Today marked the day that Eli was going to visit the very dysfunctional Chapman household. Mum came back from her trip abroad last night while I was asleep and I didn't see her in the morning because like every Sunday, she went to church.

I always anticipate mum's visits and I got super excited when I found out I'll be seeing her in an hour or so. With no doubt, my mother was the most amazing mum anybody could ask for. She was the light to my darkest days and the sun to my rain. You know, they say home is where the heart is and whenever I'm around mum, I feel at home.

It's not as if I don't feel the same way about dad or Camellia or my most closest relatives including my gay uncles, but it was mum who really stuck out like a sore thumb.

My dad comes a close second, that's if, he didn't get irritated with me easily whenever he goes on a binge. Recently, I felt like he's falling behind because of the secret he's kept from us. I mean, he had a relationship with my new social worker, he never told me why he drinks, he never told me why he chose to foster me out of all the other kids, he never told me if he's ever met my real parents. Who knows? It could be a possibility, I'm a sucker for cliches after all.

I've always wondered how dad accepted me so easily. Isn't the cliche story about the dad who doesn't accept his kid? When I came out to him, not even a second later he was hugging me. It was more of a millisecond later. Odd.

Enough of that nonsense however, because I had to get ready and look the least bit presentable for when Eli comes, wouldn't it be so weird? This guy has known me since I was a year old. A year old. Icould've seen this guy around town sometime in my past and I wouldn't even know that it's him.

I wonder what would happen when he and dad meet, I didn't know how long it's been exactly since dad and Eli last saw each other in person. I wonder if Eli ever knew about dad and his binges? Probably not, I've lost all memory from when it started because it's been so long.

Dad was in the kitchen, baking scones. He likes baking, and I've always liked doing it with him, it's just that he hasn't baked in a long time.

Camellia was sat at the dining table, her usually wild blonde hair tied neatly in a ponytail and a she was clad in a nice summer dress with flower patterns on it. She looked distressed and it's something I've become accompanied to. With exams rolling around, she's been stuck in her room or on the kitchen table with pages and pages of work scattered around her. She had her headphones plugged in and she was writing away like no tomorrow. I could faintly hear some overplayed pop music playing if I listened in hard enough.

"I thought you quit baking." I said bluntly. I think Zach was rubbing off on me. I'm snarky and sarcastic, sure, but never blunt.

"Nope." dad said, popping the 'p'.

"Can I help?"

"Its finished now but will you please take out a nice tray to place them on?"

I nodded curtly and went rummaging to the back of one of the kitchen cupboards to find a nice glass dish that slightly curved upwards at the edges but not too much and had faint lines on them. It kind of reminded me of a seashell.

Dad took the scones out and placed the tray on top of the hob, and then he turned the oven off and closed it. He leaned against the counter with oven gloves in his hand and just looked at me dead in the eye. God, I hate when people do that.

"How long has it been since you've last seen him in person?" I didn't need to elaborate on who I was talking about.

"Three years." He breathed out and ran a hand through his hair, resulting in getting some flour in it. I tried hard to stifle a laugh, it wasn't exactly the right time to laugh.

Eli was supposed to be here by twelve o'clock and it was only ten thirty at the moment. I contemplated on ringing up Zach because we tend to have long conversations on the phone but then I thought the better of it because we'd probably be on the phone for hours on end. Instead, I padded upstairs and picked up my guitar in the small 'music room' I've made myself from a room that was once used purely for junk.

I sat on the stool and smiled when I remembered Zach showing me his mad rapping skills that deserved a little flaunting. Who doesn't like to flaunt their talent from time to time?

My fingers traced each string and a familiar shiver ran up my spine. I placed my fingers over the first four frets and began doing my warm ups. I stuck my hand into my shirt pocket moments later and took out a guitar pick. I always carry a one on me at all times.

I started playing a much too familiar tune and found myself smiling again when I went back to remembering Zach rapping to me and then my very embarrassing cover of John Mayer. Dear god, I actually played that song? I'm such a sap.

I went over the chords I used for that particular song and fiddled with the strings again after putting my guitar pick away and tried my best to remember how I played it. It was quite a while ago, and it took me a while to remember or play out a tune that sounded the least bit familiar to the actual song but I was grinning from ear to ear when I successfully played the intro.

I didn't sing out loud but the lyrics played in my head and my heart rate picked up when thoughts of Zach flooded my mind and that night and who did what and how much I enjoyed waking up that morning with him by my side and knowing that it wouldn't be the last time waking up like that. I remember his touch, like ice against fire, his breath, reeking of whatever we had for dinner but his lips too addictive and delectable to want to pull away from and then his tongue, going to places nobody has ever gone before.

A sudden warmth enveloped me inside but it was tingly and weird and I wasn't sure whether it was something that I could get used to. I saw from the mirror my ears and cheeks had become tinged with a rosy colour and I pursed my lips, looking down at my hands that grazed the strings of my guitar. I carried on playing the song, and it literally felt like my heart was going to explode. My eyes squeezed shut and he invaded my mind, random scenarios, funny ones like when he dropped me on my butt after telling him about my dislike for coffee and then ones that were of our first kiss at the football game because he was 'protecting me from the savages' and also the time when his mum showed me pictures of Zach when he was little which was hilarious and adorable at the same time and then lastly, the saucy, R rated ones.

I eyes opened again and gradually adjusted to the bright lights and I literally felt like I was seeing a whole new world. Don't you ever feel that way? Like you wake up after a really good sleep and you just feel... Brand new? I've never played a song with so much passion before.

I took a deep breath and exhaled and put my guitar down on its stand before exiting the room, that was one intense session.

My heart felt less like it was going to explode but a hint of it was still there, it was thumping against my chest violently, like a hammer against a nail. It had only been an hour and waiting for Eli was getting too much. The time went drearily slow, but after shuffling through songs that boomed throughout the kitchen via the bluetooth enabled speakers, the doorbell echoed around the house and everyone's heads went up the same way a meerkat would look up up. I paused the music and Mum, dressed smartly in a purple peplum top and marching pencil skirt walked to the door, her fluffy slippers clapping against the tiled floor.

She was all grins while shaking hands with this Eli person that I have yet to see. He was directly in front of mum and I was behind her and the hallway was only an arms length wide so all I was able to see was a ring binder and black hair that looked effortlessly and perfectly dishevelled. He was tall enough for me to see that much above mum's head.

Dad made his presence known and moved past me to stretch out his hand to him, I could see that dad looked almost constipated judging by the pain in his facial expression or whatever it was. My hands began I get clammy because I knew this would awkward as hell but I tried reassuring myself that this would be exactly like any other visit from a social worker I've spoken to in the past.

Eli accepted the handshake and mum finally moved out of the way and went inside the living room. I could finally see and dear lord, he most definitely did not look a day over twenty. The real truth was that was in his mid forties.

"Hello Jace, I'm Elliot, but everyone calls me Eli." He grinned and held his hand out for me to shake. Without grabbing too much attention, I quickly wiped my sweaty hands against the jeans I was wearing and shook his hand. He returned a very firm handshake.

Eli wore casual clothes, nothing too smart or too shabby. He wore black jeans with ankle boots and a white crew neck t-shirt accompanied by a navy blue hoodie that wasn't zipped up. In his hand, as well the ring binder I saw a few moments ago, was a notepad and two pens, one red and one blue.

"Please, come in." Dad motioned his hand to the living room and closed the door as Elliot walked into the house in awe, complimenting it all, and started unbuckling his shoes but dad stopped him and told him not to worry about it as long as his shoes are clean.

Then we sat in the living room, in complete silence while Eli sorted through the folder and his notepad, trying to find some important pages that would come in handy. It seems he wasn't the most organised person on the planet.

"Alright," he started and looked up at me, "I'm sure you've done this a bazillion times and you already know the questions I'd ask so I'll be quick." And then he flashed a crooked grin.

"How is school going? This is your final year of GCSE, yes?"

"Yeah it is, been working hard, helping others with their revision." I muttered and remembered that the social worker always looks at my grades when they visit to see if I'm on track. I picked up the paper that I left on the coffee table earlier on and handed it to him, "my grades."

Eli nodded and looked down at the paper. I saw him bobbing his head up and down as if he's impressed, "very good, I see all your grades are a B or above."

He wrote down some notes and then looked up at me again, "what are your plans after school is finished?"

"I hope to stay in the same school and attend the sixth form. I've already decided I'll be doing physics, maths, further maths and either music or sociology. I'm hoping to go to UCL after if my grades are good enough." I smiled and fiddled with my fingers. Eli's eyes widened and a smirk played on his lips, he was rambling about how to greatest people attended UCL and how not even a quarter of the applicants get in because the university really is that exclusive but then he assured me that I'm likely to get in.

I could go on for ages about my future plans. When I go to uni, I don't know what would happen between Zach and I, we've never spoken about aspirations with each other, I should probably ask him about it. What would happen if I go to a different university than him? My mind is already set for UCL and I know I'd need all A grades in sixth form to get into it, Zach on the other hand, he might not even want to go sixth form, and if he did, what work his grades be like? Would he get enough to get into UCL with me, because come on, who doesn't want to go UCL when it's the best university around?

A few questions passed and soon, Eli was asking my parents some questions. I slipped my phone out of my pocket and scrolled through a playlist on YouTube that had all of the old songs from the year 2000 up to 2010 but there were so many songs to choose from so I just pressed the shuffle button.

I wasn't aware of how loud the speakers were turned up so when I heard each word crystal clear from the speakers in the kitchen, I slapped a hand over my mouth.

You'd better push the button and let me know, before I get the wrong idea and go...

I quickly pressed the pause button and turned the volume down so it wouldn't be so loud the next time I press play. Damn.. Wrong timing, wrong song.

"The last time somebody came, they asked about career, has it changed since?" Eli asked and tried his best not to look my dad in the eye.

"Yes, Vince had since been promoted to head chef." Janine informed.

"Great, and Jace, do you have a job?" He asked politely and smiled at me.

"Sometimes I play gigs downtown but I don't have a routine, I just come along when they ask or when I feel like it, it's more of a favour so I don't ask for money." I summed up. Vince looked at me and then be asked what instrument I play, to which I answered guitar and that I mostly play on the acoustic than the electric.

"Great, and what grade are you on?" He wrote some stuff down.

"Grade six, but I'm taking a grade seven exam later on this year, near October time if I feel like I'm able to do it." He wrote down more notes in his book before twisting his pen around with his fingers. Camellia came shuffling through the living room moments later carrying the plate of scones, she politely asked whether he wanted tea or coffee and he said he would like tea.

Our last social worker hated tea but liked coffee, like, a lot, and I hated it. She liked it extra strong and I could smell it from where I was sat, it wasn't very nice.

Eli asked a few more questions, more than usual, because he was new and wasn't aware of certain things that I might've discussed with my old social worker. Dad only answered the yes and no questions but other than that, he was pretty much silent. I could see him staring at Eli intently with his lips in a fine line and I was starting to get the feeling that Dad has yet to tell me more about his past with Eli because I know for sure that there's plenty more to tell.

Half an hour passed and I was still trying to recover from when the Sugababes were playing and could be heard around the house. Two words. Cringe worthy. Elliot thanked us for the tea and scones and gathered up all of his belongings, almost dropping them in the process, and that included his smartphone that looked like it would be expensive to repair or replace.

He stood in the doorway and shook hands with me and mum and dad, but was was weird was that their handshake lasted a while longer than a normal handshake, or maybe it was just me being super observant and I might've emphasised the fact a few seconds longer seemed like minutes.

I wanted answers from Dad but I wasn't sure if he was prepared, I deserved to know didn't I? I wonder if mum knows, she would tell me, or at least I hope so. She's not one to gossip about others behind their backs.

After waving one last goodbye to Eli, he stared me dead in the eye and I saw a flash of emotion in his complexion but it went as quick as it came. The guy has known me basically all of my life, maybe he felt a little nostalgic, maybe he wanted to shout out 'oh my god, my my, how much you've grown!' like many of my mum's sisters do (which is oh so annoying).

Whatever it was, I could find out from dad and that's exactly what I plan to do.