Chapter 21

Familial Discordance

Updated: 7/26/16

Typos resolved: 8/19/2016

Once Anika located the minivan, she opened the side door to see Charice, her little blonde step-sister of six years old beaming at her, and practically jumping out of her car seat,"Congrats!"

The graduate stared at her, "Hey, who told you to say that?"

"I did, because I heard all the other people say it, too. Daddy is taking us to fancy Chinese food!"

"Oh is he now?"Anika managed to get in whilst slamming the door behind her and buckled her seat and held her cap in one hand and leaned against the door with the other arm.

Her step-father looked in the rear-view mirror to look at her, "Please don't slam the door."

Anika rolled her eyes and texted Vanitas, you know you asked me twice today to tell you about my family.

He replied quickly, does tht bother u?

Not really. Where are you guys going out to eat?

Dad chose this ritzy Italian place in Downtown. What about u?

Chinese, you know that semi-formal one with the golden dragons out front, that one. Phil thought it'd be nice.

Cool, and you decided to give me a name. Phil is your step-father, I assume.

Yep.

Phil parked, and turned to his wife, "You need to take her phone away, she's not going to use that during dinner."

Anika's mother nodded and Anika looked at them incredulously, "You've got to be shitting me."

Charice giggled, "shit, shit, shit! Shitting!"

Phil's eyes went wide, "Do not use that word Charice! It's bad, you're sister has bad manners. Now please give your phone to Belinda."

Belinda held her hand out to her eldest daughter, "Phone, now."

Anika gave it to her with force and got out of the car, only to be hugged by two of her little step-brothers from her father's current wife. Jordan and Dennis, seven and three respectively. "Anika!" they proclaimed with joy.

Her biological father smiled, "Hey sweetie, congratulations. I already told them inside our party number, they're just getting the table ready." He held onto his wife who smiled just as wide and gave Anika a hug.

Phil helped Belinda get Charice out of the car and exchanged small pleasantries with Anika's father and step-mother. Charice and Jordan talked about childish problems, such as the latest issue with their lack of toys and such. Dennis just walked rather awkwardly behind them.

After all were seated and all had ordered did Anika's anxiety reach its peak. Belinda kept trying to ask Anika about her step-mother, albeit quietly, and kept blaming her for her lack of parenting. Anika just kept eating and winced every time she heard someone's phone vibrant or ring, it bothered her to be without her phone, especially when it was in the hands of her mother. She did not have anything to hide, but it was still nerve wracking to be without her phone. Phil kept the conversation going about his booming business, and her dad tried to compete with Phil's achievements, and ended up bringing Anika into it.

"Well, with Anika being my daughter, who's amazing and works hard, will always be a role model for Charice."

To which Phil responded, "You do know Anika had been struggling in grades for the past few yeas and barely managed to pass high school right?"

Belinda looked at her husband and ex-husband, "Both of you, can we please just eat and talk about how we are going to pay for Anika's college and books." She turned to Anika, "You decided on the mainland community college right? The one on this island is so run down."

"Yeah, the mainland one is cheaper anyway."

"You can live with your father and your brothers, that way we don't have to pay housing for you, especially since we do not trust you to be with a roommate since Kairi is staying on the island. Oh, is she pregnant by the way? We heard some rumors at your school." Her mother drank her sake as she waited for an answer.

"If living with them makes all of you happy, then fine I will. And no Kairi is not pregnant, she is dating Sora and they are practically engaged, but she is not pregnant."

Anika's father leaned across the table for some more low mein, "Well, good thing she's not pregnant, she's too young for that. Liane, the boys, and I would love for you to live with us for a bit. It'll be lots of fun."

The graduate bit her lip, "Okay, thanks." she finished eating and just waited for everyone else, at the end of it all her father managed to pay the bill, various financial statements were compiled and Anika opened her fortune cookie.

You don't need strength, only understanding.

No idea when I'll have the next one ready, but hopefully soon. Now I am off to finish school related problems.

Love Nano1012