I've been hiding something from my family for a little while now. I have a boyfriend.
His name is Ethan and he's the most handsome guy I've ever met in my life. He has fluffy brown hair, beautiful brown eyes, and he's such a softie it hurts. He's a theater techie, and I love sneaking into the auditorium and watching him fiddle with the soundboard in the booth after school. He was also a musician like me, he played violin and piano. He had 2 moms, but one of them died in the army when he was three. The two of us met at dance, he's a boy ballerina and is amazing at it.
Only problem, I'm the only one who knows I'm dating him. Until today, that is.
I sat on a bench outside of school and started daydreaming.
"Boo!" I heard from behind me, and I saw Ethan, his brown hair blowing in the wind under his beanie.
"Hi, Ethan." I said, smiling.
"When can this stop?" Ethan asked, taking my hand.
"When can what stop? This relationship?" I said sadly.
"No. That'll never stop, not until the day I die. I meant, when can we stop pretending? I love you, Catlynn, and I want the world to know." Ethan said, kissing my cheek.
"It's going to stop today, Ethan Connors. Follow me, we're taking a walk." I said, turning a corner.
"Times Square." Ethan said.
"We had our first date here, remember? I lied to my mom about having a late dance practice and I took you to Bryant Park and we ate cheeseburgers and watched the world go by." I said.
"I'll never forget that." Ethan said. "What does this have to do with us not pretending?"
"I'm taking a detour back home. I love walking around the city, checking out the sights." I said, turning another corner and dragging my boyfriend behind me.
I pulled Ethan in my apartment building and said, "Come on!"
"You seem awfully excited, Cat." Ethan said.
"Yeah. You're meeting my family, this is huge!" I said, turning the key and opening the door.
"Elle! Jess! I'm home!" I said, setting my bag down.
"There's a boy." Jessica said.
"Yeah. I know." I said. "Um, guys, this is my boyfriend, Ethan. Ethan, this is Elle, my mom, and Jessica, my aunt."
"Hello. It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Cat never stops talking about how amazing you are." Ethan said, shaking Elle and Jessica's hands.
"Evan is going to flip, and so is Ryan." Elle said.
"I know." I said as Evan barged in.
"Why is there a boy in the house?" he said.
"Evan, this is Ethan. My boyfriend." I said.
"You better not hurt her." Evan said.
"I wouldn't dream of it, sir." Ethan said, pulling down his beanie.
"Let's hope not."
"Shut up!" I said to Evan.
"Why is Cat blushing so much?" Alice said.
"She has a boyfriend." Jessica called out.
"Ethan, this is my sister Alice. Alice, this is Ethan." I said. Ethan shook Alice's hand as Ryan walked in, saying, "Hello everyone. Who's the boy?"
"My boyfriend. Ethan, that's Ryan. My dad."
"Good afternoon, sir. It's nice to finally meet you." Ethan said, shaking Ryan's hand.
"Will you hurt her?" Ryan said.
"Never. My mother taught me better." Ethan said, and I smiled like an idiot.
"Um...Ethan and I have been together a while. Since the beginning of September."
"You don't seem overwhelmed by a big family." Alice said, changing the subject.
"We have. As for the big family, it's nice having these many people who care. It's just my mom and me. My mama was killed overseas when I was three. My mom made sure I know how to treat a woman right." Ethan said, and I smiled sadly. Ethan talks about his mama a lot, just like I talk about Elle and Jess a lot.
"I'm sorry Ethan. We're always here for you." Elle said.
Ethan nodded. "I appreciate that, Ms. McLemore."
"You're so cute, Ethan Connors. Did I ever tell you that? You're so cute and such a gentleman and I love you." I said.
"I love you too, Catlynn."
I turned to my family and said, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys sooner..."
"It's okay, Sunshine." Ryan said.
"Why are you calling everyone 'sir' and 'ma'am?' It's just my family." I giggled.
"It's formal, and it's your family. I need to treat them with respect."
"We're chaotic, and we're what killed the dinosaurs. There's no need to be formal." Ryan said, and I giggled.
"Sorry about my family, Ethan. They can get a bit overprotective of me...especially since what happened in August..." I said.
"I completely understand." Ethan said.
"And, there's a lot of us to protect her." Ryan said.
Barrett and Katie barged in the apartment, and Barrett yelled, "Cat has a boyfriend?"
"Barrett, Katie, this is Ethan. Ethan, that's Barrett, my sister, and Katie, my aunt." I said.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Ethan said, shaking both of their hands.
"I swear, I have never seen Cat so happy." Barrett said.
"He has that effect." I said, giggling. "And he's mine, all mine."
"Yes, I am. But, I'm not the only one who has the effect." Ethan said, and I blushed.
"So, um, that's my boyfriend. He makes me the happiest girl in the world." I said.
"And he's good to you?" Barrett asked.
"Yeah. He makes me feel so special."
Suddenly, Ethan leaned in and kissed me. On the lips.
"I just got my first kiss." I whispered to myself. I hugged Ethan and said, "I love you!"
"I love you too, Catlynn."
"Don't you dare hurt her." Ryan said.
"I wouldn't dare." Ethan said, looking Ryan straight in the eye.
Elle tapped Ethan on the shoulder and pulled him aside to chat. I sat on the couch and overheard the chat.
"What can I do for you, Ms. McLemore?" Ethan said. I blushed at the sight of my boyfriend talking to my mom.
"Um...I just wanted to say, be careful with Cat, she's been through a lot." Elle said. Jessica joined the conversation and said, "She's sensitive."
"I know more than you think, ma'am." Ethan said, smiling sadly.
"What has she told you?" Elle asked, looking at Jessica.
"Close to everything, all on her own merit." Ethan said.
"Everything?" Jessica asked.
"Yes, Ms. Wynn." Ethan responded.
"What's...everything?" Elle asked.
"And you're always going to be here for her?" Jessica cut in.
"I will be beside Cat as long as she wants me there. As for, 'everything', I know about her father, the crash, and everything had has happened before and since." Ethan said.
"Do you know Violet?" Elle asked.
"She told you about the crash? How did she say it?" Jessica asked.
"Oh, I know Violet. And, just so you know, I hate her. I heard about the crash from the news and didn't press Cat for details, but she told me a little." Ethan said.
"Like what? She usually never tells people, I just wanted to know what she said." Jessica said, alarmed.
"She mentioned feeling guilty and scared. She calls me every time something new happens. I'm guessing that you don't know that she calls me every night at midnight when she can't sleep and I talk to her until she falls asleep." Ethan said.
"Has she told you about her blood condition?" Elle said.
"A little bit, she called me the night of her transfusion." Ethan said.
"She's kind of a 'mommy's girl.' She'll cling to me and Jess a lot." Elle said.
"She didn't grow up with this kind of love. She is worried that you'll leave her so she wants to feel all the love she can while she feels like she has you." Ethan said. God, I loved him.
"She won't want to be away from home for a long period of time. She has a fear of us dying, just know that. Don't keep her out too late, she'll get scared and want to come home." Elle warned.
"I know, Ms. McLemore. You don't have to worry. However, did you know that what Cat feels is very similar to that of a child of a Marine - the fear of them dying and never coming home." Ethan said.
My military-kid boyfriend. I watched him anxiously play with the strings of his sweatshirt as he talked to Elle, it was one of the cutest things he did. That, and whenever he caught me in the auditorium after school and would slow dance with me on the stage.
"Don't be surprised if she doesn't tell you everything, or if you're not the first person to go to if she needs comfort." Elle said.
"I expect nothing from Cat that she doesn't want to give." Ethan said.
"She's our sunshine, that's why it's her nickname." Jessica said.
"Which I might add, she loves." Ethan said.
"She can get really anxious and clingy a lot, just be mindful of that." Jessica said.
"Of course, Ms. Wynn. I want nothing but the best for Cat." Ethan said.
"Don't be surprised if she suddenly wants to go home or wants to call one of us." Jessica said.
"Of course. And, just so you guys know, Cat loves you and she loves it here. She's just scared that you don't feel the same." Ethan said, and I smiled.
"Cat?" Jessica said, and I ran up to her and hugged her.
"We like him." Jessica said.
"That's a relief." Ethan said, and I laughed.
"I better take him home." I said.
"I can drive him." Elle offered, and I said, "I always walk him home. It's our thing." I said, and I walked out the door and felt the cold October wind on me.
"That went well." Ethan said, and I laughed. Ethan took me to the park and laid down on the grass.
"Look at all the stars." Ethan said. I laid down next to him and said, "They're so pretty, aren't they?"
"Yeah." He looked at me and said, "Just like you."
I blushed, and said, "Stop. Ethan..."
"What?" Ethan said, and I said, "How did you ever fall for me?"
"Well, you're beautiful, you're smart, and you're strong. But if we're talking about how beautiful you are, your hair is gorgeous." Ethan said.
I sighed and stood up. "Elle wants me home by 9. We better hustle."
I took my boyfriend's hand and walked him home.
AN: Betcha weren't expecting this! Cat has a boyfriend now! I think we all want a guy like Ethan, if I'm being honest. Anyway, hope you enjoyed! Catch ya later!