Chapter 14

Alex dropped Brittany off first, and waited as Alvin walked up to the house with her. Inside, the others were all sitting in the lounge room, lost in each other's company. He called out, "So we're hangin here now?" Simon looked up, "Not for long, Dave has only started dinner, he called on the way back. We're having lasagne, and he only got back from the store a few minutes ago, so I said we'd hang here til closer to dinner time" Alvin nodded then sort of jogged back to the car. Alex wound down the window, "What the G-O?"

Alvin leant on the car, "Ahh we're hanging here for a bit. Dave's still getting dinner organised so I'll go back with the boys"

Alex nodded, "Alrighty then. Well catch ya later then bro" and they exchanged a sort of fist bump blow out thing. Alvin waved to Steph, who blew a kiss, and then stepped back and waved as Alex drove off. Then he proceeded to walk back to the Miller's house.

Miss Miller was busy trying to figure something out for the girl's dinner. There was a lot of crashing and banging from the kitchen. Eleanor looked at Theodore and smiled, "I better go see if she needs any help" He nodded and watched as she left for the kitchen.

Simon and Jeanette were sitting on the lounge sharing a pack of table trivia cards and quizzing one another; Theodore was now sitting alone on the other lounge, staring at some re-run sitcom on the TV, and Alvin joined Brittany on the single lounge, helping her up and then letting her sit on his lap.

"Hey theo, what else is on?" Alvin called, from behind Brittany. He began bouncing her on his legs lightly. She smiled and giggled.

Theodore looked around for the remote and TV guide. He scanned through rattling off a few shows of interest, "What about...well there's the playoffs between the Cowboys and the Dolphins...or"

"Yeah that!" Alvin yelled

Brittany looked at him, "I'm not sitting here watching some football game"

Alvin looked pleadingly at her, "It's not some football game, it's the playoffs!"

Theodore pointed out, "Oh hang on, they're repeats from last season"

Alvin groaned, "Well what's the point of puttin' 'em on again? Geez we know Cowboys won. Ok what else is there?"

Theodore kept scanning; Jeanette too had come over to see if she could help. She pointed to one, "How about this?"

Theodore shrugged and smiled, "Guess it's worth a look" he began channel surfing

Alvin had a furrowed look, "What? What are we watching?"

Theodore found the channel and started laughing, "Ha ha some crazy Japanese game show"

Alvin laughed out loud, "Oh awesome, these things are always hilarious, good pick Jen. Course I could do all that"

Simon smiled and looked over at Alvin, as Jeanette joined him back on the lounge, "Oh yeah right Alvin, 'cause you're Mr Do-it-all"

Alvin smiled smugly, "You know it"

They all sat watching and laughing at the crazy antics of the show; Eleanor poking her head in at intervals to see what all the commotion was about.

After a while, Alvin was up and racing round the kitchen grabbing seemingly random things from the pantry and cupboards and carting them back to the lounge room. Miss Miller wondered what was going on, and by his third trip, decided to confront him, "Alvin, dear, what on earth are you doing?"

Alvin was a little breathless, "Oh...nothing to...worry...about...Miss Miller" and he gave one of his charming smiles.

Miss Miller scrutinised his face and pointed a finger at him, "Now that's got me worried, dear"

Alvin simply smiled again and raced back to the others, "REALLY! NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT!"

Miss Miller picked up a wooden spoon and tapped her thigh, before stirring the pot on the stove, "Eleanor, be a dear and check that Alvin isn't up to anything dangerous"

Eleanor smiled, "Sure Miss Miller" and put the bread knife down on the chopping board. She wiped her hands on her apron and walked into the lounge room. She was greeted with a most bizarre set up. Everyone was in hysterics as Alvin was trying to explain something.

Alvin had created, or tried to, the games being showcased on the Japanese TV show. At the moment he had various dishes, bowls and pots filled with either, flour, breadcrumbs, cornflour, poppy seeds or sesame seeds, and a little water in each, just to bind them all slightly. Alvin began explaining his set up and the apparent rules, "OK, so based on this game, face first, you gotta get the gummy snakes out" then he dragged over the treadmill from the corner of the room and set it up, "But you gotta be running, each dish you complete, we turn the speed up a little. You can hold onto the side rails if you wanna, 'kay? Any questions?"

Although laughing at the sheer stupidity of the game, Simon put his hand up and asked, "Yeah do we have to do this?"

Alvin laughed, "You got a better plan to pass the time?"

Jeanette rose her hand, "Yeah, how do we eat it if it's on the coffee table. I don't think anyone could run and bend down to even get a go properly"

Alvin looked at the treadmill and the line up of dishes on the coffee table. He scratched his head and rubbed his neck, "Ahh, hmmm"

Theodore piped in, "Couldn't someone hold a dish up? I mean there's only one treadmill, so we can only do this one at a time right?"

Brittany nodded, "That sounds like it'd work...wait either way we're gonna get covered in something huh?"

Alvin winked at her, "That's the aim of the game baby"

Brittany looked down at what she was wearing, "Well I don't wanna get my outfit dirty, I need to change" she began to get up

Alvin blocked her way, "No time Britt"

Eleanor undid her apron and tossed it to Alvin, "Here, this'll do"

Alvin smiled, "Here'ya. Put this on"

Brittany frowned, but put the apron on and sat back down. Alvin reminded everyone of the rules and they rocked off to see who went first. Eleanor ended up losing (how next to Jeanette she had no idea) and was standing ready on the treadmill. Jeanette came running from the back room with a pair of swimming goggles, "It's all I could find at short notice" Eleanor looked a little unimpressed, but put them on regardless. She stood hanging onto the rails of the treadmill, her feet resting on the sides as Alvin, still laughing crazily, and bouncing around like he needed to pee, was ready at the switch. He turned the treadmill on and set the pace, Theodore held the first dish up ready for Eleanor. Brittany had her phone whipped out ready to take photos. Eleanor put her game face on. She was pretty competitive after all, under all that motherly tenderness lay a competitive creature that could take Alvin on in his best game. Alvin laughed and signalled Eleanor to start, "Ready, set, GO!"

Eleanor stared pounding the treadmill, yelling and laughing at Theodore to hold the dish up as she tried to fish around with her mouth for the gummy snakes. She realised each time she laughed, it made the flour puff up around her and up her nose, making the feat all that more difficult, yet hilarious for the others. By now Brittany had taken a few shots, but had to delete a few because she was laughing so much and shaking the camera. Simon had his glasses off and was wiping his eyes from tears of laughter. Jeanette was in a complete giggling fit. Theodore couldn't keep the dishes up as he kept doubling over from laughter and Alvin was on the floor rolling around in a fit of laughter, clutching at his stomach.

Miss Miller decided the noise level had reached a new range and decided to investigate. She arrived at the entrance of the lounge room and was taken aback. There were all the teens laughing at Eleanor, as she ran on the treadmill and Theodore held up what looked like powdery things in dishes of various sorts. Her face with covered with a concoction of powders, crumbs and sweat. She looked over at Alvin, who was red with laughter, "ALVIN! What ARE you doing?" Alvin looked up and noticed a very confused looking Miss Miller, "Miss M...it's cool...it's all good...oh sh*t my stomach" he fell back over clutching his stomach as Eleanor managed to pull the final gummy snake from the dish and stood on the edges of the treadmill panting, her arms in the air triumphant. Theodore collapsed in laughter on the floor, letting a cry of pain out as he hit his hip on the edge of the coffee table.

Miss Miller scratched her head, "I don't understand teenagers. Boys I think you should think of getting going, I mean Dave will start calling soon" and she wandered back in the kitchen shaking her head.

Brittany called out to Eleanor, "Ellie, gimme a smile!"

Eleanor looked slightly disorientated, but managed to smile cheesily at Brittany, who was having some difficulty steadying her hand to take the photo. Finally she managed, as Simon checked his watch. In amongst laughter he announced, "Ok Chipmunks, we gotta high tail it back home, I reckon Dave'll be done with dinner soon" Alvin got to his knees, "Hoo, that is the most funnest game...oh we are so playing that again" Simon nodded, "I can't imagine playing it, but as a spectator sport it is up there on the fun-o-meter" Alvin cried out, "I love the Japanese!"

After Eleanor had cleaned herself up, the guys and girls all made it out the front to say their goodbyes.

Simon was over at the car nose to nose with Jeanette; his hands round her waist, holding her at her hips, while Jeanette had her hands placed gently on his chest. They were giving each other little pecks on the lips.

Eleanor was holding hands with Theodore, as he tried wiping a few bits of excess food she'd missed from her face and hair. They were sitting facing each other on the wall near the letterbox.

Alvin was up against Brittany, who was sitting on the wall near the front steps. Her legs were wrapped loosely around his waist, and he had one hand on her waist, caressing the edge of her shirt while the other cradled her face as they kissed.

Simon looked again at his watch, and looked at the others, "Ok guys, we better get going" he kissed Jeanette once more before opening the car door. Theodore helped Eleanor off the wall and they walked round to the car, where she kissed him on his cheeks, nose and lips. Alvin gave Brittany a long passionate kiss before winking at her and jogging to the car, leaving Brittany giggling like a little girl again. She sat and dangled her feet against the wall as Jeanette and Eleanor joined her by the wall, they waved the boys off.

Alex arrived back at Steph's and turned the ignition off. Steph opened the door and stopped before getting out, she turned round and looked at Alex, "Uhh, what'cha doing?" Alex smiled and got out the car, coming round to Steph's side of the door, "Look, we're together, don't you think we better do the whole parental thing?"

Steph looked unsure, "Oh we don't need to do that, it's fine, really"

He kissed her on the cheek, "Steph, it' fine, I gotta meet your dad sooner or later"

Steph sighed, "Yeah I was thinking later, like much later"

He took her hand, "Come, on we'll get it over and done with...maybe next week you can meet my mum properly?"

Steph laughed out loud, "Oh yeah, she's gonna love that you're with me"

Alex kissed her again, "She'll love you...and if not, well surely she's gotta be happy that I'm happy right?"

Steph exhaled heavily, "Yeah ok, come on let's get this over and done with" they walked up the path toward the door. Steph reached in her pocket and pulled out her house key, and was about to put it in the keyhole, when the door opened. Ron was standing there. He was a little taken back when he saw Steph and Alex standing right in front of him, "Stephi!...*ahem*...Steph, sorry sweety, didn't expect you to be, like right there" he gave an awkward laugh. Steph looked at him sideways, "Huh? Daddy you feeling ok?" She placed her hand on his forehead as she stepped inside, followed closely by Alex, who gave Ron an equally awkward smile.

Ron held the door open a second too long before registering that everyone was inside, "Right, so you must be, The Boyfriend then?" Alex smiled and held his hand out to shake Ron's, "Yeah, I'm Alex, um, nice house Mr Xanatos, sir" Ron reciprocated the handshake with a slightly firmer one, and smiled, "Hey thanks, oh and call me Ron" Alex smiled and nodded. Steph rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Oh for goodness sake, daddy I can see right through you. No we haven't done it"

Alex's eyes widened and he flashed a look between Rona and Steph. Ron looked shocked for a second before exhaling and wiping his brow, "Oh phew. Look sorry Alex, but if you're the father of this particular young lady, it's nice to meet the boyfriend before anything should happen, not that I'm approving of any such behaviour, right? Stephi?" Steph waved him off and flashed him a smile, "Love you Daddy" she grabbed Alex's hand, "Oh I better introduce you to my older bro, Daddy where's Cam?" Ron headed toward the kitchen and pointed in the direction of the yard, "He'd out back trying to sort the truck out" Steph smiled and led the way, Alex towing behind, still a little gobsmacked at the conversation he'd just heard. About halfway down the hall he spoke, "Uhh your dad knows about what you get up to?" Steph stopped and Alex bumped into her. She turned and smiled, "Look he's kinda the one that caught me the first time" she shrugged, "I was stupid to do it, and copped hell for it, let me tell you, but daddy and I have a pretty close bond, and thankfully we got by it. He was there for me even when the dickhead broke my heart" Alex nodded slowly, "So if we...ever..." Steph interrupted, "Oh he'd prob wanna ring your neck or somethin' but he'd get over it...I just kinda make sure I don't get caught...at home anymore" she made a tense face, then smiled and grabbed his hand, "Now come on, let's see if we can find Cammy"

Outside, Cameron was hunched over the hood of the car, tinkering and listening to Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer' singing happily to himself. The chorous came blasting on the radio, as Steph approached, she couldn't help herself and bust in song, "OOHH WE'RE HALFWAY THERE, OOHH OOHH LIVIN' ON A PRAYER" Cameron turned round, almost banging his head on the hood door. Steph launched toward him, but he held his hands up, "Whoa Stephi Bear, I'm all greased up" Steph looked at his hands covered in grease, "Ew, ok don't touch me" Cameron smiled and picked up a rag to wipe his hands, then noticed Alex standing a few steps behind Steph, "Ahh the infamous Boyfriend I take it?" Steph shook her head, "Wait how'd you know I was with someone? Daddy?" Cameron grinned at her, "You know Dad's a shocker for keeping secrets" Steph pouted slightly, then made the introductions, "Ok, Cameron, Alex and Alex, my big bro Cameron" Cameron went to shake Alex's hand, but still had grease on it. Alex smiled and held his hand out, "Hey it's cool, I'm a bit of a grease monkey myself" Camron raised an eyebrow approvingly and went for the shake, making sure he gripped Alex's hand hard before wrapping it with his other hand. He stood smiling and making sure Alex felt some pain before letting go. Alex did well not to winch, or even shake his hand after, although Cameron had made it throb slightly. CAmron noted this, but said nothing, "Sooo...you and stephi hey?" Alex smiled and wrapped his arm round Steph's shoulders, "Yeah, oh I'll take good care of her and all" Camron laughed, "Hope so, I usually live in Eurpoe, flights back are a pain in the arse and I'd be mighty pissed if I had to fly over just to kick yours" Steph joined in the laughter, "Alex he's kidding, Cam you would not ya lazy sh*t" Cameron pointed his finger at her, still smiling, "Oh I'd save a massive whoopin for you still" Steph punched him in the arm, "Whatever"

Cameron turned his attention back to Alex, "So grease monkey then? Know a bit about cars?" Alex nodded, "Yeah, I'm in the middle of bringing an old Dodge back from the grave. I've finished most of the body work, and some interiors, but I'm working on the engine at the moment at school" Cameron smiled and nodded, clearly impressed, "Ok so you know a bit about cars and engines then?" Alex nodded, "Well I like to think so" Cameron slapped him on the back, "Great cause I have no idea what I am doing here" and he laughed, leading Alex over to the truck, he turned his attention back to Steph, "Hey Bear, this one's a keeper so far" he winked at her. Steph smiled then looked at Alex, who'd rolled his sleeves up and was leaning over the hood. She frowned, "Are you seriously going to help?" he turned and smiled at her, "Well, it won't take long, it's just the fan belt, a cinch to fix. Gimme twenty minutes, babe"

Steph pouted and threw her arms up in defeat, "Fine, I'll be inside when you're done" and she turned back into the house.

Steph stomped to the kitchen and opened the fridge, reaching for the carton of orange juice, drinking it without a glass. Ron looked up from the paper he was reading at the table, "Steph, something wrong?" Steph wiped the juice from her mouth, "Noo daddy...Alex and Cam are hittin' it off, seems they both share an interest in cars...well I know Alex likes cars and fixin' 'em and stuff, and I think Cam is interested in finding someone who knows how to fix cars" she smiled and came to sit opposite Ron. Ron smiled, "Alex seems nice" there was a pause. Steph waited before adding, "But..." Ron smiled again and reached out brushing Steph's hair behind her ears, "But nothing, he seems nice. And I'm glad I actually got to meet him" Steph huffed, "Yeah well it would've been later if it were up to me, was Alex's idea to do the meet and greet" Ron laughed a little, "I wasn't mean now was I?" Steph shook her head, her hair falling back in front of her ear, "No you're never mean daddy. But I think Alex is different, you know? I mean he actually seems like he actually cares for me and sh*t" Ron frowned; Steph covered her mouth and giggled, "Oops. No but really, he's great" Ron smiled and patted Steph's hand, "Well I'm glad" he sighed, "But please" Steph came round and hugged him, "Daddy I know what you're gonna say, be careful, and I will. Love you daddy" and she kissed him on his forehead, before going to the fridge and grabbing two cokes from shelf and heading outside. Ron watched as his little girl saunter down the hall. He shook his head and smiled a little to himself, then went back to the paper.

Outside Steph could hear Cameron and Alex laughing, and thought to herself, "Oh good they're getting along" she carried the cokes out and chimed in, "What's funny?" Cameron turned and smiled at her, taking a coke, "Hey thanks, oh Alex was just telling me the restaurant proposal. I reckon I'll take that one back with me" Steph blushed slightly and handed the other coke to Alex, "Ahh yes, a fun night for all" Alex opened the coke and took a mouthful, he smiled at her and looked back at the truck, "Well the belt's fine, so car should be run now, uh Cam wanna strike her up?" Cameron nodded and jogged round to the driver's seat, turning the ignition. The car choked a little, "Give it a few revs" Alex called. Cameron put his foot on the pedal and the car sparked to life. Both Cameron and Steph cheered, as Alex wiped his hands and Ron came outside, "Hey you got her running again" Alex turned and smiled, "Yeah, she should be fine now, but uh I'd get your coolant checked and maybe the oil. I only cleaned the belt, so you're probably gonna need a new one in a couple of weeks, but I'm happy to come over and put it in" Ron came round and wrapped his arm round Alex's shoulders, "Stephi, I like this one"

Steph smiled and grabbed Alex's hand, "Great mind if I spend some time with him now?" she began to head back into the house. Ron took a step closer, "Wait, there's something I think Alex will be interested in" He stepped closer and wrapped his arm round Alex's shoulder and ushered him into the house. Steph stood there gobsmacked. She pouted and stomped her foot, "Daddy!" he turned just as he got to the door, "Won't take long, I promise Bear" and with that he left a slightly bewildered Alex inside.

Steph turned on her heel and stomped over to the truck, kicking the bumper and leaning against the hood. Cameron turned the engine off and poked his head out the door, "S'up baby girl?" Steph scowled a look at him and folded her arms, "See this is why I don't bring guys home, you and Daddy steal them away from me" Cameron laughed and shook his head, "Steph, would you rather dad be pissed off or happy about the guys...guy you bring home?" She thought for a second, "Mmm ok point taken. But still" she kicked at the ground, "Mine" Cameron brought his sister in for a hug, "Steph, he's just as excited and nervous as you are, but finally he gets to meet one of your boyfriends. Come on, he's a single dad with his baby girl living at home. I know you're independent Bear, but give your dad a break. He worries about you and he cares about you. So he's spending a little time to get to know Alex better, not a bad thing if it puts his mind at ease right?" Steph was silent for a while. When she finally spoke up, it was in a far less quieter tone than usual. She hugged Cameron back, "Thanks Cammy" with that she walked quietly inside.

About an hour or so later, Steph heard a knock on her door. She'd so far cleaned the pile of dirty laundry in the corner, rearranged her photo wall and updated her status on facebook twelve times. She was lying on her bed flipping through a magazine when Alex poked his head in, "Hey, can I come in?" Steph looked up and smiled, "So Daddy done with you then?" He laughed, "Yeah showed me his car collection and some football paraphernalia and stuff..." Steph smiled and gave Alex those 'hungry eyes' expression. She pushed her magazine onto the floor as Alex came and landed on the bed. Steph rolled on her back and Alex leaned over her, his hands on either side of her breasts, propping himself up. He leant down and kissed her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment, tenderly caressing his face and running her fingers through his hair. After a while he stopped. Steph looked up, Alex sat up as Steph propped herself up on her elbows, "What's up?" He rubbed his hands, "Nothin' just pins and needles" Steph laughed, "We could get more comfortable if you'd like?" Alex leaned in and kissed her, "Thought you said you didn't do that anymore at home?" She smiled, "Yeah. But that was before I got the lock on my door" she gestured over toward the door, "Plus we're not gonna do it...geez Harper you're not banking on my advancements, you gotta set the scene. Be a little romantic" she laughed. Alex laughed and leant back on her pillow, patting the spot beside him. Steph sat up and switched around, lying side by side with him. Their legs were wrapped round each others, Steph running her foot up and down Alex's leg. He held her round her waist, his other arm under his head. They lay there looking into each other's eyes before Steph broke the silence, "So do we have to do the meet and greet with your mum?" Alex chucked, "It's only fair"