I slammed the door in Jack Kelly's face and stormed back into the kitchen when there was another knock at the door.
"Someone get the door!" I yelled.
"I've got it!" Spot yelled from the family room. He opened the door and much to my glee and delight the sound of the door slamming was again heard.
"Spot, why did you slam the door?" Mouse's voice came from the front hall. She reached out and opened the door and said hello.
"Uh, hi, this is the Conlon residence, right?" Jack's voice came from the door.
"Yes it is can I help you sir?" Mouse asked innocently.
"Yeah, Mr. Conlon invited me over for dinner," Jack said.
"Oh, please come in, I don't know what's gotten into everyone tonight." She explained.
"There's actually a very good reason." Jack mumbled as he walked into the kitchen. "Is there anything I can do to help you?" he asked my mom.
"Thank you for the offer, but we're almost done. You can wait in the family room with everyone else, if you want." My mom said.
"Thank you Mrs. Conlon."
"Please call me Maggie, and Angelica, will you show our guest to the family room please?"
"Yes ma'am," I replied drying my hands on a towel and leading the way out into the hall.
"Look here Mr. Kelly, I don't know what you're up to, but if you insult any more of my family, friends or cooking, you may very well be unable to walk out of this house!" I told him sternly in a hushed voice so I wouldn't get yelled at. He looked frightened at my threat when I showed him into the family room along with everyone else.
"Everyone, this is Jack Kelly," I said. "Jack, this is everyone, Spot, Spades, Skittery, Media, Mush, and Mouse."
"Hey," Media said absent mindedly, nothing could disturb her when she was watching Batman Begins.
"Hello," Skittery and Mush said while Spades and Spot just glared at him.
"I'll come and get you all when dinner is ready," I said turning towards the door and heading to the kitchen to finish dinner. We finished a little bit later and presented the feast of chicken enchiladas. Dinner was a bit awkward to say the least. Spot, Spades and I glared at Jack through the entire meal, Media, Mush Skittery and Mouse were completely oblivious to the rivalry present, and my parents were trying to keep up conversation. Jack seemed to enjoy himself, though with most of us glaring at him I have no idea why.
"That was the most delicious meal I've eaten in a long time, Mrs. Conlon," Jack said pushing back his chair.
"Angelica made most of it; I just put the chicken in the tortillas," My mom replied. Jack looked shocked that I was capable of doing something other than beating people up. He shot me a glance that had WOW written all over it. My blood was boiling at this, but thankfully Media caught the familiar don't-mess-with-me glint in my eyes and pulled me aside before I could say anything.
"Acorn, look, I know that you don't like the man very much, but cool it! Uncle Nate asked him here for a reason, and unless you want to go back to having to bum rides to class, I suggest you put on your best fake cheerleader smile, get out there and at least act like you don't want to eat the boy."
"Media, you know I love ya, but I can't do it! After what he said to Spot, I can't just act like nothing happened!" I told her.
"Then go hide or something, just don't do something that you'll regret later!"
"Fine," I said walking out into the hall. The familial horde retreated back into the family room while I help my mom clean up and Jack and my dad adjourned to his office.
"Angelica, sweetheart," my mom started. "Couldn't you try to be a little more hospitable to Mr. Kelly?" she asked when we were alone.
"I'm trying mom, I really am; but that's the guy who threatened to beat up my little brother for a stupid scratch! If he drove a Porche or a Lamborghini I could understand him being upset, but it's a freaking Grand Am!"
"Angelica, calm down, breathe. Now, I'm not asking you to suddenly become his best friend, just try to be a little more friendly to him; okay?"
"Okay, I'll try. 'Try' being the key word in that," I told her.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," I said grudgingly. I had finished in the kitchen and was walking back to my room to start on my homework when I passed by my dad's office. For some reason, ok, it was because it was Jack in there, I stopped to listen to what they had to say.
"All right Mr. Kelly, after going over my records, it seems that the only job I have available is a bell boy position." My dad said as he ruffled through papers.
"Ok, sir, that'll work, what does it pay?"
"It's minimum wage, but it's the best I can do at the moment. If anything comes up, I'll let you know."
"Thank you again sir, I really appreciate all of this."
"Well, I've been in your place before and I know how bad it can be."
"Yes sir, it's quite daunting," Jack said standing up to leave. I stood up hurriedly to leave before my dad or Jack caught me. I headed upstairs in a storm because I was going to be forced to spend more time with the blundering idiot than I wished to. Unfortunately, before I could make it all the way up the stairs my dad called me into his office. I was spending a lot of time in there as of late.
"Angelica," my dad said, "You remember Mr. Kelly don't you?"
"How could I forget?" I asked sarcastically.
"Mr. Kelly is the new bell boy at the hotel, and I want you and Sean to show him around."
"WHAT?"
"Just introduce him to everyone, ok? And please, don't let that temper of yours get out of control."
"Mr. Conlon, if it's gonna be a problem, I can figure it out on my own," Jack said.
"It's not a problem, Angelica is just a bit, temperamental sometimes."
"I can still hear you!" I said rather angrily. I hated it when people talked about me like I wasn't there when I was standing right in front of them. I also despised when people talked about my temper like I was some child abuser, I just got a little carried away, though I generally don't take it out on people. Jack and my dad continued talking, so I slunk out and walked into the living room where Media had started Batman Begins over.
"Don't you ever get sick of that movie?" I asked her.
"Movie, yeah" she said hypnotized by the pictures flashing on the screen.
"No, I don't think she does." Skittery said, flopping down on the couch.
"How many times has she watched this thing?" I asked.
"Tonight? Or just in general?" Mush asked.
"Tonight"
"This is the third time," Spot replied from where he was hunched over a notebook attempting to do something.
"What are you doing?" I sighed.
"Uh, homework," He answered.
"Why are you doing it down here?" Spades asked from her spot snuggled next to Skittery.
"Because I like to be with everyone, and I figured somebody in dis house could help me with it."
"What're you having problems with?" I asked scooting closer.
"Chemistry"
"Eh…anyone around here good with Chemistry?" I yelled, to get a chorus of no's and a mumble from Media, who was still entranced with the movie.
"Well, Ace is good at Chemistry," Mouse peeped.
"Really?" he asked curiously.
"Yeah, do you want me to call her and see if she can help?"
"Yeah, that'd be great," He sighed with relief.
Out of the blue, I got the random urge to attack Media, so stealthily creeping across the room I pounced on her and attempted to find her ticklish spot before she got to my sides. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done because she hides it marvelously well. Next thing I knew she had me pinned and was tickling my sides amidst my screams for help. Everyone except Mouse, who was calling Ace, watched in humor as Media and I proceeded to grapple on the floor with knees, elbows, hands and teeth were used to get the other off guard.
"Ten to one says that Media skunks her!" Skittery yelled.
"Yeah, but Angel can be pretty violent when she needs to be." Spades countered.
"Mouse will you get some popcorn, this might take a while!" Spot yelled into the other room.
"Don't bite her Media!" Mush yelled at her knowing what it felt like.
"OW!" I yelled from the bite that Mush yelled for Media not to do. Right about then, when Media and I were tangled together, my dad and Jack walked in.
"What on earth are you two doing?" my dad asked.
"Well, Acorn jumped on me and now I'm getting her back." Media answered.
"Uh-huh," I said my voice muffled due to the fact that my face was planted firmly in the carpet.
"Can she breathe?" Jack asked.
"Ach," I said trying to spit carpet shedding's out of my mouth.
"Acorn what did I tell you about eating the carpet?" Media asked.
"That it's better than eating hair!" I said as I hair whipped her with my long hair.
"ACH!" she spit.
"Ha!" I laughed before yelling out "OW! What was that for?"
"For hair whipping me," She replied digging her elbow into my back again.
"Aleisha, please stop trying to kill my daughter." My dad said.
"Aww, dad it's so much fun!" I said sarcastically which brought another elbow into the back. "Media, you're digging into my spine!"
"Oh, sorry," She said letting go and helping me stand up.
"I just wanted to introduce you all to the newest employee of the Hotel de Conlon, Jack Kelly." My dad told us with pride, for some unknown reason. He was met with blank stares from Skittery, Mush, Media and Mouse, who had returned from the kitchen; and looks of shock and betrayal from Spot and Spades.
"COUGHAWKWARDCOUGH" I coughed into my sleeve. Skittery, the only one who caught my attempt at humor laughed much to the curiosity of everyone else in the room.
After that Jack left, which made me extremely happy and Ace came over, which made Spot extremely happy even though he tried to hide it. Ace and Spot worked on Chemistry for the rest of the night and found out that she was taking Honor's Chemistry and English. They were hitting it off well, even though Spot was too cautious to do anything about it. They were getting along so well that even Skittery noticed.
"Aww, they have 'Chemistry' together!" he laughed. "Nudge nudge, wink wink."
"Yeah." Media chimed in, "Like you and your stalker."
"You're holding my hand!" I said.
"I'm shaking it!" she replied before we both collapsed into giggles about when that had happened at school with a guy who was stalking me. I was getting tired so I went upstairs to get ready for bed when my cell phone rang. I looked at it and groaned figuring that it was some punk who wanted me to cover their shift.
"Hello?" I answered, really not wanting to deal with whoever it was.
"Heya Angel!" said the voice on the other end.
"Riley? Is that you?"
"Well duh of course it's me!" she replied.
"How are you?"
"Oh you know, just dealing with college and work and all that Jazz. How is everyone there?"
"Ah well, Spades is fine, Spot is mad at dad because he got grounded, Mom's fine, and Dad is miffed at me because I gave a guest a black eye."
"Oh, the usual drama?"
"Sorta, see, Spot was parking the guy's car and accidentally scratched the passenger side door. Then the guy got all irate and threatened to hurt Spot and you know how I am, so I told him off and we got into a fight. But thanks to Media, he's still alive."
"She pulled you off again?"
"You know me so well!" I laughed. "But hey, when are you comin home?" I asked.
"I'm leaving Friday. So I should be home by Saturday. I miss everyone!" she said
"Well, we all miss you too! Is ORU everything you thought it would be?"
"Not exactly, it's better!" she said with excitement. "I love it here, even though I miss you all!"
"That's awesome, but I gotta go, I was about to hop in the shower."
"Ok, Angel, see you Saturday." She said.
"Adios!"
"Adios!" she said hanging up the phone. I hung up the phone and went back downstairs to tell my family that Riley, my twin, was coming home.
"Hey Mom, Dad, Spot, Spades, Riley's coming home Saturday." I said as soon as my feet crossed the living room threshold.
"She is?" my mom asked suddenly very excited. Out of all of us, Riley was the only one to have left so far, and my mom really missed her.
"Yeah, I just got off the phone with her."
"Cool!" said Spades.
"Wait, who is Riley?" Skittery asked.
"Spades, you've got to help your boyfriend with his memory!" Spot told her.
"Yeah, he's just a wee bit forgetful," She answered smiling.
"You know Riley, my twin sister." I said trying to jog his memory.
"Oh Dodger, yeah I remember her!" Skittery said suddenly remembering.
"Yeah, Dodger," I said shaking my head at his memory lapse. "Anyway, just thought I'd tell you all, but I'm going to bed now!" I said turning and going back upstairs. I was excited that Riley was coming home, she had transferred to Oral Roberts University at the beginning of the school year, and I missed her, actually if you look at any pictures of me growing up, there was Riley, we were always together when we were kids. And now she was coming home! Yay!