Hola! I really hope I can start updating more regularly. I keep myself writing a chapter ahead of what I'm updating, so hopefully I get into a better groove of updating regularly. Anyways, here's the next chapter! I hope you guys enjoy reading it.

The last time I drove in a limo I had been on my way to Gallagher Mansion, now I was on my way to dinner with my parents and my boyfriend. Looking at our family as a whole we definitely pulled off the mega billionaire look. My father was wearing a two thousand dollar suit and my mom was wearing this amazing classy dark purple dress with a pair Manolo pumps and so many diamonds I'd given up counting. I was wearing a simple yet classic Anthropologie dress that I actually loved.

My parents were holding hands sitting across from me. I couldn't help but smile, even after all these years they still loved each other. I hoped that someday I'd find true love like that. Maybe I already had.

I felt extremely conspicuous driving up to the most expensive restaurant in Roseville in a limo. I felt like some foreign princess. The limo slowed to a stop. I immediately spotted Stent standing outside waiting for us. He was absolutely adorable. He was wearing suit pants and a blazer with a light green shirt and a black skinny tie. Mental Note: I love skinny ties, especially when they're worn by the guy I like. I didn't wait for the limo driver to come around and open the door for us. I hoped out of the limo. Stent grinned when he saw me. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug. He kissed my cheek softly, "Do you always show up to dinner in a limo?" He asked. I laughed, "Dad wouldn't have it any other way. Come on, meet my parents." I reluctantly pulled away from our embrace and turned to my folks.

My dad and mom had gotten out of the car by now. Looking at my parents with Stenton standing next to me made me realize just how intimidating they looked. My dad was standing at his full height and glaring daggers into Stent. "Stenton, this is my father Zach, and my mom, Cammie." Stenton held out his hand to shake with both of them, "Mr. Goode, Mrs. Goode." He said giving firm handshakes and not breaking eye contact.

"We've heard almost nothing about you, Stenton." My dad said leading the way into the restaurant, "You're shorter than I expected." A dangerous edge entered his voice. A side of my father I knew he always used during interrogations. I wanted to smack him. But Stent only shrugged, "Really? You're just as I expected, sir." he retorted in the same tone of voice my dad had used on him. My mother raised an eyebrow and looked at my father as if she were saying, What an impertinent boy. I knew at that moment that this dinner was definitely going to be a long one.

We were seated and looking at menu's in no time. "Tell me, Stenton, how's your GPA." My dad said casually after asking the waiter for the wine menu. I could fee Stent stiffen next to me, "My GPA's doing just fine, sir." He said just as causally. I could tell he was uncomfortable talking about his grades.

"Do you have a job, Stenton?" My mom asked putting down her menu smiling at Stenton. At least she was trying to be nice. "No, ma'am. I'm trying to focus on school, and get my grades up." He said smiling back at my mom. She nodded obviously approving of his answer. My dad looked down and adjusted his solid gold cuff links, "Do you play sports?" Stenton paused before her answered, "Well, I rock-climb, skateboard, surf, and occasionally mountain bike." He said not breaking eye contact with my dad.

"So you don't play any team sports?" My dad asked as if because Stent didn't play on a team he was some selfish cad. "Not for my school, no sir. But I can play pretty much any sport; I've always been really athletic." Before my father could answer the waiter returned to take our orders. To be honest I can't even remember what I got, I was too nervous to eat anything anyways.

"Who's your pick for the world cup?" My father asked leaning back in his chair. I could feel the tension between boyfriend and father building up steadily. Stent cleared his throat, "I've got to say England. I've always been partial to their team." My father scoffed, "They haven't won in twelve years!" Stent shrugged grinning mischievously, "They're doing remarkably well this year... I just have a feeling... who's your pick?" My dad answered without hesitation, "Brazil. Who's your basketball team?"

"The Spurs."

"Football?"

"The 49ers"

"Baseball?"

"Pirates"

"Tennis?"

"Tennis is for pansies."

Silence followed. Stent and my dad kept eye contact for exactly twelve seconds. Then something totally unexpected happened: My dad smiled. "You're right there." Suddenly the tension lifted even for a fraction of a second, but just as quickly as his smile came my dad's smile left his face. "I don't like you." He said suddenly.

"Zach!" My mother exclaimed. I was too shocked to say anything; my dad had promised to behave. Stent gave a small smile, "If it's any consolation, I always eat cheerios." Leave it to Stent to make me laugh in a terrible situation. My mother smiled as well. I could tell she wanted to laugh, but wouldn't because my dad was obviously not impressed by Stent's little joke. "I don't even eat cheerios, and I hate liars." He said his voice dripping with venom.

"I'm not a liar."

"We'll see about that."

Stent held my hand firmly underneath the table, "By the way sir, now that we're being candid with each other... There's no way in hell that Brazil stands a chance at the World Cup this year." My dad raised an eyebrow almost like he was amused. Suddenly he leaned forward on the table. My heart started racing I could see the spy in my dad beginning to come out, "You climbed into my daughter's bedroom window, why?"

Mental Note: Never bring your boyfriend dinner when your parents are spies... It's a terrible idea.

"I wanted to talk to her." Stenton said not breaking under the pressure. My dad snorted, "I highly doubt you had a lot of talking in mind!" My father said harshly, I was surprised he managed not to raise his voice. Stenton shook his head, "That's what's bugging you, isn't it?" He said almost like he thought it was funny. I prayed to God that Stenton wouldn't laugh, right now there was no telling what my father would do, and I really wanted my date to get through this meal alive. My dad leaned further on the table, "Damn straight, that's what's bugging me!" Stenton leaned back in his chair, "What can I say, sir, that will get you to believe that I have only honest intentions for your daughter."

"Honest intentions. Oh so you haven't kissed her?"

"DAD!" I exclaimed shocked at his bluntness. My mother choked on her water, but I wasn't sure if it was because she was shocked or because she was laughing. Stent shrugged, "With all due respect sir, that's none of your business." Stent said cutting me off. I could have sworn my dad went purple. "None of my business? You're talking about my daughter, it is my damn business."

"I'm sitting right here!" I snapped. Stent grabbed my hand underneath the table, I squeezed back for support. "I'm fifteen, dad! Kissing is not a big deal." My dad changed from purple to white. My mom put a hand on his shoulder, "Zack, she's right. I had my first kiss when I was fifteen." She said in a low voice. My dad shook his head, "I'm not against kissing, but they've had what? One date? Two tops. I know boys like Stent, hell, I was one of them. He's not dating our daughter. Come on, He's failing American History. How do you fail American History?"

It was Stent's turn to squeeze my hand, "I think Ev can make her own decisions on who she dates. And how the hell do you know I'm flunking History." Great, dad, way to stick with our cover. I wanted to crawl under the table and stay there forever. My dad however didn't blink an eye, he even chuckled a little. "Do you think I'm going to let just anyone date my daughter without doing a backup check?" I was boiling with anger.

"You did a backup check." Stent's hand lost its grip on mine, but I don't think it was on purpose. His face had gone pale. He and my father were staring at each other. I could see a glint of triumph in my dad's eyes, like he'd finally broken Stent. Now, I was just really confused. My dad took a sip out of his wine before saying, "I know your whole life story Stent, did you think I really wouldn't?" Something was going on. The way they were looking at each other, it reminded me of that conversation I had with my grandmother in her office when she was asking about Stent. They were talking about something, but I had no idea what it was.

Stent recovered holding my hand firmly again, "You had no right to do that." He said his voice quiet, but there was a dangerous undertone that almost scared me. The corner of my dad's lip twitched, "You keep on saying things like that. But not only do I have the right, I have the obligation. It's my daughter's hand you're holding under that table." I resisted the urge to kick my dad, he was letting too much of the spy out.

The waiter came with our food and began to set down the plates. Nobody even looked at their food. My father and Stenton were just staring at each other. I felt like one of them might begin swinging fists at any moment. Even the waiter seemed to notice. Stent let go of my hand and stood up, "I'm sorry, but I'm no longer hungry." He threw his napkin on the table.

"Don't go." I said instinctually. He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek, "Sorry. I'll see you tomorrow." He nodded stiffly to my father and then smiled at my mom, "Thank you for your time; I really do appreciate the gesture." And he left. My eyes started to brim with tears. Not because Stent was leaving, but because my dad had been so cruel to him.

"Ev, don't cry." My dad said his voice softening. I looked up at him, "You know. I'm not hungry either." I said standing up. My dad's face hardened, "He's just a boy, Ev." I turned around, "Maybe he is, but he means a lot to me." My dad opened his mouth but no sound came out. "You know, I think I' m going to walk home." I turned around and kept walking. I braced myself for my father to call after me, but he didn't. So, I just walked straight out of that restaurant.

I expected to cry more, but once I was in the open air I felt tons better. The sun was just setting and the world looked aglow in a contrast of gold light and growing shadows. I kicked a pebble into the road and began the familiar walk back to Gallagher Mansion. Ahead of me just about to turn the corner I saw Stenton riding his skateboard.

"Stent!" I called out. He screeched to a stop and the sound of his name and almost fell off of his board. If he wasn't so adorable it would have been a really lame move. Once he saw that it was me that called his name he grinned and skated up the sidewalk towards me, "Hey, are you alright?" He asked hopping off of his board once he was close enough to speak normally. I shrugged, "Aside from dying from complete embarrassment, I'll live."

Stent laughed and scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, "Listen... I'm sorry if I lost my temper with your dad..." I shook my head, "I lost my temper with my dad. He's just..."

"Protective over you?" Stenton offered. I nodded, "Very." Stenton picked up his board with one hand and slid his other into mine, "At least he cares. My mother's been in Europe for the past three months and she hasn't bothered to send me a postcard... or a phonecall." I leaned my head against his shoulder, "Nobody's perfect." I muttered more to myself than anybody else. He kissed my forehead, "Yes. But I doubt I'll ever get on your father's good after tonight."

I laughed bumping his shoulder with mine, "Well, I think I can decide who stays and goes for myself. And by the way I never did that great in American History either." Okay. Maybe that part about being bad at American History was a bit of a lie, but it just sort of came out. "I want to make it up to your family. Once your dad gets used to the fact that we are actually dating, we can try dinner again. I'll be nicer."

"Well I can't promise that I'll be any nicer, but as long as your there I won't mind trying again." Stent turned to me his eyes completely serious. "I'm serious, Ev. I want to make this right with your dad." I got chills as he slid his hands onto my waist. I straightened his tie as I said, "You're a good guy, Stenton West." He pulled me closer, "Well, you're worth it, Evelyn Goode." He pressed his forehead against mine and I could feel his breath warm against my mouth. I stood up on my tip toes and pressed my lips softly against his.

And that concludes chapter... thirteen? I think. lol! Anyways, I really enjoyed writing this one. Please, review it really does inspire me to keep writing! And critique's are just as appreciated, I do truly take what you have to say to heart. As long as you're not a flamer or anything. Haha

XOXO Windy D.