Tony's door bell rang jolting them both awake. They looked at each with stunned faces. As flashes of the night before crossed their minds they looked at one another and then lifted the covers to reveal their naked bodies.

Looking at his watch Tony saw it was almost lunchtime. He had completely forgotten his parents were coming over to go to lunch. "Son of a bitch." He reached to the ground and grabbed his boxers pulling them on under the covers to hide himself.

Michelle had no idea what to do. Her skirt was up above her waist and she had nothing else on. She watched Tony run around pulling a top on swearing under his breath. He gave her a look of despair, like he didn't know what to do. The door bell went again, Tony ran to his door then turned back to Michelle. "Stay here."

Before he could leave Michelle remembered her top and bra were in the kitchen. "Tony wait.....my top and stuff, it's in the kitchen."

"Fucking hell." He slammed the door behind him making Michelle jump. He was just so angry. She cursed herself for not leaving last night.....then she cursed herself for even coming back at all. She knew she wasn't allowed to expect anything from him but every minute that passed since she woke without any sign of affection from him left her feeling very alone. Obviously there hadn't been time, but he hadn't even mustered a smile for her, instead he had offered her a selection of obscenities and nasty looks.

She heard loud voices in the hall. There were 5 different voices she could hear apart from Tony's. They were making fun of him for obviously having just rolled out of bed. She figured there was no chance now he would be back with her top and bra so she climbed out of bed and grabbed one of his t-shirts. She found her underwear on the other side of the room but her shoes were no where to be found. Her head pounded as she tried to figure out what the hell she should do.

Tony looked at the strange woman standing with his parents in his living room. His parents friends who he had meet many times were with them and they had bought their daughter in a very obvious attempt to try and set them up together. He shook her hand politely, his stomach rose up his throat as he listened to his Dad reel of a million things that Tony and this girl 'Ann' had in common. Tony couldn't even decide if she was pretty or not because it just didn't matter – she wasn't Michelle. His head hurt beyond belief as he tried to figure out what to do. Tony had thrown her top and bra into one of his kitchen cupboards, there was no way he could sneak them past. He knew he should be holding Michelle right now, making her feel comfortable about last night, every minute that passed with her sitting by herself hidden in his room must be making her feel used.

He tripped over his own feet as he dived to catch up with his Dad who had started to walk down his hall to his bedroom. "Dad, Dad what are you doing?"

His father, John, looked at the beads of sweat on his son's face. "What's the matter with you today Tony. Is everything ok at work?"

They were standing just outside the bedroom and Michelle could hear everything. She was hidden in his cupboard. The last thing she needed was his parents thinking she was some drunken slut who had followed their son home from a bar. Although that's pretty much exactly how she felt about herself anyways, besides Tony's behaviour had let her know that he was embarrassed to have her seen as well.

"Nothing is wrong Dad, I'm fine."

"Good, I just want to see how the paint came up in your room."

Tony stood in front of the door. "No, you can't. It looks great."

John turned the door handle anyways, "Tony I spent 10 hours helping you paint the place, and I just want to see how it ended up." The door was open now and John took a step inside followed by a panic stricken Tony. Even though Michelle couldn't be seen Tony didn't relax any, that meant she had to have been hidden somewhere in the room still.

John could see how nervous Tony was, he had also spotted a woman's shoe sitting just under the edge of Tony's bed. It didn't take a scientist to work out what was going on with his son. "So Tony, a big night for you? Did you go out with friends?" John knew how miserable his son had been for a long time now and he found himself feeling excited thinking that finally Tony was starting to go out again and meet people.

"My boss made the office go out for drinks. Stupid really. I guess I drank far too much."

John picked up the shoe and dangled it with a huge grin. "I hope you didn't make your lady friend walk home without her shoes." He laughed hoping to loosen Tony up.

"It's nothing Dad, just forget it." Tony felt like shooting himself in the foot as soon as the words left his mouth. Could he give Michelle any more reasons to never talk to him again?

Michelle covered her eyes with her hand to stop the tears.

Tony's mom, Helen entered. "John, Tony – what are you doing? Everyone is waiting for you. Tony I am just so excited for you to get to know Ann, you two might really get along."

John watching Tony almost jumping out of his skin knew something was seriously wrong. Holding the shoe and knowing they had woken Tony up with their arrival, made him start to wonder if the owner of the shoe was still there. He tried to signal to Helen to be quiet but she had no clue what was going on. Oblivious to the situation and too rushed to stop for a second Helen began to open the closet door whilst talking to Tony again.

"Grab a shirt sweetie, so we can get going to lunch. Do you want me to offer them a coffee to give you a few minutes to get ready?"

The closet door rolled slowly to the side revealing Michelle standing in the middle of Tony's suits with her skirt on, Tony's very large t-shirt and no shoes. Her hand lowered from her eyes to reveal a tear stained face. Silence and shock over took the room.

Tony watched Michelle's face turn as pale as he felt. Although a complete mess, she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. Although embarrassed at the situation his parents had just caught him in, nothing compared to how horrible he felt for putting Michelle through this. She looked so small and fragile, yet as usual she was all his eyes could see. He walked toward her with his hand out.

"Michelle, I'm so sorry....I'm"

Michelle stepped out of the closet, trying to keep some form of composure. "No, I'm sorry. I'll just get out of your way."

John looked at the despair in his sons eyes. "Wait, stop!" Michelle almost jumped in fear at the sound of John's loud voice. She stopped walking and turned to face him.

He softened his tone. "Please don't leave. Michelle is it?" She nodded her head.

"It's our fault this has happened. There was no need to hide...."

Tony cut his father off, "That's my fault, I panic when you guys arrived." He took Michelle's hand, "I can't believe I did that to you Michelle, I can't imagine how I must have made you feel." He squeezed her hand and went to pull her in closer to him but she stepped back taking her hand with her.

"Don't worry..."

Tony's voice was desperate. "Please, God....Michelle you are all I am worried about."

There was no use trying to stop the tears streaming down her face. "Why Tony? It was just nothing right?.....Something to forget." John and Helen both dropped their eyes and heads to the floor. Neither could leave the room without having to ask Michelle and Tony to move – something that were not about to do.

Michelle wiped her tears while Tony felt his own forming. Words that had just flown out of his mouth in a moment of sheer panic and frustration had probably just cost him the best thing that had ever happened to him. "I didn't mean...."

He was interrupted first by the phone beginning to ring and then by noticing that his parent's friends were standing at the end of hall, able to hear everything. He let the phone go and started to speak again but Michelle pushed past him out the door and began to make her way to leave. He ran after her, catching her arm when she slowed to pick up her bag. "You can't leave Michelle."

She snapped her arm back, "I have to and you have already have plans." She pulled the door shut behind her and made a bolt for the stairs.