(Two weeks after start of term)
The three Stones, plus Alicia, were working on their homework assignments in the living room in peace. All were doing work that required an hour of concentration and writing skills, which in short is an essay. Danny was still at work, trying to find an allusive vein of minerals that even he was having difficulty if finding. Their mom was in their house, typing up the new chapters for her book.
"Why do they make us analyze these poems?" said Gerald.
"Because they have nothing else to do," said June.
"Easy for you to say. This stuff is really easy for you, and Danny only finds it as hard as an average person would," said Gerald.
"You know Gerald, you could ask me to be your tutor instead of always trying to find a way to hit on Maria," said June. Gerald glared at her, but blushed crimson as Danny and Alicia sniggered to themselves.
"Mind yo' business a'ight. I didn't ask you about that," he said.
"Gerald, you're my brother, you have no privacy," said June. Danny loved it when his older twin siblings fought each other. It was always June who won, though Gerald would sometimes pull a surprise upset every now and again.
As they continued arguing, Danny Sr. came back in from work.
"Hey everyone. How was school?"
"Good dad," said Danny since his brother and sister were sending dark glares at each other.
"Homework?"
"Yes."
"Analyzing poems?"
"Unfortunately."
"I hated those. At least your dyslexia isn't too bad though," said Danny before he went up the staircase to the upstairs. There he saw his wife working on her work. He came up behind her and kissed the back of her neck. She pulled her arm back to hold the back of his head in place and craned her head backwards to kiss him.
"How was work?" she asked.
"Good, but that vein of ores and possibly gold is very tricking. Even I'm having difficulty finding it," he said.
"Maybe you're looking so hard in one direction, you lose sight of everything around you," she said. Danny thought about it, and then slapped himself. It was that obvious. They were so busy on the foundation that they didn't bother to see they were practically delving into the very source. Danny hugged her and kissed her neck repeatedly as she giggled.
"Danny stop, I've gotta work," she said, though she didn't want him to.
"You're the most perfect wife a guy can ever have," said Danny.
"Aw, thanks Danny. You flatter me too much," she said.
"Because it's true. By the way, I have something for you," he said.
"What is it?" said Katie.
"Close your eyes," he said. As her eyes were closed he pulled out an envelope from out of his jeans.
"Open." She opened her eyes and gasped.
"Reservations to a restaurant?" she said.
"Yes, the Viewing in Manhattan. I thought it would be nice," he said. She hugged him, kissing him for all his worth.
"When do we go?" she asked.
"Tomorrow night. Wear something nice, and also be prepared for after," he said, the last part he whispered in her ear.
"What's after that?" she said, though she knew. He gave her a knowing glance and he went into the bathroom to take a shower as she blushed and went back to typing.
"Ali, what is the Poe trying to get at us with "The Raven"?" said Danny.
"He was talking about the lament he had for his dying wife," said Ali.
"How come you can get this?" said Danny.
"I don't really know, I just do," said Ali.
"See, even she gets this crap," said Gerald.
"It's not crap Gerald, it's literary art," June said pointedly.
"Exactly, crap. And worse off, we get a grade for some stuff we're not going to use in the future," said Gerald. June was really angry now.
"June, he kind of does have a point," said Gerald.
"Oh, so now you're with him?" said June, outraged.
"No, he just has a point. I don't see how "Thanatopsis" is going to help us in the future," said Danny. June had no answer for that, but just got her textbook and up to her eyes, signalling that she didn't want to talk to anybody.
"What's her problem?" said Gerald.
"You know how much she loves English. I like it at times though, but I prefer history," said Danny.
"And I love science," said Alicia.
"I like everything but English, but at least I have a B in there," said Gerald. At that moment, Danny Sr. came back down the stairs after his shower, dressed in some loose pants and a shirt.
"Hey kids, and Alicia, I have some news," he said.
"What is it Dad?" said all three Stones.
"I'm taking your mom out tomorrow night. I'm trusting you guys to keep the house straight okay," said Danny.
"Alicia, make sure everything is locked down," said Danny.
"Got it Mr. Stone," said Alicia. Danny headed back upstairs to his and Katie's room. Gerald, however, was thinking ,and when Gerald thinks, it's not a good thing.
"Gerald, what are you planning?" said Danny.
"I'm thinking of something right now," said Gerald before he took off to his room. June, Danny, and Alicia were now officially worried.
"I hate it when he does this," said Danny.
"Should we go and do something?" said Alicia.
"Let's find out what it is he's up to first," said June. They didn't have to wait long for Gerald to come back, grinning evilly and doing his work.
"Bro, what were you thinking of?" said June.
"Nothin'," said Gerald, although they all knew that was a lie.
(That night)
Gerald was busily sending messages on Facebook when his sister walked into his room.
"Okay, what are you planning?" she demanded.
"I was thinking, since mom and dad are going to be away for awhile, we were going to throw a party," he said.
"Gerald, what the hell?" she yelled.
"Come on June, you'd want the same thing too," said Gerald.
"Gerald, dad said to keep the house straight, not to destroy it with a party," said June.
"June, it's no alcohol, no smoking, no stupid shit party," said Gerald.
"Either way it's going to be a mess," said June.
"Which is why I'm putting the breakable objects away somewhere, and it's only dance and hangout," said Gerald. June thought about it for a moment.
"Besides, I'm inviting your friends and mine," said Gerald.
"Is Seth included?" said June.
"Yeah, he's the first guy I sent the message to. He's already down for it," said Gerald.
"Okay," said June, retreating back into her room.
"What was that all about?" Gerald thought.
The next day at school, Gerald and June talked to all their friends about the party, and then they told their friends, and their friends told their friends, til a lot of people knew about it. Meanwhile, Alicia and Danny were completely oblivious to their plans.
"So what do you wanna do tonight?" she asked.
"I don't know. You still like Call of Duty?" he asked.
"Ever since the twentieth one yes," she said. At that moment, a tall black guy stepped up behind Alicia. His name was Greg Owens, and he was an impressive 6' 6" boy, towering over everyone in school. He was always tailing after Alicia, and he was a big nuisance to Danny, always either calling him "half-black" or other derogatory names about his biracial status.
"Sup girl," he said to Alicia.
"Leave me alone Greg," said Alicia, looking like why-the-fuck-won't-you-leave-me-alone.
"Or what? I don't see what the half-nigga gonna do," he said.
"Stop talking about him like that," said Alicia.
"And what's he gonna to do? Huh?" he said, looking at Danny. Danny stood there, not doing anything.
"See, nothin'. He's a little pussy," said Greg.
"Who happens to be my brother," said Gerald, coming up standing in front of Greg. Though Gerald was shorter, everybody knew his reputation as a fighter, and he was one of the guys on campus you didn't want to mess with. Greg, as ignorant as he was, was smart enough to know he wouldn't win this fight. He slunk away.
"Thanks Gerald," said Danny.
"Danny, you got to stand up to him," said Gerald.
"How?" said Danny.
"By not letting him trample all over you," said Gerald before he left down the hallway.
"You okay Danny?" said Alicia.
"Yeah, I'll be fine," said Danny.
"Danny, why do you let him push you around?" said Alicia.
"I don't like to fight over things that are too stupid to even fight about," said Danny.
"Danny, sometimes you need to in order to stop the stupidity, if only for a little while," she said. Her words comforted her, something she was good at since they became friends.
Meanwhile Gerald was working on Maria again.
"Hola chica," he said to her while she was with some of her friends.
"Yes Gerald," she said. Though she didn't want to accept any of his offers for them to date, that didn't me she was still friendly with him. In fact they were actually kind of cool around each other, though Gerald desperately wanted to go out with her.
"I'm having a party today. You think you can come?" he asked.
"Can my friends come to?" she asked.
"Sure, in fact," he said, getting everybody's attention in the hallway, "party at my place!" Everybody in the hallway cheered. People started talking about the party and some started texting their friends about it too, you know typical "Guy or girl having a party" stuff.
"Okay Gerald, see you there," she said as her friends started up another conversation. This is how it went while Gerald was gone.
"Chica, he is hot!" squealed one.
"How come you haven't gone with him yet?"
"Because, I know his reputation here and I don't want to be hurt again, especially since my last novio," she said. "But I have to admit, he is one fine chico."
"No doubt about it girl," said another one.
June was talking to Seth outside one of his classes.
"I know, Gerald told me about it. I'm real stoked about going," he said.
"Why, because I'm there?" said June.
"Exactly," said Seth, pulling her in closer to her.
"Seth, such a naughty boy aren't you?" she said, enjoying the way he handled her.
"Only 'cause you inspire me to do so," he said, pulling her in for a long, sweet kiss. When it ended she looked into his stormy sea-green and grey eyes.
"You know we need to control ourselves around Gerald," she said.
"When are we going to tell him about us?" he asked.
"When he learns to stop treating me like a child. I swear to the gods he acts like a seven year old around me," she said.
"That's because he's so use to protecting you," said Seth.
"I don't need protecting," she said indignantly.
"I clearly remember you singing a different tune against the hydra, and the sphinx, and let's not forget the battalion of dracenae," said Seth.
"Why do you always have to be right?" she said.
"My grandmother's the goddess of wisdom, I'm suppose to be most of the time," he said.
"I was hoping you'd take after your dad more," she said, knowing his father's infamous nickname as "Seaweed Brain."
"Only in looks, and fighting," he said, brushing a strand of her hair out of her face. "I like how your hair's so curly. It let's my fingers stay in there instead of falling out of the other girls' hair."
"Excuse me?" said June, stepping back from him, looking outraged.
"Sorry, I meant...gah I can be so stupid sometimes," he said, leaning on the wall. She came up to him, running her fingers through his hair.
"It's okay Seth. Besides, I like your hair too. It's a lot looser and better to play with then then the other boys'," she said. Seth gave her the "I deserved that" look. June lightly kissed him as one of her fingers tangled into his bangs.
"You know you're so hot when you do that with my hair," he said.
"And you are when you let me," she said, losing herself in another kiss with him.
Danny, nor Alicia, had no idea what his brother and sister were planning. He had been kept in the dark about the wole thing. However that night, he was taken in for a surprise.
Danny was in his room, Alicia lounging on the bed next to him as he did his Geometry work. Meanwhile, Danny Sr. and Katie were preparing for their night out. Danny was in a tux, something he thought he'd never wear again unless it was for something really special. Katie was in the bathroom putting her dress on. When she walked out she was stunning. Her hair shimmered like wheat in a field, her face was glowing like the sun, and her eyeliner made her look like the goddess of love herself. A black dress that came down to just above her knee made her look stunning.
"Wow, someone looks really good," said Danny.
"Thanks," she said, turning around to let Danny get a look at her from all around. The back of her dress left the top part of her back uncovered. She was also wearing stilettos.
"Ready to go babe?" he said.
"You bet," she said. They walked out of their room and down the stairs to see Gerald and June acting casual and watching TV.
"We'll be back by midnight kids," said Danny.
"Okay dad," said Gerald and June.
"Have fun kids," said Katie. She and Danny left and Gerald and June could hear the car turn on and leave. Once the sound of the engine was gone they immediately went to work. Gerald had cleverly put the sound system and speakers behind the furniture, concealing them from view. While Gerald set everything up June hooked up her iPod to the system and hid any of the fragile things or anything that could break. The minute they were finished their first partygoers came in. To their astonishment it was Seth and some other people from school.
"Sup G," said Seth, greeting his friend. June had to turn away a blush and a smile when he came in wearing a white t-shirt, a blue camp shirt over it, and cargoes while she was wearing what she wore to school that day, a brown blouse and tight-fitting jean shorts that stopped mid-thigh. Seth had to stop himself from staring at her, and greeted her as if she was his friend.
"Hey June," he said, extending his hand for her to shake.
"Hi Seth," she said, shaking it. Gerald started the music as more people came in and soon it was full swing.
Danny was still on his Geometry work as Alicia was listening to her music.
"Hey Danny, can I ask you something?" said Alicia.
"Go ahead," said Danny. She took off her earphones.
"What do you like about me?" she asked.
"Well, your funny, smart, easy to be around, overall a nice person," said Danny.
"Well, anything more specific?" she asked.
"Well, I like it when you scrunch your nose up when you're thinking really hard," said Danny. Alicia smiled.
"Why are you asking me this?" said Danny.
"Well, let's say I like this guy at school, but I don't know if he likes me like that," she said. Danny nodded, though for some reason deep inside him he didn't want to hear this.
"Okay?"
"And I don't know if I like him or not because I don't know if he likes me the same," she said.
"I see," said Danny.
"So what should I do?" said Alicia.
"I think you should find out hints if he likes you," said Danny.
"Such as how?"
"Find ways that can get him to see that he likes you too, like hanging around him," said Danny.
"Okay, I'll keep that in..do you hear loud music?" said Alicia. Danny listened, and sure enough there was loud music blaring from the hallway.
"What the.." said Danny as he opened his door. Sure enough there was a huge party going on in his house. A guy wearing cargoes but no t-shirt streaked down the hallway.
"What's going on?" said Alicia.
"I don't know, but I know two people who do," said Danny, going through the crowd of people to find his brother, who was the mastermind behind these things.
The party was in full swing, everyone either dancing or chatting. The music was combinations of other genres that synced in so well that any lover of rock, rap, and others was pleased.
Fighting his way through the crowd, Danny saw Gerald on the dance floor with a cute Latino girl he had never seen before. This was probably the Maria girl he had fallen head-over-heels for. Danny went through the dancing people until he was behind his brother. He tapped him on his back and Gerald turned around.
"Gerald, what the hell?" said Danny.
"Oh hey Danny, enjoying yourself?" said Gerald.
"Did you not here what Dad said?" said Danny, throwing up his arms up in exasperation.
"I heard him," said Gerald.
"So then please explain to me why there is a party (ducks from a CD flying through the air) in here?" said Danny.
"Danny, relax, just enjoy the moment," said Gerald.
"You know you could have told me what was goin' on," said Danny.
"So you're not gonna snitch?" said Gerald.
"No Gerald, you know I don't snitch. You know what you're doin'?" said Danny.
"Yeah man, we're gonna get everyone out of here by eleven," said Gerald.
"What time are Mom and Dad getting back?" said Danny.
"Later than that," said Gerald. Danny took a very deep breath before answering.
"A'ight then man, I hope you know what you're doing," said Danny.
"I alway know what I'm doing," said Gerald. "You and Alicia are welcome to join."
"We'll think about it," said Danny.
(9:37)
"Thank you again for taking me here Danny," said Katie.
"Anytime babe, you know I love it when me and you go out somewhere nice," said Danny.
"And I'll never stop thanking you for it," she said. They sat back and starting eating their meals, listening to the live jazz making the mood seem just oh so nice. Danny couldn't help but stare at Katie with such love and devotion. She noticed and blushed a bit.
"What is it?" she said, smiling.
"You're so beautiful," said Danny. "Remember back in Paris when we were like this?"
"Well I was liking you and you were holding back," she said, clarifying him.
"Oh right, but still it was nice. This reminds me of that," he said. She stared lovingly at him.
"You always had such the prettiest eyes," she said.
"And you have the brightest eyes ever. I'm still wondering how Danny got Gaia's eyes," said Danny.
"Some things are better left as they are," she said. Once they were finished eating they decided to head back home.
"So, Mrs. Stone, ready for later?" said Danny, giving her the knowing glance.
"More than anything Mr. Stone," she said. (Uh-oh)
Everyone in the house, including Alicia and Danny, were enjoying the party. Gerald was on the couch talking to Maria and Alica and Danny were either doing a party game or were dancing. Danny, excusing himself, went to his room to look something up, but just as he was getting there he heard a giggle come out from it.
"Great, a making out couple using my bed," he thought. He opened his door and got the shock of his life. June was straddling Seth's lap as they kissed fiercely on each other. Danny stared in shock. June noticed someone was standing in the doorway and turned her eyes to see her little brother looking at them.
"Danny, what are you doing here?" said June.
"This is MY room," said Danny. June and Seth looked at each other like they were really stupid. Obviously they were so worked up on each other that they didn't notice themselves walking into the wrong room.
"Danny, just please, don't..."
"June, I don't have a problem with this," said Danny.
"Really?" said Seth and June.
"I had my suspicions and were this a few weeks ago I would have been at Gerald's level of insanity, but I saw how happy you look when you get back from school everyday so I decided that it's okay that you two are together," said Danny.
"Thanks Danny. You're not going to tell Gerald?" said June.
"Why does everyone think that just because I'm the youngest automatically means I'm the family snitch?" said Danny.
"Sorry," said June.
"No I'm not gonna tell him, but I'll leave it to you when the times comes," said Danny.
"Thanks Danny," said Seth and June.
"Oh yeah, one more thing," said Danny.
"What," they said.
"Get out of my room," said Danny.
(10:45)
Danny and Katie were driving back to the house now, though Danny looked kind of sad as he was driving.
"Baby, what's the matter?" said Katie.
"I hate this," said Danny.
"Hate what?"
"Driving."
"Danny, you know ever since the new rules came out we have to do this," she said.
"I know, but it's been so long since I got to earth travel. It's like I'm missing my best friend," he said. "Why were these new rules set up anyway?"
"Because monsters found ways to track us down when we use our powers. Remember when a drakon attacked the house right after we picked up the kids from daycare?" she said.
"I don't like to remember that day," said Danny.
"I don't either, but you know we can only use it in extreme emergencies," she said.
"So shocking me with lightning when we were doing it last year was an emergency?" he said, grinning. She laughed.
"Hey, you said you wanted to try something new, and it worked," she said. He smiled, but when they pulled up to their house the smile vanished to be replaced by bewilderment.
"What the hell?" said Danny.
"When did this get here?" said Katie. They were all astonished to see that their house was the one ringing with loud music and teenage students running around the outside or hanging out.
"How did this happen?" said Danny and Katie. They thought about it for a moment and turned to eeach other, knowing.
"Gerald."
"Man this party is dope," someone yelled.
"Who do we thank for it?" someone else yelled.
"Gerald!"
"Who de we love?"
"Gerald?"
"Who's in a heaping amount of trouble?"
"Gerald! Wait, what?" said everyone. They all turned to see a very pissed off, in a sinister manner, Danny and Katie. Everyone froze.
"Those who do not live here have less than one minute to get out!" yelled Danny. As if on cue, everyone who didn't live there immediately ran for the door. Once everyone was out, the only people left were the three Stones and Alicia.
"And Alicia you can go too," said Katie. Once she was gone, after saying bye to Danny Jr., the three kids were left.
"Couch," said Danny. They immediately sat down.
"Okay, before I go insane and topple the whole house down, what possessed you to think you could throw a party without permission?" said Danny. All three of them didn't have an answer.
"So, who's the mastermind behind this?" said Katie, though her and Danny were both looking at Gerald.
"It was me," said Gerald, unable to escape his parent's death glares.
"Anyone else helped him out with it?" said Danny.
"Me too," said June.
"Danny, did you have anything to do with it?" said Danny Sr.
"He didn't. He only found out today," said Gerald.
"And you couldn't have told us Jr.?" said Katie.
"Why does everyone expect me to be the snitch?" said Danny.
"I respect that, you know whenever your brother and sister do something their not suppose to be doing you need to tell us," said Danny Sr.
"Okay Dad," said Danny.
"Well, you can go to bed, but I have to decided what to do about your brother and sister," said Danny Sr. Danny got off the couch and headed to his room.
"How long are we grounded?" said Gerald, expecting it to come up.
"Three weeks, no going out, no electronics," said Katie.
"And you have to clean this mess up," said Danny.
"That can't be too hard?" said June, looking at the mess around them. Danny and Katie shared an evil grin.
"What's so funny?" said Gerald.
"You obviously didn't look at the backyard," he said.
"What?" said Gerald and June.
"We'll leave that for you to see," said Katie. She and Danny both headed up the stairs, but waited by their door. Danny and her goggled and danny flexed each finger in countdown. 5-4-3-2-1.
"Oh my gods!" yelled Gerald and June from downstairs. The two parents smiled and settled into their room, ready for what was to come.