CHAPTER 07

The family - part 2.

Hours had passed since Mr.Tucker left. We were in the middle of another funny story about his children, when suddenly Katy Perry started to come from his phone. All of us were in shock for a moment, but then reality hit us and laughter overcame the music.

"Hello love." He said with a smile and I knew for sure that in the other end of the line was Lacy, his lovely wife whom he told us about. "Yeah, I am with them right now. No. Yeah, she knows him. Yes. Yeah... Okay. I will, promise. Yeah, love you too. Bye."

During the brief conversation me and Ana went to the kitchen to load the dish with empty plates. We eat everything in the fridge and I knew for a fact that if I didn't start exercising, I would get fat thanks to Ana and her kitchen wonders.

"So my wife called." Mr.Tucker said, smiling wickedly. "And we are having dinner with some of my associates from the firm. We wanted you guys there, to explain the project further to them."

They quickly agreed, Rob sporting a huge ear-to-ear smile on his face. He was so happy that this was finally getting somewhere, and so was I. Years of his life were spent on this research, and I was ecstatic to know that it wasn't in vane.

Mr.Tucker explained that his firm, Tucker Enterprises, had two sectors. The research sector, and the business sector. They aimed to help and save the marine life from the wrong doing of pollution and littering of the salty waters. He was truly passionate when he talked about the sea, I could see hope and amazement in his face.

When he firstly looked into Rob's project, he thought it was crazy. Altering genes so they can adapt to others habitats in case of need. That was absurd. But the firsts tests with goldfishes were a success, so he decided to give my brother a chance to help other marine animals. He truly believed in Rob's research potential, and gave him a chance to finish it with better facilities and better founding.

Tatiana worked at the lab. She was a chemistry genius, combining components and creating chains. She analyzed compounds in the water and tried to neutralized the bad part of them. Brent was a researcher at field work. He was the brain in the outside. And Rob was the mastermind behind it all. And me, I was just the mascot. But who cares? I was proud to even be a part of that team.

In the end, the team agreed to go to dinner at the Tucker's house, and I was supposed to go too. So I just had about an hour to look presentable, and for that, I would need major help.

While I took a nice and not so long bath, my brother was doing what he has done for quite some time now. He was choosing my clothes. Sometimes I used to think that he liked doing it, but than I realized that he knew if it was up to me, I could go with jeans and a tee.

I was wrapped in my towel when I walked out of the bathroom. My clothes were on the bed, and as always, I loved it. He knew just how I liked to dress and based his options around it.

While I was working on putting my underwear, my door winged open. It was a moment of pure panic. I knew for a fact that it wasn't Rob, he knew better than to just come in without knocking. I was successfully underwear-ed so I just kind of stood there, looking at Brent's wide eyes and pink cheeks.

"I-I hum, I am so-"

"Yeah." I interrupted him, putting my hair to the front, successfully covering my bra and part of my belly.

Bret hasn't moved in about two minutes. His eyes gotten wider and he started bitting his lip. Oh no, please no. His eyes slowly parted from mine and started to go south, and then up again. Fucking hell. This was so wrong!

Okay Maya, I thought. You can do this.

"Hmm, Brent could yo-"

"I didn't know you were so fit!" He exclaimed.

This was out of control. I couldn't stop blubbering and he was muttering something I couldn't nor did I want to hear. His eyes were the size of a ping pong ball and his cheeks were so red that I thought that any time now it would explode.

"Oh my God, I have no idea why I said that, I am so sorry Maya, pleas-" with each word he said he gesticulated more and more.

"Just leave!" I shrieked covering my face.

I am sure the noise of the door slamming could be heard from everywhere in the house, and Rob being the nosey person he is, would surely ask why Brent was so blushed.

Soon enough the clothes were on my body. I couldn't help but wonder. Why the hell would my brother chose this stuff? Better yet, why did I have this stuff? I wasn't ready to wear this shit. When they were displayed in the bed it looked way more cool than when I dressed it.

The thing that was supposed to cover my torso barely reached my belly button, and the skirt - SKIRT - was too short for my taste. At least he'd let me keep my combat boots.

"ROB!" I shouted with all my strength. He appeared a few seconds latter, breath ragged and lips red.

"What?" He asked sitting and trying to catch his breath.

"Did you face plant a wall?" I asked.

"No, why?"

"Nothing." I chuckled.

"What the fuck are you wearing?" He asked eyeing me up and down.

"The clothes you chose. This skirt is too short!" I said shyly.

"Damn right they are!" Rob said and ran to my closet, grabbing a pair of black jeans. "Put this on and grab a coat, is cold outside."

"Yes sir!" I saluted and went back to work.

As I dressed I could hear the team talking in the living room. Did Ana and Rob really think I wouldn't notice? Ha, those two. I was glad, though. She is a very cool woman, and I think Rob deserved to be with someone that nice. The jeans were in their place and before going out I grabbed my trench coat and ran.

Brent was the first one to look at me, unfortunately I was too shy to look at him after the incident. He was a nice guys, and handsome too, but come on. He worked with my older brother. He was five years older than me. I wasn't legal. All hopes of something were going down the drain, and I hoped he thought of that too. He had everything to lose, and I didn't want to be the cause of that.

Shyly, I covered my exposed belly with the coat. Truth was I never wore this cropped thing before, mom bought it for me. My jeans were high waisted and I still felt exposed by the little stripe of flash showing.

"I'm ready." I said.

"I love your coat!" Tatiana gushed. "I have one just like that, only it's black, not burgundy."

"Rob gave it to me." I said with a smirk. He blushed when Ana congratulated him. They were as obvious as Brent's shame.

We talked for little bit more and than decided to leave. Mr.Tucker's house was a twenty minutes drive, more or less, and we didn't want to be late, it would be rude.

"Okay, so let's get going." Rob said and we all followed him. "Maya, do you mind on going in Brent's car?"

"W-What? Why? We can all fit in our car." I said blushing.

"We are using my car, dear." Ana said pointing to the Mini Cooper parked a few steps away from the main dock.

"Oh... Okay, no problem." I forced a laughed out and all I could think was: fuck.

I awkwardly walked alongside Brent and got into the passenger seat. I was doing my best to not act like I was acting. I obviously was failing big time. I didn't even let he open the door for me.

"So." He tried when the engine roared. "This is as awkward as a first date."

That was the moment I realized Brent Stone had a talent. Call it a gift, if you will. He kew exactly what to say to make things awkward. And it wasn't just a little awkward. It was I-Accidentally-Killed-Your-Cat awkward. But no fret, dear people. I had a special gift too. I knew exactly how to act on situations like this.

So I banged my head on the window repeatedly. See? Perfect escape from shit like that.

"Oh my God, Maya stop it." He shouted. "You're gonna hurt yourself!"

"Too late for that." I said patting my forehead. "It already hurts."

"Well my dignity hurts too and I am not banging anything." He said matter-of-factly.

I swear I held my laugh as much as I could, but it needed to be set free. It boomed in the car, and I swear even other cars could hear me laughing. I was crying already. "That's what he said."

When Brent realized what he said, he laughed too. And for the first time in the night, we were acting like two normal people. And it felt good.

We chatted all the way to the dinner and when we got there, I am sure the small reddened bruise on my forehead could be noticed, so I tried to cover it with my hair, throwing it to the side. I left the car and walked to my brother, who was already talking excitedly with Mr.Tucker.

"Damn girl," Mr.Tucker said looking at me and laughing. "you clean up well."

"Same to you, bro." I said and we high-fived.

"Call me Marcus." He said and rushed me inside. "I don't know where the boys are, sorry."

"No problem, I'll just look for the missus and see if she needs any help in the kitchen." I said happily.

"NO!" Shouted everyone together.

"You shouldn't go near the kitchen, dear." Ana said chuckling lightly. "For your safety... and ours."

I sat down on the big couch, sulking. I knew I wasn't a queen in the kitchen, but come on, I wasn't that bad.

"I would love some help, Maya." I heard a sweet voice behind me. When I looked back, I saw a beautiful woman.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms.Tucker." I said and walked to her.

"Oh please, call me Lacy." She said and hugged me. "Now come one, I'm gonna teach you some tricks in the kitchen."

"I would love to, Lacy." My smile was so big that my cheeks hurt. I loved mom, but she was as helpless as I was in the cooking department. And dad had no time to teach me his ways, so Lacy was a life saver.

"Marcus told me a lot about you, young girl." She said chuckling. "Especially that you know our Max."

I blushed. "Yeah, I study with him."

"Does he causes trouble?" Lacy smirked.

"None." I smiled and she laughed, known that I was lying through my teeth.

"Good." She winked and we started working.

Very slowly and very patiently Lacy thought me the basics of the basic of cooking. But I was glad someone was teaching me, especially someone as sweet as this woman. Every time I neared a knife her motherly instincts kicked in and she would be breathing down on my neck, but I didn't care. I was happy.

I was chopping the cucumber very slowly, keeping my finger away from the knife and I was succeeding. But then the front door opened and a shout echoed in the house.

"MOM! WE'RE HOME!"

As I looked to the door the knife went down, and there was I again. Finger bleeding and panicked face.

"Shit, Maya. Are you okay?" Lacy asked running to take a look at my hand.

Fudge.

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HEYOO!!

I just wanted to say I loved writing this chapter!

See ya later, alienator Xx