"Holy shit," I mumble to myself. I just got off the phone with my mom, and - SURPRISE! - she and my dad are coming to visit me. In less than 2 hours. They thought it would be fun to surprise me, even though I've only been gone for 3 weeks. Thank God my mom thought to call at all, she said they originally planned to just pop in without warning.

Looking around, I see the walls still covered in Coke, terribly burnt steak still in the pan on the stove, and mashed potatoes still all over the living and dining room from my food fight with Ryder last night.

Ryder.

I still don't even know what happened yesterday between us. First, he helped me pick up my apple mess, then he showed me how to grocery shop. He came over when he saw the smoke from my failed attempt at making steak, then gave me dinner to make sure I was fed and okay. He came over to clean, and we had... a thing? A moment? A... what was it? I've tried going to his apartment after he hurriedly left mine, but with no luck. I would just call him, text him, anything, but I don't have his number. The landlord won't give it to me because of some stupid fucking confidentiality thing, but he did say I probably wouldn't get my deposit back because of my failed attempt at dinner, so that just added to my stress.

Focusing back onto the more important matter at hand, my parents, I swiftly switch into cleaning mode, and get started on the mess from my eventful night.

"Corina, we're here!" Mom yells from the front door, not even bothering with knocking. I, thankfully, finished the last bit of cleaning 10 minutes ago, with no help from Ryder, even though he helped make some of the mess. I wonder what he's doing right now... what he's thinking about...

"Corina, sweetie?" My dad chimes in.

I turn the corner of the short hallway and turn into the living room, flashing them a sweet smile, but it quickly disappears as I see my mom looking around, sniffing the air with disgust. She looks to me, glaring with disappointment.

"You're gone for a few weeks, and you've already forgot how to clean, I see." Her tone is just as disappointed as her expression, and I instantly drop my head in embarrassment.

"Mom," I start to explain myself, but she cuts me off.

"No. No excuses. I supported your move because I thought you were ready, but you've clearly proved me wrong. This place is a wreck, it smells terribly. What did you do, start a fire?" She practically yells at me, the anger nearly scaring me to tears.

"I nearly did," I start, expecting to get cut off, but when I look to my mom, she motioning her hand, asking me to keep going. "I tried to cook, mom. I tried to cook steak, it got terribly burnt. The mashed potatoes came out runny. The Coke exploded all over the kitchen. I tried to make your so called adult food. Never doing that shit again."

Dad is laughing uncontrollably, mom is trying to hold herself together, and I'm completely embarrassed.

"Yes, you are, Hamilton," I hear a husky voice say by the door. Sure enough, there's that stupid cocky smirk I've grown to not hate so much. There's Ryder Cunningham, standing in my doorway.

"Oh," my dad says, and I'm unsure if he's confused, angry, or both.

My mom, on the other hand, is very intrigued, quickly walking up to Ryder, bringing him into a hug, taking him by surprise. "Why hello, sweetie! Nice to meet you! I'm Anne and that is my husband, Jim. We're Corina's parents! And you are?"

Ryder takes a moment to reply, looking to me with a look asking me what to do. I shrug and give his infamous smirk right back. He gives me a stern, but unsure look. Turning back to my mom, he clears his throat, and begins. "Hello, Anne, Jim," he nods to my dad with a smile, which is returned with what looks to be a frown. Ryder suddenly bobs his Adam's Apple, making me assume he gulped. He continues, not as confidently. "I'm Corina's neighbor, and her new cooking teacher. She nearly burned down the building yesterday, and I sort of need to keep my apartment and belongings, so I decided to help put an end to her cluelessness when it comes to using any kitchen appliance."

My mom, who seems quite amused, turns to me with a look I can't read. My dad, on the other hand, is pissed off beyond a shadow of a doubt. As for me, I'm still confused as to why he showed up now of all times.

"Ryder, can I talk to you really quick," I state as my mom stares between us, excited. "Alone," I add in sternly, glaring at my mom, and turning to walk to the kitchen. I hear footsteps behind me, and I pray it's Ryder, not my mom, or worse, my dad, who seems less than pleased with the current situation.

Before I even turn around, I start whisper yelling at the stupid boy. "What in the actual fuck is your problem?" I don't even know where I plan on going with this, but I'm stressed and confused and just really need to yell. He begins to answer, probably with confusion, before I cut back in. "No, you don't get to talk right now!"

"But you asked me a question!"

"Rhetorically, idiot," I reply, rubbing my temples in frustration. "Yesterday, you ran out of here in such a hurry and left me with the mess to clean up. I've been trying to talk to you. I even asked the landlord for your fucking phone number! And now you just show up unannounced, right as my parents show up! Like, what even is this? Are you just here to stress me out? I can't even go on a ride right now, with my parents here and all! Boy, I swear, you're just-"

I'm cut off by a rough finger pressed against my lips. I look up to Ryder, smirking yet again. I go to start up my rant again, but he cuts me off this time. "No talking. It's my turn." He pauses for a brief second. "For one, you talk to much, especially when you're stressed. And for two, I don't know what happened, honestly. When Gina walked in, I don't know, it was just weird. I panicked, I guess."

"Then why did you ignore me?"

"I was asleep," he replies, looking away.

"From 9:30 last night until noon today? Doubt it, try again." Now I'm getting even more pissed.

"Fucking hell Corina, why does it even matter?" And now I think he's getting pissed.

I scoff. "I don't like being ignored."

"I don't like being questioned." I then hear my parents shuffling around in the living room, more than likely trying to get closer to hear us.

"Ryder, I can't argue like this right now. My parents are eavesdropping. Go home. But just so we're clear, this is NOT over." And with that, Ryder is stomping out of my apartment, whispering a quick bye to my parents.

The tension is high as I walk into the living room, where I see my parents quickly sit on the couch, pretending they were there the whole time. Rolling my eyes, I sit between them, hoping they don't bring anything up. However, they are my parents, so my hopes don't work out as well as I wanted. "That Ryder boy seems nice. I like that he made sure you were okay yesterday," my mom says, breaking the silence.

My dad jumps in, less excited than my mom. "He seems like a little shit, just barging into your apartment without warning."

For whatever reason, I jump in to defend him. "Dad, mom is right, he's quite nice. Other than my other neighbor Gina, he's really been the only one around here to help me. He's become a true friend." When I say that, I grimace. Friend? For some reason, that just sounds wrong.

As if reading my mind, mom smiles playfully, and asks "Are you sure he's just a friend, sweetie?" Dad responds with a low grumble, quickly getting up from the couch, and heading out of sight. He always gets so upset and uncomfortable when it comes to boys in my life.

"Mom," I groan, smacking her lightly with a throw pillow, then laying my head back, hopefully hiding the slight blush creeping up.

"I mean, he is cute," she gushes. "And sweet. He even offered to teach you to cook! Even I wouldn't try to take on that task." I playfully smack her shoulder, then rest my head in the same spot. "You defended him, Corina. To your DAD. That's something you've never done."

I groan once again, unable to handle this conversation, but mom persists. "I'm just saying, don't be afraid to embrace your feelings, honey. You've never had the best time at showing emotion. Just, please, try and go for what would truly make you happy."

I glance up to my mom. I notice her soft blue eyes looking down to me, and I'm immediately comforted. She smiles, then hugs me tight, letting me know that no matter what, everything will be alright.

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Remember guys, moms are always right, even when you think they're not.

Hope you enjoyed!

Peaces bitchessssss