Anna kept fiddling with her phone, checking Instagram while she waited for her dad. She just turned nine and her dads got her a new iPhone. She sighed, bored with waiting.
Her dad, Eric, was on his way. Kyle had to work late so that left him to Pick up Anna and take her to kickboxing lessons. Having one car was annoying sometimes, thank God for Uber. Kyle used it all the time.
Before Eric got to her school he rifled through the songs on his phone. He loved embarrassing her. He picked one, chuckling and turning it up and putting the windows down, making sure to pull up at just the right moment of the song.
Anna saw her dads SUV pull up, the large vehicle blaring out music as she groaned and face palmed. It was blaring out the Backstreet Boys "I want it that way" while he sings in the car, badly. She walked the walk of shame over, getting inside as he turned it down, laughing at the look on her face. She grumbled, crossing her arms. "Not funny Dad. Why can't you pick me up like a normal person?" Eric chuckled. "Where would the fun be in that?" He started pulling away from the school, driving home to give her a small dinner before meeting her grandparents. "So How was school?"
She sighed as she moved a frizzy red curl behind her ear. "Fine I guess. There's an exam on Friday in history. I'm so gonna fail." She whined toward the end. Eric scoffed. "You? Fail? I've never seen you fail anything in your life." "Well that was before miss. Crabshaw. She makes everything super hard." She finished with a mumbble. "More like miss. Crapshaw." Eric let out an amused sound. "Good one." She smiled proudly. "Thank you."
When they got home she put her Moana book bag on the couch as Eric went to make her an after school lunch before kickboxing lessons. She watched TV while he brought her out some microwaved Chicken tenders, a few cheese sticks and a glass of milk. She took it with a face. He gave her a look back. "What?" "I can't eat this." Eric took in a breath. "Why?" "I'm vegetarian." Eric rolled his eyes. "You need some protein before your lessons, eat it." "No." He sighed. "Anna Clair, please, save the hippie mombo jumbo and eat your chicken tenders. I'm not bending over backwards to find a weird food that has the protein you need." She grumbled but let up, biting a chicken tender for show. He sighed in relief, Kyle was the cook, he was nearly banned from the stove. "Thank you." He left to clean the kitchen. She waited until he was gone and she spat it out quietly, hiding it in the crease of the couch along with the other chicken tenders.
She eventually got dressed for kickboxing and Eric drove there, letting Kyle know they'll be at his parents house after. Eric loved watching his daughter in her kickboxing lessons. She definitely was their daughter. She took after both of them equally which was amazing and terrifying. She was so damn smart and fiery which could be so good but so bad. She could definitely be ruthless if need be. He's been called to school on more than one occasion for her defending someone being bullied or starting a fight with said bullies. In both situations he's damn proud to have her as his daughter.
She was sweaty and her red, frizzy hair was out of place from its pony tail. She smiled as Eric handed her a water bottle. "How was I Dad?" He grinned. "Amazing, as always. Now let's go, Grandma demands we be there for dinner birthday girl." She smiled. "More cake?!" He rolled his eyes, escorting them out of the building. "Yes, unfortunately more cake and another trip to the dentist."
When they got to Kyle's parents house she nearly ran inside. He sighed but smiled, getting out of the car.
Shelia was already out with open arms and hugging her granddaughter. "Oh there's my little bublah. Happy birthday sweetie." "Thanks grandma! Where's the cake?" Sheila just gave a look to Eric before talking to Anna. "It's after dinner now go see your grandpap." She smiled as she ran inside. Sheila sighed as Eric came closer. "Sometimes I swear she's your biological child." Eric chuckled as they walked in. "Oh me too."
Gerald smiled as Anna hugged him, nearly tackling him to the floor. "Grandpap!" He chuckled. "Hey tiger. How was kickboxing?" "Really good! I almost broke a punching bag!" "Oh wow! You might be the next Captain America with that strength." She rolled her eyes. "No way, I want to be iron man." Gerald nodded with a smile. "Go see your daddy, he's in the kitchen helping with dinner."
"No, I'm right here Dad." Gerald smiled as Anna went to hug her other father. "Daddy!" Kyle smiled. "Hey sweet pea, so you almost broke a punching bag?" "Yeah! My teacher says I'm the best student he's had!" Kyle smiled. "That's great, wanna help mash the potatoes with me and grandma?" She nodded. "Yeah. After I change?" "Of course, go on." She ran off to the bathroom as Sheila and Eric came in the room. Sheila sighed. "We tried to get Ike to come over but he's stuck at college so we'll be missing one." Eric shrugged. "Shit happens." "Eric!" Kyle hissed out." Eric rolled his eyes. "I could use safe words all her life and she's still gonna hear them somewhere." Kyle shook his head. "Not the point."
Anna came back out in jeans and tee shirt and no shoes. "Ok I'm ready!" Kyle smiled. "Ok, lets go mash some potatoes." They disappeared into the kitchen.
Eric, Sheila and Gerald just talked about work, Sheila going into the kitchen to help and supervise every once in a while until Kyle shushes her out.
Over dinner was nothing but smiles, light bickering and laughter but Eric noticed Anna wasn't eating the chicken. He didn't say anything, not wanting to ruin the atmosphere. But Kyle saw. "Anna, is something wrong with the chicken? Not feeling well?" Ann shook her head. "No. Nothing like that. I've decided I'm a vegetarian now." Kyle's eyes widened. He wasn't sure exactly how to handle this. His mother spoke first. "What? Sweetie, that's a big decision. Chicken is very good for you, you're a growing girl." Kyle sighed. "Anna, your grandmother is right. This is a life changing decision. Did you think about it?"
Eric just watched, continuing to eat. Anna rolled her eyes. "Of course I did daddy." Kyle gave her a look, knowing how clever she could be. "How long have you thought about it? A few weeks?" Anna sighed. "About eight hours." Kyle blinked. "Eight hours? So you only just decided today?" "So What? What's wrong with that?" Kyle sighed. "You don't have to eat your chicken now but we are having a conversation when we get home-" "But daddy!" She whined. He glared. "No buts. Now eat your dinner. At least what you will eat." Anna glared, starting to eat again, this time angrily. Shoving green beans and corn into her mouth.
Eric tried and failed not to laugh, letting out a small amused sound. Kyle gave him a look. "You knew." Eric tried to play innocent. "I have no idea what you mean." "You've been suspiciously quiet this entire time. And your laughing." He rolled his eyes. "Both of you, unbelievable. You're both getting a talking to when we get home." Eric flustered. "What did I do?" Kyle raised an eyebrow. "Do I really need to explain it?" Eric huffed against his chair, Anna snickering. Eric looked over at her. "Keep laughing brat, you know your in trouble still too?" Anna just gave a smug little smile, like she knew something. "I know." Kyle sighed, looking at his parents. "I'm sorry about this." Gerald just smiled. "I remember someone also being too smart for their own good when someone was that age." Kyle blushed,continuing to eat.
The night continued more smoothly. Sheila brought out the cake,placing it in front of Anna. Kyle smiled as he lit the candles, Eric taking pictures. Kyle hugged Anna once he was done. "Make a wish Sweetie." And then kissed her head.
She smiled as they sang happy birthday and made her wish and blew out her candles.
She opened the first gift and cheered. "One directions latest album?!" Sheila chuckled. "A little bird told us that you really like that band." Anna smiled as she opens all her other gifts. A few shirts, some make up (nothing pricey, just for fun) and the Moana soundtrack. Anna went to Kyle, holding the Moana album. "Can we listen to it on the way home? Pleeeease?" Kyle sighed. "Since It's you're birthday, yes but don't think you're not in trouble." Anna hugged him. "Thank you."
Kyle regretted it soon as they got in the car. Eric driving. When "You're welcome" came on He was singing along too but changing the lyrics, singing with Anna in the back.
"Hey, Kyle it's your day to say, you're welcome!" Kyle rolled his eyes, trying to ignore them. Thank god home was only ten minutes away.
When they got home Anna tried to run up to her room but Kyle stopped her. "Ah! No, we're talking." She sighed as she came from from the first three stairs. Eric walked inside, going to the kitchen for a beer, half listening to the conversation.
"Anna, this is a very big decision. Do you think you're ready to go vegetarian?" "Daddy, I've been thinking about it all day. It's just vegetables." "It's not just veggies, you can't have a Big Mac after a good report card or your dads famous steak on special occasions." Anna faltered a moment before nodding. "I'm ready. I just love animals so much." Kyle smiled. "I know you do sweetie. We'll talk more about what to do for meals tomorrow after school but now time for bed. " Anna hugged him real quick before running back up the stairs.
"So your letting her do this?" Eric said as he took a sip of beer from against the wall entrance to the dining room. Kyle nodded, turning. "She seems very set on it. If I try to push her away from it it will only lead her to it more. I'd rather her realize what she can and can't have on her own." Eric nodded as Kyle sat down on the couch. "Grab me a beer too?" Eric nodded, walking back in the kitchen.
Kyle sighed, feeling run down from the day but he felt weird. He thought about it and felt like something was in the couch. He stood, looking in the cushions when he found the chicken tenders and the one she half eaten. Kyle gasped. "Disgusting!" He glared up the stairs. "Anna Clair Cartman you get down here right now!" Eric came in, looking worried. "What's going on?" Kyle turned, showing him the nuggets and the other hidden ones. Eric sighed. "That damn brat. She told me she ate them."
Anna came down the stairs in her dads shirt that he doesn't use anymore. "What?" Kyle showed her the tender. "I don't now, you tell me?" Anna swallowed. "Dad was trying to get me to eat it. I told him I was a vegetarian." Kyle shook his head. "That's not the point. The point is you wasted food, I saw you ate half of one and put it into between the cushions. This is how we get bugs in the house. It's disgusting and wasteful. There're are starving children all over the world that can't get a piece of bread and your wasting perfectly good food." Anna brought in tears. They always had a 50/50 chance of working. The normally worked on Eric. "But Dad called me names. Said to save my Hippie mumbo jumbo and to just eat it." Kyle didn't let up. He knew she was just as smart as he and Eric, especially when she's in trouble.
"He might have been insensitive but maybe he was because you sprung this news on us. You have to talk to us before you make any big decision like that. So before you go to bed you are cleaning the couch." Anna whined. "But daddy!" "No buts! You know where the cleaning supplies are, get started." Anna grumbled as she walked into the kitchen, Eric moving for her. Kyle sighed, rubbing his temples. Eric chuckled weakly, handing Kyle his beer. "Just wait until she's a teenager." "Don't remind me."
In secluded lodge,50 miles away, a person was typing furiously on the computer. Papers all over the desk, a wall covered with pictures of Eric and Kyle and sightings and red string linking them. It was chaos. He clicked a few things before smiling. "Found them."
