This is my chance, I tell myself. Mum is driving me to my clarinet lesson, so I won't have to look at her and if she reacts in a way I don't like, I can escape, because we're going to arrive in five minutes tops.

"Mum, can I ask someone over on Friday?"

"Who do you want to ask over? Do we already know them?"

"No, I ... wanted to introduce my girlfriend. I ... She agreed to come, and, well ..."

"Okay. I'm sure your father would also love to get to know the girl who got you head over heels. She's called Elisa, right?"

"Yes."

"How long have you two been together now?"

"Next week is our three-month anniversary. We were thinking about going to that Chinese restaurant to celebrate. If we're allowed, that is?" The difficult part is already over, seemingly, so I feel a bit more confident replying, though I'm still shaky. I never expected mum to react so casually, but I'm sure she and dad will love Elisa. I can't help smiling when thinking of her and her enthusiasm about the restaurant. I've never been there before, but she has and needless to say it took little effort for her to convince me.

"You'll have to ask dad as well, but I see no reason why not. As long as it is on your own costs, as usual."

"Of course." I roll my eyes. "I know the drill, and what's the meaning of treating your girlfriend on a date if your parents paid for it?"

***

I wait for Elisa in the bike shed and when she scans the hustling crowd, I wave.

"Elisa! Over here!" We lock eyes and she gives a thumbs up. She grabs her own bike and hurries over.

"Hey, Soph." She glances around, then gives me a firm peck on the lips. Officially we're not allowed to kiss on the school grounds, but nothing like sneaking in a couple of kisses here and there and we're definitely not the only ones.

"Ready to go?"

"Technically, yes, but I'm definitely feeling like stalling another minute or cycling very slowly." She drags out the 'very'.

I chuckle. "I promise they'll love you and you have nothing to worry about. They're just curious about the girl who got me head over heels. And broke."

"Hey!" Elisa exclaims indignantly. "You are the one who insist on paying for every date!"

"I know. Just don't worry too much."

"As if I'm not trying. I mean ... I know they're normal people and won't go in overprotective mode and subject me to a cross-examination and be all like 'hurt our daughter and we'll hurt you', but I want to make a good impression, you know. And if they don't approve, they have the right to forbid us to see each other. And don't tell me you wouldn't be a nervous wreck right now if it were the other way around and I were going to introduce you to dad and Chloe."

"Do you want to introduce me? They do know you have a girlfriend, right?"

Elisa rolls her eyes. "Like they could forget it, after my 'dramatic' coming-out." She emphasises her point with quotation marks. "You know I don't want my sexuality to be something big, so I wanted to treat it as normal as possible and I just said I was in relationship with a girl. And then they reacted as if I had confessed a murder or – I don't know – that I wanted to become a nun! Though they would probably have been angry if I had murdered someone, and they were just shocked. Do I look that straight?"

I suppress a giggle, because it's at least the third time she has told that story. "You can't look straight or gay, you know. As a member of the LGBT+ community, I would expect you know those stereotypes are not always true."

"I know, I know. I'm joking. And stop lecturing me; it feels weird."

I shake my head. "Let's just go. My parents won't be home for at least another hour, but if you keep postponing, I'm afraid we might arrive after them."

"Okay. But be prepared to calm me down when I freak out in your room, okay?"

***

Elisa doesn't freak out. In one way or another, she manages to suppress her nerves during the ride home. We spend the time at home lounging around, drinking cola, eating biscuits and the first strawberries of the season – to pretend we have a healthy diet – chatting about school and homework and cuddling. I think the physical contact reassures her, and me too, to be honest. I might not show it, but I'm nervous as hell. This is my first relationship – except for that boy I dated back in kindergarten for all of two hours – and I don't want to fuck it up. I want Elisa to make a good impression on mum and dad too. I mean, I know it's kind of the same as introducing a friend to your parents, but still ... This is more serious and I'm in love with Elisa, so it would devastate me if this put a strain on our relationship.

Our chatter has died out and I initiate a kiss that lasts a bit longer than I intended. We're interrupted by the sound of keys turning in the lock of the front door. I almost jump from the couch. Elisa laughs quietly and stretches an arm to me.

"Pull me up. I don't think I have the courage otherwise." It's not the time to question her antics, so I do as she says.

"Sophia?" mum calls.

"In the living room!" Elisa clutches my hand. Mum enters and when she notices Elisa, she smiles.

"Hello. You're Elisa, right?"

"Yes, that's me. Nice to meet you, madam."

"Just call me Josephine. I'm not the stern woman Sophia has undoubtedly made you believe me to be."

"Mum!"

"But it's true, isn't it? Aren't parents always the bad guys?"

"Actually she hasn't really," Elisa butts in.

"Oh, my bad. Has Sophia already offered you something to drink?"

"Yes, mum. I'm not that bad of a host."

"Okay. I suppose you're staying for dinner, Elisa? We would like it very much to get to know you better."

Elisa visibly relaxes and jokes: "I thought that was obligatory?"

"Of course not, but Sophia's father won't be home before six and he'd like a chance to speak with you as well."

"Thank you."

"Why don't you two go do something, while I start cooking?"

I don't hesitate to grab Elisa's wrist and drag her to the door of the living room. "Okay. We'll be in my room."

When we're out of earshot, Elisa asks: "Don't we have to help or something?"

"If she needs me, she'll come find me. You certainly don't have to do anything, since you're a guest."

"But I like feeling useful. It's awkward if I just have to allow everyone to spoil me."

"I'm your girlfriend; I'm entitled to spoil you."

"I could say the same, but you always protest."

"Ah, but I'm the man in the relationship."

"Are you? In that case, we can better break up. I'm a lesbian, so I'm not interested in men." She throws me a cheeky smile.

"I'll suppress my manly attitude for you, then."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." We giggle. "What do you want to do? We have still an hour, so ..."

"Play for me. I'm in the mood for some music."