BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: BY ANY MEANS SHOULD ANY PERSON SHIP FRANCES AND PHILIP WE AREN'T HERE FOR A FALLING IN LOVE WITH MY STEPBROTHER/SISTER FIC. If anything their relationship is more nonchalant than anything. Thank yew. I feel like Frances is really cringy because I'm portraying her how I would handle certain situations, ex, meeting my step-siblings and my stepdad for the first time.

Enjoy-

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Frances' POV-

We were sitting in the kitchen with Maddie eating chicken and fries. We picked up food from Popeyes. I WANT SOME POPEYES OK I'm already settled in my room. By settled I mean I put my stuff in a corner of my room and came down to eat. While I already had clothes here, I wanted to bring a more personal touch in here. Philip thought that the stuff was for Maddie and never questioned it. I'm really excited to be living with my dad and Alex, even though I'm worried about meeting Philip, Maddie put me at ease. He wasn't back yet, which was a relief, as I already knew everyone in the room. No introductions are needed.

-Mini time skip-

I was helping dad clean up, Madie and Alex were at the table arguing about if Lin Manuel Miranda would have been president if he wouldn't have been shot by Leslie.

"YES HE WOULD HE WOULD HAVE BEAT DIGGS BEFORE ONAODOWAN WAS PRESIDENT" Alex started yelling.

"NO, HE WASN'T FIT TO BE PRESIDENT. HE COULD HAVE RAN AFTER JACKSON STOPPED BEING PRESIDENT"

"HE COULDN'T! THE AFFAIR RUINED HIS LIFE"

Maddie laughed, almost maniacally, "HE CHOSE TO HAVE AN AFFAIR." I felt my heart starting to beat faster as they continued. I knew if I didn't leave, it wouldn't be good but I don't want to seem rude.

"NO, HE DIDN'T JASMINE CEPHAS JONES WAS A WHORE"

" SHE WASN'T HER HUSBAND WAS ABUSING HER" After Maddie said that, chills ran through my body, and I prepared for an anxiety tic, a few seconds later, flinching my head to the side. Dad noticed and rubbed my lower back, comforting me.

Johns POV-

Frances jerked her head to the side while Maddie and Alexander fought. I could tell she was getting overwhelmed. I subconsciously started to rub stars on her lower back. After being surrounded by anxiety-ridden people, you pick up on when they aren't ok. I wish Alexander would behave himself. This is not the time to be fighting with a 16-year-old over dead white men. I zone out, pressing my fingers with Frances' shoulder blades, to get an estimated heart rate. When you have a panic attack, your heart rate increases from normal 60-80 bpm to 140-200 bpm. It can kill you, being that high for a certain amount of time. That's why I have a heart rate watch to make sure nothing bad happens. Anyway back to the story

It pissed me off, the fact that Alex decided to start fighting with Maddie. He knows about Frances's anxiety, and how out of hand it gets. Frances low-key reminds me of this kid who had a panic attack every week, to the point where someone called the cops on their parents, bc something was up with them idk what bc they went online after that I expected more from them, especially today.

Maddie stood up, banging her fist on the table. "IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER, HE WASN'T TRUSTED, HE CHEATED ON HIS WIFE AND GOT HIS SON KILLED"

I felt her flinch again, this time, she presses into my shirt, trying to enclose herself. I cover her ears and kiss her head, reminding her that she's ok, and she's not alone. This is so cringy, PLZ. This was in one of the books I was reading about psychology. It's time to calm the political screaming children. Comment if you get it.

"PEOPLE FORGIVE AND FORGET, CHEATING ISN'T A BIG THING ANY-"

"Oh my god, enough" I snapped. The room went silent. Frances was already up the stairs, going to her room. I stared at my husband, he looked at me, giving me those eyes kids give to their parents when they get caught doing something wrong. I shook my head at him, squinting my eyes in a warning manner. He whined, slumping down in defeat. I looked at Maddie, but instead of making eye contact, she apologized and sat down, staring at her shoes.

Before I could scold the two, I heard the front door open and close, showing a boy with black curls looking up from his phone with wide eyes, looking at the scene in front of him.

Great, Philip's back.