The paper is due today. I'm happy it's finally finished since I can now mark it off from the many assignments I have due. A small part of me is disappointed though.

For the past week, Dustin has been sitting with me in English class. We didn't talk much, but his presence has been comforting. We aren't friends by any means but we are more than strangers. The possibility of friendship that had bloomed in my heart for the remainder of our assignment had died though. He probably won't talk to me after this.

I've been burned too many times by the world to ever think I'll have something good so I squash the thought of friendship.

Dustin greets me with a wide smile as he always dies and I return a smaller one, not being much of a smiler.

"Do you have the goods?" he asks in a lowered tone as if he was asking for drugs.

I widen my eyes, pretending I forgot.

He gives me a look. "Yea right. You can't fool me that easily."

I take the paper out of my bag since our teacher had asked for a hard and soft copy.

"So... now that our paper is officially finished. We should celebrate."

I scrunch my eyebrows.

He nods. "My place for dinner tonight? My parents want to meet you."

I eye him.

Dustin scratches the back of his neck. "I mentioned you to them and now they insist I invite you over," he gives me a teasing smile. "It would be rude to decline."

I narrow my eyes at him, unimpressed by his tactic to convince me to accept the invitation. This is what I hoped for. Friendship, and friends have dinner at each other's house. Not that he'd ever be invited to mine.

I nod pensively and Dustin beams.

"Great! See you tonight?"

I don't have a shift at the bookstore. It's Suki and Jane's anniversary. Melissa won't care. At least I hope she won't. It's almost like this is a sign.

I nod again.

"See you at 7."

****

This is a bad idea.

Why did I agree to having dinner at Dustin's house? I bounce my leg anxiously as I sit in the library. Dustin had texted me his address which was a fifteen minute walk from the daycare where I'll be heading to in a few.

Oh...

I'm such an idiot.

I totally forgot to mention to Dustin that a baby will be my plus one. I fish my phone out of my pocket and type up a message that seems good enough to send. Hopefully, he'll say plans changed and I don't have to go anymore.

Of course he doesn't.

At the mention of me bringing my baby cousin with me, Dustin responded the more the merrier much to my distaste.

Guess there's no turning back now.

Sighing, I gather my things that are scattered across the table. I didn't get much homework done but something was better than nothing.

Thankfully, Faith is back to being a doe eyed angel. Her usual joyful attitude that cooed at all things in life is back after a few days of crankiness. Faith is an expressive baby. She smiles and laughs a lot which eases my mind whenever I feel like a bad guardian. Her fingers grapple my hair that she immediately brings to her mouth to chew on. I pull my hair away, stuffing her pale yellow pacifier in her mouth. That is more sanitary.

The walk to Dustin's feels long. I'm used to walking everywhere, but as used as I am to walking, going somewhere new always feels so much longer.

I study the house in front me, double checking the text to make sure I am at the right address. There aren't any defining features to say "This is where Dustin lives!"

I push myself forward, forcing down the anxiety in my stomach. As I get to the door, it swings open to reveal a grinning Dustin.

"You actually came." He's surprised. Honestly, I am too. "Come on in." He holds the door open for me and I brush past him, my nerves calming slightly.

"Hello there. You must be Blade." A dark skinned-woman with kind eyes greets me. I smile politely, nodding my head in confirmation. "It's lovely to meet you. I'm Alina Swaz. Dustin's mom."

I sign Nice to meet you. Many people don't know sign language, but ever since I learned, I always use it. Some people deserve to know I appreciate their kindness even if they can't understand what I'm telling them.

She smiles. "We're gonna need to take sign language lessons, Dustin."

"Yes, we will." Dustin agrees, offering to take my backpack. Faith is hanging off my front in her carrier so I awkwardly shrug her off to remove my bag.

"What's this cutie's name?" Mrs. Swaz asks, bending over to greet Faith who grabs for her coily hair. I swiftly close her hands in my fists to prevent her from doing so.

I pull my phone out. Typing the words 'Her name is Faith.' into the notepad of my phone. I turn the screen to Mrs. Swaz so she can read it.

"That is a beautiful name," she turns to Dustin. "You two can hang out in the living room while I finish up dinner. Your dad will be home soon." She gives me another smile. "Be sure to make yourself at home, darling."

I follow Dustin further into the house, taken aback by the curly haired girl who is sitting on one of the couches. I didn't realize someone else was here. "Miriam, this is Blade and her little cousin Faith."

Miriam looks up from the T.V and smiles sweetly. "Nice to meet you."

He turns to me. "That's a sister."

"A sister?" Miriam repeats, raising her eyebrow. She smirks. "I'm the sister, thank you very much."

Dorito -who was laying on Miriam- hops off her and waddles over to us, wagging his tail. He nudges me with his nose and I lean over to pat his head.

Faith reaches down, intrigued by the four legged fur ball.

"What are you watching?" Dustin asks, sprawling on the couch. I sit down too, unclipping the baby carrier and taking Faith out. I turn her to face the T.V but she is more interested in the dog. Dorito plops down by my feet staring and Faith intently and she does the same.

"You can put her down to play with him. He loves kids." Miriam informs me before telling Dustin she's watching Mean Girls.

I slide onto the ground with Faith who is happy to be closer to the dog. She reaches out to him, laughing when he licks her hand.

"She's so cute!" Miriam gushes, looking at Faith in adoration.

"Do you like this movie?" Dustin asks me.

I shrug. I rarely watch movies so I don't have a preference. Besides, I'll be spending most of my time with Faith and Dorito down here.

"Is there something you'd like to watch?" Miriam inquires.

I shrug again.

"Clueless or She's the Man?" Miriam suggests before Dustin opens his mouth. He gives her an annoyed stare that is clearly playful. It was easy to see that Dustin adores Miriam.

I've never seen either nor do I care but I put my index finger up to indicate the first option.

"Clueless it is!" Miriam beams, typing the name into the Netflix search bar.

Dustin's mom calling us for dinner causes Miriam to exhale deeply seeing as the movie was less than halfway through.

I stand up, Faith balanced on my hip. She looks upset to be away from the dog.

"Can I hold her?" Miriam offers, her arms outstretched to me.

I nod with a smile, passing the baby to her who immediately reaches for her earring.

"No, baby. That's my earring." Miriam gently tugs the earring from Faith's hand and flips her around to face the table.

"Who's this lovely lady joining us tonight?" I assume this is Dustin's dad speaking. They don't look anything alike, their only similarity being their skin tone.

"This is Blade," Dustin answers.

"Like the vampire slayer?"

"Arnold!" Mrs. Swaz scolds, swatting his arm playfully.

Dustin grins. "I said the same thing."

Miriam rolls her eyes. "You are both such boys."

"Yep." Dustin says proudly. "Says so on my birth certificate."

Mrs. Swaz leans towards me and pretends to whisper. "Don't let this one fool you," she nods her head towards Dustin. "He still sleeps with stuffed animals."

Dustin gasps. "Mother! That was to stay between us!" he shrugs. "Miriam still has her Bratz dolls."

"Wow. Way to throw me under the bus. But still... it's more embarrassing for you."

"Why?" Dustin retorts. "Cause I'm a boy?"

"Because you keep buying more."

I can't help but chuckle quietly to myself. Their playful banter would be amusing to anyone who saw it.

Dinner is delicious. I could barely remember the last time I had a home cooked meal. Mrs. Swaz had made lasagna with greens.

I feel content. This is the closest to a family dinner I've had in years and it made my heart warm.

I'm amazed how well Miriam is with Faith. She does a great job at keeping her from pulling everything off the table, and still being able to eat. Not even I could do that very well.

I offer to hold Faith when she begins fussing but Miriam shakes her head, passing her to Mrs. Swaz who feeds her some apple sauce.

I don't eat as much as everyone else at the table. My plate is significantly less covered than the others'. Seeing Miriam also had a lightly loaded plate makes me feel less insecure about my small appetite.

The small amount I had eaten made me feel more full than I've felt in a long time.

I've really missed how that felt.

*