I had stared at the mirror for ages, trying to decide if I was dressed well enough. I had no idea how formal or fancy this dinner was supposed to be, but I wanted to make a good impression. Finally, I'd settled on a black shirt and white pants. It was bold, but these were bold circumstances.

I even changed my hair for fucks sake, choosing to brush it to the side instead of my usual Sonic the Hedgehog look. That's how seriously I was taking this.

There'd been a bit of an uneasy feeling in our apartment that day, mostly because today was Friday and I wasn't going out with the guys. I tried reasoning with them, telling them that this was important and that I'd be out with them tomorrow. Everyone knows that Saturday nights are the best anyway, right? Personally, I just think Eddie was being a dick and Dean was caught in the middle so didn't back anyone up. So he was guilty by association in both our eyes.

Putting it all behind me, I called a cab and arrived at the restaurant and waited for Melissa and her family to arrive. It didn't take them long.

The first thing I noticed was obviously Melissa. She had this magical way of looking the same, yet different, every time I saw her. Her hair was once again hanging down by her shoulders and she was wearing a slimming black dress and black knee-high boots. She looked incredible. I swear, if she'd dressed like that at my party, I would have told my mom to fuck off and not let Melissa out of my sight for a second.

"I'm so glad you could make it!" She beamed, planting a quick kiss on my cheek, clearly not wanting to give her family a show.

Next up, I saw her sister who simply smiled at me without a word. She probably still thought I was a dealer. I wonder if she knew that I thought her sister was a junkie? I had to admit that she looked pretty good too, but she had nothing on her sister. Her boyfriend was a tall, blonde man who just looked like a businessman. I have no idea what he does for work but the suit he was wearing wouldn't look out of place if he'd just came straight from the office.

Finally, I approached Mother Melissa and was surprised at what I saw.

I had no idea how old she was but she looked great for her age, whatever it was. She shared her daughter's blonde hair and had piercing grey eyes. I almost told her that I saw where her daughter got her good looks from, but then I remembered I'm not an asshole.

"Miss Barton, it's so good to finally meet you," I said to her, despite having never heard anything about her before.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, David. Melissa has told me so much about you! And please, just call me Gwen," Her voice was similar to Melissa's too. Would it be weird if I crushed on her mom?

"And you must be Barry!" I said, shaking the hand of her mother's boyfriend. Unlike her, he did look his age. Again, whatever that was.

We entered a restaurant I'd never been in before and I was instantly glad that I picked to wear a shirt. My other option would've ended up looking like they'd taken a hobo in off the street for a nice meal.

They had a reservation booked for seven-thirty and we'd timed it perfectly. Looking at the menu, I wasn't sure what to order, mostly because half of the stuff on there I couldn't even pronounce. I was relieved to hear Barry order a steak so thinking that that was simple enough, I had the same.

The waiter asked us for a drinks order and literally everyone chose wine, except Melissa who (for now obvious reasons) just had a soda. I asked for the same as her.

"You can have a beer if you want," She laughed at me.

"No, really it's ok," I smiled awkwardly. I didn't want her family to think I was insensitive towards her condition. But then again, they were all having wine. Why was this such a fucking minefield?

"He'll have a beer thanks," She told the waiter, who simply nodded at her request and dashed off to collect them. Apparently she knew me very well.

"Uh, thanks?" I said, not really knowing what had just happened. A beer would certainly calm my nerves at least.

"So David, Melissa tells us that you work for some software company?" Her mom asked.

Jeez Melissa, did you tell her my blood type too?

"Yeah that's right. I basically just work in the call centre though."

"We've all got to start somewhere!" Barry bellowed. "Do you see yourself in a more advanced role later on?"

Fuck off Barry.

"Honestly . . . I haven't really thought about it," On the outside I was smiling but the inside of my mouth was in a twisted grimace.

"I think that's enough questions for now," Melissa informed them and squeezed my hand under the table. Something about it was reassuring.

"We're just trying to get to know him!" Her mom argued but agreed to stop nonetheless.

The drinks came and we filled the table with small talk about the weather and the upcoming holiday plans of the family until the food came. It may have been a stress to order it, but the steak was wonderful.

The night was going well so I shouldn't have been surprised when the attention returned to me; or more specifically, to us.

"So how long have you two been dating?" Gwen asked.

"About a month now," Melissa answered happily, looking at me for what I hoped wasn't reassurance. How the hell was I supposed to know? Had it really been that long?

"And where do you see it going?" Wine was definitely not Gwen's friend.

"Mom!"

"What? I think it's important you discuss these things! Is it just a bit of fun?"

"Ummm," I was definitely going to let her daughter answer this one. Besides, it would be pretty good to hear what exactly she was thinking about us.

"Well . . ." She looked at my clueless face again before facing her Mom again. "We really like each other . . . so . . . who knows . . . I guess?"

Perfect answer.

Gwen didn't seem convinced but thankfully Barry talked her round.

"Well that's the most important thing, isn't it? For what it's worth, you both look very happy together."

"Well . . . we are," I smiled, squeezing her hand like she'd done to mine earlier.

You fucking idiot!

"That's it!" Gwen cried, "We're getting champagne! Melissa you can have one glass with us!" It was like she'd just woken up with a second wind of energy.

"Is she ok?" I asked.

"She's a hopeless romantic," Kim, the sister laughed. She'd actually been pretty cool with me throughout the night. "She gets excited any time Melissa gets all loved up. She's the baby."

"Shut the fuck up!" Melissa hissed at her sister, blushing.

"Does that happen often?" I asked in mock horror.

"Only for special people," She said, looking at me with eyes that sparkled more than the champagne we were promptly served.

There was a lame toast from Barry before we finished the drinks and he called the waiter back to pay for everything. I tried to give him some money towards it, but thankfully he insisted on paying. If I'd paid then my credit card charges would be as high as Deans.

Ok, mild exaggeration.

Melissa went to check her sugar levels, leaving me alone with the others. Thankfully, Kim seemed to be trying to keep me away from her mother.

"So I should probably apologise to you," She sighed. "Apparently I was a bit of an embarrassment back at Saffron."

"What? I don't remember anything," I joked.

"Yeah right," She snorted. "But seriously, I am sorry. Mellissa clearly thinks the world of you and honestly, now that I know you're not a rapey drug dealer, I think you're pretty cool too."

"That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me!" I grinned. Considering how nervous I'd been before coming, I was having a great time. I was scared to even think it, but this was probably more fun than I'd have had with Dean and Eddie.

"Just promise me one thing," She said, seriously this time. "Don't hurt her."

I don't know why, but that statement made me feel guilty, even though that was the last thing I wanted to do. "She'd kill me for telling you this, but she's been let down by a lot of people. I've not seen her as happy as this in a long time. I think you're really good for her."

"You have my word," I told her.

I still felt bad even just saying that. I mean, it's a pretty big statement. After all, I might hurt her. I might not mean it but it could still happen. When you think about it, it's a pretty shitty promise to make.

I wished I was still talking to Gwen.

"What are you guys talking about?" Melissa asked, rejoining us.

"Just about how David said he's going to treat you to a fancy meal just like this!" Kim lied. The witch. I hated her again.

"Oh really?" Melissa now looked at me, intrigued.

"Apparently so!" I grinned, not letting on that I was just as surprised as she was.

Once everyone had collected their coats and bags and whatever else they'd been carrying, we all headed outside where they decided to flag down a couple of taxis. Kim and her boyfriend hopped into the first one while me and Melissa joined Gwen and Barry in the next.

"We can easily drop you off on the way home," Gwen had said when I tried to excuse myself.

Jammed into the back seat next to Melissa and her mother, I decided that I should just accept that I was going home alone that night. I wasn't exactly going to say "Well actually Miss Barton, you can just skip past my place because I was just going to go to your daughters and completely ravish her," was I? And that's the clean version.

We arrived at the apartment block and Melissa offered to walk me to my door after stepping outside to let me out of the car.

"As chivalrous as that would be," I laughed. "Your mom's waiting for you,"

"We can wait. Barry, give the driver an extra ten!" Gwen called, having heard my quiet words. We both laughed and made our way up the stairs.

"I had fun tonight," She said after we arrived outside the door. "I'm sorry if it was all a bit much. Mom likes to think she can handle her alcohol but she's terrible."

"So that's where Kim gets it from!"

"Exactly!" She agreed with a giggle.

"You know something?" I said with a happy sigh. "I really had fun tonight too."

I wasn't just trying to impress her anymore. It was a totally different scene to the one I was used to but that's what was so good about it. Even better was the fact that I wasn't going to be so hungover that I forgot it all. I would remember every second of this.

"I'm glad . . . and! I'm looking forward to this fancy meal I'm getting!"

"I'll bet you are," I groaned, not making any attempt to hide my loathing for the idea.

"Goodnight," She smiled sweetly after she'd finished laughing at me, before planting another one of her passionate kisses on my lips.

"Goodnight," I whispered after she reluctantly let go. She only managed to get down two steps before I called her name again. "Are you sure you're going to remember the way back?" I joked.

"Goodnight, David," She groaned, resuming her descent. If an eye-roll was a sound, then that was it.

I entered the apartment and watched from the window as she climbed back into the cab and it sped away. Checking the time, I saw that it was only ten-thirty and I had the place to myself.

I could have given the boys a call and met up with them, but for some reason, I just wasn't feeling it tonight. I instead chose to fire up the Xbox and start a game I'd been waiting ages to play. You just can't get really into a video game story unless you're alone.

I played until midnight and then decided to call it a night, perfectly content with the productivity of my evening.

Unfortunately, not everyone was pleased with my Friday night . . .