Summary:
Saturdays are Asta's favorite day of the week
Notes:
I really like how this chapter turned out, but it's clear that I might have to up the chapter count for this story, hahahah
Chapter 5: Asta
Saturday was Asta's favorite day of the week. There was no school and everyone was home. Saturdays at the Enoteca-Adlai-Black house was Saturday brunch day. Since Miss Vanessa worked at a high-end bar and restaurant, she had the night shift, but she made it a rule that every Saturday morning was family time. No matter how tired Miss Vanessa was, she made sure to make pancakes, eggs, bacon, coffee (for Miss Vanessa) and fruit smoothies (for Asta, Gauche and Marie) and spend time with them. Breakfast was the only thing that Miss Vanessa made well.
While she was cooking, Gauche, Marie and Asta were in charge of setting up their four-person kitchen table with the "nice" plates, silverware and cups. And by "nice," it meant the eclectic array of items that the unusual family of four picked up at thrift stores and dollar stores over the years that they have been together. They each had their favorite mugs, which Asta took great care to place at the table.
Asta liked being home. It was the safe place where he was the most comfortable. Asta was even comfortable enough to speak (sometimes, it depended, really on how he was feeling that day anyway). Today was a good day, so he spoke to Marie about her favorite TV show, while they worked.
"Gang way, kiddos, got the goods," declared Miss Vanessa, once she was ready to serve up their brunch (really a late breakfast, but Vanessa declared that "brunch" was fancier).
Asta and Marie took their seats, while Gauche stared at the mess that Vanessa made while making brunch again. "Miss Vanessa, I'm not cleaning the pans this time."
"Sure, sure, I'll do it after we eat," said Miss Vanessa, smiling.
Asta snickered because everyone knew that Gauche was definitely gonna clean the dishes and pans because Miss Vanessa will "forget" and run off to work. Marie giggled.
Miss Vanessa divided up the food on their plates. "I do declare that brunch begins!"
Gauche, Marie and Asta ate like they wouldn't eat again. Fluffy pancakes, drippy sunny-side up eggs and salty bacon were always delicious. One day, Asta told himself that he was gonna eat bacon every day. Miss Vanessa, sipping her coffee, always smiled at them when they ate with gusto.
"So, Marie, how was school this week," asked Miss Vanessa.
"It was fun! Mr. Ben said that if we all get good grades on our spelling tests, the class is gonna get a pet bunny," said Marie. She was smiling widely. She was in fourth grade and her teacher was Ben Benfunk, who didn't seem like someone that would be an elementary school teacher, but all the kids loved him. "Oh, but Nash and Marco got into another fight! I don't understand why they can't get along! I mean, me, Emma, and Recca get along all the time."
Gauche's eyes narrowed, but Asta kicked Gauche's leg under the table before Gauche could start an overprotective tirade. Marie didn't need to know that Nash and Marco were fighting because they had a crush on her.
"Well, I'm sure that the boys will sort it out before the teachers will have to," said Miss Vanessa. "But it's good that you have friends that you trust, Marie. I'm excited. Let me know if you want to invite Emma and Recca over to play."
"As long as Big Brother won't be home, I might ask," said Marie.
Gauche held his heart, dramatically. "Marie!"
"See," said Asta, voice scratchy from disuse. "You do it to Marie too."
Miss Vanessa laughed. "Gauche, you're so cute. Such a doting big brother."
Gauche scowled, but his face was flush, which betrayed his embarrassment. "Shut up."
"Invite your friends over, Marie," said Vanessa, grinning. "I'll make sure that Mr. Grumpy Pants over there won't ruin it." Marie happily cheered as she went back to eating and not-so-subtle stealing bacon from Gauche's plate. "And what about you, Gauche? How was school? It's your last year, so make sure you do well. We'll talk about college and stuff soon."
"It's fine," said Gauche, which was a normal answer for him. Gauche was a senior and he was actually really smart, so he was ranked like fifth in this class in terms of academics.
Miss Vanessa pouted. "It's always fine for you, isn't it? Have you asked out Grey yet?"
Gauche choked on the fruit smoothie he was drinking as Miss Vanessa asked her question. He pounded his chest and said, "What? Where'd that come from?"
Asta shook his head. Since Grey was one of Asta's good friends, he knew that she had a massive crush on Gauche. And since Asta was Gauche's "little brother," Asta also knew that Gauche liked Grey back. Grey was too shy to make a move, so the ball was in Gauche's court (to use a basketball metaphor).
"Prom is only a few months away. She's a cute girl, someone else will ask her before you if you don't," said Miss Vanessa, teasing. Red-faced Gauche sputtered denials while Marie condescendingly patted her brother on the arm. Knowing that Gauche was out for the count, Miss Vanessa turned to Asta. "And how was school for you, Asta? Father Orsi said that it's going well so far."
Asta nodded. "We have a big lit project. Leo's my partner for it again."
Miss Vanessa said, knowingly, "He's a good one, that Leo Vermillion. Let me know if you need help. I was very good at literature in high school."
"That is a lie," said a new voice. Charlotte Roselei, the head of the literature department at Clover Imperial Escalator Academy, entered the kitchen, followed by her husband Yami Sukehiro-Roselei, the Japanese language teacher.
"Ooh, bacon," said Yami, going for the plate of extra bacon on the counter, while Charlotte fetched herself a chair. Yami and Charlotte had been Miss Vanessa's foster parents when Miss Vanessa was 15-18, just before she aged out. They put her on the right track. Mr. Yami and Miss Char were guests often enough, but Asta, Gauche, and Marie dared not call them "grandparents." They were more like an aunt and uncle.
Miss Char sat in the chair and said, "As I was saying, you hated literature, 'Nessa."
Miss Vanessa smiled sheepishly. "But I had the best tutor!"
"Suck up," Mr. Yami said, mockingly, as he ate the rest of their bacon, leaning on the kitchen counter.
Asta smiled. He loved his found family. He didn't know where he would be without them. Probably in juvie, Asta's mind bitterly supplied. To avoid his bad thoughts, he diverted his attention to Mr. Yami teasing Miss Vanessa, while Miss Char was rolling her eyes at them. Asta grinned. They were so fun.
"So, what do you kids have planned today," asked Miss Char.
"Big Brother and I are going to the library later," said Marie. Gauche nodded solemnly. Gauche and Marie usually went to the events at the library, like arts and crafts. And despite Gauche's denials, he was definitely in the book club with the grannies.
"And what about you, kid," asked Mr. Yami, specifically asking Asta.
"Secre and I are going shopping," said Asta.
"Good. Get some shirts. You're about bursting out of them. I'll give you money," said Miss Vanessa.
Asta had been bulking up lately from his exercise routine, but nothing yet in the height department. "That's okay…"
"Nonsense," said Miss Char. "It never hurts to get a few more shirts."
Miss Vanessa grinned.
Asta sighed and immediately caved. "Okay."
"Asta, thanks for coming with me," said Secre, as they entered the mall on the busy Saturday afternoon.
Asta squeezed her hand. They platonically held hands all the time, especially in crowded places where it was too easy for Asta to get distracted and wander off. Crowds and malls put him on edge, but Secre was the one person, other than Miss Vanessa, that he was able to handle going to the mall with. They headed to the Apple store first and got in line to wait for their appointment.
The main reason for the trip was to pick up things on King Lumiere's weekly list. King Lumiere was the young Clover King. He just turned eighteen and since Secre was a member of the Swallowtail Noble Family, she had been then-Prince Lumiere's assigned friend since childhood. Upon becoming King, Lumiere made Secre his special assistant to help him with his inventions and experiments. King Lumiere gave Secre a black card, a credit card with an unlimited amount of money, and a list every week. He also insisted that "she buy whatever she wanted" while she was out.
Asta kept trying to tell Secre that King Lumiere was in love with her, but Secre dismissed constantly. Asta never met Secre's "other best friend" as King Lumiere had tutors go to him in Clover Castle and rarely left the place. But from the stories that Secre told him, Asta was sure that the eccentric King was head-over-feet for Secre and the young King didn't know how to express it properly.
Often joining Secre on the shopping trips, Secre insisted that she buy lunch for them and anything that Asta needed, even if Miss Vanessa gave him pocket money. (Before he left to meet up with Secre, Miss Char gave him another 40 yul when Miss Vanessa wasn't looking). Waiting at Apple was torture for Asta's ADHD brain, but if it was for Secre, he'd suffer.
Shortly after coming under Miss Vanessa's care, Asta had been enrolled in the elementary school at Clover Imperial Escalator Academy. He struggled with making friends due to his issues. He had been bullied and had gotten into fights often, but in middle school, he met Secre in homeroom. Asta thought Secre's piercings were cool and gave her a note stating such a compliment. Since then, Secre and Asta had been inseparable at school. She looked after him and she was also great backup in a fight.
Once they were finished at Apple, they went to Hot Topic where Asta bought some clearance band t-shirts and Secre stocked up on her novelty pins. They ate lunch at the food court. Then, they went nuts going through Lumiere's list.
Using his phone, he texted Secre as they shopped.
"King Lumiere trusts you so much that he gives you his supply lists when he could just get servants to get them."
Secre snorted. "Servants aren't allowed near the Prince's workrooms. They'd ruin it with cleanliness."
Asta wisely didn't text her that she still called him "the Prince" and not "the King." He just smiled and she glared at him as if she knew what he was thinking.
Nearing dinnertime, Secre was picked up in a big limo with some bodyguards and all the stuff that Secre bought was piled in the trunk. Secre offered Asta a ride home, but Asta needed some quiet time and walking outside always made him feel better.
With his two bags of new clothes (the ones he bought from Hot Topic and ones Secre picked out and bought for him in Uniqlo), Asta headed home.
His phone buzzed.
It was a message from Gauche.
"We ran out of sugar, milk, flour, eggs and chicken. Get them."
Asta stared at the list and snickered. It looked like Miss Vanessa might have used too many ingredients this morning. Guess he had a stop to make before he got home. Hopefully, the grocery store wasn't busy.
~to be continued
Notes:
So, let me know what you think.
Yeah, Asta spoke in this chapter. The home which Vanessa gave him is his safe place and the psychological barrier that doesn't let the words out in every other circumstance eases. However, it is not always that he can speak when he's at home with his family, as Asta's narration mentioned.
Thanks for reading!
