The next few days were quite uneventful. I eventually got used to the fact that I was no longer living with Aaron and that now the only place where he was under the same roof as me everyday was school.

It was a Saturday afternoon. I was in my room working on an essay due Monday.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," I replied,closing my book.

I rubbed my eyes groggily. I'd been reading for quite a while now.

There was another knock.

"Come in!" I said a bit louder this time.

They knocked again. Oh my God.

I pushed myself off the bed and pulled the door open. My jaw dropped when I was who it was.

"Dad!" I grinned, throwing my arms around him.

He smiled, hugging me back.

"I thought you weren't coming back for another month!" I exclaimed as we pulled away, remembering him mentioning so during the last time we had Skyped.

"I was going to but I got homesick. It has been quite a while since I left," he said.

"I'm so glad you're back," I smiled,hugging him again as I kissed his cheek.

Dad and I had always gotten along really well. I mean, I was his only child after all.

We all had pasta together before my dad excused himself. He was exhausted and mom and I both agreed that he needed rest.

I spent the rest of the day in my room studying for a test on Monday. I wanted to get everything done today because I wanted to be free tomorrow. I was going over to the Woods' tomorrow.

The next day I woke up early to complete the essay–I had started working on it yesterday so it wouldn't take long-–and to go through my books again for tomorrow.

When I was finally done at around twelve, I quickly got dressed into something nice and pulled my hair into a ponytail before going downstairs.

Mom caught me just as I was pulling my jacket on.

"Where are you going?"

"To Aaron's house. We might go out somewhere," I shrugged."I'll be back in the evening."

"Alright. Be careful."

I nodded. It was hard but I forced myself to ask her.

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"You are okay with...all this,right?"

She looked surprised at first but then slowly nodded.

"I want you to be happy, Ashley. And while I would definitely like to know Aaron better, he seems like a good kid. I trust you but I still want you to be careful,alright?"

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Yes mom. Thank you," I pulled her into a hug.

She hugged me back."Now get going, he must be waiting for you."

I felt my cheeks heat up the tiniest bit.

"Oh,mom?"

"Hmm?"

"I might bring Aaron over to introduce him to dad tonight. Can you please let dad know?"

Both of my parents already knew that I was seeing someone. I had told both of them about him when we had first started going out.

I hadn't told mom that it was the guy I was living with that I was dating and it was only a few days before when she had come back that she found out.

Thankfully, we had only started dating towards my last days at the Woods', so she couldn't really be mad at me for not telling her earlier that I was practically living with my boyfriend.

"Sure. I was actually just thinking of asking you to invite the whole family over for dinner sometime this week. You know, to say thank you for taking care of you."

"Oh, that's a great idea. Anyway, I've got to go, please don't forget to tell Dad," I said, quickly before giving her a kiss on the cheek and rushing out the door.

I didn't feel like going in the car so I walked a little bit and then took a bus which dropped me just some distance from the Woods' house.

I walked quickly and in less than five minutes I was at Aaron's house.

"Ashley!" Joanna beamed at me as the door opened.

"Hi!" I grinned, stepping into the familiar house.

"I'll go call both of them," Joanna rushed upstairs while I took my jacket off and made myself at home.

I looked around the place with a small smile on my lips. I walked in and my gaze landed on the couch where Aaron and I had fought so many times and also made out in the recent past.

Where was he?

I hoped he was home. I regretted not having texted him first.

I decided to go upstairs and see for myself.

I wasn't exactly a stranger in this house now.

I went straight to Aaron's room, feeling a little guilty for not going to Amanda's room first although I passed by it first.

I barged straight in to see a shirtless Aaron asleep on his bed.

I smiled at the sight before tiptoeing over to him and lying down next to him.

I wrapped my arm around his back gently, careful not to wake him up.

I placed a soft kiss on his cheek before resting my head on his arm.

Still asleep,he pulled me closer. Then, as if realising there was someone next to him,he frowned and then slowly opened his eyes.

A lazy grin appeared on his face when he saw that it was me.

He hugged me tighter. "Ashy," he breathed."You're here."

I exhaled."I'm here."

He planted a kiss on my cheek. His eyes were still closed.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too. You have no idea."

"Aaron!Aaron!" we heard Joanna's voice accompanied by the sound of footsteps. I quickly jumped up and straightened my clothes and just as I was fixing my hair, the door opened.

"Ashley's her-Oh,you came to get him yourself,great," Joanna said and shooting me a smile."I'll leave you to it."

She left just as quickly as she had come.

Aaron got up from the bed and stretched, flexing his muscles.

Damn him and his abs.

"Like the view?" he smirked at me,his messy hair somehow making him look even hotter.

"What view?"

He narrowed his eyes and then walked towards me, slowly.

I stayed perfectly still, my eyes fixed on him.

He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me into his chest.We were so close.His breath was fanning my lips as he slowly moved his other hand up my neck,pulling me towards him so that our lips were touching. My breath caught in my throat as he crushed his lips against mine, kissing me fervently.

I kissed him back just as eagerly, sliding my fingers into his soft hair as his hands went around my waist.

"Aaron, Ashley's here. Oh.Hey."

We pulled away,both breathing hard as we stared at Amanda.

"Hey."

Amanda wrinkled her nose."Hi Ash.I'll see you downstairs when you're done."

She left, closing the door behind her.

I was still breathing heavily as I turned to Aaron.

He was looking at me intensely but this time when he kissed me it was short and sweet."C'mon, let's go. Don't want them to get the wrong idea now do we?" he winked at me.

My cheeks turned scarlet as his words sunk in.

He smirked, pulling on a t-shirt over his head.

"Idiot."

He gave me a cute smile before pecking my cheek. I slid my hand into his as we went downstairs.

"It's so nice to have you back," Amanda smiled at me as she pulled me into a hug.

I settled down on the couch next to Aaron and we all got talking.

The rest of the day flew by and before I knew it, it was time to leave.

"I'm gonna go drop her off," Aaron told Amanda and Joanna as we headed outside.

Waving them goodbye, I walked out the front door with Aaron in front of me.

We got into the car and stopped for ice cream on the way to my house.

We got to my house ten minutes later because of that and by the time I reached home it was almost nine.

"You wanna come in?"

"Can I?"

"Of course you can,Aaron. My dad's here though, remember?"

He gulped making me laugh.

"You don't have to meet him today if you're not ready,okay? It's totally upto you."

"I'll take my chances," he replied, squeezing my hand with his before we went inside.

Tessa was the one who opened the door. Once again, she shot me a wink and I mentally face palmed.

"Where are they?" I asked her,referring to my parents.

"They're watching TV in there," she pointed towards the living room and I nodded,my heart beating fast. I was nervous.

It was times like this when I wished I had Kayla to talk to, to ask for advice.

That was clearly not an option anymore.

Aaron gave my hand a gentle squeeze."Relax," he whispered as we walked inside.

It should've been the other way round.I should've been the one telling him not to worry.

Oh,well.

We were here now. There was no going back.

"Hey mom,hey dad," my voice almost cracked. They both looked up.

"Dad,this is..uh.. Aaron."

Dad's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion.

Damn it.

I gave my mother a look. I had asked her to tell Dad that he was going to come over.

She shot me a reassuring look.

"Honey, Aaron. I was telling you about him this morning, wasn't I?"

"Oh right!Of course."

Thank God.

"It's very nice to finally meet you,sir," Aaron offered his hand.

My dad nodded his head."Have a seat, son," he replied after shaking his hand.

And so the questioning began.