Addison's POV
The walk to my house doesn't take long, but I don't want my time with Zed to end so soon. So we take our time. It's completely dark by the time I finally get home. The porch light is on so I know my parents must be waiting, but I don't really care. I stop us at the end of the driveway and pull him to look at me. He doesn't fight me when I pull his head down to meet my lips. His arms holding me to him by my waist.
Our moment is cut short when my house's porch light flashes a couple times, indicating that my parents were waiting for us. We pull apart and head up to the house, I hold tightly onto his hand, afraid of what might be awaiting me once I'm inside.
Would they keep me from cheering at the homecoming game? Or the Cheer Championship? Or would they hit me with a low blow and ground me from seeing Zed. The thought made me sick. Zed rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand comfortingly. I look up at his reassuring smile and return a worried one.
Not so much to my surprise, my parents open the door as soon as we step onto the porch.
"You're late." Is all my father says, raising an eyebrow at me.
"Yeah, um, sorry Dad. Practice ran over, then I was talking with Bucky and Bree-" I lie, but Zed cuts me off, he knows I'm a horrible liar.
"I saw she was still at the school when I got out of my practice for tomorrow's game so I walked her home!" Zed said with a smile. My dad's eyes lit up at hearing mention of the game.
"Oh! Well I'm glad you were around to make sure she got home safe! So how's the team looking for tomorrow?" He asks, Zed smiles excitedly.
"Things are looking great, sir! I think we are almost guaranteed a win!" He answers effortlessly. My mom decides to step in.
"That's wonderful! Would you like to come in and have dinner with us? That way you two can talk more about football?" She offers, looking between him and my dad. Zed looks back behind us at how dark it already was.
"I really should get home. It's pretty late." Zed says, none of us miss the worried look in his eyes after turning back from looking at the darkness. I squeeze his hand to comfort him.
"Zed, honey, why don't you stay. You're right, it is late and you shouldn't be walking home at this hour." My mom responds in her motherly tone, pulling Zed into the house by the arm and I smile as I follow. She plops Zed down at the dining room table and I slide onto the seat beside him.
"I'll call your father and let him know you'll be staying the night." My dad says, pulling out his phone and dialing the number.
"Uh, thanks!" Zed says, not entirely sure as he turns to me. I give him a reassuring smile and grab his hand under the table.
After a quick phone call, my dad joins us at the table as Mom serves the spaghetti. Zed is staring at his plate and waits patiently for everyone to dip out their portions. I watch him as he eyes the long curled noodles covered in red sauce, his eyes wide with excitement as he waited to try a new food. It amazed me that even after so long I can still introduce him to new foods that humans find so common or ordinary.
My mom noticed how polite he was being even though his eagerness was obvious to everyone as he fidgeted in his seat.
"Go ahead and try it! You don't have to wait for us." She encouraged, Zed smiled wide and picked up his fork to take his first bite. I watched in amusement as he messily scooped a forkful of noodles in his mouth, his shoulders slumped and his eyes rolled back as he savored the new tastes.
"Mmmm. This is delicious!" He said pointing to his plate with his fork before taking another messy bite. I giggle when he looks over at me with marinara sauce all over his mouth and cheeks. I take my napkin and gently wipe his face, realization struck him and he gave me a sheepish smile. I giggle again and give him a reassuring smile to tell him it's ok.
I take my fork and twirl the noodles around the prongs and take the neat bite to show him a better way to eat it. He does the same and we exchange another set of smiles at the success.
The rest of dinner goes smoothly, Dad talking Zed's ear off about his glory days in football, while Mom and I discussed plans for the Cheer Championship, like what she should wear and a party for afterwards.
Zed was leaned back in his chair rubbing his flat stomach after everyone was finished.
"Thanks for the meal Mrs. M! Another one of my new favorites!" He thanked. My mom waved him off, obviously flattered but trying to act like the meal was nothing.
"You're welcome to dinner anytime, Zed." With that she started clearing the table and I got up to help before my dad stopped me.
"Now, now! I'll help your mother with this! You go show Zed the guest room and make sure he's got everything he needs so you two can rest up. You both have a big day coming up!" He instructed. I smile and nod.
"Okay, thanks Dad!" I say before pulling Zed towards the stairs, maybe too eagerly? Zed struggles to keep up at first.
"Goodnight Addy! Goodnight Zed!" My Mom called.
"Night Mom and Dad!" I yell half way up the stairs.
"Goodnight Mrs. M, Mr. D!" Zed called. I laugh at his nicknames he'd given my parents. They've told him plenty of times that he can call them by their first names, but he thought it was too casual for his girlfriend's parents and decided on the nicknames to still sound respectful but also friendly.
Down the hall there are two doors, one on either side of the hallway. One door empty of markings to indicate what may lie behind it that leads to the guest room, but the other was very clearly marked as my room with my name in glitter across the top.
I smirk up at Zed and pull him quickly into my room, quietly shutting the door behind us. I launch myself into his arms and crash my lips to his, he's more than eager to oblige as his arms wrap around me and holds me close enough that our stomachs are touching while our tongue meet for battle, lighting a fire in me that yearns to be one with him.
How had we gone for so long without each other? I feel like I've gotten a sudden breath of fresh air as he kisses me, all the worries and pressures I've been feeling the past few weeks melting away under his touch. My body like putty in his hands. I sigh contently against his lips and I feel him smirking at me.
When I pull back, his eyes sparkle, showing me all the love that no words would ever possibly be able to portray. My heart melts.
"Why hello." He says in that goofy tone he used when we first met.
"Hi." I respond with a giggle. "I'm gonna go get ready for bed. You can make yourself comfortable." I say, he nods. I give his lips another peck before prancing over to my walk-in closet, gathering my nightie before heading for the attached bathroom. I quickly changed clothes and brushed my teeth before I stood there staring at myself in the mirror. I nervously messes with my hair until every last strand of it was perfect.
I'm so giddy with excitement that Zed is here! For the night! Our first sleepover! Well... that my parents know about... The flood of memories came back to me.
XxX
