"I want you to meet my parents."
Abi pried her eyes away from the Twilight film she was watching. She'd had a stressful day after working and going to school and she just wanted to relax.
"You what?"
"My parents," Jamie repeated from where he was stirring pasta on the hob. "I want you to meet them."
"Okay," Abi agreed turning her attention back to the film.
"They've invited us over for Christmas."
"I thought we were having a quiet Christmas, just us two."
"We are, which is why I said we'd go on Christmas Eve instead. Is that alright? You haven't got plans with your dad, have you?"
"No, that's perfect."
Abi had already changed three times and she was running out of dresses to try on. She wanted to look her best for Jamie's parents. She got the impression that she would need to prove herself. After all, he was from a very different background to her.
"Babe, you look fine. Stop stressing."
"Are you sure?"
She looked down at her deep purple skater dress which she'd teamed with tights and a pair of black Chelsea boots.
"Yes. Come on, we're going to be late."
Abi ran a shaky hand through her hair and followed her boyfriend out of the flat.
Neither of them spoke on the way to Jamie's parents home. She didn't understand why she was so nervous, but then she had never had to do the whole meeting the parents thing. Jay was on his own and the Mitchells had known her for years anyway. Jamie put a hand on Abi's leg to stop her tapping but still they sat in silence.
When Jamie pulled up outside the house Abi was astonished. She had never seen something so wonderful in her life, or so big. She was beginning to think that Jamie hadn't been completely honest about how wealthy his family actually was and that only made Abi even more nervous.
"Come on."
Abi made her way to the front door, her hand in Jamie's, clutching her winter coat to her body in the cold. "Jamie, this place is amazing."
Jamie only shrugged and rang the doorbell.
His mother answered almost straight away, like she'd been standing on the other side waiting for them for ages. She was not at all what Abi expected. Jamie's mum was dressed in a tight-fitting, red peplum dress and black stiletto heels. Her long brown hair was curled and Abi could tell that the all of the jewellery she had on were real diamonds. She felt completely under dressed.
"Hi mum," Jamie said, reaching out to give his mother a hug.
"Hello sweetheart," she replied, embracing him.
"Mum, this is Abi. Abs, this is my mum."
"It's nice to meet you," Abi said, she was about to extent her hand but Jamie's mother was already heading back towards the house.
"Please, call me Michelle," she said over her shoulder.
Abi turned to look at Jamie to see if he had noticed the hostility but Jamie was too walking away, following his mother into the kitchen. Abi quickly followed, not wanting to be left behind.
Their kitchen was the size of Jamie and Abi's whole flat put together. Abi had never seen something quite like it. It was exquisite. She noticed a man standing by the oven, putting a tray of parsnips in and she assumed this was Jamie's father. He turned around when he heard them come in.
"You must be Abi," he smiled. "I'm Marcus."
"Thank you for having me. You have a lovely home."
"It's our pleasure sweetheart."
Abi decided she liked Marcus a whole lot more than Michelle.
About an hour later the four of them were sat around the table digging into their dinner. Abi swore she could hear classical music playing in the background. She was completely out of her comfort zone.
"So Abi," Marcus started. "Jamie tells me you're in sixth form. Which one?"
"Walford high," Abi replied, slightly nervous at the fact that it wasn't some fancy private school.
"But aren't you nineteen?" Michelle questioned.
"Mum!" Jamie warned.
"What? Surely you should be in university."
"You're right, I should. But there were some complications with my results. I had to retake a year."
"What kind of complications?"
"Michelle, I'm sure Abi doesn't want to tell you private things like that."
"No, it's fine," Abi said putting down her knife and fork. Michelle was really beginning to irritate her and she couldn't wait to see her face when she told her this. "My sister is an alcoholic, or at least she was. Around the time of my exams she was in hospital with alcohol poisoning."
Marcus chocked on his food and Michelle quickly took a sip of wine. Abi felt Jamie kick her under the table and when she looked up he gave her a warning look.
"I see."
"So, what subjects are you studying?" Marcus asked, changing the subject.
"English literature, maths, chemistry and biology."
"Wow, you got yourself a brain box there, Jamie."
"Well, she can't be that brainy," Michelle said under her breath but loud enough for Abi to hear.
"Actually mum, Abi is going to be a vet, aren't you Abs?"
"Really?" Marcus sounded genuinely interested.
"Yes, I've wanted to be since as long as I can remember."
"You got any dogs? I love dogs but Michelle here isn't a fan."
"I used to but, um, he died."
Abi felt embarrassed just thinking about what she had done to poor Tramp, what Jay had driven her to.
"What university are you going to?" Michelle asked. "Oxford? Cambridge?"
"Oh, I don't think I'd get into anywhere near as good as that. I was going to go to Liverpool before it all fell through."
Abi was beginning to feel very interrogated. This was more like an interview than an afternoon lunch.
"This flat the two of you share, do you put any money towards it?"
Now it was Abi's turn to choke on her dinner.
"Mum, is that really necessary? I am happy to pay for the flat."
"So you do? Pay for it all, that is."
"Abi has a job, mum. She works part time as a vets receptionist and she puts more money than she needs to towards the flat every month. Happy now?"
"Excuse me," Abi said standing up. "I just need to pop to the toilet."
"Cheer up, mate. It's Christmas eve."
"What have I got to be happy about?" Jay asked his brother. "Spending Christmas with you lot."
"Oi! You cheeky git."
"I mean it. You and I both know that Phil doesn't want me here anymore."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because I've got nowhere else to go."
"What would you prefer? A quiet one in with Abi, just the two of you. Christmas dinner and a movie marathon."
"Yeah, I would actually."
"Yeah? Too bad she's already got that planned with Jamie. She was telling Lola all about it the other day."
"I'm gonna get her back, I'm going to make her see."
"See you keep telling me that Jay, but I don't see her here."
Abi was sat on the toilet seat. Her head was in her hands.
It had been a mistake to come. It was clear from the start that Jamie's mum didn't approve of her. She hadn't even given her a chance. It was no use in trying to impress her. She'd already made up her mind.
What was I thinking, Abi thought. Me and Jamie were clearly never right for each other. I never had this problem with Jay.
She mentally cursed herself for even thinking that. Jamie loved her and she loved him. That was the way it was and nothing was going to ruin it.
"You're going to break up with her."
"Michelle!"
"I mean it, Jamie. She might as well have been brought up on a council estate."
"And what would it have mattered if she had been?" Jamie tried not to raise his voice as to not let Abi hear, but he was finding it difficult. "All that should matter is that I love her."
"Love? You don't love her."
"Yes, I do. Abi is the best thing that has happened to me. Why can't you see that?"
"Because she is not good enough. Jamie, we have a reputation to uphold."
"That is all you care about. Your bloody reputation is more important than your sons happiness."
"Don't talk to your mother like that, Jamie."
"You can't honestly agree with her, dad?"
Marcus looked from Jamie to Michelle and back again. It was like he was scared of her. "Look, I'm sure Abi is a lovely girl, Jamie. But she just isn't right for you."
"Isn't right for this family you mean."
"Your mother is right. You should call things off before it gets too serious."
"Serious? Dad, we have a flat together. I love her."
"And the next thing you know you'll be engaged and you won't be able to back out," Michelle added.
"I don't want to back out."
"Jamie, we hardly see you anymore. Don't you see what this is doing? It's putting a wedge between us all."
"Only because you're letting it."
"All you have to do is break up with her. There are plenty of other girls out there, girls that are much better suited to you. This will be best for everybody."
Jamie didn't say anything. He tried to look anywhere but at his parents.
"Just do this for me Jamie? Please, for the sake of our family. Break up with her, okay?"
Jamie finally looked his mum in the eye. He nodded.
"Okay."