Moving In With R5
~Chapter Seven~
"So Laur," Rocky playfully nudges Laura with his elbow as he passes her another plate to set on the table, "are you ready to share this house with two more Lynchs?"
She smiles and shakes her head as she begins to divvy out the silverware. "Of coarse I am! I love your grandparents! They're so fun!"
Rocky laughs at the brunette's energy.
Laura steps back to admire her work. Since Rydel's birthday was coming up, the kid's grandparents decided to fly down to LA and stay with them for awhile, to take part in this momentous occasion. They would be arriving any minute now for dinner, and Laura had gotten the very important job of setting the table.
Satisfied with her craftsmanship, Laura skips over to the oven where Stormie is frantically pulling food out.
"You need some help, Stormie?"
The older woman wipes her forehead, sweeping back wisps of blonde hair. "No thanks, sweetie," she smiles, the same smile that always seems to grace her face, and pats Laura on the shoulder. "You did an excellent job setting the table. Why don't you just take a break until Grandma and Grandpa get here. I think everyone else is down in the basement."
Laura nods and heads downstairs where indeed all five of the Lynch siblings plus a Ratliff are dancing around to a Shakira song and acting goofy.
Rydel is flouncing around in a bright pink tutu with a princess crown on her head. She twirls one or two times and flails the skirt around.
"Hey birthday girl!" Laura says and squeezes Rydel into a hug. Rydel gladly hugs back, despite the hostile attitude she'd been giving the brunette recently.
Laura sits down on the couch next to Ross and smiles at him. He looks at her for a moment or two before looking back at his phone screen. He's not gonna lie about it. He's noticed the change in her attitude towards him. She's acting nicer, friendlier, happier towards him and he finds her behavior to be somewhat odd.
Yes, they agreed to act civil towards each other, but he never thought she'd take it this far. Laura was acting like they'd been good ole' pals since the days of their youth and he honestly wasn't sure how to feel about that or how to react to it. So, he basically just ignored it.
Laura just disregards his rude behavior and brings her attention back up to Rydel. "So, are you excited to be turning twenty in a few days?"
Rydel just shrugs. "I guess so, yeah."
"She's catching up to you again, Rat-boy," Riker says and nudges Ellington's shoulder.
"Whatever. You're the elder around here anyway," Ratliff comments. Then he jumps on the couch and starts singing Taylor Swift. "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling twenty-two! Everything will be alright if you keep me next to you!"
Ross, annoyed with his friend's antics, then pushes an unsuspecting Ellington over the back of the couch. He falls onto the carpeted floor with a thud.
"You're only seventeen, right Laura?" Rydel asks innocently enough.
"Yeah, seventeen."
The blond girl nods and quickly and briefly glances over at Ratliff who has finally gotten up off the floor and is making his way to the front of the couch. "Hmmm, interesting."
The ringing of a doorbell halts everyone's actions.
"Grandma and Grandpa are here!" Ryland yells and then races up the stairs quickly followed by everyone else.
When Laura gets to the top of the steps she sees everyone hugging and chattering amongst themselves.
She quietly stands behind everyone, not wanting to interrupt this very important family reunion.
Finally, the one she assumes to be Grandpa, notices her presence and walks over to her, his wife follows in suit behind him. "Well who's this young lady? Mark, Stormie, have you been hiding one of the kids in the basement all these years?"
"No, Grandpa," Ryland marches over to Laura's side and wraps an arm around her waist, "this is my girlfriend, Laura."
Laura shoots him a glare before wiggling out if his grip.
"Mom, dad, this is Laura Marano. She's staying with us while her family is away," Mark introduces.
"You remember Laura right? She was in Ross's class. Remember, you met her at their sixth grade graduation."
"Oh, right!" The older man nods his head in realization. "She's the girl that threatened to punch Ross in the face if he didn't stop tugging on her hair."
"Oh my gosh I remember that!" Both Laura an Ross start laughing at the childhood memory.
"Remember you got reprimanded by the teacher because you wouldn't quit yelling at me!" Ross says, giggling and clutching his stomach.
Laura nods, wiping away tears. "Yeah, that was only time a teacher got mad at me. It was because of you."
Once both teens have finally calmed down, Ross walks over to Laura and places his arm around her shoulder, almost knocking her over in the process. "But we're past all that childish, elementary school drama. Right, LaurLaur?"
She scrunched her nose up in confusion at the nickname, but then forgets about it and decides to play along. She ruffles his hair and then wraps her arm around his waist. "Right, Rossy."
Everyone in the room is giving them strange looks. Especially their Grandpa, because this certainly isn't the Ross and Laura he remembers.
"Well, it's a pleasure to see you again, Laura."
"You too, Susan," she says referring to the Grandma. Laura unravels herself from the blond boy and goes to shake the woman's hand, but instead she receives a hug.
This family sure does like to hug a lot.
Gary (Ross's grandpa) gives her a hug too, and just when she thinks that all the catching up -and hugging- is over with, and they can finally eat that delicious lasagna that Laura is fantasizing about devouring, they are welcomed by a third party.
"Rossers!"
Before anyone knows what's happening, a curly blond haired, blue-eyed little girl in hurdling herself into the arms of an unsuspecting Ross Lynch.
"Lexi!" Ross shouts, his face instantly breaking out into a huge grin at the sight of this little angel. "Hey, baby girl, what are you doing here?"
She giggles and bops his nose before answering. "I'm here to see you of coarse. I came with Gramma and Grampy to wish Delly a happy birthday."
"Aww," Rydel coos and goes over to take the little girl from Ross. "Thank you, Lexis!"
"You're welcome Della! Happy birthday!" Alexa takes in all the faces around her and smiles even bigger than before. "Hi Riker! Hi Rocky! Hi Ryland! Hi Ratnip! Hi Aunt Stormie! Uncle Mark! Hi-" she pauses at the unfamiliar face in front of her and crinkles her nose up.
She squirms in Rydel's arm, an indication that she wants put down. Rydel does so, and Alexa walks over to Laura.
Laura squats down to the girls height and smiles kindly. She loves kids, and she's especially warming up to the little ball of energy in front of her. "Hi, I'm Laura. What's your name?"
"I'm Alexa," she says and hops into Laura arms. Fortunately, though very much caught off-guard, Laura catches the girl. "Laura, you're really pretty!"
"Aww, thanks Alexa! I think you're really pretty too!"
Alexa giggles and then wraps her arms around Laura neck, hugging her.
Laura hands the child back to Ross, who gladly takes her.
Stormie smiles and then claps her hands. "Well, I think that's all the Lynchs that this house can fit. Come on guys, lets go eat."
At the sound of those words, everyone hurries into the kitchen.
…
"Let me get this straight," Laura says defiantly. She rushes through the aisles of the department store, chasing after a very anxious Ross who seems to keep getting away from her. "You dragged me along with you to the mall to buy a present for your sister, except you have no idea what to get her at all?"
"Pretty much," Ross shouts back to her. Something catches his eye in one of the other aisles and he rushes off in that direction, sending a frantic Laura after him.
"That's why I brought you along," he proclaims, "you know Rydel better than I do."
"Oh, that's just sad." Laura crosses her arms over her chest and shakes her head. "You know what I bet Rydel would really like for her birthday?"
"What?" Ross spins around eagerly.
"A better brother!" She shouts at him and then smirks when he sends her an irritated glare.
"I don't have time for your shit, Marano! Either help me or go out to the car and wait."
She rolls her eyes. He's being a beat and she really shouldn't be helping him out, but she doesn't want Rydel to receive a shitty birthday present from her brother, so she grabs his hand and drags him out of the store.
"What are you doing?!" He gripes.
"I'm helping. You're welcome," she says in a cheerfully sarcastic manner.
"How is this helping?" He questions.
"Because, this," she gestures all around them with her free hand, "is not the store you should be shopping for your sister in."
"Then where should I be shopping, oh wise one?"
"Oh, wise one? Hmm, I kinda like that title."
Ross shakes his head at the girl and finally decides to stop fighting her grip so she'll let him go, because it's kind of embarrassing to be drag around Sears by a small brunette girl that's a good six or seven inches shorter than you.
They reach the parking lot and hop back into the van. "Okay, where are we going now?" He asks rather impatiently.
"Just drive, blondie. I'll give you directions," she leans back in her seat and presses the button on the radio. A Maroon 5 song begins to play and she swears she sees Ross visible relax. With that thought in mind, Laura slumps into her seat and quietly sings along with Adam Levine.
"Make a left up here," she instructs.
Ross does so, he cautiously glances over at the brunette before his eyes lock back on with the road.
"Sorry," he says rather vaguely.
"It's okay," Laura replies simply. She's not sure what he's sorry about but she'll take any apology she can get from Ross.
"I was kind of bitching out at you back there and I lost my cool. If you couldn't tell, I kind of stress out when it comes to shopping."
"Yeah, I could tell. You would be awful at Black Friday then," she laughs.
"Yes, I would." He laughs too.
"But, seriously, Ross -take a left at the next light-," he nods, getting into the correct lane before she continues, "you're her brother! How can you have that much trouble shopping for her sister!"
"Because I'm a guy! We suck at shopping in general. Unless its for ourselves." Laura only shrugs, still not seeing how it can be such a laborious task to shop for someone you know a lot about. "Besides, you should know her better than I do! You're her best friend."
"Or at least you were..." Ross mumbles under his breath, but Laura still hears his words.
She raises a brow in confusion. "What's that suppose to mean?"
"Come on, you can't sit here and act like you haven't noticed the way she's been treating you lately." Ross rolls his eyes.
She'd obviously be lying if she said she hadn't, but she finds it best just to ignore the subject altogether with, which is why she simply stays quite and makes no remark.
"I'd be careful if I were you," Ross speaks up again after three or so minutes of silence. "Especially after Rydel say you guys getting all cozy on that couch."
"We weren't doing anything!" She shrieks fiercely and reddens on impact.
"I never said you were," Ross chuckles, "but I don't think Rydel liked what she saw too much."
"She's not gonna do anything to me. Like you said, we're best friends," Laura responds.
"Maybe you don't know my sister as well as I thought you did," Ross says. "Rydel may look innocent and sweet on the outside, but she's lived in a house full of boys her whole life. Trust me, she's not afraid to be mean if she needs to."
Laura sighs, falling back into her seat again. She grabs her coffee from the cup holder and takes a sip. By now, it's gross and warm from being in the van for so long, under the heat of the California sun, but Laura pays almost no attention to the taste. She just drinks it to avoid discussing the topic any further.
…
After tonight, Laura can cross off "fort building" from the list of things she's good at. As her and Rydel fail to keep the hodge-podge of pillows, blankets and stuffed animals they call a "tent" from falling to the floor.
Alexa had wanted the three of them to have a sleepover in the basement. Of coarse neither Rydel nor Laura could say no to the adorable four-year-old, so they agreed and had somehow roped themselves into helping build a fort for them to sleep in.
Only, Alexa wasn't helping, but rather being very annoying and singing Selena Gomez songs at the top of her lungs.
"I'll be back," Rydel groans, blowing a stray piece of hair out of her face.
"Where are you going?" Laura grumbles, not wanting to be left alone with the four-year-old pop star.
"To get some duct tape," Rydel replies.
Laura nods, thinking she was gonna use it to hold up the tent, but then grabs her arm quickly as she pictures a new scenario. "For the fort or for the girl?"
"For the for-" Rydel pauses and glances over at Lexi who is just screaming by this point. Rydel shakes her head. Duct taping a little girls mouth shut would be bad, she tells herself. "For the fort."
Laura nods and lets her go.
Rydel climbs up the stairs and opens the door, bumping into someone who almost sends her falling back down the stairs.
Luckily they grab onto her waist and catch her just in time before she looses her balance completely.
"Might wanna watch where you're going, huh Delly?" Ratliff jokes.
Rydel nods, closing the door to the basement and forgetting why she came up in the first place. "What are you still doing here? It's like nine o clock."
"Geez, is it past my bedtime or something?" He laughs.
She shakes her head and smiles. "Just seems a little late for you to still be here."
He shrugs. "I just lost track of time I guess." A beat passes and then he speak again. "How's the babysitting going?"
"It could be better," she answers truthfully. "Alexa's a cutie, but she starts to get a little rambunctious the closer it gets to bedtime."
"Well, good luck with that. I'm gonna head home. See you guys tomorrow."
"Okay."
"Goodnight Del."
"Goodnight Ell."
Laura takes a break with the constructing while Rydel goes to get the tape.
Footsteps parade down the stairs and by the way Alexa squeals when she notices them she only guess who it is.
"Rossers!" Laura laughs to herself at the nickname Alexa's obviously favorite cousin is pegged with. She finds it cute, and is pretty impressed that Ross plays along with it like he does. Seems very "un-Ross" of him.
"Hey princess," Ross says happily. He looks around, wondering if Alexa had been left unattended down here until he sees Laura laying down on the floor. "Well, if it isn't my favorite two girls in the whole world." He comments sarcastically.
"That's funny, Ross, because you're my favorite girl too." She tease back playfully.
He sticks his tongue out at her and she does the same.
"Where's Rydel?" He wonders, looking around for her.
"She went to get some tape."
"Well, I just came down to say goodnight," he says.
"Goodnight Rossers," Lexi says, she yawns a little in the process.
"Goodnight Lex Luther," Ross squeezes the girl and then sets her down, before retreating back downstairs.
"What? Now goodnight for me?" Laura complains jokingly.
"Goodnight LaurLaur!" There goes the questionable nickname again.
"Goodnight Rossy!"
Once he's left, Alexa jumps over to Laura and snuggles up against her side.
"Are you and Rossers dating?"
Laura laughs, wrapping her arm around the girl. "No, Lexi, we are not."
The small girl frowns. "Why not?"
"Because...we aren't."
"Oh," she says quietly.
Rydel comes back downstairs with the tape a couple minutes later.
The huge grin on her face doesn't go unnoticed by Laura, but she decides not to say anything about it.
"You ready to do this?" Rydel asks, already unraveling the tape.
"Oh yeah!" Laura replies.
The two girls begin their work, while Alexa sits in the corner, genuinely confused as to how Rossers and LaurLaura can't see how perfect they are for each other.
A/N
Happy Thanksgiving! Or I guess technically the day after. Happy Black Friday lol! Do you guys go Black Friday shopping? Because I did and let me tell you: It! Was! Crazy! But I love chaos, so I thoroughly enjoyed it :P
If you don't live in the US and dot celebrate Thanksgiving or do Black Friday then Happy Laura's Birthday! I can't believe my baby's eighteen and my other baby will be eighteen next month :'( sobs!
This chapter was basically just a cute, fluffy, family chapter to go along with the family atmosphere of the holidays with some Raura and even a little bit of Rydellington, but not much. Don't worry there'll be plenty of Rydellington in up coming chapters ;)
Thank you guys soooooo much for the reviews and everything! 99 reviews! 99 fucking reviews! That's incredible! And I'm soooooo thankful for that really it means the world to me!
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, leave a review telling me about it, I love you guys! Happy Holidays! Don't die Black Friday Shopping!
Kthanxbai!
Morgan :)