Fifteen.

“Hey you!” I said giving Sidney a half hug when he came to pick me up at the hospital.

“I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.” I said.

“Its been like a week.” He said.

“I know.. its mad here though.” I said.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean its like Penguins frenzy everywhere in the city. Its crazy.” I said.

“Yeah.. too bad we are still losing by 2.” He said.

“That will change though, I am sure of it.” I said.

“You are coming, right?” He asked.

“Yeah.. for sure.” I said.

“Okay, good.” He said giving me that smile of his.

“So what are you doing for the rest of the day?” He asked me.

“My parents are in town. So I will probably just show them some stuff in the city and then go to dinner.” I said.

“Oh parents..” He said in a weird voice.

“Yeah.. they leave the day after tomorrow. My sister, KellyAnn and her boyfriend are staying for a few more days though.” I explained.

“Do you want me to get you tickets for them?” He asked me.

“Maybe just for KellyAnn and Travis..my parents don’t need to go.” I said.

“You don’t want me to meet your parents do you?” He asked pulling into a café.

“Its not that I don’t want you to meet them.”

“Then what is it?”

“My parents see me differently than you see me. Well probably differently than the whole world sees me.”

“All parents are like that.” He said.

“I know, but its too soon for you to meet them. They have only ever met Liam.” I said.

“yeah.They liked him alot?”

“Of course .. they are letting me live with him. I just don’t want my mom to compare you to Liam, because you are way different.” I said.

“Your mom loves Liam right?” He asked.

“Yeah. They just are happy I had someone during everything. I want you to meet them eventually. Its like not I’m hiding you. They know we talk, I mean they know I am going to the game. Its just they don’t know the extent because I don’t want all the questions.”

“Whatever you want.”

“Its not like that. My mom is going to think that if I introduce you to them that its serious. That its more serious than it is. I haven’t even known you that long.. I just don’t think it’s the right time.” I simply said.

“Its fine, Grace. Really.”

“You are mad though.”

“I’m not mad. I will get you three tickets for tomorrow. Will I see you after?” He asked.

“Of course. You can meet KellyAnn if you want?” I asked.

“Yeah of course. Isn’t your other sister here?”

“Marlana is away at school. She never comes home anymore.” I said kind of laughing.

“Oh well I would love to meet KellyAnn. All three of you can come to the lockerroom after.”

“Sounds good.”

“Hey, Sidney. Thanks for being so good about this whole parents thing.” I said before he dropped me off.

“Of course. My parents are in town too, and you haven’t met them yet. But I do think that you should have dinner with Mario and Nathalie sometime. Mario had cancer too.” He said.

“Just because someone had cancer doesn’t mean we have to meet.” I said.

“I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that I told Nathalie and Mario about you a lot obviously before everything happened, but when you told me.. Nathalie was home.. I talked to her and you don’t have to talk about cancer or anything. I just think it would be nice for us four to have dinner. We never do that before. You come over and you watch movies or you help babysit but never have we had dinner.” He said.

“Yeah, we should then.” I said.

“Okay, well have fun with your parents. Call me later.” He said leaning over to give me a quick kiss before I left the car.

Dinner with my parents was fine. I felt kind of guilty not having Sidney there, but I knew it wasn’t the right time. We didn’t really talk about Liam or Sidney very much. Just stupid stuff, really. I told KellyAnn that she could come to the game if she wanted. Travis wanted too so she decided they would go. I was excited for KellyAnn to meet him. Its not that I didn’t want my parents to meet Sidney, which is what they thought and what he thought. It was just I didn’t know how serious it was. Plus, I have never met the Crosbys and they are around all the time. I just know my mother. She meets him and then she will never let it go. I just wasn’t ready for the comparison between Sidney and Liam to pick up again, not when I didn’t have much time left with him.