"marley, sweetie it's time to get up." my moms quiet voice said. i will never understand how i can wake up to her voice. i do it all the time, it's like a reflex of some sort. i can sleep through anything, except my mom waking me up.
i mumbled a quiet okay and turned onto my back and stared at my ceiling. i finally turned to my phone after a few minutes to see the facetime call still connected. i wasn't surprised to see vinnie up on the other line.
sometimes i don't think he sleeps. vinnie was still playing, but at some point last night he changed it from fortnite to call of duty.
"good morning." i said, my voice raspy. it honestly scared the shit out of me.
"hey. are you gonna shower?" i grabbed my phone and set it up on my bed as i got up to grab what i needed my shower, like the towel on the towel rack i had in my room.
"yeah, i'll be back in like fifteen to get dressed and do whatever else i need. when i leave the house ima have to hang up." i answered at the door to my room.
"gotcha." he said just before i left my room.
i was beyond excited to see him. one, i couldn't wait to see his reaction when he saw me. two, i was so excited to meet his mom, maria, and the rest of his family.
it felt like it was happening all too fast. not that i mind. it just made it seem so surreal.
i took my shower and i made sure to wash my hair. i brushes my teeth and washed my face before i left the bathroom wrapped in my towel.
sometimes i forget to bring my clothes with me when i'm on facetime. i'm so used to just going to my room after showering and changing in there. i've never been one to change in the bathroom unless i was at a friends or family's
i close my door behind me and creep past my phone to the clothes i laid out last night. i ended up wearing a pair of black nike shorts and a white crop top that came just above my belly button. the straps so small that it seemed like they weren't there. i put on a white bralette that went with it.
i had a jacket that was waiting for me to wear in the airport, which was a beige "poopy" jacket that was way to big for me.
i sat down on my bed after getting dressed only to get back up again to grab my stuff from the bathroom i will be taking with me.
"be right back." i said as i left my room to grab my toiletries.
i went back to my room after struggling to open my door with my arms full. i went and grabbed ziploc bags from the kitchen downstairs to put my things i since they were wet after my shower before i shoved them in my suitcase.
"i'm back." i finally sat back down on my bed with my makeup around me.
"hey." vinnie said once again.
he had finally moved away from his game. now laying down. i guess he was going to bed finally. i checked the time to see it was already four thirty.
"why are you putting on makeup?" he asked me.
"i'm just putting on a little bit. like i'm doing my eyebrows and putting on some concealer. i also don't wear a lot of makeup as it is." i answered.
"i don't know anything of what you said." he yawned.
"that's fine." i laughed.
once i finished i went to put the makeup in a makeup bag. the makeup i wore only consisted of concealer, eyeliner, mascara, and eyebrow stuff. i really don't wear much.
i went to my chair and picked up the giant jacket and put it on. i went to my dressed and picked out a pair of white nike socks that reached mid calf. i then threw on my white nike air forces. i put my glasses on that i normally only wear if i'm doing homework or watching tv.
"i hope you downloaded stuff on netflix." vinnie said.
"i did surprisingly, i downloaded the chilling adventures of sabrina. it's really good. i've already seen a few episodes." i said. i set my suitcase up getting ready to leave my room.
i grabbed my backpack i set up to bring on the plane that had a blanket and a few other things i would want. i then unplugged my phone and grabbed my charger and airpods.
"i guess you're leaving." vinnie sighed.
"yeah, which means you're going to sleep right. it's almost fi-two." i corrected myself almost forgetting he was three hours behind.
"i am. bye baby. have a nice flight." i felt butterflies in my stomach from the name he used. i smiled at the phone.
he already looked like he was about to pass out with his eyes closed.
"bye, i'll text you when i board and land even though you won't be up for my boarding."
"yes please do that."
i hung up not to long after and got help with my suitcase down the stairs and into the back of the car.
my flight wasn't until six, but it took about fifty minutes to get to detroit airport. the flight is almost five hours and i was glad to have brought stuff to be comfortable.
i said my long goodbyes to my parents and my grumpy brother for him having to get up. i then headed to the line heading towards security and looked back at my family about a hundred times before i couldn't see them anymore as i walked away.
it felt extremely weird leaving without them. i was kind of sad to be leaving them, but that feeling went away once i reminded myself where i was going, that sad feeling i had turned into excitement and i was practically bouncing in my seat.
i looked at the tv that was a few feet away to check how long i had until i board. i was hungry and my stomach sure made it clear for the people around me i was hungry. seeing i had about thirty minutes i went to a vending machine to get cold coffee and a bag of chips just to settle the feeling i had right now.
also in those thirty minutes i had time to make tiktoks and talk to some strangers who joined in at one point that was waiting on the same flight.
"what's your guys' at's?" i asked them. in front of me stood two boys and a girl. all which were taller than me. i took in this time to realize how short i really was, even with an added inch to the shoes and i couldn't imagine what it would be like around vinnie.
the three gave me their at's that i quickly put in the caption to the video that said 'met some cool dudes at the airport, guess where we're going ?'
i posted the video seconds later.
"i'm marley by the way." i said to them as we sat down.
"i'm max, this is drew, and that's leslie." one of them said.
"so why are you guys going to seattle?" i cringed at myself for asking the most lamest question ever.
"oh we are going back home after visiting family for like a week sadly. makes no sense really. what about you?" the girl, leslie, said.
"i'm going to see my boyfriend. i'm surprising him." i can feel the smile on my face as it went from friendly to happy. it felt good to tell someone about my excitement.
"oh boyfriend? he lives pretty far." max said again. i glanced to the boy who wasn't speaking to see him glance up from his phone and back to it.
"yeah, so do you guys from your family members if they live in michigan." i replied. i didn't mean to seem rude, but it might have cone across it.
"true." leslie said as to interrupt her brother (i'm guessing) from saying anything else.
"wait, holy shit you're like tiktok famous." drew finally says something and looks at me hard in surprise.
"well i guess so." i shrugged as if it didn't really mean much. i did notice how big of a following i have but i wouldn't go anywhere near to say 'famous'.
"sorry i've been stalking your page since you tagged us." drew laughed nervously. "and you guys are cute."
i guess he was mentioning vinnie when he said his last sentence. i laughed at him for being blunt by saying he was stalking my page. i was happy he thought vinnie and i were cute.
"thanks." i said, feeling the blush creep on my face.
"let me see drew." leslie peaked over his shoulder. i noticed the resemblance between them all. it did tale a moment, but they each had the same facial features in their own way that you wouldn't notice unless you looked longer than a few seconds.
"oh my god." max shook his head at his siblings, "what's he look like?" he asked instead of peaking at his brothers phone. he did take the easy way.
i unlock my phone and go to my camera roll to find a photo of vinnie which didn't take long at all since i'm screenshotting almost everything he sends.
"oh wait a minute. i've seen you guys before. on that one instagram account. i was wondering why you looked familiar." max said looking up from my phone. "did you guys fake it?"
"top secret information. nah i'm just kidding. we never confirmed we were dating until now, how is it fake?" i answered, knowing what really happened. of course i wasn't going to tell these complete strangers mine and vinnie's personal lives.
some information can be left out. it isn't as if i was completely lying. of course the beginning was just as a joke, but we never did say we were dating, never confirmed it on social media. that is what everyone is asking anyways.
it was about time for me to line up and board. once i was lined up i opened my messages to text my parents to tell them i was boarding and telling them i'll text them when i land. i also texted vinnie, knowing he was asleep, that i was boarding and i'll text him when i land.
i then went to maria's texts to tell her when i was landing which was around ten. we already discussed everything beforehand. like we talked about how we weren't going straight to her house, which i was fine with. i wanted to get to know maria more.
i didn't just want to show up to her house and not know her or acknowledge her whatsoever. not saying i would or anyone. maria seems like a genuinely nice person and she's so sweet through our texts. we've called a few times through the months and honestly she already felt like a second mom.
i was still nervous meeting her. i was extremely nervous now that i think of it. i was meeting my boyfriends mom, let alone both his parents. vinnie and i did just start dating and all, but i was still nervous. i feel like i've known him forever.
i take my seat in the middle, which i liked. i hated window seats because of the pressure on your ears that feels so bad. i didn't like the outside cause, i don't know i just didn't. the window seat did have its perks, like the view, but i'd rather be comfortable that be in pain.
i also figured that the three teens who were about my age, were going to sit around me when they got on. we did talk about it.
max ended up sitting on the inside and leslie on the outside. i would've felt bad for drew, but yet he volunteered to be sitting by himself, with strangers. i mean almost jumped up and down raising his hand yelling 'me me me i'll sit alone.'
in the short time i've known them i've realized drew was very quiet and loved to spend his time alone. i definitely didn't blame him because i love being alone most the time too.
max was definitely the oldest of the three. he loved taking charge and is very talkative. he was very open and had no filter when talking. his talking wasn't annoying in my opinion. he wasn't nonstop talking. it was more of the, i'll keep a conversation going because i want to know you and be nice type thing. if that makes any sense.
leslie was hyper and adorable. i mean adorable. she was also very sweet, in my opinion. it was a good personality trait to have and she was definitely likable. her overall appearance screamed friendly and welcoming.
i talked to the two sitting near me for a while before i decided i wanted to sleep. i felt like i didn't get much sleep last night, which was kind of true since i was up most the time with vinnie.
i woke up an hour before the flight was to land with my head on max and i moved up immediately. that's weird and embarrassing.
i ate about four packs of peanuts on the flight and had about two or three tiny cups to drink. i have never had to use the bathroom so bad in my life. i hate using airplane bathrooms. not just because, but because i'm lowkey scared of them.
i have no clue why. i just feel like 'what if the plane starts to crash and we go flying down and i'm not in my seat?' 'what if i fucking fly out?''what if we make a incline and all the shit and pee from the plane comes back up in my face?' so in conclusion, i'm waiting until we land.
i said my goodbyes to the three siblings, not before i got their snapchats and walked away. i needed a bathroom and quick. once i found the bathroom i did my business and walked out to find the baggage claim.
i felt my phone go off and read the message i received from maria.
meet you at the baggage claim, already inside.
i again felt nervous and started to walk slow. the text i received from maria reminded me to let my parents and vinnie know i landed. it felt weird that vinnie didn't know i was alone or here in his state.
i quickened my pace realizing it was be really rude to keep her waiting. what would she think of me? what if i disappoint her? does it always feel like this when you're meeting someone for the first time after talking to them before?
i made it to the baggage claim faster than expected. i looked to see where my bag is supposed to end up and walk over there. that was just a step easier for me to find maria.
it wasn't hard for me to spot her brownish blonde hair that resembled the shade of vinnies. i think she noticed me too because a smile spread across her face that definitely had me smiling back from how contagious it was.
i reach her only a few seconds after spotting her and was taken aback from the hug i was embraced it, tightly.
"oh my god it's finally nice to meet you." she said in the hug over my shoulder.
"you too. you are way more prettier in person." i said once she finally let go. she laughed lightly at my comment.
"that's too sweet, marley. you're so gorgeous, how in the world did you end up with my son." she laughed again. i laughed with her.
i wasn't nervous like i was before walking up to her. the air around her was so easy to be around and with the few second we've talked it's been easy.
"if i'm being honest i was so nervous to meet you." i said to her.
"no need to be. you're practically family now." i chuckled slightly. "come one sweetie let's find your bag."
-----
maria and i spent a few hours in the city. she took me out to eat breakfast when we left the airport and she showed me a few of her favorite places in seattle.
it was already one when we headed to her car.
i was glad to spend some of the day with her. it gave us a chance to bond before anything else happened while i was here.
i feel like one of the most important things to do when being with someone is having their parents like you and also having a relationship with them. i felt like i definitely achieved that with maria and i was glad that it happened.
once again i felt my stomach drop settling the nervousness i felt.
maria and i went over with how we were letting him know i was here. she told me how she texted him she left for groceries when he woke up and asked her were she was. that was letting me know that he was up.
she said that he would most likely be in his room so she would call him down to help with groceries that she doesn't even have.
"don't be nervous. he's going to be so happy. he might even cry." there was a second of silence, "he's going to cry."
i laughed at her sentence and she laughed with me.
"i'm serious he's always talking about you and how he wants you around. he's definitely going to cry." she elaborates.
we made it to their house and i got out the car after she opened her door. i walked behind her to the house. i waited for her to unlock the door and followed in after her.
i looked around the front area of the inside before catching up with her.
"your house is so nice." i compliment.
"thanks sweetheart." she said as we stopped just before entering the kitchen. "are you ready?"
i nodded my head and smiled.
"vinnie, i'm home. come get the groceries!" she called at the bottom of the stairs.
"yeah, coming!"
i felt nervous again and excited. it took a minute before we heard his steps coming downstairs.
"how long where you out?" vinnie asked as he was walking downstairs.
"i don't know. i got you something." she replied walking to the front door.
"how do you not know and what is it?" he asked as he reached the bottom step.
"look over there." she pointed in my direction. vinnie looked at her hands to her phone and gave a look of confusion.
"what? why are-no way." vinnie looked over. his mouth was open and he just stood in front of him mom while looking at me. "no way." he repeated.
"i need to sit down." he put his hands over his face and walked back against the wall to sit on the floor.
i laughed quietly and walked up to him and crouched beside him.
"baby." i lifted his head up for him to look at me. maria was right, he was going to cry. i laughed slightly about the conversation from earlier and the sight in front of me.
vinnie didn't waste time to pull me in his lap to where i was straddling him. he wrapped his arms tightly around me and put his chin in the crook of me neck. he was holding me like if he let go i would disappear.
"what are you doing here?" he asked quietly.
"i'm vacationing, duh." i answer coolly.
i could feel tears prick my own eyes. him crying made me want to cry and it was coming. i sniffed lightly.
"can you let go now, you're going to crush me." i said.
"oh yeah right." he laughed and let me go. i stayed in his lap for a few seconds as he wiped at his eyes. i got up and grabbed his hand to help him up. as if i really could. he finally stood next to me and the height difference was crazy. he was at least a foot taller than me.
he pulled me into another tight hug for a few seconds before letting go.
"was there actually any groceries?" he asked his mom.
she shook her head with a chuckle and put her phone down.
"you definitely have to send that to me." i said to her.
"yeah of course. i'll let you guys be." she nodded her head before heading out. "wait, vinnie can you get her suitcase from the car please. put it in the guest room, or your room. either is fine where she sleeps." i could hear the smirk on her.
"oh, yeah." he said.
i grabbed his hand in my small one compared to his and pulled him to the front door. he seems to be 'lagging' i would say. just a little slow in response.
"sorry i'm still shocked. it hasn't settled in." he opened the trunk to the car and took out my suitcase.
i reach for it only for him to push my hand away. "i've got it."
we headed back inside and upstairs. i followed behind him and listened as he talked to me about how he's feeling.
we enter his room and he sets my suitcase to the side beside the door and turns to me.
"can we just cuddle?" he asked.
"yeah of course." i nodded.
i looked around his room. it was bigger than i thought it was. the walls were red like i normally saw in our facetime calls. his lights were on, but very low as they usually were at night. i guess he was just chilling in here while his mom when and got me.
i squealed as i was lifted into the air as his arms wrapped from the back and i was laid into his bed.
"i'm impatient." he said when he laid next to me and pulled me close to him. i only laughed at him.
"a nap sounds nice high key." i said. he hummed in response which already let me know he was a step ahead of me.
it felt weird being here but i was glad. i knew i was going to get used to being here during the summer and i was most likely going to feel at home. for the most part comfortable.
i felt sleep overcome me as soon as i closed my eyes it felt good to close my eyes and sleep after barely getting any last night.
chapters are gonna be slower than normal since i'm not writing full chapters instead of texts, etc.