The weekend arrived faster than I expected. I found myself standing outside Warwick’s house, feeling a little nervous. I had never met his family before, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. The house was larger than I thought it would be, with a neat lawn and flowers lining the walkway.
I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. It swung open almost immediately, and there stood Warwick, grinning like he always did.
“You made it,” he said, stepping aside to let me in.
“Of course I did,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
Inside, the house was warm and cozy, with the smell of something delicious cooking in the kitchen. Warwick led me down the hallway toward the dining room.
“My mom’s been cooking all afternoon,” he said. “She’s excited to meet you.”
I smiled, but I couldn’t shake the nervous feeling in my stomach. “I hope I make a good impression.”
“You will,” Warwick said, giving me a reassuring smile. “Trust me, they’ll love you.”
As we entered the dining room, I saw a woman setting the table. She looked up and smiled warmly when she saw us.
“This must be her,” she said, walking over to me with her arms outstretched. “I’m Warwick’s mom. It’s so nice to finally meet you!”
I smiled back, feeling a little more at ease. “It’s nice to meet you too. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Oh, don’t mention it,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “We’ve heard so much about you. I’m glad Warwick finally brought you over.”
Warwick groaned. “Mom, don’t embarrass me.”
She laughed and gave him a playful shove. “I’m not embarrassing you. I’m just being friendly.”
Just then, a man walked into the room, wiping his hands on a dish towel. He looked a lot like Warwick-tall, with the same mischievous grin.
“This is my dad,” Warwick said. “Dad, this is Audrey.”
His dad smiled, extending his hand toward me. “Nice to meet you, Audrey. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
I shook his hand, but something about him felt… off. His face looked familiar, like someone I’d seen before, but I couldn’t quite place where. His sharp features, the way his eyes seemed to linger a little too long-it triggered something in the back of my mind, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
I smiled politely, trying not to let my confusion show. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Warwick’s dad tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as if he noticed my hesitation. “Have we met before?” he asked, his tone casual, but there was something in his voice that made me uneasy.
“I don’t think so,” I said quickly, hoping to brush it off. “You just seem… familiar.”
Warwick looked between us, his brow furrowing. “Weird. My dad doesn’t get out much, so I doubt you’ve crossed paths before.”
His dad let out a small chuckle, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Well, small world, right? Maybe we’ve seen each other around.”
I nodded, but that feeling of recognition nagged at me. Where had I seen him before?
We sat down at the table, and Warwick’s mom started bringing out the food. The smell was amazing-roasted chicken, vegetables, and fresh bread. I tried to focus on the meal, but my mind kept drifting back to Warwick’s dad. His face felt so familiar, but I couldn’t figure out why.
Warwick’s mom chatted happily, asking me questions about school and how I was settling in. I answered politely, but my attention kept slipping back to the strange feeling I had about his dad.
Halfway through the meal, I couldn’t take it anymore. I glanced at Warwick and his mom, making sure they were distracted, then turned to his dad.
“Are you sure we haven’t met before?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
His dad looked at me, his smile fading just a little. “I’m sure I’d remember if we had,” he said, his tone even.
Something about the way he said it made my skin prickle. I nodded slowly and forced a smile, deciding to let it go for now.
The rest of dinner went by in a blur, with Warwick’s mom continuing to ask about my interests and hobbies. She was so warm and friendly, it made the strange tension with his dad feel even more out of place. When the meal was over, Warwick suggested we go outside for some air.
We stepped out onto the porch, the cool evening air hitting my face. Warwick leaned against the railing, looking at me with a curious expression.
“You seemed a little off tonight,” he said. “Is everything okay?”
I glanced back at the house, feeling the tension still lingering in my mind. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… your dad. I don’t know why, but I get this weird feeling around him.”
Warwick frowned, his arms crossing over his chest. “Weird feeling? Like what?”
“I don’t know. Like he knows something about me that I don’t,” I said, rubbing my arms as the air grew cooler. “It’s hard to explain.”
Warwick looked at me for a moment, his expression thoughtful. “Whenever you’re ready to talk about it, I’m here,” he said softly.
I nodded, appreciating the space he was giving me. “Thanks. I just need to figure it out first.”
Warwick smiled slightly. “No rush. Just know you can trust me.”
I leaned back against the porch railing, letting out a small sigh. “Your mom seemed really nice, though,” I said, trying to shift the conversation away from the uneasy feeling about his dad.
Warwick’s face softened, and a proud smile crossed his lips. “Yeah, she’s the best. She’s always been the heart of the family, keeps us all grounded.”
I smiled back, genuinely warmed by his affection for his mom. “She made me feel welcome, like I was part of the family already.”
Warwick’s eyes twinkled. “She’s good at that. She’s been nagging me to bring you over for weeks now.”
I laughed softly. “Well, I’m glad I came. Despite… everything, it was a nice dinner.”
Warwick nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah. I’m glad you came too.” He paused, glancing back toward the house before looking at me again. “But seriously, if my dad’s giving you any bad vibes, just tell me. He can be a little intense sometimes, but he means well.”
I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks, Warwick.”
We stood there in silence for a moment, both of us enjoying the quiet night air. The stars were starting to come out, and the cool breeze felt nice after the warmth of the house.
Just as I was about to say something else, a loud, piercing scream echoed from the alley nearby. My heart jumped in my chest, and I turned quickly toward the sound.
Warwick’s eyes widened. “Did you hear that?”
I nodded, my stomach twisting with fear. “Yeah… it came from over there.”
Without another word, we both rushed off the porch and ran toward the alley.