Meet her parents.

The next morning, Jinx fidgeted in the mini brown dress with long sleeves Wally ordered for her. She hissed at him, as they stood on the front of his house, "You just had to invite my parents…" He pouted and said, "You ashamed of me?" Jinx sighed and patted his cheek, "No…It's just that, you should've told me first." Wally sheepishly said, "Yeah…But I really wanted to meet your parents and assure them that I won't break their little girl's heart and have me assassinated." Before Jinx could reply, the car Wally sent to the airport parked in front of them. A tanned woman wearing a boho get-up got out first, putting her glasses on. She had black hair, an angular face and thin. Following her was a man in a suit, with equally black hair, but he was pale, and his eyes were pink. Jinx smiled and said, "Hi mom. Dad."

The woman took her glasses off, showing brown, slightly lined eyes and exclaimed, "Baby doll!" She ran to the steps and hugged her daughter. The man walked up to them and looked at Wally, who was as tall as he is. He curtly said, "You must be Wallace." Wally smiled, held his hand out and said, "Please, sir. Call me Wally."

"Well, my name's John Diaz. My wife, Henrietta."

Henrietta smiled at Wally, then gave him a kiss on both cheeks. She gushed, "When we got your email, we just had to see you. Been a while since our girl here introduced someone to us. The last one was nice, but definitely silent." Wally chuckled and said, "Well, let's get out of this heat. We prepared a brunch for our tete-a-tete. I hope you like beef casserole, sir, and of course, salad for you, ma'am." Henrietta looped an arm around her daughter's shoulder and loudly whispered, "I don't mind having HIM for our son-in-law, popkin." Jinx blushed.

At the table, Wally conversed, laughed and amused his parents. Slowly, John was smiling, albeit tightly, while Henrietta laughed, listened and commented at the right times. By the time Wally led them to the pool area for some refreshments, Jinx saw that they were completely in love with her boyfriend.

As Wally was conversing to John about the merits of stock markets, Henrietta and Jinx were sitting on the divan. Mother held daughter's hand and said, "He's a nice boy, J. How long have you been dating? I wish you could've emailed us sooner, baby doll." Jinx sipped at her iced tea, wishing for a shot of Gray goose, and answered, "We've been going out for at least two months. But we've known each other since I was a freshman." Jinx's eyes warmed at the memory.

Quadrangle, Freshman Year

"Heads up!"

WHAM!

"Shit! I'm sorry!"

Jinx groaned and looked up, glaring at the figure towering over her. Her eyes widened. The boy had red hair, tanned skin, and despite the slightly loose Spiderman tshirt, she guessed he was ripped. He smiled and held a hand out, "Oh hey, sorry there. My buddy throws hard. Frosh?"

"Wh-what?" She was intimidated that he stood at least a head and half above her.

"Frosh. We call that to newbies. So, what's your name?"

"J-jinx…"

"Wally. Sophomore. You lost?"

"Kinda. I can't find the girl's dorm…"

"Imma lead you there. Least I can do for my buddy who knocked you down."

While they were walking, she can't help but steal glances. He had defined cheekbones and clear blue eyes. She wanted to draw him. Before she knew it, they were at the steps.

He smiled and said, "Well, you just have to look for the adviser. Not sure who she is, she's a stiff, so I forget. But she never leaves this place." He then scratched the back of his head, slightly blushing, as he said, "Hope to see you soon…" Jinx just stared.

She smiled at her mother and said, "I'm the luckiest girl in the world because of him, mom." Henrietta smiled, hugged her and said, "Then I won't have to haul his ass in jail then."

At lunch, Henrietta trilled, "Wally, dahling, you spoiled my diet!" Wally smiled as he placed a huge plate of herbed roasted chicken in front of her, "I won't be such a gracious host if I won't feed my guests." John actually clapped him on the shoulder and exclaimed, "You must travel with us next time! The Safari is quite an adventure, m'boy!" Jinx blushed. Her parents never invited Vic to travel with them. Henrietta asked after Wally sat next to Jinx and held her hand, "So, what do you do in school besides the boring subjects, Wally boy?"

"Well, ma'am_"

"Call me Henri, dear! I feel old enough as it is."

"Nonsense, Henri, you don't look as such. At least I know where Jinx got her looks."

"M'boy, she takes after her father. Pale skin and eyes and all. The pink was some kind of birth blessing, as we call it."

"Well, I'm glad whichever. Jinx'll still be the woman of my dreams whatever physical attributes she has."

"Glad to hear! So. What are your extracurricular, dear?"

"Well, Henri, I do basketball, track, volleyball, swimming, football, gymnastics and I pitch in at the DC when I can."

Jinx said, after swallowing a luscious piece of chicken, "He's being modest. He's part of the DC."

Wally blushed as her parents looked at him with impressed expressions.

John said as he picked up his wine glass, "Well, well. A high flyer. Good job, Wally." Henri asked, "However do you manage to keep it all up?" Wally smiled and held Jinx's hand tighter, "Well, ever since I met this little lady here, I just got more strength. She's my Beatrice." Jinx blushed and murmured, "Nonsense. Wally's just plain amazing." Wally fondly said, "I'm amazing because of you." After a while, he cleared his throat, smiled sheepishly at her parents and said, "Sorry. Jinx has this talent of making me lose concentration."

When the car disappeared that late afternoon, Jinx said, "Great job. You really impressed my parents." Wally shrugged and said, "Hey. I just told them the truth. They're really cool." Jinx whirled to face him and incredulously asked, "You actually like my parents?" Wally looked at her and asked, "Why? I think they're great." She shook her head and said, "Look, they're gone, so you can drop it." Wally frowned and asked, "What's that supposed to mean?" Jinx rarely saw him upset, especially with her, and failed. But she started after a while, "C'mon. Whenever I brought friends before, they always said they were weird and kooky. Heck, Vic said that my mom was kind of over the top and my dad's a corpse." Wally let her waist go, crossed his arms and said, "I can't believe you." Jinx faced him, her mouth open.

"What?"

"I don't know what's your problem with them, believing those shiz from those people, but I think they're great people. Your mother's really creative and sweet and beautiful and your dad's smart, successful and innovative. You should be happy they'll come to you in a snap. I also happen to love them because if not for them, I wouldn't be the happiest Joe in the world."

Jinx stuttered, "I…"

Wally shook his head and said, "Look, I'm really tired, so I hope you don't mind if I sleep now. Dinner'll be served, so you won't get hungry." Before she could say anything, he went up the grand stairwell and to their room.