The bully's redemption

As Zendaya and Damon descended the stairs, Zendaya tried to keep her composure, though a tight smile tugged at her lips. Damon's charm was in full force as he flashed a grin at his parents, but there was a subtle tension in the air, one that Zendaya noticed immediately.

They reached the bottom of the stairs, and Zendaya couldn't help but study Damon's parents. His mother, with her striking red hair and hazel eyes, seemed to radiate a youthful energy. She was every bit as glamorous as Damon had described, her beauty unmistakable. Next, her gaze shifted to his father, whose dark hair contrasted sharply with his wife's fiery locks. His stoic presence was magnetic—serene, but not unapproachable.

Zendaya let out a small, almost inaudible breath. No wonder Damon's so... Striking. The thought echoed in her mind as she looked at them both. But it wasn't just their looks—there was something about them that made her feel almost... out of place.

Just as she was processing all of this, Damon's mother stood up from her seat, her gaze locking onto the couple. "Oh, my son! What took you so long? Didn't you hear Mommy was here for a visit?" she teased, her voice light and playful.

Zendaya's eyes flickered to Damon, whose expression momentarily softened. She couldn't help but suppress a smile at the way his mother had clearly wrapped him around her finger. A Mama's boy huh?

Damon, rubbing the back of his neck, responded, "Well, that's because Mommy decided to show up uninvited, Father."

Damon's father raised an eyebrow, a small, amused smirk pulling at his lips. "Work in town. Your mother insisted on dragging me along, insisting we check in on our dear son. Not that we mind, of course," he added with a hint of fondness.

Damon's mother shot him a playful glance, her voice turning slightly more serious. "What's this? You bought him an apartment for his birthday, and now he thinks he's too grown for us? When are we going to see him again, hm?"

The group shared an awkward chuckle, but Zendaya could feel the subtle shift in the air. Damon's parents had a clear warmth for him, but there was also an expectation—one she wasn't sure she was ready to meet.

Finally, the conversation shifted back to Zendaya.

Damon's mother smiled widely, her eyes scanning Zendaya with a sharp but welcoming gaze. "And who do we have here?" Her tone was playful, but there was a hint of curiosity that Zendaya couldn't ignore.

Before Damon could speak, Zendaya smoothly stepped forward, her presence unapologetically confident. "My name is Zendaya Baron, and it's a pleasure to meet you both. I'm Damon's girlfriend." She offered her most genuine smile as she gently tugged at Damon's arm, her fingers curling around his.

Damon's body stiffened slightly at the unexpected boldness of her introduction. He scratched his head, eyes flicking nervously between Zendaya and his parents.

His father raised an eyebrow, his expression neutral but his mind clearly working. Girlfriend? That's new. His lips thinned as he exchanged a glance with his wife, but the tension was short-lived as his mother immediately broke into a warm, approving smile.

"Well, nice to meet you, darling," she said, her tone warm, but also measuring. "You're so pretty—wow, Damon, you really know how to pick them."

Zendaya blushed at the compliment, but there was something in her posture—shoulders straight, eyes unwavering—that showed no sign of nervousness. "I wouldn't go that far," she replied lightly, her voice teasing. "But I must say, you're absolutely stunning. I couldn't help but feel a little... threatened when Damon told me you were his mom. I mean, look at you—so young and gorgeous."

Damon's mother laughed, a sound that was rich and full of warmth. "Well, that's because in this family, we've got good genes. Can't you tell from my son?" she said with a wink.

Zendaya's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "I don't know if I can," she said, her gaze flicking to Damon. "He's definitely got that charm, though. I'll give him that."

The brief pause that followed was filled with light laughter, but Zendaya's gaze didn't waver. She could sense Damon's mother wasn't entirely convinced, not yet. There was something about Zendaya that was fresh, new—something that wasn't easily defined. Damon's mother had likely seen other girls come and go, girls who were polished and prim, following an unspoken set of rules. Zendaya, on the other hand, was bold, unabashedly herself.

As the conversation shifted, Zendaya's eyes caught a glint of a necklace around Damon's mother's neck. "Oh my gosh, is that a Tiffany & Co. necklace?" Zendaya exclaimed, her fingers instinctively reaching out towards it, as though drawn to the beauty of it. "This is so gorgeous!"

Damon's mother grinned, pleased with the compliment. "It is, darling. My husband got it for me on our anniversary." She glanced at Damon's father as she said this, her smile softer.

Zendaya raised an eyebrow, her voice playful. "Well, I must admit, Mister Edwin definitely has a great taste in gifts."

Damon's mother laughed, her hand resting affectionately on her husband's arm. "Yes, well, it runs in the family." Her gaze lingered on Zendaya as if weighing her up for the first time.

Zendaya couldn't resist the playful jab. "Well, I'm not sure Damon shares that trait with his father," she teased, raising an eyebrow at Damon, who shot her a look of mock indignation.

"Oh, come on," Damon's mom laughed, shaking her head. "You're a funny one. I've got a whole collection of these. You and I need to talk."

The conversation naturally flowed toward breakfast as Damon's mom led them to the dining room, her arm linking with Zendaya's. Zendaya couldn't help but notice the way Damon's parents watched her a little more closely now, their curiosity piqued. They weren't completely sold on the idea of her being the one for Damon—at least, not yet—but she knew she had made an impression. There was something in the air between them that felt like a challenge, but also a sense of approval, albeit cautious.

As they sat down, Damon's father turned to him, his voice low but sharp. "Hm, she's certainly... intriguing."

Zendaya caught his words, the spark of pride in her chest only growing. She was making her mark, whether they realized it or not.