Chapter Seven: Family Expansions and Scary Movies.
The following morning, we were woken up much more peacefully and thankfully on our own terms. I stretched my back out and felt a terrible pain in my ribs, I groaned slightly, pulling my shirt up. There was a huge ass black and blue bruise.
"Great." I grumbled, tossing my shirt back down. I crawled out of bed and went downstairs to join my family, ignoring the pain.
"Good morning sweetie!" Mom greeted, hugging me tightly. It hurt, but I kept from flinching.
"Morning." I replied as I reached for some coffee, but my Adderall was placed in front of me. I frowned at it. I hated the stuff.
"School's over." I pushed it away. That was the deal. I would take it during the school year, to keep me mellow. But during summer, I was free to do whatever I wanted too without those awful pills.
"Good point… But, remember what happened last time you just quit." Dad replied. I frowned. Last time I had tried to stop taking them once, but I ended up getting really sick and ended up in the hospital… The media had a field day with that one, I apparently overdosed and blacked out on so many drugs I needed rehab. I don't miss that about California. I nodded and poured a glass of water and took my usual dose of medicine. Once I was done, I grabbed a cinnamon roll and sat next to Becky.
"Alright, what's the plan for the day?" Dad asked.
"Well first we have to clean everything up…. Then I was thinking we could go out to dinner. Greg, are you working tonight?" Mom asked, looking over at Greg.
"No." He shook his head.
"Alright, that's the plan. Let's get started." Dad clapped his hands. We all finished breakfast, got dressed in our cleaning clothes, and started cleaning up.
"The diving board is busted…" I frowned, placing another bag of trash in the bin. Greg was walking with me, carrying his own bags of trash.
"I saw that… Last night was freaking insane!" Greg laughed, I chuckled, nodding.
"Who knew our Dad was so cool!" I shook my head at the thought.
"Yeah, it's hard to believe sometimes." He nodded, I did too and we walked back to finish up our assigned chores. We finished up around 11, just as someone came to fix the broken diving board.
"It shouldn't take too long, we also have to clear out the pool…" Dad explained, popping open a soda as we watched the people clear away the cement.
"Why?" Keithie asked.
"There was an incident last night, and I'm not having any of you swimming in it until we've replaced the water." Dad said, looking slightly agitated.
"What happened?" I asked.
"You don't want to know." Mom assured. I shrugged, and went back to looking for something for lunch.
"Hey Feders!" Marcus greeted, I spun around, not expecting to see him here.
"Higgins, don't you know how to knock!?" Dad laughed.
"Sorry Lenny, I was just continuing the party." Marcus replied, just as everyone else piled in behind him. Braden walked in and butterflies erupted in my stomach and I found myself unable to look at him. Time to keep looking for food.
"What's going on with your pool Lenny?" Deanne asked as I went back to searching the fridge.
"Just an accident." Dad shrugged. I quickly just grabbed some chips and a box of uncrustable sandwiches I walked out, the rest of the kids following.
"Well since we can't swim, what can we do?" Charlotte asked as we sat down in the living room.
"Video games." Keithie replied, gesturing to his leg, which Donna bedazzled. Damn. That is a lot of jazz.
"I was looking forward to swimming." Andre admitted,
"We all were." I agreed. All of us kids sat around, talking for most of the day. Of course getting to know Braden made me like him even more. He was super sweet and funny, and I have not been able to avoid staring at his lips, feeling this strong urge to kiss him.
"Alright kiddos, time to go and get ready for dinner!" Deanne shouted, walking into the room.
"Is everyone going?" Greg asked,
"Looks like it, so get going… Gemma is already like 2 hours behind." Dad snapped his fingers and I glared at him.
"I don't take that long to get ready!" I defended, pushing myself off the couch and starting for the stairs.
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that sweetheart." He said, patting me on the back as I passed him. I swatted his hand away and ran up the stairs and into my room. After picking out an outfit, I jumped in the shower and quickly cleaned off, then got out and got dressed then did some simple make up and ran some anti-frizz stuff through my hair. I threw on my cardigan and went downstairs. Braden and Andre were playing the Xbox and I plopped between them, falling backwards. Lyssa had texted me that our coaches needed a practice schedule for the summer and I usually got my best ideas upside down.
"Alright, time to go!" Dad exclaimed, walking into the room. We all got up and shuffled outside where were loaded into cars and driven to Chili's.
"QUESO!" Keithie shouted excitedly as we sat down, I was sitting between Greg and Braden,
"So, Braden, do you play any sports?" Andre asked as we all ordered drinks.
"Uh, I like soccer. Never played for school or anything, just club stuff." He replied, we all nodded
"We play soccer too." He pointed to himself, Greg, and I.
"What about school? Do you like it all?" I asked. I loved school.
"School's alright, still trying to figure it all out ya know, since I'll be a senior this year." He explained. I nodded and we began talking about all the things we were scared of and excited about. And dammit, I started to like him even more. We were about half way through dinner when my Mom stood up with Dad. We all turned and looked up at them, growing quiet.
"Everyone, we have an announcement." She smiled happily. I arched an eyebrow at her and exchanged a look with Greg and Keithie.
"What's up Mom?" Greg asked, she focused on looking at each of us in turn.
"We're pregnant!" She finally exclaimed and my jaw dropped. Keithie did a complete spit take, and the adults all began clapping and being really excited. Pregnant?! Ew…
"That's awesome guys.." Greg spoke, and the rest of us older kids nodded.
"I'm gonna be big sister?!" Becky exclaimed, clearly excited. I smiled, remembering how excited we were when we found about Keithie and her being born, another kid won't be so bad I suppose.
"Yes you are sweetheart." Mom replied, smiling down at her. Becky got up and hugged her tightly. All of us kids followed in suit and soon it was just a big hug fest. We had all calmed down and there was a brand new wave of discussion and Braden explained that he never had younger siblings, but had always wanted one.
"They're okay." I shrugged, winking at Becky. All in all, my younger siblings were really cool, I mean, sure, we fought like the normal type, but we were still really close.
"Will you guys be having dessert?" Our waitress asked,
"YES! Chocolate Lava Cake!" Becky exclaimed,
"You never finish a whole one." Dad pointed out,
"How about her and Bean share, uh, anyone else besides me want one?" I asked, Greg and Andre were sharing the skillet cookie, Keithie wasn't having anything, and the adults were all sharing. Damn. I was alone.
"I will," Braden spoke, I smiled at him as we put in our order. Conversation continued and dessert came out.
"Yes!" I declared as she set it in front of me, I slid it over to sit between Braden and I and he took a spoon.
"You first." He chuckled, I happily took a bite and we continued talking and eating until it was time to go. We loaded into the car and drove home, it was well past dark and we decided to watch a movie.
"Paranormal Activity time!" Keithie shouted happily as we filed into the movie room.
"Holy shit…" Braden whistled, staring around the room.
"Yeah, it's our favorite room in the house, you're welcome over any time." I told him, he nodded as we plopped onto the giant pillows and fluffy blankets. It was a complete theater set up, with comfy arm chairs in the back then a bunch of giant beanbag chairs and blankets on the floor. On one wall we had a soda machine and popcorn machine and on the other we had a bunch of movies.
"Have you seen all the Paranormal Activities?" I asked, he shrugged.
"I've seen the first two, but none after that." He replied, I nodded as I went to get some mountain dew.
"Well then you are in for a treat." I grinned as Keithie popped in the first DVD. Several hours, some jump scares, a lot of soda, and somehow popcorn later, it was nearing 2 AM. I wandered into the kitchen to put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
"Kids, your parents went home like 3 hours ago, so you're all staying here." My Dad's chicken scratch handwriting was scrawled on the chalkboard. I chuckled and walked back to the kids.
"Looks like it's a slumber party night. I think you guys have clothes in the spare room next to mine, wanna go check?" I asked Charlie and Donna, they nodded sleepily and disappeared. They returned a few minutes later with pajamas on.
"You can probably fit into something of my Dads…" I muttered to Braden. I went to the laundry room and grabbed a pair of basketball shorts and a shirt, I gave them too him and then went and changed into mine. We all then grabbed blankets and pillows and adjusted ourselves. I wasn't as sleepy anymore, so I decided to go watch some TV in the living room. I was in the middle of an episode of Bob's Burgers when Braden sat next to me.
"Can't sleep?" He asked, I nodded.
"Yeah, I wasn't comfortable in there." I shrugged, he nodded.
"Me either... Whatcha watching?" He asked,
"Bob's Burgers. It's a great show." I replied, he and I watched in silence until I eventually fell asleep.
So, so, so, sorry for the long delay! Let me know what you guys think! Have no fear, Gemma and Braden will get together! You will just have to wait! Suggestions welcome, if you guys want to write other stories, or anything!
Much love,
Rhey!