It has been almost a year since I last updated this fic. One more chapter and this baby is over. THANK YOU SO MUCH PUTTING UP WITH THIS CRAZINESS! I know how frustrating it is to wait for chapters and I can't apologize enough but the final chapter will, hopefully, be worth the wait!
Read. Rate. Review. Be jolly and enjoy cold crumpets!
Stephanie had gotten home later than expected and had ended up stumbling on the stairs which sent her into a brief panic. As it were, her parents had gone to sleep and thankfully had stayed there. She creeped her way into her room and closed the door with as much grace as she could while extremely inebriated. Somehow Lula had managed to keep her plastic cup full at all times. Carlos had expressed concern but had gotten shushed by the flamboyant diva, something Stephanie suspected rarely happened. Before Carlos could react Lester was yelling about jumping off the roof and Carlos disappeared. She had expected him to be stopping him but it turned out that he was the one quietly egging him on while Tank insisted he go inside and go home.
He had gotten her home safely before either of them did something stupid. She was currently laughing into her sheets. She wasn't really to have nights out like this. Not that she was a goodie goodie but she kept her partying to a minimum. Mary Lou dragged her out to a few small parties but no one ever tried to jump off the roof at those parties. She didn't think he was up for another one anytime soon but she had a good time. Lula had given her her phone number and insisted she call the next day.
Stephanie groaned and stripped out of the blue dress. She grabbed a t-shirt from the floor and fumbled around trying to get her limbs into the correct holes. She huffed when the article was as it should be. She managed to get under her sheets before she passed out.
The next morning was hell. Saturday mornings were rarely a quiet affair in the Plum house. Her mother got up early and started a breakfast for 10 when it was just the 4 of them and if they were lucky then Grandma Mazur would show. Stephanie was a big fan of Grandma Mazur. She was a colorful creature for someone who looked like they walked off the mortician's table. Stephanie woke up with a doozy of a hangover. Her mother was clanging pots and running the blender which didn't make any damn sense unless she had the foresight to whip her underage daughter a magical hangover cure. Doubtful but a girl could dream.
Stephanie sat up and groaned. Head rush. She felt like she had gotten run over by a herd of buffalo and left with her mouth open in the desert sun. She stumbled into the bathroom and cringed at her reflection. Her eyes were puffy and slightly red, not to mention her makeup had bled all over the place. She looked like an abstract raccoon. She had never seen her hair in such a state. The curls had found a way to mimic a ball of yarn after a kitten got hold of it. She glared at her reflection before turning on the shower.
The steam filled the bathroom as she stripped out of the ratty shirt she had put on last night… backwards. She shucked her bra and panties and stepped under the stream of water with a sigh. Nothing like hot water to ease the tension of waking up wrecked. She took too long in the shower and knew that when she finally went downstairs her mother would complain. She honestly could not care at the moment.
She turned off the water and wrapped herself in a towel while she wrung her hair out. She ran some product into the damp ends and twisted it up and out of her way. She wiped the steam away from the mirror and was pleased to see her raccoon eyes were gone. There was some left over liner smudged into the lashline but hell, that saved her time later. She shuffled out of the warm bathroom and back to her room. She was tempted to put on some sweatpants and climb back into bed but she had work later and the chances of her having the energy to change were slim to none. She wiggled into jeans and a baggy sweater and made her way to the smell of food.
When she got downstairs Grandma Mazur was already in the kitchen which meant that her mother was probably already working up a good panic. Nothing sent her mother into a panic like being watched in the kitchen. That's why Grandma Mazur was doing it. She got sick joy out of her daughter's reactions. Stephanie thought it was a hoot. Edna Mazur had been beautiful in her youth and refused to accept her age. She was thin and she was beginning to sag noticeably but that didn't stop her from dying her hair and applying a full face of makeup before leaving the house. It didn't help that Grandpa Mazur, Harry, encouraged her. He was a shameless flirt.
"Morning, Grandma," Stephanie greeted with a hug and kiss to her cheek. She was overwhelmed with perfume and hairspray.
"I was beginning to think you'd stay in bed all day."
"Stephanie had a late night." Her mother said from in front of the stove. Her tone was obviously disapproving.
"A late night? Must be that boy. Tell me everything." Her grandma was practically gushing. She loved nothing more than a piece of good gossip. Not even Grandpa Harry.
"It wasn't that late." She said with a pointed look to her mother.
"Definitely that boy then." The elderly woman pried.
Stephanie conceded with a nod. Her grandmother fist pumped slightly.
"I knew it! Tell me about it."
Not one to miss a chance to brag about her drop dead gorgeous beau and the night she had, save a few dirty details, she gushed as demurely and casually as she was able over a cup of coffee. Grandma Mazur was exactly the type of person that gushing was acceptable to. She positively fed off it. She was an enthusiastic listener and asked all the right questions. By the time Stephanie was done she was proud of herself for snagging someone so damn amazing.
"So, when do I get to see him again?" She asked tucking her hands under her chin.
"Never." Her mother quipped quickly.
"And why not?"
"Because you'll scare him away." Stephanie was surprised that her mother even approved of Carlos considering he wasn't a burg boy and he had kept her daughter out past curfew.
"I'll have you know, Helen, that I met all your boyfriends and not a one was scared off."
"All of them were scared off!"
"Obviously not all of them because one is sitting in a lazy boy in the living room!"
"Frank didn't meet you until the wedding and by then it was too late to run away." Her mother quipped.
Edna looked at Stephanie. "You gotta weed out the bad ones. I just like to test what they're made of. Nothing wrong with that."
Her mother was muttering to the pancakes she was flipping and Stephanie was trying not to laugh.
"Maybe the next time you and Grandpa come for Sunday dinner." She made no promises. Although… it would be fun to see Carlos squirm.
"Sounds like hell of a good time."
"Ma! Language."
Edna made a face at Helen's back and Stephanie smiled. She snagged a piece of bacon before her mother turned around. She made polite conversation with Grandma Mazur until Val got there. Then she was the center of attention because she had the tiniest baby bump and grandparents love to stick their wrinkly hands all over their grandchildren if they have an excuse.
Stephanie made her escape to call Carlos and make sure he had gotten home safely. The phone rang briefly before it was picked up. Maria's thick accent rang out clearly. Stephanie almost felt guilty for calling but it was nearly 9 and Carlos had said that his family were early risers.
"Hi, Maria. It's Stephanie."
"Oh! Stephania. So good to hear from you. I hope you and Carlitos had a good time last night." There was a knowing lilt in her voice. Yikes.
"It was something. Is Carlos awake?"
"Of course he is darling. I'll give him the phone." Stephanie heard muffled calls. "How are you?"
"I've been better." She admitted.
"Aye Dios." There was a smack and a soft ow before she heard Carlos' voice.
"Yo."
"Yo yourself." She said with a smile.
"How are you holding up?" His voice was thus far the most pleasing thing to her aching eardrums.
"I'll be okay after I carb up. How are you?"
"I was woken up at 6 in the morning by a very pissy cuban woman who decided I need to do chores for coming in at 2 in the morning."
Stephanie laughed quietly. She felt bad for him. Really she did. But she could see Maria standing over him with a smirk and a list of chores.
"I'm glad you find this amusing."
"I don't." She laughed again. "I'm sorry. Really. I hope you feel better." She finished sweetly.
"I'd feel better if I could see you today."
"I get off work at 9:30." She bit her lip to hide a smirk.
"I'll be there."
"I should go. I hear plates clattering which means carbs. I just wanted to see if you were alive, Batman."
"The verdict is still out on that."
She laughed and said her goodbyes. She might not need carbs to cure her hangover. Carlos had done an excellent job of improving her disposition. She had a feeling he would make it even better later. After all, she was closing the store tonight which meant she had it all to herself. Carlos was way better than carbs anyway.
As Maria would say, Dios.
Not long enough to make up for the lack of updates and I apologize for all the dialogue but major sexy times next update! Thanks for reading. Leave a review and I'll smile and pretend I'm not an asshole :)