Bittersweet Love

by Davids, Jesse

  Holy shit, that was so close. Fuck, this weed is kicking in pretty strong right now.

  He pondered, wondering if he will ever make it in time to see her mother. Will strapped in and filled the car with gas and hauled ass, thinking of nothing else but the destination he's trying to get to. After 7 hours battling, trying not to fall asleep as he cranked up the air condition higher; making it feel as he drove into Alaska once more. Allison woke up and noticed he's been driving for way too long. “Baby, it’s my turn to drive come on; I bet you're so tired you wouldn't even say no.” Allison giggled while Will stopped on the side of the road, making sure there’s no cars coming before he got out.

  The tired brain overcame Will as he couldn't respond to what Allison was saying to him, he jumped in the passenger’s seat and passed out almost immediately. Allison leaned to him and kissed him on his forehead, she dialed her mother on her phone, in hopes to tell her they might not make it on time. Unfortunately it went straight to voice mail. “Hey mom, we are more than half way there by now so we might be there by tomorrow night; love you, bye.” Allison quickly disposed of her cellphone as she saw a police car lurking in the dark bushes, waiting for anyone who sped by.

  She carefully drove cautiously, thinking in the back of her mind she can't be busted for possession of drugs just yet. Allison looked over to Will only to find his mouth open; half drooling down his face from exhaustion. After a couple of long hours driving, she finally made it to the city she grew up in, mesmerized on how much she's missed it.

  Allison parked in the drive way of her mother’s house, with Will still sleeping like a rock. “Sweetheart, we are here.” She tugged on his shirt, trying her best not to scare him to death. “Baby!” Allison screamed, and laughed so hard as Will’s face had the same expression as a scared little kid. “Don’t do that.” Will pouted and closed his eyes again. “We are here baby.” Allison repeated herself one more time; Will opened his eyes and took a closer look at his surroundings. Fear came over him as he didn't think it’ll be so soon.

  Will reclined his seat to its proper position and looked over to Allison with a straight face. “I didn't even have time to prepare my opening speech yet.” He said. “Just be yourself okay, I'm sure she's going to love you, but obviously not as much as I love you.” Allison shyly kissed Will on his lips and got out of the car. “I love you too!” Will silently yelled it out at the same time. He got out of the car and walked to the trunk, taking out the bags they packed full of clothes and necessities. “You ready?” Allison asked, making sure Will won’t back out any minute and leave. “I’m nervous; probably never have been this nervous in my entire life. So if I pass out, I’m sorry.” Will gave a sarcastic laugh, trying to make the situation a little bit better for himself; Allison grabbed his left hand and walked up to the door step and rang the doorbell. “I’m so nervous baby.” Will’s heart started to race as he heard footsteps coming towards the door.

  “Ah!” Naomi yelled as she opened the door, sprinting to Allison to give her a huge hug. Will stood watching while they reconnected once more. “And who is this?” Naomi leaned in and gave Will a hug. “Hey, I'm Will.” Will stood ridiculously with an awkward smile on his face. “This is my boyfriend, the one I've been telling you about.” Allison stated. “Yeah I can see that; well come inside it’s chilly out there!” Will and Allison made their way inside, going upstairs to put their bags in Allison’s room. “I made meatloaf for dinner!” Naomi yelled from the kitchen, luring Banjo into the kitchen as he smelt someone he knew before, it intrigued him to find out who it was as he ran upstairs into Allison’s room. Banjo jumped on Will and started to lick him vigorously. “Holy shit; you didn't tell me his so friendly!” Will tried to move his way out of the direction of Banjo’s tongue. “Hey boy, go get Allison! She’s right there!” Will pointed at Allison, making Banjo look right at her. Banjo quickly got off of Will and sat in between Allison’s legs.

  A place he always felt comfortable with. Allison pet Banjo on his belly talking dog language which Will could barely understand.

  8pm came with a new dawn in Will’s eyes, as it was time to meet his lover’s mother at the dining table for dinner. “Is she going to ask me questions?”

  Will gulped deeply as he looked at Allison for a reassuring face. “She might, she might not. I don't know because I never brought a man home before. So, you're the first one to experience firsthand at what its like to have a conversation with my mother. And don't mention anything about the money or weed okay. Its best if we keep those parts to ourselves.” Allison said. “Now come on, just be yourself okay, that’s all I want you to be at that table.” Allison hugged Will around his neck as Will grabbed her waist line firmly.

  “Okay, let me first use the toilet real quick.” Will sarcastically smiled and entered the bathroom, freaking out silently.

  Fuck I’m so fucked! Will, you are an awesome man, you studied music production, your family owns a big business, they live in. Fuck where do they live. That’s it, I'm fucking screwed.

  Will walked out of the bathroom, feeling half better that he could express his true feelings in front of a mirror. He walked down the stairs heading straight to the dining table, anxiously waiting to get it over with. Will sat in between Naomi and Allison, feeling claustrophobic the moment he sat down. Allison held his hand tightly under the table, making sure he knows she's there for him.

  “Wow, the food looks great.” Will chuckled and smiled. “Thank you, Allison usually doesn't like my food.” Naomi threw an eye to Allison and a slight wink. “I guess its Judgment Day right?” Will laughed hysterically and stopped as he felt Naomi’s eyes piercing into his human skull. Allison gave a slight giggle, while squeezing his hand. “Anyway, let’s dish shall we.” Naomi said while passing the meatloaf around the table with asparagus and a green salad with lemon mushrooms in it. Banjo sat on the living room couch watching them eat.

  Will took a bite out of his piece of meatloaf. “Wow that actually tastes really good! Your mother is a really good cook. I think I'm going to need the recipe for this one.” He said. “Thanks Will. So Allison tells me you were at NYU as well. What did you study for?” Naomi took a sip of her wine, looking at Will.

  Oh god, help me get through this.

  “I studied music production and general production, but I mostly specialized in the music department.” Will smiled, thinking this is going to go very well. “Oh that’s great, so what type of job will you get with that sort of degree?” She asked. “It depends what’s available really, but my dream is to open a recording studio, which me and Allison will hopefully do one day.” Will looked over to Allison and smiled, clearly indicating she should go along with his so called dream. “Oh yes, its good business these day and a lot of people want their voice to be heard, and with that being said maybe we can help these kids in the right direction.” Allison said, giggling as she kicked his leg under the table. “Sounds like the two of you have it all planned out already huh.” Naomi smiled, proud that Allison finally found a decent man.

  “So tell me, what about your parents?” Naomi raised an eyebrow, interested to know his background. “My parents are both from California and my dad met my mom in Philadelphia. They took some time to get to know each other and after that they got married, then I came along. My dad owns a big business, never really cared to look into it, don't even know its name.” Will chuckled and drank more wine, to calm his nerves down.

  “Yeah we might stay in New York for a couple more months, right darling?” Allison said. “Oh yes, then after that hopefully we can do other stuff.” Will smiled and kicked Allison slightly on her toe.

  The night passed on with wine and shit talking about the future yet Allison’s mother knew nothing about their true plans. “Thank you for the dinner Ms. Forest.” Will said. “My pleasure, Allison can you help me to take this stuff back in the kitchen please.” Naomi asked, as there were way too many things on the table. “Of course mom” Allison stood up and took the plates off
the table heading to the kitchen. Banjo kept staring at Will for some weird reason.

  Banjo, you're creeping me the fuck out, stop looking at me man!

  Will grabbed the wine bottle and stepped in the kitchen and set it on the kitchen island. “Baby, I'm so tired how about we go sleep it’s already 11pm.” Will whispered to Allison, putting his puppy dog face into action. “Okay, let me just help her with these little dishes and you go lie in bed for now and wait for me.” Allison winked; Will nodded and left the kitchen, going straight up to her room only to find out that Naomi made him a separate place to sleep on the couch next to the window. “No sexy time tonight I presume.” Will chuckled sarcastically and took off his jeans and hopped in the couch, as sleep once again was too powerful for Will’s brain to handle.

  The next day Naomi woke up, looking at the time only to find out that it’s as early as 6am, she sat up and mourned about the date situated on her bedside clock. Banjo ran in the room and sat on the bed, waiting for her to get up. “Yes, yes, I know.” Naomi stood up and got dressed. “Go get your leash.” Banjo understood and ran down, picking his leash up with his mouth and waited at the door.

  Naomi walked downstairs and hooked him on the leash, opening the door and walked out to the car. “How about we walk today?” Naomi talked to Banjo like he knew English. Banjo barked and started to walk on the sidewalk. “I guess you understood me.”

  Naomi laughed as they walked down the road. She plugged her earphones into her iPod and listened to music while walking Banjo. A few minutes later they stopped at a flower shop near her house, picking up a bouquet of flowers. Naomi paid the man sitting on a wheelchair and gave him a kiss on the head. “Thanks again John!” Naomi yelled out while walking across the road to a cemetery just 2 minutes away. Banjo stopped at the entrance, waiting for Naomi to open the big gate.

  They stepped in, walking past a lot of grave stones, with engravings that blessed sadness and heartache. Walking deeper into the cemetery, both of them stopped at one particular grave stone.

  On the top was engraved ‘Elijah Forest, 92-02’. Naomi placed the bouquet by the foot of the grave stone, as she shed a tear for the one she loved so dearly. Banjo turned around and barked loudly scaring Naomi; she turned around and saw Peter standing a few feet away with flowers in his right hand. “What are you doing here?” Naomi asked. “Same thing you're doing.” Peter responded, placing the flowers next to her bouquet.

  Peter stood in front of her with red puffed up eyes.

  “I need to tell you something.”

  The End