What Happens Under The Sun

''Come on, we're going to be late.'' Tom muttered impatiently when the traffic light ahead of us turned red.

''Tom, calm down, it's twenty to and the restaurant is just down the street.'' I said, putting one hand on his thigh and squeezing it reassuringly.

''I know, I know, I'm just nervous.'' He said almost apologetically as he took my hand in his.

''Just think, after tonight, there'll be no more nervousness, no more worrying about whether or not we can be seen together. It'll just be you and me free to do whatever we want.'' I said as we pulled into the valet stop at the restaurant.

We walked in and the host greeted us warmly, but looked a little shocked when he noticed my hand in Tom's.

''Is my father here yet?'' I asked.

''No Miss, but your table is ready if you'll follow me.'' he said, grabbing a few menus and leading us towards a table in a more quiet part of the restaurant.

I sat down beside Tom, leaving the seat across from us for my dad, and I heard him take a deep breath and then let it out quickly.

''Just don't forget to breath.'' I reminded him and he smirked a bit.

''Besides if he does totally freak, there are plenty of witnesses.'' I added and he rolled his eyes.

''I'm going to the bathroom, I'll be back in a second.'' Tom said and then quickly headed in the direction of the washrooms.

I was sitting alone and reading over the menu when movement to my left caught my eye. The host was on his way back to the table, but this time with my dad in tow. I took a deep breath. Here we go.

''Kate!'' my dad said happily as I stood up.

''Hi daddy.'' I replied as he kissed me on the cheek.

''Where's this boyfriend of yours? Or is he standing us up?'' he asked lightly as we sat down.

''He's just in the bathroom, he should be back any second.'' I told my dad.

''Listen, I don't want you to judge him just by looking at him alright? I want you to just let it sink in while I explain our situation.'' I said.

''Situation? What is he? A tattooed biker?''

''Just promise you wont just mp any conclusions and let me explain ok?''

''I promise not to jump to any conclusions and let you explain.'' My dad said, holding up his hand as if he was swearing in court.

''Good cau-''

''Oh look, what are the odds. It's Tom Kaulitz.'' My dad said with a smile, waving slightly.

''Oh the odds.'' I muttered as I turned to look at Tom. He looked almost hopeful at the sight of my dad's smile.

''I wonder where he's sitting, I didn't see Bill.'' My dad said, still smiling as he looked around the restaurant.

When Tom turned and started to walk towards our table though, my dad's smile faltered ever so slightly. And when Tom sat down next to me, it damn near dropped right off his face. Suddenly, my dad's smile was very forced.

''Daddy, you know Tom.'' I said and my dad nodded stiffly. ''Tom's my boyfriend.''

My dad folded his hands tightly on the table.

''I said I'd let you explain.'' He said but that too, sounded forced.

''Tom and I have actually been seeing each other a few times a week and um talking on the phone, ever since we got back from the resort.'' I said.
The part about the phone was a lie, but I didn't think my dad needed to know we'd been screwing like rabbits.

''I know you said that he was going to break my heart and blah blah blah, but I love him with everything I have, and he loves me too, and no matter what you say, you're not going to put an end to us. We're together whether you like it or not.'' I said. I didn't know I could sound so authoritative with my dad.

It was silent then as my dad mulled over everything that I had just said. It was as though all the noise from the entire restaurant had been sucked up into some kind of noise vacuum. I couldn't even hear Tom breathing and I grabbed and squeezed his hand under the table as if to remind him to do so.

My dad finally looked up from his hands. His knuckles were considerably less white. He sighed.

''I should have seen this coming.'' He said. It wasn't approval, but he wasn't tearing us down either and I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding.

''I sent you to that resort in the first place so that you would meet the Kaulitz boys, although I had been planning on it being Bill sitting here when I walked in this evening.'' I couldn't believe the words coming out of my dad's mouth. My mouth hung open, my eyes wide, and I knew Tom looked the same.

He had sent me there on purpose so that I could meet the Kaulitz twins? Not just meet the twins, but so that I could hook up with Bill. This was way too surreal, I was in a genuine state of shock. Bill?!

''Are you serious?'' I asked when I got over the initial surprise and my dad shrugged.

''Bill's a nice boy.'' He said and I shook my head slightly.

''I can't believe you sent me there so that I could get together with someone! You were trying to fix me up!'' I said.

''Well it worked didn't it? I mean, so you didn't fall for the right twin, but you're happier than you have been for the past little while right?'' my dad said.

I opened my mouth to voice some sort of objection, but I snapped it shut. He was right. I was happier with Tom than I had been in what felt like forever.

''You're crazy.'' I sighed. My dad laughed and I soon joined him.

Beside me, Tom was still silent, looking back and forth between my dad and me, clearly unsure to how he was supposed to react to all of this. I squeezed his hand.

''So we're not in trouble?'' he asked and I laughed again as I shook my head.

''Well that's a relief.'' Tom sighed, leaning back slightly in his chair.

''Son, I'm happy that you can make my daughter so happy and if you're what she wants, I'm not going to get in the way.'' My dad said.

''Hear that? We're in the clear.'' I said with a smile and this time, Tom's face lit up too.

The rest of dinner went smoothly, we talked idly about those topics that you can discuss with both your boyfriend and your dad, and Tom held my hand on top of the table the whole time.

After about an hour and a half, we were finished eating and it was time to leave. We said goodbye to my dad, me kissing him on the cheek and Tom shaking his hand firmly, and then drove back to Tom's apartment.

''I still can't believe it.'' Tom said as he opened the door to his apartment.

''Oh will you drop it already? So what if I was meant to end up with Bill, I'm not with him am I?'' I asked as we walked towards his bedroom.

''But still, hearing that puts that thought in my head and just the thought of you with my brother rubs me the wrong way.'' He said as he changed into some sweatpants.

He flopped down onto the bed and I got undressed and then grabbed the shirt I had worn the night before last and put in on. I lay down beside him and folded my arms on his chest and then set my head on top of them.

''But it's not Bill I'm with is it?'' I asked.

''No.'' Tom replied.

''And it's not Bill I'm screwing every other night and sometimes in the morning is it?'' I asked with a smirk.

''No.'' He smiled.

''There you have it. Face it Tom, I'm all yours whether you want me or not.'' I said.

''Oh I want you alright.'' He said with a smile as he wrapped his arms around me and turned us so that he was on top of me. He kissed me lightly.

''Good cause I want you too.'' I said and replaced my lips on his.