so sure." Having forgotten that Annie would be bringing his throwing knives later tonight.
"So Jeffery tells me you're from Oregon, what made you come to Colorado?"
"Change of scenery to be honest."
"Anything in particular?"
"A lot of stuff to be honest, I had gotten played by a girl who I liked for a long time later snapped because she said I was too much of a nice guy to be with her, then me and her got into a huge fight we both said things that we couldn't take back, got into a fight with her man which lead to me having to go to the hospital and my parents decided I needed a break from all that so they gave me a map and ended up here just by a strange sense of luck I guess."
"Wow, that's a long story that I'm sorry to hear about."
"I'm fine now, though I did have a bit of a dark period which I don't like to speak of."
"I understand that perfectly, in a way you somewhat remind me of a younger Jeff minus the whole sense of entitlement."
"Wow, you're like the fifth person to say that."
"Then I guess it must be true."
An hour later
Emilio and Doreen were laughing it up when Jeff came back from the Chinese restaurant after Emilio decided to stay for Dinner (which meant Jeff had to order something for him as well.) though he didn't mind him dropping in at all it made things less awkward if his mom asked about something Emilio could act as a conversation distracter.
"I see you met my neighbor mom."
"Yes I have, he's quite a young man the son of a concert booker who has met some big names."
"Yup he has a lot of stories." He said while adding in "did you Emilio used to be a really good knife thrower?"
"I did not."
"Yeah that was a long, long, long time ago." That's when he remembered Annie would be stopping by any minute.
As he was pulling out his phone he got a text from Annie.
Annie: I'll be at your place in 20 min. :)
Emilio: Cool, I'm chilling with Jeff and his mom (apparently she got into town today) IDK if you still wanna bring my knives, because I can get them at your place.
Annie: It's fine I'm already omw, so need to worry besides I've been thinking about him a lot ever since movie night and I figure, I should try to make things less awkward between us plus it'd be nice to meet his mom.
Emilio: Alright, see you in a bit.
"Uh, speaking of knives Jeff, Annie is coming to give me some that a friend of her brother's had so I don't know if you want me to go to my pla—" Jeff cut him off before he could get off another word
"It's fine as a matter of fact, Mom would you mind if Annie had dinner with us?"
"Completely fine Jeffery, I'd like to meet this girl you haven't been able to stop talking about."
Emilio wasn't sure what to make of things at that moment all he knew was that he hoped it wouldn't be awkward for Jeff and Annie along with the fact that Jeff's mom now in town it just made things complicated.
Annie got there about 15 minutes later and oddly enough it was a pleasant experience apparently Jeff's mom knew about the situation between them, but kept to herself about how she felt it saying to Emilio "it's not my place to say, besides Jeffery would have had a tantrum because I'd gotten involved."
"Hello, Mrs. Winger." Annie said genuinely as she shook Doreen's hand.
"Please call me Doreen."
"Okay, Doreen how long have you been in town?" Annie was somewhat uncomfortable calling Jeff's mother by her first name for strange reason.
"Just got in today, Jeff tells me you're studying to become a criminologist is that right."
"Yes it is I'm currently working as a receptionist at the police department."
"Well that sounds fun." Doreen said as she began eating her food
"Yeah it is." Jeff also added in as he was looking at Annie (though he made sure, not to look creepy)
"So Emilio what are you studying?" Doreen asked taking a bite of her orange chicken
"Right now I'm just taking any class I can that interests me for example I'm taking Philosophy and our term paper is about whether or not love and happiness can co-exist together." Emilio said as he began eating his grilled shrimp.
"That's interesting, for myself I believe that if you truly love the person who you're with and won't be bothered by all their faults, eccentricities, weaknesses, or flaws then you are truly happy." Doreen looked at Jeff and Annie as she was saying it.
"Good point, me personally I enjoy seeing couples happy and helping others find that one person, but to be completely honest I don't imagine myself ever being in a longterm relationship." Emilio as he was responding to Doreen's comment.
"But what if it's more complicated than just going for it, what if there's just something keeping two people apart even though they really care for each other." Annie said as she was metaphorically speaking about the situation between her and Jeff
"That's all excuses dear, once you've made a path it can't be stopped."
"Have to agree with your mom there Jeff." Emilio said as he took a sip out of his soda, as Jeff who was sitting there quiet for the most part it was then Jeff decided to speak up
"Honestly I think everyone made some great points, and to be completely honest who's to say you won't end up miserable with a person you feel head over heels for or that a person is a jerk like Dad." He decided to take a neutral role in this debate before adding "and what Annie said about it being more complicated holds a lot of weight as well."
"Please Jeffery if you really care about someone don't you think sooner or later you'll wind up together." With that Jeff went back to being silent and everyone went back to eating.
Emilio decided to play some music it was the Latin Playboys song Forever Nightshade Mary from their self titled debut Latin Playboys.
Maybe a moonbeam
To light the way when evening comes
Hasn't a worry
Don't care 'bout the cold outside
Only a glad wish
For a magic ride on wings of gold
Only a daydream
Maybe a moonbeam
Just a star bright
Forever Nightshade Mary goodnight
She don't want money
Don't want rings or fancy things
Only a star bright
To shine behind big clouds of joy
Only a daydream
Maybe a moonbeam
Just a star bright
Forever Nightshade Mary goodnight
Only a daydream
Maybe a moonbeam
Just a star bright
Forever Nightshade Mary goodnight
Doreen liked the song asking who it was (Emilio later gave her one of his spare copies of the album, along with their second album Dose) Jeff and Annie began looking at each other during the song almost if telekinetically remembering that first kiss nearly six years ago.
With that the night went by as Jeff and Annie said goodnight to each other and hugged (which Emilio could tell by the look in Jeff's eyes he was ecstatic), while Annie made sure to give Emilio his knives which he thanked her for (the knives were in okay condition, could have been better, but still sharp enough for him to use). Annie also made sure to say good night to Doreen who at that point had come to like the young woman after getting to know her.
"I'm not sure why you two aren't together yet." Doreen said as she was behind Jeff
"Me either."
After clearing the table it was time to discuss rooming arrangements Jeff said he would sleep on the couch as his mom took the room, Emilio said Jeff could use his sofa to sleep because he really didn't have a lot of company besides the study group. (It was also to keep an eye on Jeff to make sure he was alright)
Jeff and Emilio said goodnight as Emilio would stay up a little bit longer to write his paper, Jeff layed on the sofa wondering about Annie not knowing that she was thinking about him as well.
When they both closed their eyes they were welcomed by Peirce and Troy.
"Welcome back Winger."
"Hey Annie are you gonna let me in that door now?"
I know another cliffhanger, and this chapter seemed to go slower than the rest hopefully all of the people who have favorited or followed this story enjoy it and to my loyal readers I'd like to send special shout outs to errobotter, sixseasonsandamovie23 and hertio24 much love sincerely.