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Iris
Yesterday, I came back home, very happy and shocked. But that all went into the drain when I found my parents in my room. Without any 'how are you, kiddo', Mom pounced on me, verbally, about how messy my room is and how many times she has told me to clean.
"I don't care if you shower me with all kinds of chocolates in this world, you are doing the dishes for a week," Mom told me, firmly, ignoring my puppy face. Actually, it never works on Mom â well, she is a Mom.
"Ah, finally, the relief ofâ"
Dad cut off Daisy's relief. "You are cleaning the cars, first in the morning tomorrow. Mine needs some things to be taken out of the tires, so... you will do it."
"But what did I... It is because of hiding Percy and my relationship?" Daisy asked Dad but he just shrugged.
"I don't know what you are talking about. Pizza, anyone?"
Well, after that, they asked about Daisy and mine's well-being and also ordered pizza only to sleep before it even reached our home.
Long story short, the normalcy has returned in the Coopers' residence since yesterday.
So, tonight (actually in a couple of minutes), we are going to Radcliffe's place. Mom and Daisy are in her room, choosing her outfitâa discussion that has been going on for an hour. Within that amount of time, I could have a nap and wake up and have a nap again.
Dad and I are waiting downstairs for them as Yeti sits beside me. We were actually in Daisy's room, too. We, both, were just giving some expertise on the outfits but both of them hated it and sent us downstairs.
I didn't opt for anything that stands out. So, I have worn a plain mustard yellow sweatshirtânot oversizedâon my jeans with my casual converse (yes, I have a formal pair of Converse too).
"Why do I have to go?" I ask Dad, groaning. "She definitely has no choice. I should have a choice but Daisy has taken that away too. Waddaya say, Dad?"
Dad asks back, "Do I really have a bad taste in fashion?"
I look at him, drily. "I asked something first."
"But I asked something important," He says back and Yeti sits up, alert.
"Why aren't you concerned that I am going to a guy's place?"
He shrugs. "Three words: I like Noah."
I gape at him. "Who are you? You are not my father! My father is a protecting-daughter-from-guys-who-just-smirk-and-have-weird-dazzling-eyes-that-only-leads-you-to-star-in-teen-moms-episodes!"
There is a very loud pause between us.
Dad looks at me, taken aback. "Okay, that was a weirdly accurate impression of me."
"Seventeen years of living with you, Dad," I state and he doesn't disagree. "Also, you have a good sense of fashion. They just don't like our opinion."
He huffs out, "If I didn't, the neighbor's babysitter wouldn't have hit on me."
"Ew, gross." I make a face.
Dad continues, "I am growing into a silver fox."
I hold up my hand. "Didn't ask for that information, didn't want that information."
I do a mental note to stop Dad from watching 'Man with a Plan'. Actually, the only one who can stop that is Mom; also, the only one who can handle him. I just sometimes wonder 'Why, mom? Really, why?' but then, I remember he is my dad and I wouldn't have existed without him.
And I like my existence very much.
I am saved by my phone's notification when Dad tries to explain more. I say to him, "Important, very much, messageâright now. Talk to ya later. Toodles?"
"Whaâ"
I stop listening but also, internally smack my head against the wall.
Adi has to create a group with me and Noah and has to send us his very often dose of Adi-ness.
Aditya
03:21 AM
If I ever have a fandom what should they call themselves?
Subraminates or AdityAmazes?
Aditya
11:54 AM
*gasps* WHAT IF I GET INTO A LOVE TRIANGLE?
WILL YOU BOTH BE IN TEAM ADI 4EVA?!
Aditya
05:18 PM
So, I was in this vintage game shop today and I picked up this amazing space war game which is bloody sick.
I have played it for an hour and I cannot win.
HOW COOL IS THAT?
05:19 PM
Anyway, so this girl with a belly piercing comes. She looks at me, chewing this pink chewing gum which maybe is bubblegum.
SHE CHECKS ME OUT LIKE LOOKS UP AND DOWN AT ME
Then, she says 'MAY THE FUCKING FORCE WITH YOU MAN'
05:20 PM
I am sobbing sjhssksjsksjsks
Seriously, the best pickup line anyone used on me.
>>
05:21 PM
>>
05:58 PM
Aditya
05:58 PM
You ain't getting rid of this ass.
Noah
06:01 PM
Shut the fuck up.
Aditya
06:02 PM
I won't cuz you suck.
But I will give you a second chance.
06:03 PM
Say that apple pie is a sexy food
Noah
06:13 PM
What the actual fuck?
No.
Aditya
06:13 PM
Milady u gonna support me or what?
I roll my eyes, reading the text. This happens so much nowadays. If Adi wants to prove a point to Noah, he always gets me on the topic. I mean, why? Why me? Get that Danielle girl. Not me.
Iris
06:14 PM
Or what.
06:15 PM
Can't u both at least leave food from your fantasies?
Aditya
06:15 PM
But they make it more interesting if you know what I mean
Noah
06:16 PM
Get a life otherwise, you might make a life.
I laugh as I reply.
Iris
06:16 PM
I wouldn't be surprised if he already has.
Aditya
06:17 PM
rude *sad puppy face*
I use protection, every time.
Noah
06:18 PM
They are only ninety-eight percent effective.
And, also, one should be used only for thirty minutes.
Aditya
06:18 PM
What?! Why didn't you tell me before?
Noah
06:19 PM
It is written on the box.
Aditya
06:19 PM
You have time to read the box?
Iris
06:19 PM
This discussion is giving me a headache.
Shut up, both of you.
Noah
06:20 PM
You are coming today?
06:21 PM
Chris is asking.
Iris
06:22 PM
Tell Chris that yes, I am coming.
Also, I don't want any pickup lines.
Really. No pickup lines.
Noah
06:23 PM
Why did you not stop him few hundred times before?
Iris
06:23 PM
Because it was funny and I was in a good mood.
Right now, I am angry.
Aditya
06:24 PM
@Iris say that and I think of aNgRy bAbY nOiSeS
I pause.
I don't know why but something spirals inside me. Bad. My fingers hesitate to write any reply. Soon, another message pops up in the chat.
Noah
06:25 PM
She will still beat your fucking ass at everything and not regret it one bit.
You call that angry baby noises, I call it the fucking storm.
Bella is the storm.
Neither Adi nor I reply anything to that. I don't know about Adi but I am surprised, too surprised to even reply a mere thank you.
Because I cannot believe I am the storm.
Because somewhere in my heart, I know Adi is right; I make myself look tough, thinking that I will intimidate. Who the hell am I kidding? I am an immature childish woman who just needs every man in her family to protect her because she is too soft.
"Finally," Dad sighs, loudly, and my attention snaps to the staircase.
Daisy has worn a pair of jeans and a flowery blouse under a blue sweater with just casual belles. Not only she looks amazing, but she also radiates happy and excited energy. It is right on her face how much it means for her to go to her boyfriend's house and meet his family.
Mom is behind her as both of them finally stand near Dad and me. Mom smiles. "I can't believe how much they have grown."
Dad counters, "No, they haven't." He hugs me and Daisy. "They still are my little queens."
"Who is not so little anymore," Daisy says back and I smile. When we pull away, she looks at me and asks, "You ready to come?"
I cannot go.
I am afraid.
I cannot go.
I am just goddamn afraid.
"Yes," I breathe out. I smile. "I am ready."
And she grins back, brightly.
***
Daisy and I walk up the steps of the house after Dad drops us just a few moments ago.
"Fucking hell," Daisy curses. "Only now, my nerves start to set in."
I laugh, lowly. "It is okay to feel that way."
She glances at me, before knocking on the door. "I thought I am the psychologist."
"You are not yet."
"So technical," She muses.
I give her a look just when Tiffany opens the door, excitedly.
"Daisy!" She hugs her and turns to me, saying, "Iris! I have been waiting for you both so long."
We smile at her, entering the house.
"Hey, princess," I say to her ruffling her curly hair a bit. she grunts but gives me a toothy smile as Daisy closes the door, behind her.
"Hey, Tiffy." Daisy leans down and kisses her cheeks while she gives back a cheeky smile.
Tiffany grabs her hand and pulls her as I follow them into a room I have never been to before. I will guess that it is a living room as Bethany, sitting on one of the sofas, is watching Girl Meets World while Chris has his huge headphones over his ears and is poking Bethany with his feet (reminds me of Caleb and me).
"Christopher Robin. If you don't stop doing itâ"
Chris cuts off Beth, smirking. "What will you do, Bethany?"
"You little scâ"
"Daisy and Iris are here!" Tiffany announces, much to Beth's disappointment as she was about to strangle her brother. From the corner of my eye, I see Daisy suppressing her laughter as she looks between them.
"Hello, there." Chris looks at us. "Couldn't resist me, ladies?"
"You are in a happy mood, Chris," Daisy says, smiling at Chris.
"I am but you see, the level of my happiness increased when you both came," Chris says, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Gross," Beth says, rolling her eyes. "Hi." She gives us her typical grin and we smile back, before she gives her attention towards the tv, as Tiffany goes out of the room.
"Daisy."
Daisy and I turn around towards the voice.
He is wearing a brown suit with dress shoes. His brown hair has been gelled back and has blue eyes. I can see the similarity between him and Percy, except the eyes.
He is looking at us, amused, as he smiles. His smile and casualness remind me of Sam and Charles.
Daisy smiles, confidently, at the man who smiles back at her.
"Hello, Elliot," Daisy says. "Came back from office, I assume?"
"Okay, honestly, that's very formal of you," Elliot says, giving her an amused look. I can hear the slight English accent as he speaks and I figure that he has lived most of his life in the states.
"And, yes, I came from the office. Percy has started, you know?" He replies to her question.
"Yeah, he told me."
"Weirdly, he is excited too."
Daisy lets out a laugh. "Yeah, anything that includes books excites him a lot. Honestly, that man's a nerd."
"He doesn't get that from me."
Elliot and Daisy laugh and I can't help but feel awkward as if I am interrupting something. "And, who's with you?"
I turn my gaze back to Percy's dad as Daisy answers, "My sister, Iris."
Elliot looks between us as if figuring it out now. "Oh, I didn't know. You, both, have... very contrasting features."
"Hello," I say to him, shyly, smiling.
"Nice to meet you." He says, smiling, and I try to normalize myself. "Call me Elliot. Not Mr. Radcliffe, that's my brother; Not me."
"Nice to meet you, too, Elliot," I say to him and he smiles.
Finally, Mrs. Radcliffe enters the room and smiles at me, before looking at Daisy. I give her an assured nod. Mrs. and Mr. Radcliffe were the only ones Daisy hadn't met at the party.
"Hello, Mrs. Radcliffe," I say to her and she gives me a look, sighing.
"How many times, Iris? Call me Mel," She says to me and gestures me to sit, smiling. She turns to Daisy as I sit, besides Chris. "You must be Daisy."
Smiling, Daisy replies, "Nice to meet you."
"Great to meet you as well. Percy has told me so much about you." Mrs. Radcliffe â uh, Mel beams at her. Daisy goes scarlet at the information.
"She's cool, Mel. I approve," Elliot says to Mel.
"I am just talking to her, Eli. You should go and change. Where's Perce?" Mel asks Elliot.
Moving backward, he replies, "He left before me. So, probably getting ready for someone special." He winks at Daisy, before going out of the room.
Chris looks at me, grinning. "Well, I think Mum already likes her."
"How do you know?" I ask him, looking at Daisy and Mel.
"The outfit. Mum hates those who wear dresses for just some normal dinner and also to impress the family."
"Damn, that just happened in books and novels," I say back.
Chris shrugs. "Who knows? Maybe someone's writing us."
"Calm down, Philosopher."
Chris winks at me and I sigh.
"Dinner will be starting soon. Our chef is really good. So, you won't be getting any abhorrence," Mel tells, looking between Daisy and me.
Daisy laughs, lightly. "I believe you."
"Great, then," She says, smiling, as she leaves the room. Daisy sits takes a seat, in front of us, sighing in relief.
"So, you are still here," Percy says, entering the room and sitting just beside Daisy. She gives him a look.
"What? You thought I would be kicked out?" Daisy asks him.
"No, babe, I believe that my father would have asked you to get married to me, fast," Percy replies to her.
"Babe?" Beth and Chris say out in surprise while Daisy raises her eyebrows.
Percy's eyes widen in realization and he looks a bit flushed as he clears his throat. "You, uh, look beautiful, Anna."
"Well, thank you," Daisy says, laughing.
"Yes, Daisy, you look amazing and so do you, Iris, though I am missing the sweats," Beth says, looking at us.
"Thank you, Beth," I say and, now, turn to Daisy. "See, it would have been good if I had worn sweats but, no."
In reply, she rolls her eyes.
I turn to Chris. "Where's Noah?"
He gives me a one-shoulder shrug. "Probably upstairs? I don't know."
I nod, slowly. Getting up, I say, "I'll go and find him."
Beth pipes in, "Good luck with that, Iris."
I look back, scrunching my eyebrows. Chris, upon realizing my confusion, explains, "You can only find him if he wants you to."
I can only blink at that.
They are joking, right?
They have to be joking about it.
I know I am saying this but this family is something, alright. Weird and something.
"Um, okay," I play along with them. "I will do my best."
***
The best I am at is the second floor and very, very lost again in this house. I really have to tell Noah to put signs like, 'Want to go to the bathroom? Alright, there are three dozen of them in this house but the closest one is just aroundâoh, oops, that's the kitchen number 8. You know what? Just take the left from here.'
Feels like a damn museum, except no maps stating 'You're here.'
All exaggerations, really, but god damn, finding anyoneâanything here is confusing. I have literally no idea what or who to expect when I take a little right turnâ
I get hit in the head.
And I see stars... and cupcakes? Nope, just flashes of light.
But I can make out the door, in front of me and papers falling all over the place, around me and an amber-eyed man.
"Oh, Noah," I say, holding my head. "I was finding you. What are all these papers? Did we have some essay toâ"
"Young lady, I am not Noah."
Oh.
Oh.
Oh, shit.
As my vision normalizes, I see him.
Mr. Radcliffe is the most serious and scary-looking normal man, I think. He has the vibe of Godfather;Â no one should ever joke with him.
He has worn a grey and white suit with a black tie, loosened around the collar. Tall with broad shoulders. Salt and pepper hair cut short and a fine-cut jaw with subtle cheekbones. There are some stress lines on his forehead and a frown on his face.
A frown that is directed towards me.
And all I think is how not to roam this house without bumping with the elders of this family.
How pathetic of myself.
"Oh god," A young man, standing between Mr. Radcliffe and me, stares at the floor with papers. "All the papers..."
"I am so sorry. I didn't know... oh my god, I am really sorry." I start to bend down just when the guy bends down to pick up the papers.
"Rone, my secretary, can do it," Mr. Radcliffe says, stopping me. He stares at me with a calculating gaze. "You must be Iris Cooper."
I look at Rone, trying to get all the papers together without any question and help. I want to help but... I turn away, answering, "Yes, I am."
"Obviously," He muses. "As far as I have heard, Daisy Cooper is not inattentive and has a grace."
My eyes widen. I know Rone twitched at that. Nevertheless, I tell myself to be nice and be a good girl (not a 5SOS's good girl, though I want to be that).
I give him close-lipped smile. "She is amazing."
"Ernest Radcliffe," He says, eyes piercing, "I assume you have heard about me."
Normally? No.
Noah-lly? Yes.
Before I can say something and get out of this, he pushes the door beside him. "I would like to have an important conversation with you, Ms. Cooper."
ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
- a u t h o r ' s n o t e -
so, finally, we are almost halfway through the story already, huh? my babies are growing up so fast and steady ð¥º
bye-bye
Inerys