Chapter Twelve
Aria flopped down on her bed letting out a frustrated sigh. She looked at Kendall, who was sitting at the top of her bed.
"I don't understand why you're so worried about this dinner." He said.
"Because this is the first time that my parents are going to be able to talk to you for more than a minute and a half. I've never introduced a boyfriend to my family before!" She said.
Kendall smirked. "Trust me, it's not as big of a deal as your making it seem."
"How do you know? It's not like you've done this before with my family. They're like really weird." Aria said.
"If they're anything like you, then they're amazing." Kendall said sweetly.
Aria looked at him. "Just help me find something to wear."
Aria finally found something acceptable to wear to dinner. Kendall had found something Aria had approved of for him to wear and they headed out. Aria was tapping her foot in the car.
"Seriously Ari, calm down." Kendall said glancing at her then back at the road.
"I can't!" she said.
Kendall pulled into the driveway of the house, stopped the car and looked Aria. "Come on. Everything will be fine." Kendall leaned in and kissed her. Aria felt better after that. She got out of the car and grabbed Kendall's hand as they walked to the door. She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
Her father opened the door with a smile. "Hi Dad!" she said.
"Hi Honey, Hi Kendall." He said to them.
"Hello Sir." Kendall said.
Aria entered the house and Kendall followed behind her still holding her hand. They found her Mom in the kitchen.
"Hi Mom." Aria said leading Kendall into the room.
"Hi." She said looking up from the potatoes she was peeling. She smiled at them both.
"Hello Mrs. Smith." Kendall said with a smile.
Her Mom smiled again. There was an awkward pause.
"So what time's dinner?" Aria asked in an attempt to break the silence.
"It should be ready in about a half hour. You and Kendall can go watch TV with Emma if you want." She said.
Aria nodded. She and Kendall walked to the living room to find Emma sitting on the couch. They sat in the loveseat together.
"Hey Emma! What're you watching?" Aria asked.
"Hi." Emma said not looking away from the TV while she was channel surfing. "There's nothing to watch."
After 2 more minutes of her looking, she finally settled on something. Aria and Kendall sat there in silence.
Kendall was just sitting there awkwardly. Aria looked at him and laughed. She got up. "Come with me." She said hold out her hand. He got up and took it.
Aria led Kendall to the backyard. They sat down on the swing.
"So, is it really that bad?" Kendall asked.
"Just wait until dinner." Aria said.
Kendall chuckled. "I still think you're over exaggerating. "
Aria smiled. "Sir? Mrs. Smith? What was that all about?"
"I want them to like me…" Kendall said shyly.
"I think they will regardless." Aria said kissing him on the cheek.
Suddenly they heard the back door open. They both turned around to see Aria's mother standing there.
"Dinner's ready." She said.
"Okay, we'll be in in a sec. "Aria responded.
Aria looked at Kendall. "Well?"
"Stop freaking out." He said kissing her on the forehead.
They made their way into the house and sat down at the table.
Kendall sat across from Aria's mom and Aria say across from Emma with her Dad on the end next to Kendall.
They all started to put their food on their plate and began eating.
"So Kendall, how did you end up in a band in L.A.?" Aria's father asked.
Kendall explained that Gustavo had found him and his friends in Minnesota and brought them to L.A. Aria noticed that Kendall seemed a lot more relaxed than she was. Maybe everything was going to be fine.
"So Kendall, how many other girls have you been with?" Emma blurted out.
Aria choked on her water she was drinking and started coughing.
"EMMA! " Aria scolded her. She gave her the "not appropriate" look.
Kendall chuckled nervously and Aria quickly changed the subject.
The rest of dinner was fairly normal. Kendall answered all the questions Aria's family had for him. He even asked questions about her parent's jobs and about Emma. He seemed to be getting along quite fine with her family. Aria relaxed and listened to everyone talk and occasionally jumped in.
Her mother started clearing the table and asked Aria to help her in the kitchen. Aria followed her mother to the kitchen.
"What do you need my help with?" she asked.
"Can you grab the cake out of the fridge?" she asked.
Aria nodded and did what her mother asked. "So, what do you think on Kendall?" she asked casually.
"I like him. A lot." Her Mom replied. "Your father seems to like him too. And Emma, she just loves his band."
Aria let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God."
Her and her Mom brought dessert into the dining room. Aria took her seat next to Kendall and flashed him a thumbs up. He smiled and took her hand under the table. They ate their dessert. Aria noticed it was around 8 and she had to be at Rocque Records at 7AM tomorrow and she wanted to spend some time with Kendall that night.
They stayed for another half hour. "We should probably get going, I have to be up early to go o Rocque Records tomorrow." Aria said.
"Okay, we'll walk you to the door." Her mom said.
Everyone hugged. Aria was surprised; she had never seen her father hug anyone that wasn't family.
Aria and Kendall got into the car. "Didn't I tell you not to worry?" Kendall asked kissing Aria on the cheek. "You were right." Aria said.
They drove back to the Palmwoods joking and singing along to the radio.
They walked back into the Palmwoods. "Are you staying with me?" Aria asked.
"If it's okay with you." He said as they got into the elevator.
As they entered Aria's room, Aria pinned Kendall against the wall kissing him passionately.
"Thank you." Aria breathed.
"For?" he said back.
"The dinner." She said kissing his neck.
Kendall picked her up and brought her to the bedroom. They put her on the bed and got on top of her. He kissed her.
"Kendall…" Aria said hesitantly.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Are we really doing this?" she asked.
"Only if you want to." He said.
"I…I do. A lot." She said.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes." She breathed.