"Charlie, what are you doing?!" I practically shrieked from on top of his shoulder. We had just come back from a mini golf date and when we got back to my house, he ran over to the passenger side of his car and whisked me out of it. He flung me backwards over his shoulder and started up to the house.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" He chuckled.

I huffed, "it looks like you're being incredibly annoying, but incredibly cute at the same time."

He laughed harder, "You are correct! What prize would you like?"

"A prize?" I asked as he swung open the screen door, "What are my options?"

"Well," he started as he flung me down onto the couch next to Johnny, who was laughing like a hyena at us, "You can either have another lovely date with me on Saturday night or… a date with me on Sunday night!"

I assumed my thinking position with a finger on my chin and looking off into the distance. After a few seconds, "Okay, I've decided!"

"Lay it on me, baby!" He chirped, which made Johnny laugh again.

"Neither!" I yelped and ran off to my room, locking the door behind me.

Charlie and I always had so much fun when we were together, we teased each other nonstop, and today was no exception. Of course, what I really wanted to tell him was that I wanted to take him up on both days plus a couple more, but I had to resist the charm a little bit and give him a hard time.

I heard him walk towards the door. "Awe, come on, Jill. You know you want me," He sang.

"Not with that attitude, big shot!" I giggled.

I could hear his breath come out faster like he was laughing silently and then his footsteps going away from my room and back out to the living room. I don't know why I decided to run away from him in the first place, it seems like a real dorky move now, but I hope he thought it was cute.

I opened the door a crack and peeked through to the hallway. It looked like the coast was clear. I opened the door just far enough for me to fit through and not have my door make the awful creaking noise that happens when it opens too far. I took one step around the corner into the living room and I felt a pair of giant hands around my waist.

"Got you again!" He cried as I let out a genuine scream of terror. I was trying to sneak up on him! Not the other way around!

He pulled us towards the chair and fell down with me on top of him, laughing now. "Now are you going to tell me what you are doing?" He asked as I adjusted myself to be more comfortable on his lap. I slung one arm around his shoulders and sat sideways across him.

I cleared my throat, "Ah, yes. I was just coming out to tell you that I checked my calendar and I am available either of those aforementioned days to accompany you on an outing."

He chuckled, "Well great. I would love to have you as my companion to family dinner on Sunday night."

My face went pale and I heard a few of the guys walk in the house, all hooting and hollering, "A family dinner? Like with your family?"

He smiled reassuringly, "That's generally what family dinner means."

I gulped, "Uh, okay. That sounds fun."

He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer, "You don't have anything to worry about. My family will love you. No sweat."

I could definitely feel the sweat, "Yeah, sure thing."

He grinned, "Don't freak out too much." He glanced at his watch, "I have to get home for dinner, so I'll pick you up on Sunday around 5 okay?" I nodded slightly and he grinned before swooping down and giving me a kiss on the cheek and scooting out from under me and out the door.

I barely had time to register what had just happened when I heard Steve whistling and Two-Bit making kissy noises. I felt the heat rising up to my cheeks and I buried my face in my hands.

"You guys are a real good match for each other." Johnny said, and I pulled my head up to look at him. He was smiling slightly at me, and I tried to return the gesture as much as I could.

"Thanks." I whined.

"You're really worried this much about meeting his family? How bad can it be?"

"What if they don't like me? It's his mom and his two little sisters. I'm not used to being judged by so many women, I'm used to being around you guys! No one cares how I act around here, or about how I look!"

Johnny chuckled, "I think Darry, Soda, and Pony would disagree with that statement."

"Oh, but you know what I mean! It's their job to judge me, but these people are just going to be looking for any reason to not like me!"

"Don't think like that, Jill. I think they're gonna love you."

I sighed before I put my head back in my hands.

Sunday night was here before I knew it and I was a nervous wreck. I was standing in front of my closet with my bathrobe on, because I had no idea what to wear. I'd never had to have the 'meet the parents' dinner before and I didn't want to make the wrong impression.

"Darry?" I yelled, not moving my body and inch away from the clothes.

He peeked his head in the doorway, "Yeah?"

"I need help!" I turned away from my biggest tormentor and flopped face first on my bed. "Idontknowwhattowearandireallyneedyourhelptoimpresshisfamily"

I could hear him laughing at my misfortune, "JIlly, if you need my help, then you're going to have to get your face out of the mattress so I can actually hear what you need help with."

I used all my energy to flip over to my back. I stared at the cracking ceiling, "I don't know what to wear that will impress his family, and I really need to look good because I'm not good with talking to parents and I really want his mom to like me."

He looked at me for a second, pathetic with my hair in rollers and on the brink of tears in my bathrobe, and stood before my closet with his arms crossed. He stood there for 3 seconds, I counted, before pulling something out and throwing it at me. "This is good. It won't look like you're trying too hard but you won't look like a slob either."

"Are you sure?" I whined.

"Yes. I've impressed many parents in my high school days. I know how this works." He stated before walking out and closing the door behind him.

I pulled on the clothes he told me to and did my hair. I took a step back from the mirror and looked at myself. I looked presentable enough, and I trusted Darry's instinct, so I went out to wait for Charlie.

He picked me up right on time and we spent the short trip silent for the most part, aside from the few reassuring words he gave me.

We pulled in the driveway and I felt like I was going to puke. This was not going to be good. I got out of the car slowly and waited for Charlie to lead the way to the front door. He walked in and yelled out that he was home and three people came running into the front room.

A small, blonde woman was the first to reach us. She held out her arms and pulled me into a hug. "You must be Jill. It's so nice to meet you after we've heard so much about you. I'm so glad you could join us tonight for dinner. It's not very often that Charlie brings over friends, especially girls." She pulled back and winked at me before Charlie started complaining.

I was then assaulted by two girls not very much younger than me. "Jill, this is Diana and Carolyn. My sisters." Charlie introduced.

They started talking at me a mile a minute. I could barely understand anything they said, but I did catch that they were 14 and 15, and that Dianna likes horses. Charlie's mom called out to us that dinner was ready and we made our way to the dining room. I sat between Charlie and Carolyn (I think) around the round table.

The girls asked me every question they could think of and I had answers for most of them. They seemed to know a lot about me already, maybe thanks to Charlie. The dinner went by quickly, and before I knew it, it was almost 9 o'clock. This scary game of questions had exhausted me, and I was yawning when Charlie suggested that he take me home. The girls both whined, but let me out of their grasp, and we were back in my driveway when Charlie said, "My family loves you, you know."

I blushed, "They're not too bad themselves."

"You were awesome in there. I have no idea why you were so worried."

"I can't think of why I was anymore!" I laughed, "They're great. The girls make me wish that I had sisters instead of brothers."

He chuckled, "Wanna trade?"

"Yessir!"

"Okay, deal!" He laughed and I could feel his breath on my face. We were still in the car and I just realized how close we were. Our noses were almost touching and I could tell what was about to happen by the look in Charlie's eyes.

He moved his face forward an inch and our lips were tangled together for a second, before they were torn apart just as quick. In the dark, I could see that his face got a few shades redder, and I'm sure that mine did, too.

He seemed like he was in a daze. I cleared my throat, "Uhm, I'll talk to you later, okay? I had a great time tonight."

"Yeah, me too." He said quietly.

I smiled as I got out of the car and made the trek up to the house. I was still grinning like a fool when I opened the front door. The lights were all off. The guys must have had long days, because I could hear anyone awake. I made the familiar way to the lamp in the corner of the living room and flipped it on.

I sighed happily as I took off my shoes and hung up my purse. I turned back to go to my room and change into my pajamas and I saw the oh-so familiar dark hair and leather perched on the edge of the couch. I gasped and I felt my heart rate speed up significantly.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I miss you." He admitted.