2 Chapter 2

Audrey stands awkwardly in the middle of the living room while Elvis is upstairs to bring down his parents. Everything about this situation seems oddly unfamiliar to Audrey. She has been to his house numerous times, but even if she's feeling a bit uncomfortable, deep down she feels a sense of happiness. Maybe they'll be able to publicly go on dates. Maybe she doesn't have to sneak him in at night anymore. Maybe they'll finally find freedom.

"Love," Elvis calls out from behind her.

Audrey jumps around, panicked at the sudden voice,

Elvis chuckles, "Sorry," he continues, "Mom, Dad, this is my girlfriend. This is me officially introducing her. I hope you'll make her feel welcome,"

Audrey feels easement with the way he's introducing her.

"She's pretty," Elvis' mom whispers to his dad, making Elvis turn completely red,

"Mom," whines Elvis,

Audrey laughs, "Thank you! It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Wilson,"

"What's your name, dear?" Mr. Wilson speaks up,

"I'm Audrey. Audrey Sanders," she smiles.

The room quietens. Mrs. Wilson's smile falls from her face.

Mrs. Wilson questions, "Sanders Hayes?"

"Y-yeah?" Audrey stutters, completely bewildered.

The two fall silent once again receiving puzzled looks from the couple.

The room feels heavy. The silence is uncomfortable for both Audrey and Elvis. Elvis regrets his actions. He starts overthinking everything.

Elvis snaps, "Mom, what is it? I thought I told you not to-"

"Elvis, please take her out of our house," Mrs. Wilson declares lacking eye contact with both of them,

"Mom, what the hell?"

"Language. That's your mother you're talking to," Mr. Wilson yells, taking his wife out of that room not giving both of them a second glance.

It seems like centuries until Elvis speaks up. His eyes getting watery as he says, "Love, I'm so sorry. I'll talk to them, okay? Let me just take you home for now,"

Audrey is mad, but not at Elvis. She's mad about the way she was treated before they even learned a single thing about her.

Audrey nods in agreement and walks right out the door into Elvis' car.

Once they are in the car, Elvis sits silently, Audrey impatiently waiting for Elvis to start the car.

Elvis asks, "Are you okay?"

"No. Actually, I'm not,"

Elvis's surprised by her answer. Maybe he thought she would try to hide it, but he definitely didn't expect that answer.

"Do you want to talk?" He reluctantly offers,

"I'd just like to go home. Please,"

Elvis starts the car right that second, not wanting to upset her any more. Audrey puts her head on the window of the car, looking out at the green artificial-looking beautiful trees, regretting saying 'yes'.

"I knew it was a bad idea," she silently mutters,

Elvis turns his head, "Hmm?"

"Nothing,"

~~~

15 minutes later, they're in the driveway of Audrey's house. Sitting silently.

"I want you to know that I'm not mad at you. I'm just mad at the fact that I was judged before they got to know me," Audrey explains,

Elvis sighs in relief, "Oh, thank god. We're okay?"

"Definitely,"

Elvis kisses Audrey goodbye before Audrey steps out of the car into her house.

Audrey has a job tonight. She's going to sit her mom down and question her about the Wilsons. She's not sleeping until she gets an answer.

"Mom!" Audrey calls out,

"Hey honey, I see your friend just pulled out. Did he not want to come in today?" Mrs. Sanders asks,

Audrey disregards the question, "Can we talk?"

"Sure," Mrs. Sanders replies, concern written on her face.

Audrey leads Mrs. Sanders over to one of the couches in the living room and sits down. A very confused-looking Mrs. Sanders sits down beside her daughter, waiting for Audrey to say something.

"Do you know the Wilsons? Is there something going on between you guys and them?"

Mrs. Sanders' expression changes from surprise to confusion to anger in just a few seconds.

"What did they do to you? Did they say anything to you? I swear to god those bastards-"

Audrey angrily cuts in, "Mom! What's going on between you two? Is it something that I don't know about?"

"How did you find out about them?"

"Well my boyfriend is a Wilson. I went to meet them just now and I was kicked out of their house. Can't explain how great it felt," she sarcastically snaps,

Mrs. Sanders gets up from her seat and leaves, after declaring a simple, "You're breaking up with him,".

Audrey feels anger boiling up inside her. She's irritated. Not only at the fact that her mom is hiding something, but also at the fact that she thinks she can choose who Audrey dates and who she doesn't date.

Audrey walks up the stairs to her bedroom, slamming the door shut and locks it, not caring about her yelling mother behind the locked door.

It's not that Audrey doesn't like her mother. Audrey respects and loves her mother, but she doesn't like her treating her this way. Like she needs to be taken care of. Like she doesn't know what she's doing, and like she is a child. Audrey's a 17 year old teenager who doesn't need parent supervision. She's already aware of what she's does.

At least that's what she thinks.