faint heart never won fair lady

I was definitely sweating while waiting for Cho's answer. Cho held my hand and I braced myself for bad news, "I'm not a cheap date." Cho's smile lit up the room.

"I can work something out." I had to **** calm into my voice. Had I really gotten a for real date with my best friend? No easy feat when my heart threatened to explode out of my chest.

"You better." She whispered and closed her eyes. I took that as my cue and leaned in to softly kiss her lips.

After a few minutes, Cho and I walked into the dining room only then did the fog lift from our minds and we remembered Cho was dressed like a model. She squeezed my hand tightly. "How was traffic?" My dad smirked at us from the head of the table, enjoying teasing me about having a girlfriend.

"Took a wrong turn at Albuquerque." I guided Cho to the front door hoping she could escape.

"Now hold on," my mom said and I knew we wouldn't get her out any time soon. "Did you really think you could get away with this?" She made her way to us.

My blood turned to ice in my veins. "I was kinda hoping."

My mom rolled her eyes, "Come here." Cho obeyed but I could see he was shaking in fear. Mom examined Cho and looked at me before turning her attention back to Cho, "Since my son is too uncouth to introduce us, I'm Maria." She held out her hand for Cho to take.

Stunned, Cho took my mother's hand slowly and shook it, "...Jiao." Cho/Jiao all but whispered in a falsetto with a nervous smile.

"You're not leaving just now, are you? I made eggplant parmesan." Mom was always ridiculously good at cooking. "I'm sure there's enough for four."

"Uh well, I ki-probably should ge-et going home."

"Where do you live?"

"N-not far. Just down the road."

"Really? That's strange, I thought I knew everyone on our block."

"I-yeah, I-" Cho wasn't just a bad liar, she wasn't even capable when there was pressure.

"She just moved in with Cho. She's his cousin. She hasn't been around much so I offered to show her around until she gets settled."

"Why can't Cho?" Fuck!

"He's studying. You know how his mom can get. One B and we don't see him for weeks."

"That's true, the poor thing. But since Cho is...busy I insist you have dinner with us. I can call Cho's mother if you'd like."

"No!" Jiao shouted, cracking her voice, "I-I mean that won't be necessary, I'll call her." Jiao nodded to my mother and walked back into my room. Before she closed the door I caught the **** plea behind her eyes.

My mom returned to her seat beside my dad, "She is an odd duck."

"Mom!"

"What? I didn't say it was a bad thing." I sat at my usual seat across from my mother and wondered what Cho/Jiao was actually doing. I didn't have to wonder long before Jiao returned and sat next to me pulling her seat even closer. I suppose she found it comforting having me close by but it wasn't like I could protect her any more than I could myself. "So, I take it she's fine with you staying for dinner?"

"Yes ma'am." Jiao was lying, I just hoped it wasn't as obvious to my parents. My mom cut a piece for Jiao before passing her the plate. "Thank you," Jiao said demurely. For a brief moment, she stared at her for unsure how to eat like a girl.

"So, Jiao," my dad cleared his throat before swallowing the bite he took, "How are you enjoying our fair city?"

"It's fine, I mean nice. There's a lot more um, sights here than back home."

"Oh? Where is home?"