Worth
"Woah, I… didn't know you were that rich." Rey shook her head, driving up to Josh's parents' house that weekend. She was extremely nervous. She'd never felt like she had to impress anyone before but she really felt like she had to. She liked Josh. She liked the way he made her feel important, the way he actually listened to her and wasn't interested in just getting laid. She thought it was sweet that he had invited her for the weekend.
"My parents are rich." Josh nodded, driving up the small road to the pretty large house.
"That kinda means you are too." Rey laughed a little, "Do I look ok? I had to go out and buy something. I figured wearing the skirts and dresses I normally wear wouldn't have made a good first impression." She shook her head, brushing her dress down as Josh turned to her.
"Hey, I don't want you to change your looks or how you act just because of my parents." Josh shook his head, "You didn't have to go out and buy anything."
"Trust me, I did." Rey nodded. She was wearing a black floaty dress with a coat. She felt like she was ready to go work in an office. It wasn't really her style but she figured it was a safe thing to do.
"No, you didn't." Josh shook his head, pulling up outside the house, "I like you for you. I like your short skirts." He shrugged as Rey smiled.
"Yeah, I bet you do." Rey scoffed, "I'd just rather play it safe. I want to make a good first impression. I've… I've never met anyone's parents before." She shook her head, "This is kinda a big deal for me." She admitted as Josh smiled to himself. He liked that this meant a lot to her, he could see how nervous she was.
"Ok, but I don't want you to not enjoy yourself. Relax." He nodded, placing his hand on her shoulder, "Please don't act differently."
"Ok. Well I'll try." Rey smiled, "Oh, what should I drink? Will it be like… champagne and stuff?" She frowned.
"They'll have wine, don't worry." He nodded as Rey smiled and nodded, getting out of the car, feeling him take her hand as they walked up to the huge front door, opening it up and walking on in.
Rey gulped as she looked around. She felt like she'd just walked into a palace. It was beautiful but it was something she wasn't used to at all. There was even someone who took their coats at the door. She felt like she was in a movie.
"This is ridiculous." She whispered to herself, looking up and around at everything with fascination. He never mentioned just how wealthy he really was.
"Oh, Josh." Avril, Josh's mother approached them as Rey looked at her. She was gorgeous from head to toe, holding a glass of champagne, bright red lipstick, so elegant and perfect.
"Hi, mom." Josh smiled, giving his mother a hug as Rey smiled.
"You must be Reylissa." Avril turned to Rey who smiled.
"Oh, please… just call me Rey." Rey nodded.
"Reylissa is such a beautiful name." Avril shook her head, "Honey, you're gorgeous." Avril smiled, taking Rey's hands, "I love this dress." She nodded as Rey smiled.
"Thank you. I love yours." Rey nodded awkwardly as Josh smiled to himself.
"Oh, just something I threw on." Avril smiled modestly, "Come on, let's go get you both a drink. Your father is so happy you came." Avril nodded to Josh as he and Rey followed her through to the kitchen.
The house was full with guests, all who in Rey's opinion, looked rich and she couldn't help feel like she was really sticking out. She was scared to open her mouth in case she said something wrong.
"Michael, look." Avril got her husband's attention.
"Oh, hey." Michael smiled as he noticed his son, "It's great you made it." He nodded, hugging his son as Rey stood, "And who is this?" He smiled.
"Dad, this is Rey." Josh smiled.
"Uh Reylissa." Avril added whilst unscrewing some wine, "I love that name, it shouldn't be shortened." Avril waved her hand as AJ just smiled.
"What do you prefer?" Michael asked Rey.
"I… everyone just calls me Rey." Rey nodded.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Rey." Michael smiled, taking her hand and shaking it, leaning over and kissing her cheek as Rey raised her eyebrows.
"You too." Rey nodded.
"Red or white?" Avril asked Rey.
"White, please." Rey nodded.
Growing up in the city, practically on the streets, she couldn't describe how foolish and out of place she really felt right now. She knew Josh wanted her to be herself but it was pretty hard when these people were all so graceful and elegant.
"You drove here?" Michael asked as Josh nodded.
"Yeah, so… no alcohol for me." Josh smiled, "We were gonna stay in a hotel but… I think we'll just drive home." He turned to Rey who just smiled and nodded.
"Oh, why don't you just stay here?" Avril asked, "Josh, I never ever see you. One night isn't enough. You and Rey can stay and just drive home in the morning."
"Mom, it's ok. We didn't bring clothes and I'd rather be home." Josh nodded.
Rey noticed just how different Josh really was compared to all of this. It seemed like the reason he'd left and headed to the city, was perhaps to get away from this sort of life, which… she didn't blame him.
"Oh, alright. I won't beg." Avril smiled, handing Rey her drink, "Why don't you both go say hi to everyone." She nodded to them.
"Yeah, ok." Josh nodded, taking Rey's hand and walking out of the kitchen as Avril smiled, watching them walk away as she turned to her husband.
"She's stunning." Avril raised her eyebrows as Michael nodded.
"Yeah, she's nice." Michael said, "Has Josh told you much about her?" He asked.
"No, not much. Just her name and age." Avril shrugged, sipping on her wine.
Josh took Rey around, introducing her to people that he barely even knew. They had fun with it and Rey was thankful to hear him making fun of pretty much everyone they encountered, it made her feel more comfortable, especially after the first glass of wine also.
Josh was talking to some cousins of his when Rey headed back into the kitchen to get herself more wine, sitting her glass down and opening up the bottle as Avril walked in.
"Helping ourselves, are we?" Avril chuckled to herself as Rey looked up.
"Oh, s-sorry." Rey shook her head.
"Oh, it's fine." Avril smiled, even though Rey could sense that she wasn't joking, "I think you've almost drank that full bottle." She chuckled as Rey just looked at her.
"Yeah, I'm a… I'm a fast drinker." Rey nodded.
"Clearly." Avril smiled, "So tell me more about yourself. I mean, Josh has barely told me anything." Avril said, topping her wine up as Rey looked across at her.
"There's not much to know." Rey laughed a little.
"Oh, come on. I know nothing at all. Your name and age." Avril said, "Where did you grow up? Are you at college? Well I assume you're at college you're only nineteen." She laughed to herself, "But tell me about your life. I want to know you, sweetie." She smiled as Rey looked across at her and nodded slowly.
"Uh… I'm not at college." Rey said as Avril's face slightly dropped a little, "I want to. I've been thinking about it. I'd really like to be a doctor but I just… I never got round to it." She nodded, "I dropped out of school pretty young. I grew up in foster care so it was a little more challenging." She nodded.
"I see." Avril nodded slowly, her facial expressions changing as Rey watched, "So you… you have an adopted family or-"
"Oh, no. I have no family." Rey nodded as Avril looked at her, "Well I do, I have parents… a little sister too actually." She said, "I'm sort of going through all of that right now. It's pretty confusing." She laughed nervously as Avril nodded.
"Yeah, no kidding." Avril chuckled as Rey nodded, "So you have your own place?"
"Yeah, I have my apartment. It's not the best but it's somewhere." She shrugged.
"Right." Avril nodded slowly, "Well what about your job? I take it you have a job." She smiled, trying hard to bite her tongue, it was very obvious.
"I work in Hooters." Rey nodded as Avril tilted her head.
"Excuse me?" Avril shook her head as Rey took a drink of her wine, "Hooters? As in the-"
"No, it's not a strip club." Rey said, trying to keep herself calm, "It's just a normal bar-"
"So you work in Hooters?" Avril asked, as if needing clarification, "And you don't go to college?" She asked as Rey nodded.
"I'm still young." Rey shrugged, "I'm figuring it out I guess."
"Oh, of course." Avril smiled, "I just never thought my son would bring home a Hooters girl." She laughed to herself as Rey looked across at her, placing her glass down.
"Excuse me." Rey said as she walked by Avril and left the kitchen.
Josh spotted Rey walking through the house and leaving out of the door. He excused himself and was about to go after her when he felt his mother grab his wrist.
"We need to talk, right now." Avril made clear, tugging on him as Josh followed her into the kitchen with confusion.
"What?" Josh shook his head.
"Really?" Avril laughed, "Really, Josh? I mean… we all have our preferences but a Hooters girl? Really?"
"Excuse me?" Josh tilted his head.
"Rey? She's gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but-"
"But what?" Josh shook his head angrily, "Wait… what did you say to her?" He asked, "Did you upset her?"
"I didn't say anything." Avril shrugged, "Don't you think you could aim a little higher, sweetheart? She's not exactly got much going for her." She said.
"She works the exact same job I do." Josh said.
"Excuse me? You're a successful bar manager in a very sophisticated, classy bar. She earns her money by having her cleavage and ass out." Avril shook her head, "She doesn't even go to college on the side either."
"You're ridiculous." Josh spat, "I really like Rey and I don't need my stuck up family scaring her away."
"You are not dating that girl." Avril laughed, "Girls like her are good for a fling, sure. But you are not dating her." She shook her head, "Josh, you can do better."
"How dare you." Josh shook his head, "She was doing nothing but being nice. This. All of this. It's out of her comfort zone-"
"Yeah, because her comfort zone is what? Crack dens? Street corners?" Avril questioned as Josh just shook his head.
"You're disgusting." Josh shook his head, "And I'm leaving." He said.
"Josh, I just know your worth. And it's more than her, sweetheart." Avril shrugged.
"Don't you dare tell anyone what they're worth." Josh spat, "We're done." He nodded, sliding the bottle of red wine sitting on the table onto the floor as it smashed against the white tiles.
"Josh." Avril gasped as he walked out of the kitchen, collecting he and Rey's coats and leaving the house, looking over as he spotted Rey sitting on one of the outside benches.
He sighed to himself, feeling terrible for putting her in this situation. He knew his mother and father had high expectations but he'd never heard or saw them be so verbally hurtful. He supposed his past girlfriend had all been set up by his parents most often than not.
He walked over to the bench as Rey looked up. He could see by the black marks down her face that she had been crying, sighing to himself as he placed her coat around her shoulders and sat down beside her.
"Are you ok?" He asked her as she just nodded, picking at her nail polish, "Please don't listen to her."
"Can we just go home?" Rey asked him, "Please." She said as he nodded, watching as she stood up and walked off to the car, sighing to himself.