Oh, yeah.
She's SO going to kill you.
You and Thomas have been dating for nearly a month now and you still haven't told three very important people.
Your sister.
Your Mom.
And most importantly - your DAD.
You have no worries that your Dad will kill you.
But he will most definitely kill Thomas.
Your Mom will probably be happy and start crying or something.
Your sister will be mad that you haven't told her sooner but she'll get over it. After she kills you. Slowly.
You sigh. Juliette is supposed to be calling you any second now. Oh, you're so dead. Maybe she'll understand? Nope. Definitely won't. Maybe if you start getting emotional about how Thomas is leaving in two months she'll forget about it?
You hear your phone ring. You feel a pang of nervousness as you look at the ID. Juliette. You bite your bottom lip before you answer.
"Hey, Juli." You say with a sigh.
She clicks her tounge, "Hi, Iris. Nice to talk to you too. Loved the sigh of welcome in the beginning by the way. Made me feel real warm and fuzzy, ya know?"
"Sorry."
"So what's up?" Juliette says cheerfully.
"Oh, you know....stuff." You say. You've got to somehow work that Thomas is your boyfriend now. How does one fit that into a conversation?
"Thank you, Miss Details." Juliette says. You can just picture her rolling her eyes.
"Seriously. What's new?"
"A few things are new." You say simply.
"Again, let me throw out how very chatty you are today. I thought you wanted to talk?"
"I do!" You say quickly.
"Awesome. Then spit it out, girl. I don't have all day." She says with the manners of someone who has none.
"Fine." You sigh, "Thomas....sort of asked me to be his girlfriend."
"GOOD FOR YOU!!!!" You hear Juliette yell, "Of course he did! You two are crazy about each other."
"Yeah." You chuckle.
"When did this happen?" She asks.
You pause and think for a moment.
"I'm....not going to answer that question." You say slowly.
"Iris....?" Juliette says suspiciously.
"What?" You say trying to sound innocent.
"When did this happen?" She presses.
"Recently." You say simply. An honest enough answer.
"How recent is recent?" She asks.
"A month or so ago?"
"IRIS!" She shouts.
"Yeah....?" You say quietly.
"You should have told me sooner!"
"Well, you've been busy!"
"I'm always busy!" She counters.
"Well, then, there you go! Exactly my point!"
"You're in BIG trouble." She says stubbornly.
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"I'm not doing this."
"Are too!"
"I refuse."
"Dad's going to kill him, you know?"
"Oh, trust me. I'm very well aware."
"Have you told them? Are you going to tell them?"
"Of course, I'm going to tell them. I can't just call them up one day and say, 'Oh, hey Mom. Hey Dad. Guess what! I'm getting married. The weddings next week! Hope you can come!" You say sarcastically.
Juliette pauses, "You're planning on marrying him?"
"Ahhhh...." You dwindle off. You clear your throat, embarrassed, "The thought had crossed my mind, yes."
"You want to MARRY him!?" Juliette exclaims.
"Well, me and him may not end up together in the end but I want to marry eventually!" You say, trying to sound reasonable.
"What happened to twenty five being a good age?" Juli teases.
"That rule is only for little sisters." You say smiling.
"Oh, I see how it is." Juliette says rolling her eyes.
"You'd better." You say grinning.
Juliette sighs, "So when are yoy going to tell Mom and Dad?"
"Soon. Probably as soon as I get off the phone with you."
Juliette laughs, "Yeah. You have fun with that. It'll be a nice little chat."
"I hope so." You say nervously.
Juliette pauses, "I'm sure it'll be fine. "
"Yeah. Maybe."
There's a pause that would be awkward if you weren't sisters.
"So did I tell you I joined the rifle team?" Juliette say perkily.
You smile, "No. You joined the rifle team? Like with guns?"
"Yeah, it was really funny because...."
The two of you talk on and on. That was one of the good things about Juiliette. She was able to help you get your mind off things.
- - - -
"Hello?"
You sigh, "Hi....Mom."
"Oh, Iris! Yes, how are you dear? You hardly ever call."
"I'm good. Better than good, actually. I um, have some news. For you and Dad. It's kind of big."
"Well, of course, I'll get your father. But what's going on? Are you moving again?" Your Mom asks.
"No, Mom. Is Dad there yet?"
"No, just a minute."
You hear talking in the background before you hear your Dad, "Hello?"
"Hey. Am I on speaker phone?" You ask.
"Yeah." You hear your Mom.
"Great so um, I've been dating this guy named Thomas for a while...." You start.
"I don't like where this is going." You hear your Dad say.
You roll your eyes, "Just hang on. Let me finish. Anyway, we've been on dates and I really like him so recently he asked to be his girlfriend and I said yes."
"I was right. I don't like it." Dad says.
"That's great, honey!" Your Mom squeals. She's so like Juliette.
"How'd you meet him?" Your Mom asks.
"Oh, just through work." You say casually.
"What does he do?" Dad asks.
Darn it.
You were hoping they wouldn't ask this question.
"Um....he's an actor."
"Go figure." Dad mutters, "Actors are trouble! Eventually, he'll go away and long distance relationships don't work out."
"But we're not in a long distance relationship!" You say trying to sound convincing.
"Don't listen to your father. He's just being a grumpy old man. We're happy for you!"
"Thanks Mom." You sigh, smiling a bit.
"So do we get to meet him?" She asks.
Oh.
Whoa.
Whoa there.
Um.
"I don't know, Mom. He's an actor. He's kinda busy. And he lives in London most of the time so...."
'Is he British?" Mom asks.
"Yeah."
"That's so neat! We have to meet him now!" She gushes.
"I'll see what I can do, but I'm making no promises. Thomas stays pretty busy."
"What's his last name again?"
"Sangster. He's Thomas Brodie Sangster."
"Don't I recognize that name?" Your Father growls.
"Probably."
"That's that boy you used to be crazy about!" Your Dad gripes.
"I'm still pretty crazy about him." You mutter.
"I don't like him." Your Dad says stubbornly.
"Oh, you don't like anyone." You say rolling your eyes.
"This boy had better treat you right." Dad threatens.
"He has Dad. He's really sweet. I'm sure if you meet him, you'll like him. He treats me like I'm the only thing that he loves."
Your door bell rings.
Oh, thank goodness!
Some amazing human being is saving you from the awkwardness of your parents.
"Hey, someone's at the door! I need to go." You tell them quickly.
"Okay, goodbye dear." Mom says.
"See ya."
You quickly hang up and walk to the door. You open it and find the mail man standing outside your door.
"Delivery for a Mrs. Iris." The man says, looking you up and down.
"That's me." You confirm.
The man nods, "Sign here." He hands you a clip board.
You quickly sign off your name and he hands you the package.
"Thank you." You call as he walks away.
The package is wrapped in brown paper and neat little black letters spelling your name are on the very top.
In the left corner you notice another name.
Thomas Brodie Sangster.
You smile as you tear open the sides and slide out a little silver box.
What on earth would Thomas send you?
You lift the lid off the box.
Inside is a little bracket. Woven delicately with brown rope and a single charm braided into it. The letter T with a heart engraved next to it. You smile as you reach for the note underneath it.
"To go with our matching outfits. :-) I thought you might like it. I have one too.
-Thomas"
You smile as you slide the bracelet on. He was right. You do like it. He buys you too much. But at least you know you didn't lie to your Father.
He certainly does treat you like you're the only thing he loves.