After the night out, I visited Jordan's parents. They were just like I left them, and still crushed me with their hugs like always. Bob and Amy are like my 2nd parents. I met them through Jordan of course and well let's just say I am definitely their child.

Couple days later Jordan came over and tried talking about Ryan. Then out of no where he started asking me about my parents which was suspicious cause we never talk about them. Never. He knows nothing and I made sure it remained that way.

Its 2nd June today. Mom and Dad's anniversary. Its the day when I'm the only cook in the house. Be it here or back home, I always prepare the food today. This year its going to be Anna, Ian, Jordan, Denver and Dave. It'll be nice to have people around.

Its not formal. If anything its the least formal dinner of the year. Sweatpants, t-shirts, messy buns, flip flops, literally the comfiest dinner ever. It was a tradition back home. All the parents would chill while I would prepare the food and all the kids would play video games or organize liquor or board games and would just chill.

Maybe that's why Jordan asked what's wrong. Mom and Dad aren't doing the dinner anymore. Maybe the only person doing these dinners would be me now.

The menu for the evening is alfredo pasta, butter chicken with rice and Indian bread, stir fry veggies, and brownies. Our family's favorite dishes. Jordan came in early to have a few rounds of Fifa with Ian. Anna has gone to get the Alcohol. Its 5pm now. 8pm where mom and dad are. Still no phone call. No one picked up mine in the morning or last night. They're fighting. I know they are. I've lived with them for so long to know exactly what would be happening right now.

Denver and Dave walked in and looked around.

"Why was the door unlocked?" Denver asks walking towards me.

"For you guys?" I reply in a duh tone.

"But we were supposed to be here an hour later." He states.

"Well early preparation." I say rolling my eyes.

"Did you just roll your eyes at me?" Denver suddenly says seriously.

I stop working and look up to find him looking at me with such intensity.

"I did." I say in the same serious tone while opening a packet of doritos.

He narrowed his eyes at me and I did the same to him. He was trying hard not to smile and so was I. He gave up first and I smirked.

"What's the occasion? And why the fancy dress code?" Dave asks motioning towards his hoodie and sweatpants.

"Mom and Dad's anniversary. Its tradition." I shrugged moving around the counter and handing him the big bowl of doritos with a dip.

"Hello peoples." Anna says stumbling into the apartment. Ian and Jordan come out of the room and help Anna with the booze and greet each other.

We pour in our drinks. Hennessy for Jordan and me as always. Beer for Ian, Dave and Den and Anna is having Juice. We'll see how long she's only gonna have juice and then you won't even know when she'll add Vodka in it.

We sit and stand around the counter munching on the chips and drinks when the oven beeps. "Brownies!" I say and make my way towards the oven.

"Ooooh are those the same ones I tried at the- OW!" Denver asks almost picking it up from the side.

"Yes they're the same and this-" I point at the brownie dish, "-is for dessert." I emphasize to get my point across.

He scoffs and retreats his hand.

Anna and I set the food on the coffee table along with plates so that we can watch movies while eating, told ya, comfy. Ian and Dave set the blankets while Jordan and Denver talked? Yeah, they're conversing, that's new.

We then settle down and the war for what to watch begins. Tv show? Movie? Marvel? Harry potter? 365 days? (That was Dave and Denver and Ian kicked him pretty bad after that). We settled on infinity war and started eating.

"Fuck Roya this food is soo good" Anna was the first one to say.

"You cooked this?!" Dave and Denver question at the same time making me laugh.

"I know Anna, still got the chef in me." I wink at her and she smiles.

"Whoa, why don't you cook more often?" Dave asks.

"Who says I don't?" I ask back.

"Let me rephrase- why aren't we invited for dinners like these more often?" He questions faking hurt.

"We met what? Few weeks ago? Be grateful idiot." I say and everyone chuckles.

I'm sitting between Denver and Dave on the couch, Jordan is on the bean bag and Ian and Anna are using the table as a backrest and facing the screen.

We focus on infinity war and food afterwards. Turns out Denver isn't big on Marvel movies because he slips into the kitchen when I came to get the brownies.

"You got any ice cream to have with that?" He asks walking in.

I raise my brow in amusement and point towards the freezer. He takes out a box. Butterscotch. Good choice. I nod at him in approval and he smirks.

My phone rings. I check to see who's calling and stop cutting the brownies midway. Denver must've seen my raw expression because for a second I forgot he was here.

"Mom and dad." I say happily and move towards the balcony through the living room.

"Where are you going?" Jordan asks, everybody's attention shifts to me from the movie.

"Dad's calling, gotta talk to the groom. Anna can you serve the brownies later on?" She nods stuffing her face with the last of her pasta. I smile and move out. Finally. I return back to my original state with a sigh. I shut the glass door, pick the call and put the phone to my ear. My heart pounding in my chest due to the fear of what might've happened back home, or what is happening right now.

Dad sighs.

I close my eyes. A tear falls down and I breathe.

Both of us just there, not saying anything, like every time.

Only this time its on a phone call rather than in person when dad used to come in my room after him and mom fighting.

Mom always used to go lay down on the couch in the living room, crying silently because its too much and she's exhausted trying to save their marriage.

I used to believe it was just a phase. I still do. Its just a phase longer than most phases are, doesn't mean it won't pass.

I hear a sniffle from the other side.

My heart breaks because I'm not there.

I'm not there to comfort both of my parents with tight hugs and forehead kisses. I'm not there to make it right. I've understood now that the only thing keeping them together is me, a kid, their kid. They are trying so hard for me. I'm not there.

We both cry for some time. Silently.

The only people to see my dad cry are me and mom. To the world, he's the tough businessman. To us, he's our everything. But sometimes its just so hard. So hard for them to keep it together.

I think its been 10 minutes since I came out on the balcony.

Not upset with my parents not returning my calls anymore, not needing the reason for their fight because I know what it was about, I take a deep breath and whisper a "Shhh" in the phone.

The first words of our conversation. He breathes. "I love her, I do." He says silently, he's trying to convince me but he doesn't have to.

"I know. Shhh." I say.

"What are you doing?" He asks, his tone indicating he has put himself together.

"Dinner with everyone. Comfy dinner. Made our favorite dishes." I say smiling through tears.

"I'm sorry sweetheart." He sighs.

I don't say anything. I don't want to start crying again.

"I'm sorry we ruin it every time." He continues.

"No dad. Its alright. Now go talk to your bride. Take a brownie for her. With vanilla ice cream and place a candle on top." I tell him.

He laughs lightly. I close my eyes. This sound is what I was to hear all the time.

"Okay okay. I'll go now." He pauses.

"Happy anniversary dad." I say.

"Thank you sweetheart. We Love you." He says.

"I love you guys too." And we cut the call.

I stand leaning on the balcony. My tears now wiped.

The door opens and closes. I know who it is. I know his pace of footsteps and I know his cologne. I know every time when its him because we've been with each other for years. He has always been there except when something like this happened. Because no one knows.

"Roya." He says silently, testing his boundaries.

"Mhm." I say silently, testing his patience.

"I don't know everything." He says and I sigh in relief.

"But I know something is wrong." He sighs standing next to me.

"Something is wrong." I say.

He sighs.

"I don't need to know but I'm here for you, you know that right?" He turns to me.

I look up to him and he sees my puffy and tear filled eyes on the verge of giving up again. He embraces me and I let him. I need someone to hold me. Its too much.

"It'll be okay." He sighs kissing my forehead .

I don't say anything, just put my face in his chest so that I can't breathe. He holds me tighter.

The door slides open again. I look to my side to see who it is. Denver. He looks worried?

"I'll be inside." Jordan whispers kisses my forehead and loosens his grip, I nod and he goes back in.

"You okay?" he whispers stepping closer.

"Yeah." I smile gently.

He gives me a facepalm cause I think I have tear marks on my cheeks.

"You asked okay." I narrow my eyes.

"Come on, help me look presentable to go bac-" I was cut off by him engulfing me in his arms.

I bury my face in his sweatshirt and just take in his scent.

He moves back a few seconds later and I look up. He wipes up my face, moves my baby hairs and places his lips on my forehead, keeping them there. I close my eyes and sigh.

After a few moments we head back in and continue with the rest of the night. I have these people around me that make me happy, and I'm grateful.