Chapter 22: Date Night Antics

A/N: Welcome to the latest chapter of Tales of The Wheeler Family. A new chapter immediately after the last chapter? Is that legal?

I will make it legal.

Your feedback and support have been invaluable on this journey, and I hope this chapter brings as much joy to you as it did to me in writing it. So, without further ado, let's dive back into the world of the Wheeler family and see what adventures await!

Happy reading

"James! Have you seen my phone?" Sara's voice rang through the Wheeler House, a note of urgency in her tone as she hurried from room to room. The cosy living room was her first target, where she flipped over every pillow on the couches, lifted seat cushions, and shook out throw blankets, but the elusive device remained hidden.

James, deeply engrossed in his video game, barely glanced up. He lounged on the couch, his fingers racing over the controller. "Did you try next to the fridge? That's where you usually charge it," he suggested casually, his legs draped over the armrest.

Sara paused mid-search, her brow furrowing in thought. "Oh, of course." She darted to the kitchen, her boots clicking on the hardwood floor. There, nestled beside the refrigerator, was her fully charged phone. She unplugged it and began meticulously setting everything back in place, her relief palpable.

"Okay, I got my phone, wallet, purse—I have everything." Sara moved to stand in front of her brother, smoothing her outfit nervously. "So, be honest. How does this look on me?"

James paused his game and gave Sara a critical once-over, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. She wore black boots with stylish buckle straps, adding a couple of inches to her height. Her black skinny jeans were held up by a studded belt, a loose-fitting purple short-sleeve shirt draped casually over it, and a deep neckline revealed a black undershirt beneath. Her accessories included thick bangles on her right wrist and a simple silver necklace with matching earrings. Her hair, now a choppy fringe cut, framed her face and partially covered her ears, accentuating her earrings as her longer bangs swept to the right.

"Overall, I'd give you a nine point nine five," James declared, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Why? What's wrong with it? Is it too casual? Too dressy?" Sara's voice was tinged with anxiety, her brow furrowing slightly as she smoothed down her shirt.

James leaned back, the couch cushion sighing softly beneath him, and fixed his sister with a playful yet earnest gaze. "The outfit's fine—" he began, but before he could finish, the doorbell rang, causing Sara to yelp in surprise. Her eyes widened, and she spun around, her hair whipping through the air as she dashed up the stairs, her footsteps a rapid staccato on the polished wood.

"I'm not ready!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing slightly in the hallway as she disappeared from view.

James sighed dramatically, his shoulders slumping with exaggerated weariness. He tossed his controller onto the couch cushion, its plastic surface bouncing slightly against the soft fabric. "Girls," he muttered, shaking his head as he got up, stretching lazily, and went to answer the door.

The hallway was dimly lit, the warm glow from the living room casting long shadows that danced lightly across the walls. The doorbell rang again, more insistent this time, and James quickened his pace. He pulled open the door to reveal Bruce, standing there with a shy smile and a bouquet of violets. Dressed in dark blue jeans and a crisp white dress shirt, he looked every bit the part of a perfect gentleman, the violet blooms adding a dash of colour against the twilight backdrop.

"Hey, Bruce," James greeted, quickly pulling him inside by his leather jacket sleeve and directing him towards the couch. Bruce's eyebrows lifted in mild surprise as he stumbled forward, but he followed James's lead, taking a seat as directed. James then turned off the TV with a decisive click, the room falling into a comfortable silence punctuated only by the faint hum of the refrigerator in the next room.

James began pacing back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back in an exaggerated imitation of an old-fashioned school principal. "Okay," he began, steepling his fingers in front of his face like Mr. Burns from The Simpsons. "As the man of the house, and since you are here to take my sister out on a date, I have a few rules you need to adhere to that you may find... excellent."

"James," Bruce started, his voice patient and amused, but James continued his pacing.

"Now, as you escort my sister this evening, I expect you to behave like a gentleman and have her back at a decent hour. This also means you should let her walk on the inside of the sidewalk so she won't get splashed by puddles. No girl likes being splashed by puddles."

"James, it hasn't rained," Bruce pointed out, his amusement evident in the slight upturn of his lips.

"You should also hold the door open for her."

"I rarely get the chance to; she usually opens them herself," Bruce said with a small smile.

"You should also make sure to pull her chair out for her."

"Already know that."

"And always, always keep your hands at the ten and two position on the steering wheel." James demonstrated the proper way to drive a car, his hands mimicking an invisible steering wheel in the air.

"James, we're taking a motorcycle," Bruce reminded him, a gentle laughter underlying his tone.

"Oh... then make that the nine and three positions," James amended without missing a beat, still entirely serious.

Bruce leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs, a smile playing on his lips. He was genuinely touched by the younger boy's quirky display of care. "James, it's just a date. I know what I'm doing."

James stopped pacing and looked at Bruce seriously. "Now, before I get her, I need to give you something." Reaching into a pocket of his shorts, James pulled out his closed fist. "You're gonna need protection."

"WHAT?!" Bruce's eyes widened in shock.

"Tic-Tacs." Grabbing one of Bruce's hands, James placed the small clear container in it. "Just in case you two have Italian tonight, you'll be protected from garlic breath."

As James walked off to fetch Sara, Bruce rolled his eyes and shook his head, letting out a huff. He was about to leave the mints on the table when he reconsidered and slipped them into his coat pocket. They were pretty good, after all.

"Hi, Bruce." Sara's voice floated down the stairs like a soft melody, instantly drawing Bruce's attention. Emerging from her room, her earlier nerves had been smoothed out, and she looked breathtaking. The transformation was complete, and she exuded a quiet confidence that made her all the more stunning.

Bruce stood up, a genuine smile spreading across his face as he took in her appearance. "Hey," he said warmly, extending the small bouquet of violets towards her. "You look great."

"Thanks," Sara replied, her cheeks flushing slightly as she accepted the flowers. "So do you."

For a moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of them. The living room's cosy, eclectic décor faded into the background as they gazed at each other, a silent understanding passing between them. Sara's eyes sparkled under the soft light, and Bruce's heart gave a small, involuntary skip. Behind them, James watched with a satisfied, almost smug smile, leaning casually against the doorframe.

"Well," James interjected, his voice breaking the spell, "I guess you two should hit the ol' dusty trail. Have fun, you crazy kids."

Bruce and Sara broke eye contact, both chuckling softly. Bruce nodded towards James, appreciating the momentary respite from his brotherly vigilance. "Thanks, James. Have a good night," he said sincerely.

Sara double-checked the contents of her small purse, her fingers brushing over her phone, wallet, and keys. Satisfied, she placed the bouquet of violets on a side table near the door, their delicate fragrance mingling with the faint scent of pine from the nearby candles.

"Now, James," Sara began, her tone shifting to that of a responsible older sister, "I might be back late, so if you decide to go out for a burger or something, be back by nine. Make sure Eleanor doesn't stay up late either. There's money on the kitchen table for pizza or whatever you want to get if you go out. Also—"

"Sis, sis, sis," James interrupted with a playful grin, waving his hands to stop her. "You're acting like a mom again. Chill and enjoy your date. I'll just be here watching the Mega Monster movie marathon featuring Godzilla and relaxing. No big."

Sara hesitated for a moment, her protective instincts battling with the desire to simply enjoy her evening. Finally, she relented, giving James a fond, if slightly exasperated, look. "Alright, alright. But don't say I didn't warn you if Eleanor manages to sneak into the kitchen and eat all the ice cream."

James just laughed, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I'll keep an eye on her. Now go, have fun."

Sara simply smiled back, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling up as she turned towards the door. Bruce held it open for her, their eyes meeting briefly with a shared sense of anticipation. The door closed softly behind them, and the muffled roar of the motorcycle's engine soon filled the night air as they sped away.

James watched through the peephole, ensuring they were safely on their way before turning back to the living room. The familiar roar from the TV drew his attention as the King of Monsters tore through downtown Tokyo. "Cool, Godzilla 1985, love this one," James muttered to himself, sinking back into the couch. He grabbed the remote, unmuting the television just as Godzilla unleashed another earth-shaking roar.

Settling in, he stretched out on the couch, the cushions moulding comfortably around him. The living room, now his sanctuary, was filled with the flickering light of the TV and the comforting sounds of epic monster battles. The evening stretched ahead, promising relaxation and a much-needed break from sibling duties. As Godzilla rampaged across the screen, James allowed himself a contented sigh, ready to enjoy his night of cinematic chaos.

I hope you enjoyed this shorter chapter as I detoured from cosmic gods in the last chapter to... teenagers about to go on a date. It's a bit of a shift, isn't it? But that's the beauty of the Wheeler family saga; it's all about the balance between the epic and the everyday. Life is made up of these grand, sweeping moments of destiny and the sweet, sometimes nerve-wracking mundanity of our daily lives.

I wanted to show that the smaller moments—like Sara nervously preparing for a date and James playing the protective (and somewhat comical) brother—can be just as significant and heart-warming as the stuff to come.

And let's not forget James, our ever-enthusiastic and slightly meddlesome gamer, who adds a dash of humour and warmth to the story. His playful banter and over-the-top protective brother act were very fun to write. Plus, who doesn't love a good sibling dynamic, especially when it involves tic-tacs and dating advice?

I hope you found this detour enjoyable and refreshing. We'll be diving back into the cosmic saga soon enough, but I wanted to take a moment to explore the more personal, relatable side of the Wheeler family. After all, it's these everyday experiences that shape our heroes and give them the strength and perspective to face the larger-than-life challenges ahead.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Your support and feedback mean the world to me.

Please don't forget to read and leave a review. Your reviews give me life! They give inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for your continued support and please enjoy!

Until next time, happy reading!