Shane's Prov

"I'm going to ask her tomorrow." I smiled widely as I made my way into Nate's room, where both my brothers were.

"Ask her what exactly?" Nate said looking up from his laptop.

"To come over for dinner and meet the parents sometime this week." My smile got wider as a rush of excitement fluttered inside me.

"You's have only been dating a week." Nate stated.

"I know." I shrugged. "But after the picnic yesterday and the fact I'm head over heels for this girl, I don't want to slow down with her."

"I'm not saying you should slow down a lot just saying maybe you should move at the speed of sound instead of light with her." Nate joked.

Jason burst into laughter, "Nate you're supposed to be the smart guy, everyone knows light and sound travel at the same speed."

Nate rolled his eyes at Jason before continuing, "We don't want to see you get hurt Shane."

"I know but I honestly think she feels the same, I'll be fine." I smiled before exiting the room.

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Mitchie's Prov

I waited patiently outside the janitor's room while Shane left back the cleaning supplies he had burrowed for the day.

He was acting strange since I met him after my last class, any time I would look up from the homework I was doing while he was polishing the trophies that were on display in the entrance of my school he was watching me eyes bright like he was excited about something, then he would look down again and mumble something to himself about it not being time yet.

"All set, you ready to go?" Shane smiled taken my hand bringing me out of my thoughts.

I nodded and smiled as we walked hand in hand out of the school, his touch still sent little sparks of excitement up my arm.

"So." He said finally as we reached my car breaking the silence. "I need to ask you something."

"Ask away." I smiled; maybe I was going to finally understand his behaviour today.

"Would you like to come over for dinner on Wednesday?" He smiled hopefully.

"Dinner at your house? With your family?" I asked, as the butterflies in my stomach started.

He nodded.

"Of course." I smiled trying to beat back the butterflies at the same time. "But…will they like me?"

"Well, Nate and Jason already love you, cause you brought Ella and Caitlyn into their lives." He joked.

"They're not who I'm worried about." I said biting my bottom lip.

"My parents will love you." He promised kissing me gently, ridding me of all nerves and calming the butterflies down.

***********************************************************

Ring! Ring!

Come on, Caity pick up, I thought impatiently as I paced around my room.

"Hello." Caitlyn sang on the other line.

"Guess what happened?" I yelled.

"Is it about Shane?" Caitlyn asked eagerly.

"Yes! On Wednesday night I'm going..."

Knock! Knock!

"...to dinner at his house." I said quickly as I went to get my bedroom door.

"Oh! Meeting the parents? Big step." I could hear the smile in her voice.

"I know." I grinned. "Hold on someone's at the door."

"O.k."

With that I tucked my phone in the space between ear and shoulder and opened the door.

"You're having dinner with Dylan and his family?" Matt almost yelled with excitement when I pulled back the door.

Crap!

"Caity, I'll call you back." I said into the phone while I frowned at my eavesdropper.

"Don't hurt him too much." Caitlyn answered before hanging up.

"Matt! Why are you listening to my calls?" I yelled slightly still frowning.

"I wasn't, mum sent me up to get you. Wow mum is gonna flip when she hears you're having dinner with his parents." Matt smiled.

"Matt I'm not having dinner with Dylan's parents." Whether it was the anger or wanting to be honest I found myself confessing everything. "I'm going to Shane's house for dinner."

"Shane? As in Shane Grey?" He said in a bitter tone, before his face started changing colours.

His reaction instantly had me backtracking, "Only joking." I laughed slightly.

He let out a large breath, "Thank god, I think I nearly had a heart attack." He laughed slightly.

"So, what did mum want me for?"

*************************************************************

"So, what happened last night with Matt, you didn't call?" Caitlyn said as soon as I entered homeroom the next morning.

"Sorry, I was caught by my mum to go over arrangements for the debutante ball." I frowned. "Fun." I added sarcastically.

"Your mum really over does this whole debutante thing doesn't she?" Ella stated.

"You've no idea." I said quietly.

"So what happened with Matt?" Caitlyn asked again.

"I told him I wasn't meeting Dylan's family that I was meeting Shane's and then I told him I was only joking because he nearly had a fit." I explained.

"Oh." Caitlyn and Ella frowned together.

"I guess I have to make another make-believe date with Dylan for Wednesday night." I sighed. "I feel bad for doing this it was o.k. for me to lie to Matt but now I'm making his friend lie to him too."

"Well there's only one way for both of you's to stop all the lying Mitch..." Caitlyn trailed off so I got what she was getting at.

"I know." I moaned.

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"Dylan!" I yelled running down the corridor after him just as the final bell rang.

School had been a nightmare I was on the go all day barely having time for myself never mind trying to track down Dylan, it was as if when I was in a class in one part of the school he was in a class at the opposite end of the school.

"Dylan!" I yelled again pushing past the crowds immerging from their last class.

He stopped finally and looked behind him, I waved over my head at him to make sure he seen me, he did and moved to one side of the exit to wait.

"Hi Mitchie." He smiled brightly.

"Hey." I smiled when I recovered from the panting; sports and running were definitely not my thing.

"How are you?" He smiled.

"I'm great, you?"

"Can't complain." He laughed.

It was silent for a while, I hated asking for favours.

"What's wrong Mitchie?" He asked.

"I need to ask you to do me a favour." I said quietly with my head pointed towards the floor so he couldn't see the blush that was spreading over my face.

"You can ask me anything, Mitch." He smiled, lifted my chin up with his finger and thumb.

Shane's Prov

I drove into the closest parking space to the school's entrance, I hadn't heard from Mitchie last night and I was a little anxious maybe she freaked out at how fast I was moving.

I got out of the car quickly, and rushed across the crossing and up the steps tripping along the way and unintentionally banging the door off the wall as I opened it and walked in.

It felt like I was stuck to the spot when I looked towards the back wall where the one of the exits were. At first I didn't recognise the couple, but then when he lifted her head up I knew it was Mitchie as her chocolate brown hair moved to reveal her face.

I felt a surge of anger as he gazed into her eyes but then as if I called her name she looked straight at me and moved swiftly out of his grasp and smiled brightly, I knew then my jealousy was unnecessary.

She said something to Dylan then walked quickly towards me while he stayed beside the door waiting.

"Shane." She smiled widely, before running the last few feet to me and wrapping her arms around my neck and giving me a kiss that even Romeo and Juliet couldn't top.

"I'm so sorry I didn't call you last night and I totally forgot my phone today or I would have text you." She apologised when we came up for air.

"It's fine honestly." I said feeling ridiculous and embarrassed by my over reaction but it felt like this girl was too good to be true and she might see at any minute how much better she could do. "What's up with Dylan?" I asked as I noticed him shifting from one foot to another.

"I was just about to ask him to cover for me on Wednesday night, I hate getting him into this mess." She added the last bit quietly.

"Well, maybe we should tell Matt soon." I smiled.

"We?" Her expression went from happy to horror struck in mere seconds.

"I wasn't going to leave you to take all the grieve by yourself." I answered.

"No way, I can deal with Matt myself, I actually tried telling him last night and he nearly had a fit if your there he'll try to kill you. I don't want that to happen." She said it so fast she had to take a deep breath when she finished.

"You tried to tell him?" I smiled.

She nodded, "Yep, I didn't realise someone's face could change so many colours." She giggled slightly at the end. "I told him I was kidding afterward though I thought he was about to hunt you down and kick your ass."

I laughed slightly, "I like to see him try."

She frowned in disapproval.

"Sorry." I apologised quickly. "Old habit."

"Well, kick it or I'll kick you." She joked before pulling me towards Dylan. "I'll tell him soon though I just need to warm him up a bit first."

"Hey Shane." Dylan smiled, as we got closer. "Mitchie, what was it you wanted to ask me? I promised Peyton I would pick her up from her drama class at UC and take her to work."

"Drama at UC, has she told you if it's any good? I want to take that course next year and…" Mitchie's tone got high pitched and she started talking very fast.

"Mitch, keep on track please." Dylan giggled.

"Oh." She smiled blushing slightly. "Sorry, well Shane…" When she said my name she gripped my hand slightly tighter. "…asked me to go over to his for dinner on Wednesday night and if you could cover for me that would be great and I'd be so so SO grateful." She pleaded.

There was a glimmer of something in Dylan's eyes for a split second then he was wearing a smile again, "Course I will, maybe Peyton and I could do something that night as well."

"Thank you." Mitchie beamed.

"No problem well I'll catch you guys later." And with that Dylan took off.

"I'm so excited!" Mitchie squeaked as we walked towards Brian's storeroom. "Ella's coming around tonight to help me pick out an outfit and Caity's going to curl my hair." The high pitch tone and fast-talking returned. "What time should I come over?"

"I was thinking six-ish?" I smiled.

"Sounds perfect but I'll not be able to stay behind with you if I have to get ready before six."

"That's o.k." I smiled reassuringly.

"So tell me what your mum and dad are like? What should I not say to them? I hope they like me." The worry in her voice at the end made me wrap my arm around her and give her a light squeeze.

"They'll love you just be yourself." I smiled.

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Next Day

Mitchie's Prov

"Do you think the dress is suitable for meeting his parents?" I asked coming out of my last class of the day.

"It'll be fine; you might as well get some wear out of it anyway since you just left it in my car on Saturday." Ella said accusingly.

I rolled my eyes Ella was not impressed that I didn't use the outfit she spent time picking out, "Sorry Ella."

"It's o.k." She said smiling again. "At least you're wearing it for this, this being a way more important event than some picnic at the park."

"I'm so nervous." I confessed.

"Why? They'll love you, everyone loves you." Caitlyn smiled.

"I am quite loveable, aren't…" I trailed off as I spotted Dylan at his locker. "Two seconds." I smiled at Ella and Caitlyn before walking quickly towards Dylan.

"Boo!" I yelled grabbing his sides as I came up behind him, but he didn't jump he just went rigid or was he already like that? "Dylan?" I said concerned. "Are you o.k.?"

"Fine." He mumbled still staring into his locker.

"Dylan look at me please." I pleaded more concerned than ever at his behaviour.

He let out an unwilling sigh before facing me.

When he turned around a small gasp escaped my lips, he looked awful, he was pale, his eyes were puffy and bloodshot, he was grimacing rather than wearing his trade mark smile and his hair was just laying flat and boring instead of his usually messy cute style.

"What's wrong?" I asked instantly.

"Nothing." He tried to shrug off my question.

"Dylan, don't lie to me, what happened?" I asked sternly.

"Peyton and I…we broke up." As he said the words his lips began to tremble as if he were going to cry.

"Oh Dylan." I said pulling him into a hug automatically. "I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?"

He shook his head as he pulled away, "No." He sniffed holding back tears. "Shouldn't you be getting ready to meet the parents?"

The way he said it made me feel instantly guilty, "No, I can call it off if you need me." I said instantly.

He shook his head frantically, "No don't do that."

"Too late." I said pulling out my cell.

"Shane?" I asked when someone picked up.

"Hey Mitchie." He sounded so upbeat and excited, I was instantly regretting what I was about to do.

"Shane about tonight…"

"You're not still worried about them not liking you they'll love you promise." I could just imagine the smile he was wearing as he talked about it.

"I can't make it." I blurted out.

There was dead silence at the other end, I would've sworn he hung up if it weren't for the fact I could hear his breathing.

"Shane? Talk to me please." I begged when I couldn't take the silence any longer.

"Why not?" He sounded hurt.

"Dylan needs me he broke up with Peyton and he's in a really bad way." I explained.

"I guess you should be there for your friend, when he needs you." He was trying to be understanding but his hurt still echoed through clearly.

"I'm so so sorry." I apologised.

"I know you are." He said, again trying to be diplomatic about it. "I'll call you later."

"O.k." I wanted to back track there and then but Dylan's red-rimmed eyes were staring intently at me.

"Bye." And with that the line went dead.

"Bye." I muttered into the already dead line.

"You didn't have to do that." Dylan said, he sounded so depressed. "I don't want to bring you down too."

"I can always meet Shane's family some other time." When the words left my mouth there was another twinge of guilt, Dylan was never going to get a chance to meet Peyton's family. "And you're not bringing me down I want to help you." I smiled reassuringly at him squeezing his arm to emphasis it more.

"Mitch, you're gonna be late." Caitlyn called across the corridor.

"There's been a change of plan."

Shane's Prov

I hung up the phone not waiting for a reply, automatically feeling guilty for doing it. I knew Mitchie felt awful for skipping out on dinner tonight, it was clear in her tone but she had to be with her friend.

Still, I couldn't help feeling a little annoyed she was spending time with him and not me.

I pulled out my cell phone, found the number I was looking for and hit call.

"Hey mum." I said into the phone.

"Hey sweetie. Did you ask Mitchie if she preferred chicken or pork? And what's your opinion on the blue plates?" My mum rambled.

"Actually there's been a change of plan."