"Mikayla! Mikayla are you there?" My father's voice rang out snapping out of my train of thought.
"At least come and have dinner, we can talk about whatever it is," he called out again. The weather had gone dark outside and my stomach sounded like a mini rumbling was happening inside.
"I'm coming," I told him before changing into a hoodie and jeans.
As I sat in the dining room, Kim came out of the kitchen, "hey, I'm sorry okay. I was going to tell you but... That wasn't how you were supposed to see it."
I didn't reply—I didn't need to. I simply moved my head back, resting it on the wall behind the chair.
"Look, I really didn't think we'd end up like that. Most of all, I wasn't expecting him to tell me he likes me. It was unexpected, but I guess seeing him a lot made me develop feelings for him..." She paused, her eyes searching mine for an answer.
She let out a frustrated sigh. "Are you even listening?"
"Wow Kimberley, just wow. You developed feelings for a guy your sister had a crush on and he bullied her every chance he got for a whole year. Beautiful, you deserve a standing ovation," I was trying my best to keep my calm, but just looking at her, it scared me that she might end up bullying me like he did.
"Listen, he's changed, he is a changed person and he said he'll apologise when he gets the chance, okay?"
"It's not like what I say will make you change your mind," I felt a bit disappointed, my sister, the closest person to my heart, someone I confided in was dating my biggest enemy. What's the worst that could happen, they throw me into a lake filled with piranhas?
"Mikayla, let's keep the past in it's place and move on," she sounded tired like a victim of bullying, what an irony.
"You're telling me to be the bigger person with the bigger heart, well newsflash I'm a teenager with a five year old's heart, so you're going to have to put up with my childish tantrums."
"Alright girls, bonding time is over, I'm hungry," she moved threateningly close, and was about to say something when our dad's voice cut through.
When he said that, he moved to arrange the plate on the dining with a little help from us.
I hope he didn't hear what we were talking about.
My stomach made a small grumble and I'm so sure he heard, he sat down at the hard of the table and Kim sat opposite me, "let's dig in."
After hungrily devouring my meal, dad looked at the both of us, "care to explain?"
Dad didn't know that I was bullied back at highschool and I could not tell him now. He'd always been there for us, trying to fill in the spot of a mother for both of us. Mom died when I was four and Kim was six.
"Mikayla doesn't accept the guy I'm dating," Kim said, impressive, she straight up said she's dating someone. I guess that's one of the the perks of being an adult.
He turned to look at me, eyebrows raised, "I just don't like him," I shrugged.
"And who's this unacceptable guy?"
"It's Adam, Adam Ashford," she said quickly adding his last name.
"Oh, he's not much of a bad person. Don't worry, the more you get to know him the much nicer he is," he stood and patted me on the head before going out. He paused at the door, "and Kimberley, invite him for lunch tomorrow, I'd like to meet my daughter's boyfriend.
Of course!
He loves the Ashford family, even their dog would have earned a spot in his heart and house if they had one. I looked up at Kim just in time to see the smug look on her face. If I could just take it off I would have.
I understand why dad likes them though. Mr Ashford, their father was a nice person though he looked intimidating, but since he's rarely around, it doesn't really matter.
As for the wife, bless her. She gave birth to two boys, though I've never met the eldest, call me crazy but I don't know if it's even possible for someone to have lived just a few blocks from ours and yet I've never met him. Even when I started highschool and he was supposedly in his senior year, not once did I run into him. The second is a jerk and someone I hate. It may be sentimental of me but I have decided that both of them are bullies or just evil.
***
Lunch. If you think I'll be there then you've got to be kidding yourself. I took my purse and went out the door, but just as I was about to open the door, "where are you going." Yes, what was I expecting, I've had the worst luck these days. I turned around to see dad staring at me from the kitchen.
"I was going to the store to buy some clothes. I just realised that it would be better to wear new clothes in college." In case you're wondering, I'm very smooth when it comes to lies.
"You can postpone it, we are having a guest in short while."
"And who could that be? Why am I just hearing it now?" Let's just go with ignorance, I'll feign ignorance for now.
"Oh come on, don't tell me you've already forgotten. Is that how much you hate him," Kim's voice sounded near. I turned my head so fast I was surprised nothing broke.
She was coming inside the house and behind her stood Adam, of course. I sighed, exasperated.
"Hi," Adam said, awkwardly waving his hand. I looked at him, what's the best way to get back at someone?
I narrowed my eyes at him, "hello....." I said hoping he'd understand what I was implying.
Kim's eyes widened, "umm, Adam Ashford," he said. I caught a glimpse of impatience in his face which he quickly suppressed with a polite smile, but I surely wasn't done. He stretched his hand for a greeting.
"Hello Adam Ashford," I looked at his outstretched hand before turning around and heading back upstairs. Behind me, I could hear the greetings and apologies, mostly from my sister.
I scoffed internally as I threw my purse on the bed. Luck was surely not on my side these two days. Just as my head hit the pillow, the door was opened, "lunch is ready," dad came in and looked at me, worry consuming his face.
"Is everything okay? Is there something you girls are not telling me?"
"Just ignore it, it'll come to pass," I said standing up.
"You're not one to start fights or even entertain one," he continued as we go down the stairs.
"Well, I really didn't start it." Yikes, that was NOT supposed to come out. I looked up to find him staring at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Dad? We've got someone waiting," my beloved sister came in just time to get him out of my skin.
We walked silently to the dining room where the douche* was patiently waiting. He opened the door and smiled widely at dad making me want to puke.
The lunch was going just fine and I tried my best to not roll my eyes at all he says until.... "So Mikayla, how was highschool? I hope you enjoyed it."
Well a certain fucker made my third year a living hell. I bit my lips forcing those words down my throat.
Time to put my great acting to work. "Um, it's been good." I nodded my head and smiled as wide as I my jaw could support.
She wants to introduce Adam as her boyfriend? Then I want to put all their ploys to shame.
Kim couldn't even hide her unease as she kept shifting and looking at me.
"I heard your brother is back," dad said once again breaking a very uncomfortable silence.
"Yes, he came back last week. Because of school obviously," he seemed wary of his brother with the way he talked.
Just as I taught, the older one was also a bully or even worse, a devil.
Alot of other talks happened but I was not listening. "How about we invite him to breakfast tomorrow," I looked up to dad. That wasn't a suggestion.
"Dad!" Kim's shouted while the douche's spoon hit his plate. What an iconic scene.
Kim looked at me, as I was seated next to me. "Say something," she whispered making me chuckle. With the way they are acting, it's nice to see the both of them so intimidated or against an idea. I refused to say otherwise, not because if I said something he would have listened but because I'd love to meet this daredevil.
"I believe it would be nice to have both brothers with us. Yes, please do come with your brother," dad pressed. Like I said, it wasn't a suggestion but a roundabout way to threaten him into doing what he has always wanted to do with the Ashfords. As expected of a business man. This was going to be really interesting.
Well, that was surely a way to end a lunch.
***
A blinding light hit my eyes as I tried to open it. It was morning, I noted. After only brushing my teeth, I tied my hair into a messy bun before heading down the stairs.
As I reached the living room, I was greated by four people. Two of which were my family, one douche and the last a ridiculously handsome guy. His looks were... Allow me to give credit, impeccable.
But aside that, why was Adam and a handsome stranger in our house first thing in the morning?
What the hell was going on?