After weeks of hanging out, Bella and Donald's relationship was getting serious. They both felt the spark, and Bella was excited yet nervous about what came next. One day, Donald asked, "Hey, wanna come over for dinner with my family?"
"Um, sure! I'd love to!" Bella replied, her stomach doing flips. Meeting the parents was a big deal!
"Great! Just so you know, my mom can be a bit… intense," Donald said, scratching his head. "But she's really nice once you get to know her."
"I can handle it! I think," Bella said, trying to sound confident.
That Friday evening, Bella spent extra time getting ready. She picked out a cute but casual outfit and practiced smiling in the mirror. "You got this!" she told herself.
When Donald arrived, he looked handsome in a nice shirt. "Ready?" he asked, beaming.
"Yeah! Let's do this!" Bella said, trying to look brave.
As they drove to Donald's house, Bella felt her heart racing. "What if they don't like me?" she thought. "What if I say something stupid?"
Donald seemed to sense her nerves. "Don't worry! Just be yourself. My family will love you," he reassured her, giving her hand a squeeze.
When they arrived, Donald's mom, Mrs. Smith, greeted them at the door with a warm smile. "Donald! And you must be Bella! So nice to finally meet you!" she said, pulling Bella into a hug.
"Thanks! It's great to meet you too!" Bella replied, feeling a bit more at ease.
Inside, the house was cozy and filled with the smell of home-cooked food. "Dinner's almost ready! We're having spaghetti!" Mrs. Smith announced.
"Yum! I love spaghetti!" Bella said, her mouth watering.
As they sat down to eat, Donald's dad, Mr. Smith, joined them. "So, Bella, how do you know my son?" he asked, looking curious.
"We met at school and started hanging out," Bella said, trying to sound casual.
"That's great! Donald needs good friends," Mr. Smith said, smiling at his son.
"Yeah, I'm a keeper!" Donald joked, making Bella laugh.
The dinner went surprisingly well. They shared stories and jokes, and Bella started to relax. But just when she thought everything was going smoothly, Donald's younger brother, Nathan, entered the room.
"Hey, is it true that you're dating my brother?" Nathan asked, smirking. "Watch out! He might steal your fries!"
"Oh, I'll fight him for the fries!" Bella shot back, grinning. Everyone laughed, and the tension eased.
After dinner, they moved to the living room. "So, Bella, what do you think of Donald's football skills?" Mrs. Smith asked, raising an eyebrow.
Bella smiled, "He's amazing! I went to one of his games, and it was so fun!"
"Thanks! I try," Donald said, puffing out his chest dramatically.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Nathan shouted, running to the door.
When he opened it, Jake stood there, looking smug. "Hey, is Donald home? I need to talk to him," he said, glancing at Bella with a smirk.
"What do you want, Jake?" Donald asked, stepping forward.
"I just wanted to say hi to my favorite teammate," Jake said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. He glanced at Bella and added, "Hope you're treating her well, man."
Bella felt a wave of discomfort. "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to sound brave.
"Just checking in. Heard you two are getting serious," Jake said, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, we are. And it's none of your business," Donald replied, standing his ground.
Mrs. Smith stepped in. "Jake, this isn't a good time. We were just having dinner."
"Whatever. Just wanted to say hi," Jake shrugged, but Bella could see the annoyance in his eyes.
"This is awkward," Nathan muttered under his breath, clearly uncomfortable.
"Yeah, let's just go," Jake said, turning to leave. But before he walked out, he turned back and said, "Just remember, Bella, not everyone is who they seem. Be careful."
Bella's heart sank. "What did he mean by that?" she thought.
After Jake left, the room felt tense. "Sorry about that," Donald said, looking frustrated. "He can be a real jerk."
"It's okay," Bella said, trying to shake off the unease. "I'm just here to meet your family."
"Let's change the subject. Who wants to play some games?" Nathan suggested, trying to lighten the mood.
"Sure! I'm in!" Bella said, eager to move on.
They played board games and laughed, but Bella couldn't shake off Jake's words. "Not everyone is who they seem…" What did he mean? Was there something about Donald she didn't know?
As the night went on, Bella tried her best to enjoy herself. But in the back of her mind, worry lingered. Was Donald really who he seemed to be?
When it was finally time to leave, Bella felt a mix of relief and confusion. "Thanks for dinner! I had a lot of fun!" she said, hugging Mrs. Smith.
"Come back anytime!" Mrs. Smith replied warmly.
In the car, Donald looked at Bella. "I'm sorry about Jake. He's just jealous," he said, his voice sincere.
"Yeah, but what did he mean by 'not everyone is who they seem'?" Bella asked, looking into Donald's eyes.
Donald sighed. "He's just trying to mess with us. Don't listen to him."
But Bella wasn't so sure. As they drove back, she felt a knot in her stomach. Was there something about Donald she didn't know? Was Jake right to warn her?
Later that night, Bella lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She liked Donald a lot, but now she felt confused. Could she trust him completely? Or were there secrets lurking beneath the surface?
Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Sarah. "Hey! How did it go? Any drama?"
Bella hesitated, then typed back, "It was good, but Jake showed up. He said some weird stuff."
"Ugh, Jake! Ignore him! Just focus on Donald!" Sarah replied.
Bella sighed, feeling torn. She wanted to focus on Donald, but now she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.
As she closed her eyes, she wondered what tomorrow would bring. Would she find out more about Donald? And what else did Jake know? The night was filled with questions, and Bella knew she was in for a wild ride.