Chapter 5: Bittersweet

I nodded and walked towards my father who motioned for me to take a seat on the footrest. I did as he pleased as he slowly put his paper down and sigh loudly.

" Son, I noticed something this morning" I blushed and licked my lips as I thought of what happened, Dad noticed my discomfort and tried his best to smile.

" It's okay Jojo, but er I just wanted to have a little talk with you" I could feel a bit of vomit work it's way up my throat, Oh god it was the sex talk.

" I've noticed you've been hanging around that girl Maxine, your mother told me, and that's okay but you should know some things before you know...get intimate with her" I could feel my whole body heating up.

" If you do decide to . . . . .engage, I want you to have protection...because your too young to become a parent and uh well, plain fact I think your too young" He paused and scratched his head for a minute, " But I cannot stop your urges so, next time your out with her, I want you to buy those...things" My mouth hinged in a silent scream as I thought of what he was saying to me, he was thinking next time me and Max walk out he wants me to buy things for me, but why in front of her? I didn't want to scare her.

" I'm glad we had this talk son, it was only because I saw something this morning" I hopped off of the footrest and with a mantled face walked towards my bedroom.

" Max? Are you gonna say goodbye to Jake?" My mom called from the living room. I sat on my bed and peered out at the rainy day. I sighed a bit as I hestitanly forced myself and walked down the hallway. I could see Jake crossing his arms and scowling a bit when he saw me, his luggage beside him in a mantled mess.

" Goodbye" I sarcastly remarked, he snorted, stood up and grabbed his suitcase.

" Sure, sure" He replied as he walked towards the door and slammed it shut. Mom stood beside me and cocked her head to the side.

" Oh my, what has gotten into him?"

I shrugged in responce.

" Dad working?" I asked as I scowered the living room and noticed his absence. Mom nodded and smiled sweetly.

" I'm glad you noticed that honey, you see your dad forgot his lunch and I was gonna ask if you could run it too him" She walked to the kitchen and grabbed a brown paper bag and placed it firmly in my hands.

" Sure no problem mom" I acknowleged as I walked out of the door. I stummbled a bit trying to remember where exactly my Dad's office was. I remembered the street name and started off towards the place.

It was in the middle of the town and was reconigizeable. As shown by the huge banister which held a yellow and green plastic beach towel with purple sun glasses. I walked through the glass doors and was overwhelmed with the beach pictures everywhere.

" Hey Max!" My dad wheeled out of a cubby hole office and rolled over towards me. He spotted the lunch bag in my hands and blushed a bit. He shyly took it out of them when he looked at me and smiled a bit.

" Umm Honey? Could I have a word with you in my office?" I shrugged and nodded and followed him as he wheeled behind his desk.

He had a big oak desk with a red clock and many pictures of me during elementy school, one picture of Rosa when she was just born and me smiling as I peered over the crib at her. And two pictures of him and Mom getting married. On his bulliton board was a huge calender with my birthday written hugely in red marker. I knew dad was busy at work, but always took my birthday off.

" Anyways Hon" He started while putting down his cup of coffee. He pressed his hands together, pondering a bit before beginning.

" How should I put this, you and Jojo or you and Jake?" He licked his lips for a minute before snapping up and smiling a bit. " Well both, but you seem to like Jojo more then Jake" He questioned looking up at me. I nodded allowing him to continue.

" Well I'm just gonna say this, no glove means no love" My eyes widened at his words as abruptly I stood up and slammed my hands down on his desk, attratting unwanted attention.

" DAD? how could you think of that?" He smiled shyly himself.

" Your are a teen honey, and well I figured you'd be getting curious" I shook my head at him.

" Uh uh, no way I'm not interested at all" I answered while walking away, ablazed face as I had many people staring and whispering.

I walked back towards my house and was surprised when I saw Jojo sitting by my door with a notepad, He smirked a bit when he saw me and to be honest I was glad to see him. I took a seat beside him and greeted him kindly.

" Hey"

Hey, He wrote to me on his piece of paper.

" What brings you by?" I asked as I watched a girl on a scooter whizz by us.

Had to get out of the house, Dad was driving me crazy the other night.

" What was he doing?" I narrowed my eyes a bit at him.

Giving me the Talk, that sort of stuff.

I stifled a laugh before speaking.

" Are you serious? My dad gave me the same lecture today" Jojo stared at me for a bit before smiling and shaking as if laughing.

It appears our parents are untrusting of us.

" Ya" I laughed as I pushed the bangs out of my eyes, I set my hands firmly on my lap and turned towards him.

" Soo, any ideas today?" He narrowed his eyes in thought before writing something down.

We haven't been to the Observatory for a while...

" Definaltly" I replied as we stood up and walk towards the woods.