In an attempt to make up for the chaos of the morning I asked a favor of Andy. I invited him and Juliet over for lunch. Cherry was playing in the backyard, Alana was up in her room and Mon and I were making lunch. Veggie burgers for the adults and hotdogs for the girls. Don't get me wrong, I like hotdogs, but I also appreciate a good veggie burger and since Andy and Juliet didn't eat meat it was a perfect chance to test my veggie burger making ability.
"Did you turn the burner on?" Monica asked.
"Uh, no."
"Turn it on."
"Maybe I don't want to."
"I wasn't asking." I raised my eyebrow at her and she giggled. I smiled and turned the burner on before setting the frying pan on the stove. The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it. That's hot now." I nodded at the stove, "so you can get the burgers going. And can you just check on Cherry real quick?"
"Want me to fold laundry while I'm at it?"
"That would be awesome." The doorbell rang again.

———

"Coming!" I yelled as I walked into the living room. I opened the door. Andy and Juliet were standing there. Duh. "Hey! Come in."
"Love the apron." I had a floral apron tied around my waist. It was technically Monica's, but since I was doing more of the cooking than she was I was wearing it.
"Thank you." I said as I led the way into the kitchen.
"Hi!" Monica said. "Watch the burgers. I just spilled oil on my shirt. I'll be right back." Then she left.
"Get Alana while you're up there." I called after her.
"Maybe."
"I wasn't asking." I called back with a grin.
"Oh ha ha! Very funny." I laughed and went back to the burgers.
"Deedee! Deedee!" The back door flew open and Cherry ran in. She came to a stop when she saw Andy and Juliet. She ran out her and wrapped her arms around my leg.
"What's up Stargazer?" I asked her. She just shook her head and hid her face in my leg.
"Can you say hi to Andy and Juliet?" She shook her head again. "Come on." I tickled her side. She squealed and backed away from me.
"No! No tittles!" I smiled and raised an eyebrow.
"No tickles?" She nodded. "What's the tickle monster supposed to do then?" She giggled. "Isn't it supposed to tickle you?" She shook her head. "No?"
"Uh-uh. No tittles." I glanced at the doorway and back at her.
"I think I hear the tickle monster. You'd better run." She giggled again.
"No. No tittle monther!" Monica walked into the kitchen with Alana behind her.
"There it is." I said, pointing at Monica. "It's hideous! And it's gonna get you! Run!"
"You silly." Cherry said, as she dissolved into hysterical giggles.
"Love you too, Asshole." Monica said, grabbing a pot holder and smacking me upside the head with it. Andy and Juliet watched this entire exchange with amused expressions.
"Oh my gosh." Alana whispered. She was staring at Andy with wide eyes.
"Oh. Andy, Juliet, this is Alana. And that's Cherry." I nodded at Cherry, who was still giggling. "Alana this is Andy and Juliet." Soma nodded. Monica flipped the burgers again.
"You're supposed to be watching the burgers. They're burning."
"They're fine."
"If you want charcoal, yes. If you want burgers, no. Has he offered you drinks?"
"No." Juliet responded.
"Of course not. You're such a wonderful host."
"Thank you, I try." I grinned at her and she rolled her eyes.
"My patience." I laughed.
"Come on, Stargazer, lets wash those hands and find you some clean pants." I took off my apron and scooped Cherry up off the floor. "Go sit, weirdo, they don't bite." I told Alana as I walked past her.
"Drinks? Either of you?" I heard Monica as I walked up the stairs. I found clean pants for Cherry and got her washed up as quick as I could and went back downstairs. Everyone in the kitchen was laughing.
"What's so funny?" I asked. Monica wiped tears off her face.
"I forget Emerson was here."
"Huh. So did I. What happened?"
"He came out talking about needing to ask you're opinion on something and it took him like five minutes to realize you weren't here. Then he just turned around and walked back into his room. You had to be there." Monica said, before taking a long drink of water.
"I guess so." The burgers were beginning to smoke and the hotdogs were turning black. "Who's burning lunch now?" I asked.
"Oh, shit." She turned back to the stove and turned off the burner. I sat Cherry in the chair the two of us would have to share and grabbed plates out of the cupboard. Alana grabbed cutlery while I got the salad out of the fridge and poured juice for Cherry.
"Apple juice?" I asked Alana.
"Corn syrup?" She asked. I read the label carefully, twice, to make sure it didn't have any.
"Nope."
"Sure." I poured some for her too before sitting down at the table. I cut up Cherry's hotdog and put ketchup on plate which she immediately stuck her fingers in. Alana picked at her plain hotdog that she hadn't put in a bun and drank her juice while talking to Andy about music and concerts with me adding the occasional comment. Monica and Juliet talked about decorating houses, weddings, kids, and traveling.
"Deedee?"
"Yes, Stargazer?"
"Ketup, please!" I put more ketchup on her plate and watched as she stuck her fingers in it again and then licked them off.
"Is that good?"
"Uh-huh."
"Are you gonna eat your hotdog."
"No." I sighed.
"Of course not." I stood up to grab a banana for her and realized we were leaving in two days and I had nothing to do with Alana.
"Fuck."
"What?" Monica asked.
"Um, nothing. Nothing. I just need to find my phone. I'll be right back." I sat the banana on the table and left the kitchen in search of my phone.

AaaaaAAaaaaaaaagggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!
I'm so sorry it took me so long! I've been busy and tired and bleh. Stupid time difference threw off my sleep schedule because it changed the week spring break started so i just slept in till noon after staying up till two or three am. I've been dragging my exhausted ass through school for a week while trying to get back on a normal sleep pattern and I already had a bunch of my other story(In My Life) typed up so I've just been uploading that one. SORRY. Enjoy this chapter!

Avery L.