That weekend I was brutally awakened by a pounding on my front door.
"Dad!" I waited, "DAD! THE DOOR!" I really didn't want to leave my warm, comfy, bed. But the banging continued. I checked my phone and was appalled to see that it was 11 am on a Saturday morning. Who woke up this early just to go bother someone else?
With a groan, I dragged myself out of bed and put on some sweatpants, I didn't even look in the mirror I passed, I could feel that it was one of those days. And by that, I mean a gender dysphoria day.
"What?" I asked with sleep laced in my voice as I opened the door, "what do you mean what? We're supposed to be going shopping today, you look like shit." Stacie walked pasted me into the house, I tried to let the comment slide because let's face it, I did, but it added to the growing ick I felt in my body.
"Shopping?" I asked, "for our homecoming outfits." Stacie said, "shit." I forgot, "you forgot!?" she asked, "n-no! I just overslept." I chuckled nervously.
"Beck, homecoming is next weekend. We can't wait any longer." Stacie said with a clearly disappointed look, "can't we go tomorrow? I don't feel like shopping today." I couldn't deal with trying to find a suit that didn't make my chest look like I had boobs on a day that I already hated my body. It'd be too much.
"But you promised..." Stacie frowned at me, "I-" I did promise her. "Fine, give me ten minutes, help yourself to whatever's in the fridge." I sighed as I ran upstairs to find something to throw on. I could already tell today would be long.
But it was worth it for Stacie.
I threw on a different pair of sweatpants, my binder, and a t-shirt before adding a sweatshirt for extra comfort.
"Ready?" I asked when I walked downstairs, "yup!" Stacie bounced over to me and I lead her out of the house. We climbed into her car and she started driving.
"So where are we going?" I asked, "the mall first." Stacie answered, "and what colors were you hoping to find?" I then asked, "a deep purple and black. Always looks nice." Stacie smiled over at me and I returned it.
We talked the whole way there and never ran out of topics, it was great, to be honest.
When we walked into the mall we entered a nice store that had suits and dresses on display. "Hey, how can we help you today?" a store clerk asked us, "we're looking for something for homecoming, not too much but just enough," Stacie said while I looked around. The nice woman helped Stacie first, measuring her and whatnot, then she called me over, "mind if I measure you sir?" she asked.
At first, I didn't see a reason not to let her, but then she touched me and my body went rigid. "Ok! On second thought, I'll tell you my measurements instead, if that works." I stepped away from her, "it works better if I measure you." she said, "go on Beck, it's like three seconds." Stacie shrugged. "Right, three seconds," I muttered, walking back over to the woman.
If it was three seconds, they were the longest of my life, it made my skin crawl even more. "You must work out a lot, you have a lot of muscle." the clerk said as measured my arm length, "every day," I said quickly, hoping she'd hurry up. When she finally did finish I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, I felt relieved to not be touched.
"Alright, I'm sure we can find something for you two here." the woman walked away for a bit.
"Why are you so jumpy?" Stacie asked as she looked at a pair of shoes, "hmm?" I asked, I was really just stalling, I obviously knew what she meant, "like when people touch you sometimes. Not always, but just sometimes I've noticed, even if you know them you still jerk slightly." Stacie said, "pretty observant aren't you?" I smirked.
"Uh, I just feel like, I don't know how to explain it, it's like my skin is on fire, or like a million ants are crawling on me sometimes. When people touch me unexpectedly it makes it worse." I tried to explain without explaining. "I get it, kinda. Not to that extent but something close. Do I make it worse?" Stacie asked, she still looked at other items around the store which I was thankful for.
"No actually, you and Chloe, I guess I'm just used to you guys being touchy-feely." I answered honestly, "well good, but if you ever feel ablaze, don't be scared to tell me, I can respect a boundary." Stacie finally looked at me and I nodded.
So she's understanding, that's good.
We got our outfits finally after being in the mall for three hours.
"Can I buy you lunch?" I asked as we walked out of the mall, "sure, where to?" Stacie asked as we reached her car, "anywhere you want." I said, "ok. Can you cook?" she asked, "yeah, a little..." I answered skeptically, "great, you're gonna cook for me." Stacie said, driving out of the parking lot.
"What am I supposed to cook?" I asked, "I don't know, whatever you know how to make. I can't consider dating any man who can't make a simple pasta though, I am half Italian, my mother would be disappointed." Stacie said as I laughed, "maybe I should have a talk with her, I can just charm her into forgetting about the part where I can't cook like an Italian." I said.
"Don't bother, the last guy already tried that." Stacie shook her head, "and where's he?" I rose a brow, "exactly." Stacie deadpanned before we erupted into a fit of laughter.
We continued a banter before we came to a stop in a grocery store parking lot, "a grocery store? Worst first date ever!" I joked as we got out of the car, "oh shut it, you need to go buy something to cook for me. If it's good I'll consider what to do with you after the dance." Stacie pulled me along into the store.
Little did she know I was actually a really good cook, my mom went to culinary school and taught me most of what she knew. From homemade sauces to handmade pasta, I knew it all.
"What's on the menu, Chef Mitch?" Stacie asked as she pushed the cart behind me while I walked through the aisles throwing stuff into the cart. "I'm gonna do a smoked chicken over cavatappi noodles topped with salsa di Parmigiano." I said, looking behind me with a bright smile, "you know Italian?" she asked, "un po', my grandma was half Italian, she taught my mom, my mom tried to teach me but I was stubborn and only ended up picking up a little bit." I chuckled.
"What else do you know in Italian?" Stacie asked, she held so much interest in her eyes, "i tuoi occhi sono davvero belli. Your eyes are really pretty." I said, "Grazie. amo stare con te." Stacie replied, "you love something, I don't know what else you said." I smiled dumbly, she shook her head and sighed. "I love being around you...you make me forget about everything else. That part I just added." Stacie bit her lip.
"I love being around you too. You're pretty cool I guess." I smirked, "come on, before my mom starts to wonder where I am." Stacie continued rolling down the aisle.
Once I successfully got my ingredients we paid and left the store. Stacie started driving again and before long we were pulling up in front of her house, "my my, taking me home to the parents on day one? Bold." I smirked at Stacie who flipped me off in return.
"No, well kind of. I just figured you could make dinner, and make it here, it's already 5 so," she shrugged. I hadn't even realized we were out that long, it all flashed by hanging out with Stacie. "Ok, I'll text my dad and let him know," I said, already taking my phone out.
We brought the stuff in the house and Stacie showed me to the kitchen, "my mom will be here soon, my dad, well who knows anymore." Stacie continued to unbag the groceries. "Stace are you home? I-" Aubrey stopped at the entrance of the kitchen, "oh, Beck, you're here?" she observed, "and cooking dinner." I added with a smile.
Aubrey nodded slowly as she looked at Stacie, Stacie shrugged with a smile and turned to me, "well I've shown you where everything is, get cooking mister." she waved to me before leaving with her sister.
I guess I just start then.
I was letting the sauce simmer and checking on the chicken when I heard the front door open, seconds later my principal walked through the door. "Good evening ma'am." I waved at the older woman, "Beckett, what are you doing in my kitchen?" she asked, setting her purse in a chair, "uh, funny story actually." I said, she looked at me waiting for more of an explanation.
"A funny story that I can't explain really, to be honest, I'm as confused as you are. Garlic bread?" I pushed a plate of bread towards her, she looked a little apprehensive but she sat at the island and grabbed a piece nonetheless.
We talked for a bit until Stacie finally came back, "mom, you're home!" Stacie hugged her mother, "why is there a boy in my kitchen making delicious food?" Karrie asked, "well, Beck is my date to homecoming, so we went shopping today, and he offered to buy me lunch, but then I asked if he could cook, and that leads us to here." Stacie explained, "uh huh...Date?" Karrie looked at me, "uh, yeah?" I asked more than said, "well what is it? Yay or nay?" she asked again.
"Yes, I am her date." I said with more confidence, "that is of course if you allow it...ma'am, ms, Ms. Posen-Conrad." I stammered, "we'll see what Thomas has to say about it, but I'll allow it." Karrie finally said and I let out a relieved breath. That relief only lasted seconds when I remembered that I had to talk to Stacie's father, a man that could scare Aubrey was no man I wanted to face.
The food was nearly done when the front door opened and heavy footsteps made their way to the kitchen, "Karrie?" a tall muscular man stood in the doorway, he had short neatly kept blonde hair, green round eyes, and a sharp jaw. Every inch of his face screamed authority.
"Hey, Tommy!" Karrie greeted her husband with a hug and kiss, Stacie was next to hug him before his attention turned to me.
He eyed me and I looked back at him. "Evening sir." I held out my hand for him to take, he gripped my hand tight and it took a lot in me not to wince. I maintained a firm grip until he let go. "Dad, this is Beckett Mitchell. He and his father moved across from Chloe not too long ago." Stacie told her father, "and that explains why he's in my house?" Thomas raised an eyebrow, "he's here because he wants to get your permission to take me to homecoming." Stacie said.
If looks could kill.
He turned a stone-cold glare on me and surveyed me. "What makes you think you're good enough for my daughter, my youngest, sweetest, kindest daughter?" he asked, I swallowed to keep my voice from shaking as I answer. "I don't sir. I don't think I'm good enough, but I know that I really like Stacie, and am willing to stand here and admit that to her father." I answered honestly.
He nodded and relaxed slightly, "so he's nothing like the last guy you brought home, good. Follow me, Beckett, I want to have a private chat with you in my study." he walked out of the kitchen and I followed.
We reached a room that had bookshelves and a big desk with two chairs in front, he told me to sit in one and went to sit behind the desk.
"So Beckett, tell me about yourself." he started, "well for a start, you can call me Beck. I'm 16, I play basketball and make music, that's my dream. To be a music producer." I said with as much professionalism as I could muster. "Do you have a job?" he asked next, "not currently, I'm focusing on my studies and the basketball team." I answered, "basketball team?" he pondered, "yes sir. I'm on the school team, starting small forward." I said, trying not to sound boastful.
"Congrats. I used to play a little ball myself back in the day." Thomas said easily, "sweet, what position?" I asked, slightly more interested in this conversation, this was my strong suit. "Shooting guard. Got all the way to a D1 college. Joined the army right after I graduated. Do you have any intentions of joining the military?" Thomas segued.
"I've considered it, my grandfather was a general for 17 years, died on the battlefield, my dad did a tour when he was 24, and my great-grandmother was a medic during WWII. So military blood is in my genes, I think I'll do a tour like my dad and then be on the reserves like him." I said, "good, tell your dad I thank him and his father for his service, one general to another." Thomas nodded proudly.
"Look Beck, I'm going to be frank. Stacie has dated only two other boys, one was a smug, arrogant, know-it-all, they lasted a week. The last was a little like you, sweet, genuine, but he lacked honor and loyalty, he broke my baby's heart. Can I trust you with her?" he looked me deep in the eyes as he spoke, "yes sir, I care a lot about Stacie, and if you allow me the chance I will always give my 100% to her." I said with all the truth I held.
"Ok," he stood up and held out his hand, I took it and shook firmly, "have fun at the dance and have her back no later than 11." he released me once again and I finally let out a satisfied breath.
After dinner, I cleaned up and let Stacie walk me to the door.
"Was that your plan the whole time?" I finally asked what I'd been wanting to the whole night, "what?" she asked, far too innocent to be serious, "you wanted me to get permission from your dad." I said more than asked, "yeah, I guess, I just wanted the green light to be there if you want to go further than the dance. I really like you, Beck, just so you know." Stacie said, she kissed my cheek again and gave me a tight hug.
"Good night." she whispered in my ear before pulling back, "night, I really like you too fyi." I winked as I left the house.
A/N: Dudes I am on a roll! Two chapters in a week! Anyways, leave suggestions for what should happen later in the story, or just like leave reviews so I know people actually want me to continue this. Ok, bye guys!