"Mom! Have you seen my retainer?" My younger brother, Jason yelled from somewhere upstairs, most likely his room.
"Check your nightstand," My mom, Evanna responded as she lugged two suitcases downstairs. "You know," She started as she glanced over to where I was seated on the couch, surrounded by my suitcase and carry-on . "You could help me."
"I could, but that won't change the fact that I won't," I retorted as I picked at the chipping nail polish.
"Mom! Where's Mr. Fluffykins?!" My little sister shrieked as rapid footsteps were heard stomping around from above.
"Well, aren't you going to answer her?" I questioned daringly as I glanced over at my mother who was already glaring daggers at me. I held up my hands in defense, "I'm not the one who told you to have kids."
"He's on your bed Vivian," My mother shouted to my sister. "The least you could do is help," She drawled as she turned her attention back towards me.
"I could, but it seems like you have everything under control."
"Why did I have kids," My mom muttered to herself exasperated as the front door began to open.
"Our whole universe was in a hot, dense state. Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started, wait- The earth began to cool-" My dad's singing could be heard before he stepped into the door way. "Honey, you look worse for wear," My father, Nicholas stated as he looked over my mother before turning towards me. "Hi my little Tessy."
"Tessy," the all too familiar voice of Forsythe Pendleton Jones III snickered. My eyes widened in horror as Jughead stepped out behind my father.
"What is he doing here?!" I shrieked causing my brother and sister to run downstairs, while my mother chuckled to herself.
"Jughead!" They both cheered in excitement as they ran up to hug him.
"At least someone is glad to see me," he muttered.
"It's not that I'm not glad to see you, it's just a surprise. I thought you were going to spend this week with Archie on the trip of the century?" I questioned as I pulled my siblings off of Jughead.
"He was a no show," Jughead informed waving his travel bag around.
"Which is why," My father interrupted Jughead as he made his presence known again. "When I found Jughead at Pop Tate's, I invited him to join us." he beamed.
"That's sweet of you darling." My mom started sweetly. "But why were you at Pop Tate's when I needed your help with packing and getting things to the car."
"I-I uh," My dad pulled on the collar of his shirt, looking everywhere but at my mother.
"He was gathering reinforcements," Jughead replied charmingly, as he stepped in front of my dad, protecting him from my mother's wrath.
"Thanks," My dad mumbled as he patted Jugs on the back.
"Oh sweetheart, that's very kind of you," My mother gushed, smiling brightly at said boy. It was no secret that my mom was fond of Jughead, maybe because he was always the helping hand she lacked in the family.
"I'll take these out to the car," Jughead announced, breaking my family's trance as he grabbed the luggage that my mom was previously carrying.
"I'll help," I chimed in quickly as I struggled to rush out the door with my suitcases.
"Oh now she'll help," I could practically see my mother rolling her eyes.
"What can you say, that boy brings out the best in her," I heard my dad respond a I caught up to Jughead who was already piling in our stuff.
"What do you think you're doing?" I harshly whispered as I ignored Jughead's motion for me to hand him my luggage so he could put them in with my mom's and dad's. Instaead I pushed Jughead's chest although it had no affect on him.
Jughead snickered as he grabbed my suitcases and effortlessly tossed my bags in before answering, "I have no clue what you're going on about now."
"Oh on the contrary Forsythe Pendleton Jones III, we all know what you're doing," I accused wiggling my finger in front of his face.
Jughead smirked as he turned to face me slowly. "Oh you do now? Huh?" He remarked mockingly with one eyebrow in the air as he leaned against the against the vehicle in a nonchalant manner.
"Don't even try that Jones. We both knew you weaseled your way into my family vacation because stupid Archie is a horrible friend who ended up being a no show like he always is. But you're too blind to see that it's always been about Archie and that won't ever change as long as you keep letting him treating you like crap," I ranted as I threw my hand in the air.
"You do know that I was just teasing you because your parents were listening from the window, right?" Jughead awkwardly questioned as he pointed in their direction. And there behind the window blinds lurked my parents as they were ease dropping on our conversation from the crack in the window.
"Oh god," I whispered turning back to Jughead as my eyes widened. "Jugs... I didn't mean-"
"No, you're right. Archie should learn to appreciate me." Jughead mumbled in consideration.
"Yes he should, because you're an amazing young man who deserves the best," My father cried as he rushed to hug Jughead an my mom followed.
"Group hug," Vy screamed as she rushed into the heaping load of crying mess who clung to Jughead.
"Cool!" Jason cheered as a camera flash went off. I glanced over towards him to see him proudly waving a Polaroid camera film in the air. "Five bucks," My brother bargained looking in my direction.
"You've got yourself a deal." I responded handing over five dollars from my 'Adventure Time' wallet. "I'll be in the car!" I announced as I walked past the sob fest that my best friend was involuntarily a part of but didn't seem to mind.