Chapter 22-Meet the Parents
Cammie pov
I. Am. . I am currently in my bed in my new room hiding under the covers like a 5-year old. I was supposed to go with Abby and Josh to my parents' house for dinner at 6:30, it is now 7:10. I just don't understand, I was fine when I came home from school and when I got dressed, but now my nerves are going crazy. I guess, I'm worried about facing them after all this time. 'But you faced Joe today at school; the annoying voice in the back of my head said. I hate to admit it, but my self-conscious was right (like always). I sighed burying my head deeper into my pillow. What ifs were running through my mind, each felt as if it were running a thousand miles per second. What if she doesn't like the new me? What if she's angry at me for leaving her? What if-
My thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock on my door. "CAMERON ANN MORGAN OPEN THIS DOOR THIS ISTINT!" I cringed, did I mention that I also locked my door. I pulled the covers tighter around me before saying "No!" as my response. I could practically hear her sighing as if she was annoyed (which I'm sure she was). "Cammie can we talk this rationally?" Well this is going to be awkward. How am I going to say this, 'Hey Abby, you know your sister, also the one who gave birth to me, well I'm scared of facing her because I left her and then changed in a way neither of us would have guessed.'
"Cammie?" she asked softly this time. I reluctantly got up and unlocked the door. "Come in' I say going back to it on my bed. I heard the door creak slowly. Seriously, I'm not going to eat her. I didn't look us as she steeped foot into my room, to even when she sat next to me on the bed. "What's going on squirt?" she said squeezing my shoulder I hung my head in shame, now that I thought about it, my actions were childish and immature. "I'm worried about mom" I looked up to see her reaction, just an eyebrow raised urging me to continue. "I'm worried that she would be mad at me" Her reaction this time was...shocking. Abby started laughing and not your simple laugh, she was gasping for air in-between fits of laughter. Sometimes I wonder if she is even related to my mom.
"What is so funny? I asked watching her make a fool of herself. The hurt was clear in my voice. That was when Abby stopped laughing. "I'm sorry" she apologized, her voice sincere but it didn't take a genius to see she was holding in laughter. "Ok, let's go, I'm ready" I told her getting up and making my way to the door. This was humiliating, having your aunt laugh right in your face. As quickly as I stood up, she pulled me back down that quickly. "Cammie, that's not what I was laughing about." I gave her a look of disbelief. "Enlighten me" I said, the look still on my face. She sat up straight, suddenly becoming serious. "It's funny that you think Rachel will be mad at you." When my facial expression didn't changed, she added "Cammie she loves you for who you are, and she understands why you left, heck she even supported your decision." I looked at her hopeful. "Are you sure?" I asked sounding like a child. The words came out of my mouth before I had the chance to think about it. But Abby didn't notice, or chose to ignore it, instead she pulled me into a warm embrace, catching me off guard.
"I'm positive." I smiled brightly at her. "Thank you Aunt Abby" I responded, my voice muffled by her shoulder. We stayed like that for approximately 2.39 minutes, until she pulled away. "Come on, let's go to dinner" She grinned like a maniac. I was too scared to reply, but nevertheless, I followed her down the stairs to the living room where Josh was waiting. I smiled sheepishly at him, which he gladly returned. We were on our way to see my parents, I hope this goes well.
It wasn't until we got to the doorstep when I felt bit self-conscious about my clothes. I looked down at my old plaid skirt, scuffed flats and my black shirt with a butterfly on the front. As if he were reading my thoughts, Josh whispered in my ear "You look great." I smiled up at him in appreciation, he always knows the right thing to say. A few minutes after the doorbell rang, Joe answered the door.
"Come in" he said ushering us into the house. "I'm so glad you could make it" I heard him say as I looked around the living room, it seemed as if nothing changed, and for once, that was a relief. "Thank you for inviting us Solomon." My aunt told him politely. Josh and I looked at her strangely before shrugging it off, just another day in Roseville it seems.
"Joe are they here yet?" I heard my mother's voice from the kitchen. I can't wait to see her, and have an actual face to face conversation with her. Sure we talked on the phone, but it wasn't the same thing... Wait a minute, was she in the kitchen, as in cooking? We're all screwed. Not be a pessimist, but the last time my mom cooked, I almost got food poising. Let's just say I don't want to relive that experience again. "No Rachel we're in the bathroom" Abbey yelled. Now I can see where I get my sarcasm from. It was mere seconds before my mom joined our 'party'. "Well Abby I was checking to make sure it was really you after an hour." Smiling, the two sisters embraced each other. The guys and I stood awkwardly at the side of the room wondering what to do.
"You can blame that on your daughter" Abby said smirking at me. I gulped, the nervousness from before coming back. My mom approached me, her face slowly breaking out into a huge grin, making me grin even wider than her.
"Cammie" she whispered, and a second later she embraced me in the tightest hug ever known to man. Not that I'm complaining though since I hugged her back with the equal amount of strength. "I missed you" I told her. When we pulled apart, I could see tears brimming in the corner of her eye. "This year has been nothing without you." Now tears were threatening to fall from my eyes.
"I don't want to ruin this moment but the food is getting cold" Joe interrupted. I kind of forgot that there were other people in this room...my bad. "You didn't make it did you?" I jokes, linking arms with Josh. The adults laughed as we walked into the dining room. I felt so bad for him, he looked like he was a fish out of water. Looks like something is going to change.
And it did. 3hours later we were still at the table, only this time the food (cold pizza thanks to me...) was gone. Josh, Joe, Abby, mom and I were playing monopoly at the dinner table. This game getting intense, but the funny thing was, Joe and my mom were the ones making it intense. Also since they never played this game before (shocker, I only had it for like, most of my life) Josh 'volunteered' to help out my step-dad, meaning I forced him to do it. My plan was working, they were getting along well.
In the end, Abby won the game, but to me that didn't matter, Josh was accepted by my family. And I know this because before we left my mom told Josh "Welcome to the family." I swear at that moment I could have burst from happiness, it seemed like there was some happiness in Roseville after all. I hoped Josh felt the same way he did. Judging by the big smile he had on his face, I'd say it did.
During the dinner, my parents and I decided that it would be best for me to move back in. I happily agreed, the move was to happen tomorrow, as soon as I came home from school. I couldn't wait!