Chapter Twenty-Two: Meet the Parents

I looked at Holly in disbelief. Was it that obvious? Because I didn’t really realize that Ben wasn’t sitting with us until she told me a few seconds ago.

“Well?” Holly asked, impatiently. “Are you going to answer the question or not?”

“Holly, I doubt Ben likes me.” I told her, lying. “We are just friends that’s all.”

Holly looked at me suspiciously, “Are you sure?”

I nodded my head, taking a sip of my water. “A hundred percent sure.”

“Okay,” Holly said dropping the subject.

“And, if Ben even did like Ali, don’t you think she would have told us, Holly?” Sarah said speaking up for the first time. “She wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”

“Alright,” Holly said a little more convincing this time. “I believe you, Ali.”

I gave her a small smile, I hated lying to Holly. Because one way or another she would figure the truth out, and when she does, all I know is that hell is going to break loose.

*

“I am home!” I yelled, tossing my bag to one of the guards who caught it with ease. “Can, you take it upstairs?” I asked, the guard who was holding my bag. He nodded his head, making his way towards the staircase.

“No yelling in the house, Alice.” My dad said walking past me and to God knows where.

“Sorry daddy,” I said faking a smile and following him. “So what are you doing?”

“I am not lifting your grounding.” My dad said in a serious tone.

“What?” I said faking a shock, “I would have never asked you, that. Is it wrong of me to ask my favorite dad about his day?”

My dad narrowed his eyes at me, “Favorite dad? Alice, I am your only dad.” He said walking towards his office where to guards were patiently waiting outside the doors.

“You know what I mean,” I grumbled crossing my arms over my chest and entering his office behind him.

“What do you want, Alice?” He questioned taking a seat at his desk.

I walked over to his desk plopping down on the seat in front of it. “Nothing.”

“Well then can you please go, I have some work I need to do.” My dad said looking down at a file he had opened up.

“Fine, can you lift my grounding?” I asked, getting right to the point.

“No.”

“Why not?” I whined, childishly.

“Are you really going to ask me that, Alice?” My dad asked in disbelief, “You snuck, out.”

“I did not sneak out, I simply went somewhere without permission.”

“You snuck out. End of discussion.” My dad said, his eyes trained at the papers he was reading.

I rolled my eyes, “Fine I will go speak to the boss of the house.”

“You are speaking to him,” My dad spoke.

“I was talking about mom.”

“She’s out of the country, she’s in France working on her clothing line.” My dad said slipping on his reading glasses.

I scratched my head, “She is?” I asked, trying to remember my mom telling me that she was leaving.

I heard my dad let out a sigh, “Roy?” I heard him say. I turned to look at him, and saw him on the phone. “Can you please come in here?” A few seconds later my dad shut the phone off.

“Who were you talking to?”

“Roy,” My dad replied getting up from his chair and walking towards the door where someone happened to be knocking. He pulled open the door to reveal a man.

I looked at the man suspiciously, he looked familiar but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. He short cropped brown hair and a pair of blue eyes, there was also some stubble on his face to show that he probably hasn’t shaved in a few days.

“Alice, this is Roy James. He is Ben’s father.” My dad said introducing the two of us.

I nodded my head at the man, he did quite look like Ben. It was just that he was an older version. “Nice to meet you, sir.” I said to Roy.

He nodded his head back at me, “Likewise.” He then turned to my dad. “So why did you call me in here, sir.”

“Can you please take, Alice somewhere? I have some work to do.” My dad said going back behind his desk and taking a seat.

“No, problem.” Roy replied, waving his hand out to me, and motioning for me to come along.  

“If I leave will you lift my grounding by a week?”

“If you leave I won’t add a week,” My dad replied staring down upon his files.

“So what I am hearing is you will think about it?” I said grinning at my dad. “Thanks!” I chirped, walking towards where Roy was standing by the door. I walked quickly to the door, closing it shut behind me.  

“So what did you do to get grounded so easily?” Roy asked, startling me from my thoughts.

I tilted my head at him, “I thought you knew? Marco said gossip travels fast.”

Roy let out a chuckle, “It does. But it’s just gossip I know I shouldn’t listen to it, without getting the facts straight from the horse’s mouth itself.” 

I knitted my eyebrows in confusion, “Did you just call me a horse?”

Roy shrugged, “Maybe, maybe not…”

I let out a soft chuckle. I was expecting Ben’s dad to be some strict parent who takes his job here at the Whitehouse to be a serious father, who doesn’t laugh or joke around. I was mistaken.

“So what do you want to do?” I asked. I was honestly so bored, I had a boring life and I didn’t really feel like doing my homework.

“Well I was just going over to the kitchen to ask Barbra if she needed any help, do you want to come along?” He asked me, as we headed the direction of the kitchen.

I nodded my head, “Sure. But one question, who is Barbra?”

“Oh, sorry. I forgot to mention, she’s my wife. Also known as Ben’s mother.”

I nodded my head, keeping quiet as we made our way to the kitchen. Once we entered, I took a seat on the stool as Roy made his way to the back of the kitchen. Moments later he emerged with a short brunette woman, she was wiping her hands on her apron that was already caked with other substances.

I smiled at the lady, which she returned. “Hello, there.” She spoke.

“Hi,” I replied shyly. I was always somewhat shy meeting new people, but once you get to know me a little better, I can be the most annoying person you had ever met.

“I am Barbra, it’s nice to finally meet you Alice.” She said smiling at me, and sticking her hand out to shake which I gladly shook.

“It’s nice to meet you too.” I replied drawing my hand back and staring at Ben’s parents.

Compared to his mom, Ben looked a little bit of both of them in some way. He had the brown hair of both his parents and the athletic built of his dad and the eye color of his mom which was a hazel color.

“How about we break the awkward tension, with some cookies?” Barbra suggested.

I nodded my head eagerly, “You had me at cookies.”

*

I let out a bark of laughter, “Did he actually do that?” I said in between laughs.

Barbra nodded her head, “He actually did that, I don’t know where he got the idea to attempt to put a leash around a goose, but he did. Let’s just say he ended up being chased by the goose out of the park.”

I let out a chuckle, “He seemed like a real smart kid.” I said grinning at Barbra and Roy.

Barbra nodded her head in agreement, wiping her hands down on the towel. “He and Gavin, two of the brightest kids that I have ever met.” She said sarcastically.

“Gavin?” I asked my ears perking up at the sound of the bad boy’s name.

“Yeah, he and Ben were best friends since they were in diapers. Do you know Gavin?” Barbra questioned.

I nodded my head, “Yeah he is in three of my classes, we are also paired up in a drama assignment.”

“Well then you must know what happened to his family, if he had ever told you.”

I shook my head, “I am sorry but he has never did. But, out of curiosity what did happen?”

“I am sorry, sweetheart. But it’s not my story to tell.” Barbra said, giving me a small smile.

“Its fine, but I should really get going. It’s getting late…” I said standing up from the stool. “It was nice meeting you two.” I said smiling at Roy and Barbra. “And thanks for the delicious cookies!” I said to Barbra.

“It was nice meeting you two, Alice.” Roy spoke for the first time in a long time, he was pretty occupied by his phone.

“Well, I hope to see you guys around!” I said turning around giving them a wave, and proceeding to walk out of the kitchen.

“Alice?” I heard Ben’s mom call after me, I turned around looking her dead in the eye. “Yes?”

“I know what is going on with you and Ben, he never told me personally. But by the way he talks about you, I could tell he really likes you.” She said smiling at me, “Just promise me one thing?”

I nodded my head, managing to give her a small smile. “Sure, what is it?”

“Please, just don’t go breaking his heart.”

I slowly nodded my head, “I promise.” I choked out, but the truth was I knew someone was going to end up heartbroken, Holly, Ben or me. I just didn’t know how I could prevent it…

*****

Hello Lovelies,

LONG TIME NO SEE! YEAH I AM THE WORST, PLUS A SHORT CHAPTER I KNOW YOU WANT TO MURDER ME, BUT I AM SO SORRY! I had a real hard time, writing this, then three hundred other things came in the way. And sometimes it’s hard when all your sports and clubs are beginning to come up.

I want your thoughts on this chapter! ALSO HAPPY APRIL FOOLS! I really wanted to prank you, but I have no idea how, so give me some time and I will let you all know… Wait scratch that I will prank you guys! It is my goal.

To win a dedication, tell me a prank that you did, or that someone has done to you. I need some ideas, A prank that happened at school today, was that someone put a real live lobster in someone’s locker. And It was a major tourist attraction for the school, Don’t worry the person ended up killing it, there was a dead lobster in the hall, where everyone stopped by to see. It was gross… The guy who did it, end up getting into major doo doo with the Vice Principle about bringing “Animals to school…”

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Xoxo_mysteriousgirl