Aunt-te and nan were over our house again. Dad was cooking since the women were dealing with me. The three of them and me were in the bathroom my parents shared. My aunt-te was talking about makeup, my nan was helping me with my dress, and my ma was helping me with my hair. But at the same time they really weren't. Ma only pulled up photos of what my hair could look like, what she could do. Aunt-te was pretty much doing the same but with makeup.

Aunt-te was just showing pictures also and showing colors of which makeup to use. Nan was the only one who was actually trying to put the dress actually on me. But most of the conversing was between three. Even if it was about me I wasn't apart of the conversations really. I felt out of place and started squirming on the stool.

Eventually I just left the bathroom. None of them seemed to noticed I was leaving or that I left. I slipped into the kitchen to find dad still in the kitchen, probably was cooking still. He glanced over at me with an eyebrow raised, when I came in.

“Done already?” he asked and glanced st the dress smiling. “You look great mommy.” he says and I roll my eyes huffing.

“Thanks dad, but no. They still are planning things to do to me. And I hardy have a say, they aren't even including me in the discussion.” I say as he turns off the stove.

“Well did you try to include yourself in the discussions?” he asks and I nod s he turns on the sink.

“I did try, but they don't really pay any mind to me.” I say as he washes his hands.

“Well, that sounds about right. Want to go out while they figure things out?” he asks and I nod gently before narrowing my eyes.

“We aren't going to drive are we?” I ask and he just grins, not replying verbally. “Daaad.” I groan as he grabs his keys.

“Let’s get going, put on some shoes. Grab some books if you want to see.” he says making me huff as I leave the kitchen and head to my room.

“Where are you gooiingg?” I hear someone ask as I slip on my shoes.

I turn my head in the direction of the voice to see Peta standing in my doorway. “Somewhere.” I reply and he pouts walking into my room.

“I want to go.” he says flopping down on my bed.

“Off my bed, and you don't even know where I'm going.” I say walking past him to my door causing him to huff and slide off my bed.

“I want to go Karteerrrr! And I did ask where.” he whined grabbing my hand, trying to get me to stay in the room.

“No Peta, you can't come.” I groaned snatching my hand away his hands. “Just...go bother mom or something.”

“Okay!” he said smiling big and ran off to go find mom I assume.

I went back into the kitchen to find dad wearing his jacket now. The red beans and rice seemed to be done now. “Ready to go?” dad asked and I nodded grumbling.

“Peta wanted to come.” I said as we walked out the house.

“Not a surprise.” dad replied while closing the door and locking it, before we walked to his car.

Dad tripped me up by going on the passenger's seat. I decided to go in the driver's seat then. As soon as I put on my seatbelt and grabbed the wheel, I think I started sweating. He glanced at me and chuckled.

“What's so funny?” I grumbled looking at him and he slowly stopped laughing at me, but he smiled.

“You're just like you mother sometimes.” he said and I stayed quiet not knowing how to reply. “It makes me remember things of when she and I were younger.” he says looking out the window. “Anyway, I want you to pull out of the driveway.” he says and I nodded gently.

I took the car out of parking and put it into reverse. Before backing out I took a deep breath and let it out. I made sure to take my time with pulling out but not too slow. Dad wanted me to drive like it was natural, when it wasn't. When I made it onto the road I put the car on park.

“Now what?” I asked glancing at him.

“Drive yourself to homecoming so I can sleep.” he says with no expression on his face.

“You're serious…?” I asked with wide eyes and then he laughed hard, causing me to glare at him.

“No.” he finally answered and sighed. “It would be nice though.” he says stretching and unbuckled his seatbelt. “I think that's all you can do today.” he says about to reach for the door to get out. But I locked it before he could, causing him to look at me with a raised eyebrow.

“Let's continue.” I said and he grinned sitting back.

“You finally want to drive?” he asked putting his seatbelt back on.

“Not exactly, but I know I can do this.” I say and he nods.

“I like your spirit, keep it up with your passions. Have more determination with those though.” he says causing me to think back to what I said to Bex, and I smiled.

“Yeah, I will.” I say.

After a while of driving, dad and I went back home. Ma was the first person we saw. Her face was twisted up in anger and a little booger was by her side. Peta stuck his tongue out at me before hiding behind her. I glared at him before glancing at ma. She gave her “mom” look then gave dad the same look.

“Where did you two go off to?” she asked crossing her arms.

“Driving.” dad answered walking up to her and hugged her close but mom didn't budge. “Honeeey.” he said in a sing song voice.

“What made you think leaving without saying anything was okay?” she said turning her attention to me as dad tried getting her attention with kisses.

“Sorry mom, but none of you were paying attention to me anyway.” I say as her eyes seems less threatening and her face softens. “Sorry honey.” she says and rolls her eyes as dad kisses her jaw, making me clear my throat.

“Ew!” Peta squeals getting away from them.

“Join the love lil’ man!” dad said grabbing him up and tickled him causing him to squeal more. I rolled my eyes smiling as mom laughed, while dad pulled her closer. He glanced over at me. “Come on over here mommy.” he says and I groan with a smile as I walk over before being devoured in a hug.

“What a beautiful, gross, mushy family.” I heard aunt-te said before she popped in by my side and joined in the group hug.

Dad turned his head back and I peeked with everyone else. Nan was in the kitchen's entrance. She was watching us with narrowed eyes. “Want to join mom?” dad asked and nan glared at him, walking over slowly. As soon as she was near dad pulled her in.

“I can't breathe.” I grumbled and eventually everyone pulled away from the hug. Nan was quick to pull away causing aunt-te to laugh.

“Now, let's you ready for that dance.” nan said grabbing my wrist and tugging me out of the kitchen as everyone laughed.

Nan said my dress needed more poofing up. So she did whatever that was to my dress. Aunt-te came in and started to do my makeup as ma did my hair. All three of them kind of blocked the mirror from my view. There was no way I could tell if I didn't like how something looked like on me.
Eventually they pulled away when they were finished. I opened my eyes and almost fell off the stool. I couldn't even recognize myself in the mirror with all the makeup, and with my straight, walnut colored hair now in full curls. I got off the stool slowly, still in shock.

“Let's go show your dad.” ma said grinning and aunt-te started pushing me out the bathroom.

“Howard better say she looks like a flower or something, with all the work we did to make her blossom.” nan muttered as she walked behind us, while I was being pushed into the hallway then down it.

“He better.” ma agreed as aunt-te laughed at the two.

When I was pushed into the living room dad glanced over. Peta and him were playing Uno it seems. Also seems like dad was about to lose, who knows if he planned for that to happen or not. Peta and dad stared at my face for the longest.

“Well?” all three ladies behind me said in sync and dad swallowed.

“You all are freaky!” Peta yells slamming his cards all down at once, all of them were eight or blue. “Uno out!” he says and jumps up running out the room. Dad glares after him then looks back at me, staring.

“Are you just going to stare Howard?” ma asked raising an eyebrow.

“The nerve of this man.” nan said scoffing.

“It looks great on her, but she's still my little girl.” dad finally says getting up and aunt-te rolls her eyes at him.

“Yeah, yeah. You just better have complimented her.” aunt-te said and smiled down at me.

“Time for pictures!” ma said pulling out her phone with a bright smile.

I tried to quickly escape into the kitchen. No way did I want mom posting pictures of me looking like this. Or even having them on her phone. Dad knew the drill, he grabbed his keys and started following me. We were right at the door, but mom got to us in time with aunt-te and nan right behind her. They also had their phones out to take pictures.

“Say cheese!” aunt-te says and immediately multiple bright lights start flashing, blinding me.

“We said smile girl!” ma said giving me her “mom” look and I forced a smile. She gave me a smile of her own, more genuine. I held the urge to roll my eyes as they took more pictures.

“This camera isn't good enough! It's not working. Stay still so I can take some more pictures.” nan complained making me groan.

“We'll just send you our pictures mom.” aunt-te say saving me and nan nods.

“Okay, have a fun night chimp.” mom says giving me a kiss on the forehead also hugging me. Then aunt-te comes around hugging me and nan hugs me also, giving me a kiss on the cheek

“Okay ladies, we're off” dad says and leans over giving mom a peck on the lips, before opening the front door. “Love you.” he says to mom with a wink and she rolls her eyes with a smile.

“Love you too.” she says back.

“Goodbye charmer.” aunt-te says laughing.

“Howard.” nan grunts before walking out of the kitchen and dad groans as we walk out the house.

“I'm sure that woman is out to get me.” dad mutters so only I can hear, as he closes the front door and locks it.

“Just keep one eye open when you sleep tonight, I hear she's spending the night.” I say making him chuckle as we walk to his car.