Always and Forever

The combination of rain beating against windows and soft snores woke me from my sleep the next morning. I looked around the vaguely familiar room, identifying it as Brendon’s. After all, he was lying next to me, snoring, a small pool of drool on his pillow, I’ll admit it, it was pretty cute.

I got out of bed quickly and changed into my now dry clothes checking my phone to see that it had a total of twenty eight missed calls. My phone began to vibrate again, stupidly; I rejected it, not wanting to have a fight with my mom over the phone in Brendon’s house.

I had almost made my out the door when Brendon’s voice stopped me “It’s still raining.”

“Brendon,” I said quietly, “I really really need to get home, my mom’s gonna kill me.”

Brendon rolled his eyes “Dramatic much?”

“I wasn’t meant to come here last night.”

Brendon nodded, “I’ll take you home okay”

I nodded and grabbed my bag, leaving the room while he got changed.

We walked downstairs and I went in the direction of the door. I turned around to notice Brendon gone.

“Holly, get over here!” Brendon yelled “Mom’s made chocolate chip pancakes!”

“Brendon, I’ve gotta get home!”

“Yeah yeah, after this.”

I had to admit it, the pancakes were good and Mrs. Urie treated me like her own daughter. She made me pancakes, pretty much forced me to have a shower and let me borrow her blow dryer and helped me straighten my hair. I came out of the bathroom to find Brendon watching Willy Wonka on tv. I smiled at my favourite movie and sat down to watch it with him. The silence of the house amazed me. Brendon’s mother went off into another room and apart from the TV, it was completely silent. I couldn’t help but wish that my home was like that too.

“Shit, Brendon, I’m sorry, but I-I have to go.” I said when I glanced over at the clock which read five thirty.

“Umm, okay, wh-when’s your cousin’s party?”

“You're coming?” I said in shock.

“Why, do you need to uninvited me again?” Brendon’s defensive wall immediately appeared again.

“No no, no” I said quickly “It’s just that we have to be there in an hour.”

“Oh, shit, let me grab a jacket and we’ll go” he said quickly, jumping off the couch.

“Umm, Brendon” I said taking in his appearance or grey jeans and a frayed t-shirt “We’re gonna be at a restaurant. It’s a bit formal than that.”

“Yeah yeah yeah whatever” he said waving me off as he walked upstairs taking three steps at a time.

***

I should’ve known not to bring Brendon. If I haven’t said this already I will now. I am part Greek; it’s where I get my tanned skin from. In my family, when you bring a guy to meet your family they automatically assume that he is 1) Greek and 2) That you two will be getting married. As you all know, with Brendon, he was neither of the two.
Brendon admittedly, scrubbed up pretty well when he actually put some effort into his appearance. He wore his black jeans tucked into a white shirt and his leather jacket.

We walked into the restaurant ‘Atheos’s Greek Tavern’ and were immediately ambushed by a number of waiters speaking to Brendon and me in rapid Greek.

Brendon looked uncertainly from the waiters and me “Um, Zendiakakios’s table” I told them. The waiter continued to talk to us in Greek as he led us to the table where my parents, aunt, uncles and cousins were sitting.

“Everyone!” I yelled standing at the foot of the table, “This is Brendon.” The family sat in silence as they all took in Brendon. He walked awkwardly to the back of our table and sat down.

“You didn’t tell me you were Greek” he whispered close to me. I blushed as I felt his breath on my neck “And everyone’s staring at me...shit-”

“Don’t swear” I hissed “My Yiaiyia will kill you!”

“Fine” he rolled his eyes at me “wow, this feels like school! By the way, what does Yiayia mean?”

“It’s like a grandma, and they’re all trying to figure out if your Greek or not.”

Brendon snickered “I don’t look Greek at all, as if they’d think that!”

I glared at him “Do I look Greek?”

“Fine” Brendon sighed “Good point.”

I glanced down the table to see my mother staring at me her eyes wild with fury. It was obvious she hated Brendon and to be honest I thought it was mostly uncalled for. She took me into the bathroom where she let loose, screaming at me. She didn’t want me to see him at all. As soon as this project was over me and Brendon’s friendship (I think it’s beginning to become something along those lines,) would be over too.

“Oh, yum, cheese!” Brendon smiled when the fried cheese platter came out. He cut some onto his fork “Want some?” he offered.

I scrunched up my nose in disgust “I hate cheese.”

Brendon shrugged “You’re weird.”

The breads and dips came out next.

Followed by the potatoes.

Then there was the chicken.

And the fish.

Next was the-

“No! You cannot be serious, there can’t be more!” Brendon gave an exasperated sigh and slumped against the chair.

I smiled “You can’t be full” I leant over and scooped some meatballs into my plate “You’re weird.” I quoted.

“Shut up” he pushed me slightly “I’m not as good at pacing myself as others are.”

I pet my stomach proudly “It takes many years of practise and experience.” Brendon laughed, “And then, we dance to work it all off.” I smiled.

“No no, no I am not dancing!” Brendon said defiantly.

“I’m sure you will.”

Brendon shook his head stubbornly and scooped some meat onto his plate.

“Whoppaaa”

No, we are not watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding this is My Big Fat Greek Reality and yes, it is the movie of my life. Welcome, sit back and enjoy.

Anyway.

As the night progressed Brendon’s wall began to fall further and further down. I found myself getting close to him and I liked it. The way he was with me was nothing like the way he was at school. I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t always like this. Heck, he’d be one of the most popular guys in school if he acted like this.

Brendon was pretty much, the life of the party and the most loved boy my Yiayia has ever met, honestly, he was her favourite (but she still didn’t know he wasn’t Greek.) Brendon was currently in the middle of a massive circle which included almost the whole restaurant. The boy had a talent for dancing and had fast become a five star Greek dancer.

“Fu-far out, you people know how to work out” Brendon breathed struggling for breath, grabbing a clean serviette off his table and whipping down his face and neck which were dripping with sweat. I’d be lying if I said that the room didn’t suddenly get hotter for me when I saw this.

“Brendon! Brendon!” I turned to see my Yiayia shuffling over to where we standing on the edge of the dance floor.

She started talking and laughing while speaking to him in rapid Greek.

Brendon cut her off politely “Sorry mam, I don’t speak Greek.”

“Sorry?” she asked confused.

“I’m not Greek” he smiled.

“Really” Yiaya promptly turned on her heels and left. She didn’t speak to me or Brendon for the rest of the night.

We arrived back home late that night and to be honest, I really didn’t want to go inside. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay, it is pretty late?” I offered.

“Nah, it’s okay” he said simply. Brendon quickly ran over to the car and opened the door for me. I got out and found myself blushing again when he put his hand on the small of my back and walked me to the door.

"Umm, well, I guess I'll see you around" Brendon said awkwardly stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Um, okay, thanks for tonight" I smiled unlocking the door.

"No worries."

I had no idea of how to end the nigh seeing as I had no experience in ending 'dates'. I just stood there awkwardly with Brendon. He quickly swooped down to my level and pressed his chapped plump lips to my cheek. I tensed up immediately and flushed a deep shade of red. His lips felt amazing on mine and its impossible to describe how it felt having him so close to me.

"Umm, thanks" I said as he pulled away...did I seriously just say thanks to a kiss... wow that's sad.

"Yeah..." Brendon said awkwardly "Uh, I'll see you around Holly."