Pulling up in front of Ali's house, I fidgeted in the front seat of Ma's car as she gave a heavy sigh turning off the ignition. "I'm still not sure what to think about you going out with these people kiddo," she said, turning to look at me.
After telling my Mom about being invited to the Country Club by Johnny and Laura, my Ma didn't really know how to feel about it.
At first, she was upset at the thought of me being around 'hoity-toity' people, and they would look down their nose at me.
Then when I explained who Johnny's Mom was she got even more upset, but after seeing how much I wanted to go, she relented until I told her I didn't want her driving me there as I was going with Ali and her family.
"Ma, it's just dinner, dancing, and meeting people. It's not like they're going to brainwash me into becoming 'one of them'" I joked trying to lighten her mood, I knew she struggled being a single parent and was worried I'd feel embarrassed by her.
She held my chin in her hand and gave me a small knowing smile "You are such a good girl, Katherine,."
Letting her use my given name, I just smiled back before kissing her on the cheek quickly as she patted my knee "have a good time, princess."
Getting out of the car, I walk up to Ali's large house, feeling nervous as I rang the doorbell and giving my Ma a small wave as she watched me closely.
"Yeah, she's not leaving," I muttered to myself as I wait for someone to answer the door.
"Kat! Hi," Ali greeted in a cute floral dress as she opened the door, "Hey," I smiled at the blonde as she waved down to my Ma before letting me into her home.
"You look really nice," she complimented as my eyes wandered around the pristine building. "You too," I reciprocated, feeling in awe of the expensive-looking items in the home.
Now I fully understood why my Mom was so worried about me feeling like a lesser person around these people; their front door mat probably cost more than our apartment.
A very pompous looking couple walked down the marble staircase, obviously pea-cocking as they stepped towards us, and now I realized why my brother had been so nervous after meeting the pair.
They were very intimidating, but I'd never let things like that bother me before, I'm Kat LaRusso. Badass bitch.
"Mom, daddy, this is Katherine or Kat," Ali added as I gave a subtle glare before smiling widely at her parents.
"Hello Dear, I'm Sharon Mills, and this is my husband William" Ali's Mom greeted with a big smile as I shook each of their hands. "Nice to meet you both."
"Firm grip you've got there, Katherine," William noted with a nod as I grinned, knowing I couldn't give him the answer I wanted to.
Instead of telling him it's because I like to show that I take no shit from others, I just replied: "I like to shake hands with a firmness to be taken seriously." William nodded as if he was impressed by that.
Sharon gave me a creepy smile as she seemed happy by her husband's reaction "Absolutely, our daughter could learn a thing or two from you, Katherine."
Giving Ali a smirk, I tried to stop myself from laughing as she gave me a look as her parents ushered us to the car.
"Are they going to call me Katherine all night" I whispered to the blonde as she giggled "yes Katherine, they are" standing by the car as the Mills family got in I let out a tired sigh "wonderful."
"Excuse the mess, Katherine, we're having the car cleaned tomorrow," William said as the I looked around for the nonexistent mess, it was like the car was brand new, it even had that new car smell inside of it.
"Oh no problem, I'm just happy to be sat in a car that doesn't have springs sticking out of the seats," I replied as Sharon and William gave each other a glance but didn't say anything about my revelation.
"So tell us about you dear, where are you from?" Ali's Mom asked as I grinned, knowing their impression of me was probably about to worsen after they find out I'm related to the boy dating their daughter.
"I'm from originally from New Jersey, and now I'm living in Reseda with my mom and twin brother Daniel," I told them, waiting for the penny to drop "LaRusso?" William uttered as I gave Ali a knowingly look when she coughed, "Dad, Kat is Daniel's sister."
"Oh well, the two of you seem very... different from each other" Sharon stuttered probably trying to find the right word to say, I knew from what Daniel had told me they didn't seem like they were his biggest fans.
I nodded happily as Ali rolled her eyes like she was trying to fight herself not to say anything to her parents about my brother, and being a good sister, I should probably try and stick up for him.
But he did upset me about being invited to the club instead of him, and I never said I was a good sister "Yeah, we are, and I thank my luck every day for that."
I noticed Ali giving me a confused look out of the corner of my eye, she obviously didn't know about the chip on Daniel's shoulder about this dinner.
"Well, that's lovely dear" Sharon smiled as she turned to look at me and didn't seem as affected by my honesty as I thought she'd be.
Daniel made them seem like the judgment parents from hell, but then again, I wasn't the one dating their only child.
"Here we are, girls," William announced as we turned into a beautiful white building, and I suddenly felt a lot smaller until Ali placed her hand on mine and gave me an encouraging smile as we both exited the pristine car.
Standing by the Mills family, I watched confused as a stranger got behind the wheel of Mr. Mills' car. "Uh, I think someone's stealing your vehicle," I pointed out as the two adults gave a laugh.
"No, dear, that's the valet they park the car for us," Mrs. Mills pointed out as I watched the stranger drive the car away.
"Oh right well back in Jersey, if you ever let someone else park your car, you'd never see it again," I commented offhandedly as the wealthy couple gave me another confused expression but once again laughed it off.
"Aren't you a funny one" Sharon commented, fluffing up her hair giving me a wide smile. "Any who, welcome to the Country Club, Katherine," she said, ushering me into the building almost as if I were a shiny new toy for her to show off.
As Mrs. Mills showed me around, I tried not to complain when my cheeks began to hurt from the smile I permanently force upon my face.
I wanted to make a good impression on these people, but smiling this much wasn't natural.
"Kat!" I turned quickly to see the guys, and what looked to be their parents, I almost wanted to tease them as I noticed how dressed up they were and how their hair was all neatly combed back, they all seemed like the perfect children. Liars.
"Hey," I said, smiling brightly and honestly for the first time since we arrived. "You guys are looking dapper," I smirked as Dutch narrowed his eyes at me, almost as if daring me to tease him in front of his parents.
Johnny stepped closer to me and pressed a gentle kiss on my cheek before placing his arm around my waist. "Hi," he whispered, giving me a smile as I repeated his soft greeting.
Glancing up, I noticed his Mom looking my way, "Hello Kat," she greeted with a warm smile and placed a friendly hand on my elbow, looking happy to see me.
"Hi Mrs. Lawrence, thank you for inviting me," trying not to hit Bobby and Tommy, who were pulling faces at me behind the adults back. I just gritted my teeth and politely smiled.
"Please call me Laura, I see you've met William and Sharon," the blonde woman acknowledged as the adults all greeted each other with handshakes and fake kisses.
"Yes, isn't she a peach" Sharon laughed as she pinched my cheek, "but you girls didn't tell me you are in a relationship with Johnny now, Katherine," letting out a nervous laugh I glanced over to the blonde who seemed as off guard as I felt.
"It must have slipped my mind," Ali mumbled, having talked about her relationship with my brother before, it was evident that Ali's parents didn't think much of my brother.
"and now you're dating Katherine's brother, how.. quaint," Sharon uttered, blinking rapidly like she was broken or stopping herself from saying more.
"Is your brother here?" Laura question as a few of the guys snorted or grinned, and I clumsy babbled for a few seconds before settling on "Um, no, he's busy waxing cars... or painting a house..."
The adults all watched me for a few seconds before letting out haughty laughs. "I told you, isn't she just a peach," Sharon said as Laura gives me a meaningful glance and patting my arm.
The adults all walked off talking to each other about superficial things like which boat they want to buy next year, and Ali sped away as soon as she saw Barbara.
"Not a word" I hissed at the guys as they all broke out laughing as soon as their parents were out of each shot "If she calls me a peach and pinches my cheek one more time I think I'm going to puke," I told them as they continued to chuckle.
Dutch swung an arm over me and pulled me into his side with a smirk, and I knew he would say something even though I told him not to "Come on Peaches, you know we love ya."
Snootily pointing my nose towards the air, I jokingly pushed him away. "Of course you do, everyone does."