The Kind of Hoax That Leaves a Lump in Your Throat

When I awoke the next morning, josh was no where in sight. I looked around to see a note on the pillow next to me with my name on the top in josh’s hand writing.

Gone to pick up the boys from the airport.
I’ll come get you from work and we’ll go to straight to the rents.
Missing you already.
Love josh x

I quickly got up, realising I needed extra time too look good this morning cause josh was picking me straight up from work to go an have dinner with his parents?

But what was I supposed to wear?

It was hot out, like stupidly hot, but I didn’t want to turn up looking like some sort of major slut. I was raking through my wardrobe when Zahra burst through the door.

“What’s taking so long?”

“I don’t know what to wear” I moaned and started lightly banging my head on the wall.

“When has it ever mattered before?”

“Well it’s not everyday you go to your boyfriends parents house for dinner after work”

“Why didn’t you start with that one vi? Oh come one I’ll help” she smiled and rummaged through my wardrobe.

“Don’t pick anything to nice, I don’t wanna get their expectations up” I said and Zahra just smiled.

She threw me a pair of shorts and a shirt and then some brown oxfords before chucking some jewellery at me.

“You sure about this?” I asked

“Babe, you’ll look fit for josh, but nice for the rents. It’s the best of both worlds. Now get that pretty little arse of yours in gear. We have work to do.

Once I was dressed we went to work but it seemed like the hours were dripping like a tap that hadn’t been turn off properly. Soon enough though it was nearly time for josh to come and get me so I quickly nipped up to the loo to make sure I looked presentable enough. Once I was done I came back down the stairs but when I got half way I heard a whistle and stopped. I looked down to see josh sanding at the bottom, looking at me like he’d never seen me before.

“Ok who are you and what have you done with my girlfriend?”

“What are you talking about?” I said and galloped down the rest of the stairs.

“You look so different. You look beautiful” he whispered and kissed my forehead. “Not that you didn’t look beautiful before” he mused and I grabbed my bag.

I admit my hair was much longer from when josh and i met those months ago, it was now down past my waist and touching my hips. I probably needed a hair cut but I couldn’t bring myself to cut if off. But that’s all that had really changed. Well at least that’s all I thought had. And why was he only noticing now?

“You ready love, cabs outside”

“Yeah” I smiled and we quickly jumped in. “you know you should really learn to drive, it would be so much cheaper than us keep getting cabs everywhere”

“Um hello petrol doesn’t grow on tree’s vi, plus you could learn to drive”

“Nah I think that should be your job”

He smiled lightly and then took my hand. “You nervous?”

“Im practically wetting myself”

“You don’t need to be” he smiled and squeezed my hand tighter. “They’re gonna love you just as much as I do”

Even though josh was trying to be comforting, it didn’t help. Parents just didn’t like me. Fact. I was shy and awkward but the thing was I just came across as rude because I have no idea how to react to people.

The rest of the ride was spent in silence. He kept hold of my hand and rubbed circles in it to try and calm me down. It helped for a little while, but then the cab stopped and the nerves came back in full force.

Josh paid the driver and then we bundled out the cab and up the path. The house was about the size of the one we lived in now, maybe a little bigger. It was pretty and quaint looking, like they had spent a lot of time on it and liked keeping it looking nice.

Josh bashed on the door and I held his hand tightly, maybe a little too tight because he winced and bumped his hip with mine. “Vi come on, they won’t bite” he smiled and the door burst open.

On the other side was a girl who looked a little older than josh and I recognised her instantly from school. Sure she was much older now, but I could still tell it was her. As soon as she clocked josh as massive smile spread onto her face.

“joshyyyyy” she smiled and pulled him into her arms, “ive missed you so much”

“I missed you too Elissa” he chuckled and then pulled back, before grabbing my hand and pulling me into view. “lis this is violet”

“ahhh so we finally get to meet the girl you never shut up about” she laughed and he ducked his head slightly. “it’s nice to meet you” she smiled warmly and held her hand out. I shook it lightly and couldn’t help but smile back.

“it’s nice to meet you too” I replied and josh pulled me inside.

“see that wasn’t so bad” he whispered in my ear before leading me through into the kitchen. “hey mum” he sung and she dropped what ever she was instantly to go and hug him.

“oh josh, it’s so lovely to see you” she said her voice thick from either tears or the fact that her head was pressed against his chest. “ive missed you so much” I swear I could feel my heart breaking.

“ive missed you too mum” he replied and placed a kiss on her cheek. He held her tighter for a few more seconds before pulling away. “There’s someone I want you to meet” he said and walked over to me. josh’s mum wiped her eyes quickly and then turned her gaze towards me. “mum this is violet, my girlfriend” he smiled proudly.

Josh’s my looked from me and back to josh. She clearly saw the smile on his face because she mirrored it before looking back to me. “it’s lovely to meet you violet” she said sweetly and held her hand out.

I smiled back and shook her hand. Clearly there would be a lot of hand shaking today. “it’s nice to meet you too”

“let me get your father” she said and hurried out of the room.

“see, they’re not too scary” he smiled and kissed my forehead before josh’s mum returned with an older man who im guessing was josh’s dad. “hey dad” he smiled and then hugged him quickly “this is violet my girlfriend”

“hi, it’s a pleasure to meet you” I said, taking hold of his out stretched hand.

“The pleasure is all mine love” he winked and I couldn’t help but giggle.

“dinner will be in about five so if you all wanna go grab a chair” josh’s mum said and we made our way into the dinning room. Josh’s dad sat at the head of the table and I sat on his left with josh next to me and josh’s mum opposite with Elissa next to her.

“so violet, how did you and josh meet?” his mum asked me.

So the interrogation begins.

“well josh and I used to go to school together but we met again a few months back where I work”

“oh that’s interesting, where do you work?” his dad then asked.

“I’m a receptionist at a photography studio in town”

“yeah tom likes the vibes in there so we pretty much like live in there now” josh chipped in which I was grateful for, I sucked at all this question and answer rubbish.

“how long have you been working there for?”

“since I left college. I was planning on uni but it didn’t really work out”

“oh well that’s a shame, what were you thinking of studying?”

“sociology. It was the only subject at school I was any good at”

They all laughed lightly and I quickly excused myself to use the bathroom. Once I was done I slowly walked back to the dinning room, but I could hear them talking about me, and I knew it was wrong, but I hung outside and listened in.

“well she certainly is a pretty little thing” I heard his mum say, “smart too from what I can tell”

I heard josh laugh lightly and I couldn’t help but smile. “she is mum, she’s amazing”

“you certainly seem a lot happier” I heard Elissa say next

“what do you mean by that?”

“well it was just when you were with Hanna, and don’t get me wrong I liked the girl, but you always seemed on edge and worried. You seem more carefree and happy now. Like you’ve always got that stupid smile on your face”

“yeah well I trust violet; ive got nothing to be worried about”

“well she seems like a keeper to me” I then heard his dad chip in.

“she is. I love her more than anything.” I found it cute that he could admit something like that to his family. Boys are usually so closed and hardly ever show emotion. It was clear how close all of them were. I then I heard him sigh like he had something else he needed to say but wasn’t sure if she should say it or not. In the end he just blurted it out. “I think she’s the one. Actually no I know she is. She just makes me feel… different. I can’t imagine myself being with anyone else”

There was silence in the room but then Elissa broke it.

“awwwe my little joshy is in love” she cooed and then the rest of them laughed. I would have laughed along too, silently of course, but I was frozen in place.

I was the one. You know what that means right? That meant marriage and kids and growing old together. When I was growing up that was all I ever wanted. Just to find someone who I could love unconditionally and who would love me back just as much.

I never imagined it would be josh. Never in a million years. Then again I never knew josh felt the same way I did.

I wasn’t scared or freaked though, I felt elated. But I couldn’t let it show, it would just have to be something I spoke to josh about later. Then again if I told him he’d know I’d been listening.

“Not to ruin the moment” josh’s dad started “im happy for you josh, but it seems a little rushed, you’ve only know her what, 6 months tops and you think she’s the one?”

“I know it seems quick, but ive been in love with her since I was 14. Ive finally got the girl of my dreams and I’m not letting her go, not for anyone”

“Aw joshy, I’m so proud of you” I heard Elissa tease and I could just imagine his face turning bright red so I thought I’d go and save him.

I backed up a few steps and walked back into the room like I hadn’t heard a thing. The rest of dinner passed by smoothly and we sat around the table for a few hours after just talking. It was nice, I felt… accepted.

Josh lightly looked at his phone and his eyes widened slightly. “now as fun as this has been we need to get home, ive got an early start tomorrow”

“we? You guys live together?” Elissa piped up and josh just nodded.

“its kind of a new thing” he commented

“so you don’t live in the flat anymore?”

“nah, I mean I was spending most of my time at vi’s anyway so it made sense. I’ll write the address down if you need me” he smiled and quickly scribbled it down on some paper. “right then, I guess we’ll see you guys later”

“it was lovely too meet all of you” I smiled and they all hugged me goodbye.

“it was lovely to meet you too violet, we’ll hopefully see you soon” josh’s mum smiled as they all waved us off.

We jumped into the waiting cab and sped off home.

“see, all that worry for nothing. They love you I can tell” I just nodded and sleepily laid my head on his shoulder.

“Yeah, they’re really nice. Kinda makes me miss my parents” I mused quietly and yawned.

“Aw is my violet tired? Well don’t worry we’ll be home soon and then you can sleep all you want” he said lazily and I could tell he was tired himself.

All I could think about was what I’d over heard at dinner, and I couldn’t stop the smile.