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"What's going on?"

***************

"Dad?" I said, surprised. He was supposed to be on a business trip in Melbourne. What he was doing home, I had no idea.

He hardly ever came home and he chose to come when I was stood outside, way past curfew might I add, kissing the cheek of a guy who just screams 'player'.

Talk about rubbish timing.

The brown haired man, who was looking at Aaron skeptically, finally turned to me.

"Alexis, my little girl" He exclaimed. "Come give your old man a hug!" He said, stretching his arms out in a welcoming manner.

I laughed, jumping into the arms of the man who had cradled me since birth.

"I missed you." I whispered quietly and, by the way he hugged me tighter, I could tell he heard my comment. It was true, I did miss him. Although, it wouldn't hurt to add that I would have preferred him to come two minutes later.

Dad grinned, pulling back.

"And that, pumpkin, is why I came home earlier than intended."

I grinned in response, but that soon dropped when I saw my dad eyeing Aaron up and down.

"Who's the girl?" He asked, nodding his head towards Aaron.

This wasn't going to end well.

Aaron stood frozen, his eyebrows raised. He looked around to see if my dad was referring to anyone else, but when no one came into view he turned around, a puzzled look on his face.

"Er, I'm a dude." He stated, splaying his arms out and giving his own body a once over.

Dad scoffed in return, eyeing Aaron up and down again.

"Those tight jeans say otherwise." He said, pointing towards Aaron's legs.

Huh. Maybe it was going to end better than I thought.

Aaron smiled tightly. He was obviously trying to keep his manners intact and, knowing Aaron, he wasn't going to last long.

Then again, knowing my dad, he was probably trying to push Aaron's button until he exploded.

I've known my dad, well, my whole life. So, it's safe to say I know him like the back of my hand. My dad has always had a sort of childish flair to him. My mother has always told him to 'grow up' and 'stop goofing around', but it's the way he is.

He's also always been very overprotective. He would always ward off any guys who came near me and would forbid me from hanging around with guys.

Not that I hung out with any guys. I mean, I hardly had any friends who were girls, but nevertheless my dear father would always explain to me the threats of having a guy friend and how he would irrevocably disapprove it.

With that said, I'm guessing I wasn't surprised when my dad carried on speaking. His mocking was far from over.

"I'd ask to borrow them, but they'd probably constrict the blood flow to my legs." Dad commented snarkily, a half-smile imprinted on his face.

I gave my dad a pointed look to which he shrugged and said.

"It could happen, Alexis. I could die from that." He said, putting a hand on his legs and looking at me with a serious face.

"That is, if old age doesn't get you first." Aaron bit back, smiling sweetly.

Well, if that didn't wipe the smile of my dads face.

He turned to Aaron, giving him a long look. He then turned to me.

"Who is this exactly?" He questioned.

"Dad, this is Aaron walker. He's my..."

My what?

A friend? Acquaintance? An enemy?

We have never discussed this. There would be times where me and Aaron could get on so easily. We could talk about just anything and laugh about anything. It didn't seem to matter. He seemed like a great friend then.

There would also be the times where me and Aaron would always have an awkward air around us. We would just sit in silence like that time in his bedroom or in his car. Those times I felt like he was just an acquaintance.

Then there would be the times where we couldn't stand each other. Where we would fight- he would call me uptight; I would call him man-whore. The times where I believed he was an enemy.

I don't suppose my dad would accept 'Hey, this is Aaron Walker. He is my friend/acquaintance/enemy depending on the time of the day and what mood we're in'.

"Alexis?" My dad called, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Well, he-" I said, but was interrupted by Aaron who spoke.

"Sir, I'm Aaron walker." He said, sticking his hand out which my dad hesitantly shook.

He then smirked, splaying his hands out yet again.

"And, I'd just like you to know that this tight-jeaned girl is your daughter's boyfriend."

I gaped, shocked. Why would he tell my father that? I wouldn't have been surprised if he said friend or acquaintance. Heck, I wouldn't have even twitched a muscle if he said enemy. I would have been prepared for that.

Boyfriend- Now, that shocked me.

It seemed to shock my dad too as he whirled his head around to me at lightening speed, silently asking me for confirmation.

I shifted uncomfortably. What was I supposed to say? I turned to glare at Aaron who was grinning profusely, obviously loving the tight position that I was placed in. He had always been the one to push my buttons yet this wasn't exactly the best timing.

When he noticed my stare, his grin widened and he began towards me, putting his arm loosely around my waist. My dad stared intensely at every move.

"It's true, sir." Aaron said. He then turned to me, an unmistakeable smirk on his face.

"Tell him, sugar muffin." He cooed, pulling me in tighter by the waist.

My dad's eyebrows raised at the endearment and his stare reverted immediately back to me.

"Can you tell me what in God's name is going on?" He questioned, his tone firm yet frustrated.

I sighed. Maybe it was time to tell the truth. I mean, he is my dad and honesty is truly the best policy.

"Dad, this is Aaron." I said, gesturing towards the 6ft smirking male.

I sighed heavily and continued.

"Aaron is..."

********************

"Brenda! Brenda!" Dad called as he stormed inside.

Mom almost immediately came running down the stairs, regurgitating questions with every step.

"You're home?! What is it?! Why are you early?! Why are you shouting?!"

Dad stopped her mid riff, grasping her arm with a hand and hurried her down the stairs.

"Why was I unaware that my daughter had a boyfriend?" His voice boomed as he pointed towards Aaron who stood besides me at the doorway.

Maybe confirming he was my boyfriend wasn't the best idea.

Aaron sniggered alongside me. I turned to him, fuming.

"This isn't funny, Aaron! One of us is probably most definitely going to die and it's most likely going to be you."

Aaron laughed again, seemingly unfazed by my words.

"What's not funny about this whole situation? You look like you're about to explode with anger." He commented and I scoffed at his words, turning back and choosing to ignore him.

Mums eyes flittered nervously from me to dad to Aaron and then back to me. Her eyes were wide and her mouth stayed agape. I gave her the most apologetic look I could muster yet she turned back to my Dad with sure eyes.

"Surely you're mistaken, Steve. If Alexis had a boyfriend she would have told me. He's probably just a classmate." Mom said, trying to put reasoning to the fact as to why I didn't share this important information with her.

I felt guilty all of a sudden. Yes, we weren't going out, but to everyone else we were. I could have just told my mom something. I could have even told her the truth. Anything, but keep her in the dark.

Dad rolled his eyes.

"Oh, so you were unaware of this too." He muttered more to himself than anyone else.

Yet we all heard and that was when my mom finally turned to me.

"Alexis?" She asked unsurely and I let out a heavy sigh.

I know it may have seemed a tad-bit emotional, but that was just my moms nature. She was a very sensitive women and I knew it hurt her that I didn't confide in her when she was the closest thing I had to a friend.

Dad wrapped an arm around mom to comfort her and that was when Aaron decided to intervene.

"Mr, Dawson." He said firmly- his voice so soft that it shocked me for a minute.

I turned to Aaron who was looking at my dad. The smirk had vanished from his face.

"Don't blame your daughter. It's all my fault." He claimed, shocking me.

My dad raised an eyebrow in question, but stayed silent nonetheless, giving Aaron the go-ahead to continue.

Aaron nodded in understanding and then turned to me to give me a reassuring smile. I would've melted at this if my parents weren't there to totally offset the mood. My dad eyed this cautiously, but didn't say anything.

"Lexi wanted to tell everyone, but I told her to keep it a secret. I wanted to keep it on the down low until I was sure that this relationship would actually become something." He smiled charmingly at me and then turned his head to look at my parents.

"I wanted to get closer to Lexi to see if our relationship could last and, seeing the way she is, I don't think I'd ever like to see it end." He continued and I marvelled how much his presence emanated charm and charisma.

He began to speak

"Lexi is amazing and I'm glad I met her." He said, sounding unlike himself.

My dad was still unmoved, but I could see in his eyes he was thinking. Aaron smirked slightly and turned to me. His eyes shone with mischief, glimmering wildly.

"Sure, she can be strange, controlling, harsh, naive, a prude, uptight." He said the last comment with emphasis and a raise of a slender eyebrow, making me remember the time he called me that. I rolled my eyes.

Yes, because insulting me would totally cool my dad's anger. (Note the sarcasm).

He halted in front of me, his eyes tentative as he placed a hand against my face.

"But that's what I like about you." He said quietly, directing it to me.

I smiled, leaning in to his touch. When he said that, my heart seemed as if it would jump out of my chest.

"You like me being harsh, huh?" I said, folding my arms.

He raised an eyebrow in question, but nodded nonetheless.

"100%."

I held his hand that was on my cheek, looking into his eyes.

"Oh really?" I questioned.

He nodded again, but more gently as opposed to last time. His eyes never left mine.

I smiled.

"Well, since you like me being harsh, it wouldn't be hurtful to say that I don't blame my dad for mistaking you for a girl. With those jeans, the fault is entirely yours." I laughed, watching Aaron's face fall.

But, being Aaron, his face didn't stay like that for long and -soon enough- the infamous smirk was back on his face. He moved closer, so that only I could hear.

"Well, I am a dude but, if you don't believe me, I can always prove it." He said, winking at me suggestively.

I snorted.

"Fat chance."

Aaron's smirk widened at this, probably loving the thought of a challenge. He was about to say something, but a cough interrupted us.

I turned around to see my dad, looking between the both of us, his forehead wrinkled in thought.

Aaron turned away from me and to my parents.

"Well, I think I've taken up enough of your time. I'll leave. Goodnight." He said, digging his hands into his pockets. He turned to the door.

"Wait!" Dad said.

Aaron turned and looked at Dad. Mom turned and looked at Dad. I turned and looked at Dad. And I'm sure as hell we were all thinking the same thing.

Dad didn't respond to any of our stares, but just looked at Aaron.

"Follow me." He said and, with that, he and Aaron disappeared into the study.

This can't be good...

*****************

I sat outside waiting anxiously. I looked at the clock again. 4 minutes, I thought to myself. I shuddered at the thought of Aaron's head on a pike.

"You could have at least told me, Alexis. Me." My mom's voice pulled me from my thoughts and I looked to her at the sudden sound.

The guilt of her words came crashing into me and I knew I had to apologize. Turning around, I pulled her in for a hug. She didn't respond, but I wanted her to know that she is the most important person to me.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you, but I was so hung up with so much stuff, I genuinely forget. You would always be most important to me, Mom. I'm so sorry." I added and a small silence fell as she hugged back, making me smile.

My mom then chose to break the silence.

"Does he know about your condition?" She questioned quietly.

This immediately sodded my mood.

"No, and he never will." I said. I had no chance for survival, so what was the point of ruining his last memories of me by making him pity me. I didn't need the pity or sympathy; I just wanted to live my last days to the fullest with at least someone who saw me as normal.

My mom whirled her head to look at me.

"He deserves to know, Alexis. He is your boyfriend. What if.." She broke off.

"What if what?" I repeated.

She looked towards the study.

"If he loves you, do you know how much it will hurt him to let you go?" She said, tears streaming down her face.

I looked towards the study.

"Don't worry. That won't happen." I muttered, more to myself than her.

****************

After a long hard wait, both Dad and Aaron exited the study, wearing solemn looks.

I walked slowly towards Aaron with a questioning glance. Aaron stood in front of me. Suddenly, a smile broke out on his face.

"Let me drop you upstairs, girlfriend." He said, putting emphasis on the last word and I knew that my Dad approved.

I turned to Dad who smiled and walked away. He was fine with it and I don't know why that made me happy.

I didn't know what had happened to cause the sudden change in my dad's mood, but I was going to find out.

****************

"What happened?" I asked Aaron as soon as we were in my room.

He sat on the bed, shrugging.

"Nothing much to it, Alexis. Short story- he accepted me as your boyfriend. That's probably about it."

I sighed, sitting on the bed next to him.

"Well, I'm glad my dad didn't grind your bones to make his bread." I said seriously to which Aaron laughed.

My eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm serious. Why are you laughing?" I asked.

He smiled.

"I don't know. I guess, I'm used to girl's dads hating me. I mean, I don't look like the poster child for perfection." He said, running his hands though his hair, making butterflies erupt in my stomach.

Yeah. Nothing close to perfection.

Aaron's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"You know, I'm thinking of coming to period one maths tomorrow. We have that class together." He commented simply and my eyebrows furrowed at his words.

"I thought you always missed period one?" I questioned curiously and Aaron shrugged his shoulders, his eyes briefly flitting to me.

"If you want, tomorrow you can be a little touchy with me, for the sake of acting of course." He said, raising his eyebrows teasingly and I noticed how he had changed the subject swiftly.

"How about being touchy with my shoe against where the sun doesn't shine?" I threatened, poignantly watching as Aaron frowned, moving his body away from me.

"That isn't what I meant."

I smiled, grabbing his hand and leading him to the door.

"Yeah, well that's what I heard. Goodbye, Aaron. I'm tired" I said, yawning exaggeratedly to prove my point.

Aaron laughed, pulling his hand away from mine and going back to sit on the bed.

"But I'm not tired." He complained and I could've almost pinched his cheek there because that was possibly the cutest thing I've ever heard from the player.

I laughed.

"Well, I think it's time for my tight-jean girlfriend to go home." I said smirking.

Aaron only smirked back, coming closer to me.

"I told you I'd prove it." He murmured eyeing me with a playful glint.

I rolled my eyes, ignoring my heartbeat.

"Aaron.." But I was interrupted mid-riff when Aaron lifted the hem of his shirt and slid it off, revealing his toned torso.

He stood in front of me smirking and moved his hands to the button of his jeans. I stared at his hands. I was speechless. I just stood and stared. Aaron unbuttoned his jeans and slid them off his tanned legs. His eyes never left mine.

He came closer- our bodies almost touching. I could feel the heat emanating from his body.

"You ready for the evidence?" He whispered, his scent engulfing me. I gazed into his eyes, not saying a word.

With my silence as confirmation, he moved back, his eyes never leaving me in the process.

"As you wish."

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