Chapter 16

Steph's eyes shot open at the sound of her ringtone. She rolled her head over and looked at the clock. 7:27am. She fumbled with her hand for her phone. She managed to knock it (and a hairbrush, some hair ties and two magazines) on the floor, "Crap" she rolled her body and leant over the bed. The phone was still ringing. She stretched with her hand but the phone was a little out of reach. Steph wriggled her body slightly over the bed, only to lose her balance and fall off. As she fell she managed to hit the 'pick up' button on her phone. The first words the person on the other end heard was, "Sh*t, $%& who the hell would be calling at this time?...Hello?"

"Hey gorgeous" Alex's chirpy voice resounded from the other end. Steph hoisted herself back up on her bed and lay back down, "Two questions. Number 1) Why are you so chirpy this morning? And number 2) why the hell are you calling me at this time?" She heard Alex laugh on the other end. She paused a little before adding, "No I'm serious, do you know what the time is?"

Alex coughed, "Sorry but I had to call"

"But I like my sleep" Steph interrupted.

Alex smiled on the other end, "Yeah I know baby, but hear me out
"Better be good" Steph pouted

Alex gave a slight laugh, "Will ya let me finish?"

Steph was silent.

Alex continued, "Of course it's so I got, are you ready, tickets to the premier of Jack Huntington's new movie, 'Kindling' tomorrow night" he paused as a means of dramatic effect.

Steph was speechless on the other end. Then she squealed, "Oh my gosh, how the hell did you get those?"

Jack Huntington was the latest IT actor to be blown out from Hollywood. He was known for his wit and charm and had a great body, which appealed to the girls. But he was known for doing great action films with the added comedy, which was what appealed to the guys. His movies were a mix of comedy, action and romance. The latest film, 'Kindling' added the new twist of a thriller aspect.

Alex laughed, "Ah well now that seems to have woken you up a bit more then. Told you it was good news"

Steph, who was now sitting upright, said excitedly, "That's frickin' awesome news. How many tickets you get?"

Alex went silent before answering, "Ahh well I have eight, but there's a problem"

Steph though a moment and added, "What problem? Eight tickets, eight of us, I see no problem"

Alex continued, "Ah yeah but mum's coming along, so really there's seven tickets. But she wants another adult so she doesn't look like some single mum with a whole bunch of teens who all look different – or something like that. I was gonna ask and see if Dave wanted to tag along, but I got a message from Simon, he was the only one awake, saying that Dave had a meeting planned that would probably go into the night, so he's out. Reckon your Dad or Cameron will wanna come along?"

Steph sighed, "Dammit I knew halfway through your little spiel it was gonna come to this. Well I'd love for Cam to come, but he's leaving this morning or something to go to this conference. I guess I could ask Daddy...uh they're not going to sit with us are they?"

Alex laughed, "No I already made that clear to mum. But then that only leaves six tickets left"

"Someone's gotta miss out huh?" Steph said, pulling a lose thread from her shorties.

Alex nodded on the other end and added, "Rock off between the guys?"

Steph laughed, "It's the fairest solution I guess"

Alex laughed also, "OK well, I'll let everyone know, who knows maybe someone will offer their spot up?"

Steph snorted, "Doubt it – it is Jack Huntington, plus it's his new movie and a premier – would you give that up?"

There was a sound of muffled movement as Alex shifted his body, "Yeah I guess not. Ok well catch up later then?"

Steph nodded, "Uh huh...um how'd you get these tickets anyway"

Alex coughed, "Oh you don't need the details"

Steph sat cross-legged on her bed, "No tell me"

Alex sighed, "It's not that exciting"

Steph pressed him, "Don't care"

Alex sighed again, "Ok well it was about 2am and I woke up-"

"Why?"Steph interrupted

Muffled movement again, "I needed to take a slash. Woke from an amazing dream though"

Steph joked, "I'll bet you did, horny bastard"

Alex laughed and continued, "Anyway, after that I couldn't sleep, so I went into the kitchen and polished off the leftovers from last night's dinner before coming back to bed. Couldn't sleep so a listened to the radio for a while and they had that late night, well early morning trivia quiz. Long story short, I won"

Steph smiled, "You're a brainiac too?"

Alex grinned, "I know a thing or too, but trust me I'm no brainiac. Just happened to know the answers to those questions is all"

Steph swung her legs off the bed and looked at her clock. It was 7:40am. She stood up and stretched, "Well now that I'm awake, I'm gonna go and grab a coffee and breakfast. Wanna catch up for lunch or something?"

Alex smiled, "Lunch'll be great. See you later then"

Steph smiled too, "Kay see ya"

They both hung up. Steph wandered round her room and opened her blinds, blocking the bright morning sun with her hand. Once adjusted she looked out and noticed the newness of the day; smiling to herself she turned tossed the phone on her bed and wandered downstairs to surprise her family of her early rising.

Steph's feet slapped on the tiles in the kitchen as she wandered in. Ron looked over his coffee mug to see her traipse over to the fridge and peer inside. Cameron too had a spoonful of cereal lifted up, his mouth open ready to eat it, but paused as if in suspended animation. Steph turned round and noticed them both staring at her. She looked down, "What do I have a boob hanging out or something?"

Cameron snorted and puffs of cereal blew across the table; Ron almost choked on his coffee. He coughed and Cameron slapped his on the back a few times. Steph leaned on the bench table; her cleavage on full show, "Well what's up then?"

Gaining composure again, Ron tried to speak, but ended up coughing again, and stood, coming to the sink and getting a drink.

Cameron filled the gaps, "Just shocked you're even up this early. Took us a little by surprise is all"

Steph stood back up and turned the coffee pot on, "What? I've been up early before"

Ron wiped his mouth and rinsed his glass in the sink, "Not since you were six and that was on Christmas, Bear"

Steph shrugged and took a muffin from the cupboard. She came and hoisted herself up on the kitchen bench, resting her feet on the stool, and taking a bite of her muffin. Between mouthfuls she spoke, "Well I can get up early...maybe I'll do it more often"

Ron smiled and ruffled her hair like her did when she was younger, "Yep, I'll believe it when I see it Stephi" he came and sat back the table.

Steph pouted playfully.

Ron resumed his coffee, "So why are you up early anyway?"

Cameron smiled, "Aw baby girl wanted to see me off?"

Steph rocked the stool with her feet, "Haha, no. Nah Alex called this morning. He scored tickets to Jack Huntington's new movie premier on tomorrow night" Ron raised his eyebrows, as Cameron nodded, "Awesome...still don't explain why you're up early though "

Steph stuck her finger at him, "Sit on that"

Ron frowned, "Stephanie"

She smiled sweetly, "Daddy?"

He shook his head.

Steph took another bite of her muffin, "Nah he's got tickets, but his mum is coming, which means all us can't go and also she wants another parental to come along...wanna come?"

Cameron shook his head, "Thanks, but I'm shootin out today"

Steph laughed, "Not you, I know you can't go"

Cameron scooped another spoonful of cereal, "Just letting you know"

Ron looked at him, then back at Steph, "What, me?"

Steph looked around, "Ain't no other parental here Daddy, so yeah you. Dave's in meetings all day and won't finish til late...you're it Daddy"

He looked unsure, "I don't know Stephi...chaperoning all you lot to a movie premier?"

Steph slipped off the bench and quickly came to sit next to Ron, "Nooo, Daddy you have to, pu-lease?" She made puppy dog eyes at him.

Ron rolled his eyes, "Shall I escort you down the red carpet as well?"

Steph shook her head furiously, "Oh hell no, you and...Alex's mum?...crap I better find out her name...uh yeah you two can sit waaaaayy away from us ok?"

Ron smiled, "There's no alternative is there?"

Steph stood up, "Unless you want me pestering you 24/7?"

He smiled and gripped her chin gently, "Ok Bear, I'll come along"

Steph clapped her hands and jumped a little, "Oh yay" she bent down and hugged him round the shoulders, "You're the best" she kissed him o the head. As she began to head back up to her room, Ron called out, "Stephi, be sure to find out Alex's mum's name before the premier though won't you?"

Steph nodded and pretended to salute, "Will do Daddy-o" She skipped up the stairs towards her room.

Cameron drank the remainders of his cereal, then wiped his mouth and smirked at Ron, "She has you wrapped round her little finger, Dad"

Ron looked his way and stood, clearing the dishes, "Hey I'll do whatever to keep my baby girl happy"

Cameron held his hands up in defence, "Hey I know, I would too, but when are you gonna take time out for yourself? Come on Dad"

Ron put the dishes in the sink, "I do a lot for me, you just don't know cause you're never here" he smiled.

Cameron laughed, "Ouch, burn that. OK, fair deal. Well, I'm gonna clean up and clear out" he checked the clock on the wall, "Oh shoot, I have a taxi coming in 20 minutes" he nodded towards the sink, "Cheers Dad" and with that he left towards the guest room, leaving Ron alone in the kitchen to finish washing the dishes.