Disclaimer: Although inspired from real life events, this is essentially a fictional story. All characters are 18 years old or older.
Part 1: Mark
My name is Anna. In the fall of last year, I moved from the suburbs of Seattle, Washington, to the suburbs of Los Angeles, California, and I enrolled at UCLA. Finally, I had moved out from my parents' house. I was living in a shared apartment, had a roommate, Paula, and studying social sciences. I was now a second-year college student. All was going great: classes were interesting, assignments annoying, but had to be done. Usually, I had lectures in the morning, then in the afternoon I was used to go to a coffee place to revise some notes while sipping a coffee and chill at the same time. The time with Paula, the weekends especially, was so good. We got along really well. But this is not about Paula.
One afternoon, while working on an essay, some guy asked if I would mind if he sat at the same table as me. Without even looking away from my laptop screen, I said "Of course!"
"Here, this is for you." he said, offering me a cup of coffee. I later realized he had written "Thanks!", his phone number, and signed Mark on it.
"Why is this?"
"Just to thank you for your kindness. This place is so busy, and I am in the need to sit and take my time to sip my coffee!"
"Would you mind disposing of my cup when you leave? I got to go urgently", he said after receiving a text message, and left all of a sudden. When I picked it up, I found out his name and his phone number.
A few days later I texted him and we went on a real coffee date. I like coffee dates. They are the perfect, non-compromising way to start knowing somebody. Besides, it was also the way I met Paula and found a room in her apartment. Mark and I hit it off immediately and from that time on we were inseparable, had a great time and great sex. Paula could testify that.
I went through our story so far real quick, but there are a lot of events that happened, which are less relevant right now. Paula could testify also that.
After a few weeks, we, well, I decided that Mark was the right guy, and it was about time to introduce him to my family. So, I phoned my mom, booked all needed reservations, and for Thanksgiving we would have travelled back to suburban Seattle.
I also sent a message to my schoolfriend Alex, hoping for her to be around.
Sorry, Banana, will be visiting my dad in Portland.
Banana is her nickname for me, because she found funny the alliteration. Let's leave it at that.
Never mind, we will see each other another time, maybe in LA
I messaged back.
Mom and dad came to the airport to pick us up. To my surprise they were both very in-tune with Mark from the very first instant they met him. Was this a good sign?
When my dad parked on the driveway, I was so happy to be back in familiar grounds, with someone I really liked. We entered the house and I headed for my old room with my backpack on my shoulders. I had assumed that Mark would have slept in my sisters' room, however, mom shouted from the living room: "April is coming too for the weekend, so you two have to share your room. Hope you don't mind." I wasn't too surprised of hearing that my older sister would have joined; after all, I was bringing home my boyfriend. "Ok, we can work it out!" I replied. Even though we had done it many times before, I wasn't too happy to share my bed with April, but then I didn't want to create any friction and I didn't complain.
I indicated Mark to follow me, and let him in my room, while I went to April's. In this way we would have shared hers, rather than mine, and Mark would be in mine.
My room was still the same: same posters on the walls, the usual books on the bookshelf, my desk, with still the same lamp on it. And the bottom drawer still closed, the key safely on my keyring. I didn't keep many secrets in there, only a few memories that I didn't want to lose, and some personal items I didn't want anyone to know about.
That evening we had a light dinner, with the usual light chatter, my parents trying hard and succeeding in making Mark feel very comfortable. Then we moved to the living room and the TV was on. I am not sure what it was showing, as I was deep immersed in my little happy place; nevertheless, I did have the feeling that the evening was going well. At some point my parents said goodnight and retreated to their bedroom. Mark and I decided to follow suit. Mark was about to close the door to my bedroom, when I sneaked in. Naughty me, I had already disobeyed my mom wishes; hopefully she wouldn't find out.
"So, what do you think?", I asked him.
"About what? You have to be a little more specific. Here all seems to be wonderful. Honestly, even though you assured me that your parents were very open-minded, I didn't expect such a warm treatment."