Your favorite snack?

Chapter 12.

That's why you must eat your vegetables.

~~~

"Ga-Ga!" Daisy screamed, running into the welcoming arms of her 60 plus chubby grandmother.

Since she was 4 years old Daisy had been calling her granny as Ga-Ga because it was easier and after all these years nothing had changed. Even her grandmother loved hearing that precious nick name. It made her feel young, like that singer with a funny dressing style.

"Dy-Dy!" Grandmother smiled and hugged her granddaughter back tightly. She had missed them especially their hugs and sweaty smell. "You still didn't have bath, did you?"

Daisy grinned apologetically. "I washed my face." She said like they were the same thing.

Rylee hugged her grandmother next. "I missed you." She was now a little taller than her granny but she still felt tiny in her grandmother's loving embrace.

Granny pinched her cheek lightly. "I have missed you too."

Granny intertwined elbows with them, to the left was Daisy and to the right Rylee. "Now tell me all that hot gos. Your granny needs some juicy scandals."

The two girls chuckled loudly as they entered their house. By now they knew, their grandmother only wanted hot gossip so she could be judgmental. That old woman was finicky and loved to criticize people.

"Hey mom." Their mother greeted.

"Elle, my favorite daughter." Granny smiled at her daughter.

Elle rolled her eyes. "I am your only daughter."

Granny winked at her. "And favorite one too."

They sat on the couch and almost instantly Daisy stuck her palm out.

Granny raised her eyebrows. "What do you want, young lady?"

Daisy grinned, showing all her teeth. "Toffee."

Granny pretended to think. "I am thirsty."

"I'll get water." Daisy shrieked and ran into the kitchen.

Elle looked at her youngest and rebellious daughter in wonder. "I can't even get her to pass the remote that's on her lap."

Granny smiled in complete swag. "You still haven't learnt parenting, Elle."

Daisy came back with a big glass full of water.

"I am thirsty too."

Rylee tried.

Daisy gave her a stink look. "Go get it yourself you lazy ass."

"Dy-Dy!" Granny raised her tone in a warning.

Daisy looked down, frowning. "I'll get water for you, sis." And she went into the kitchen.

Rylee's jaw was sitting nicely on the floor. She blinked at her grandmother in utter awe and shock. "Did she just call me 'sis'? Can you please stay forever?"

Granny let out a soft melodic laugh. "Then she would stop listening to me."

Daisy came back with two glasses of water. She gave one to her mother and one to her sister. She leaned towards Rylee and whispered. "I spit in it." And then turned and smiled at her grandmother. "Toffee please?"

Rylee twisted her lips, looking into the glass. Knowing her sister, there was a very high chance she actually did spit. Without drinking, she kept the water on the side.

Granny took out a toffee from her purse and placed it in Daisy's open palm.

Daisy instantly opened the toffee and ate it, moaning in delight. "You should sell these, you could be a millionaire."

Granny shook her head. "This is a family secret, Dy-Dy."

Daisy nodded, her head half filled with the sweetness of the caramel and chocolate toffee.

"Gran." Rylee said. "Mikaela, Krish and Nina will be coming to meet you."

Granny loved the three kids, they were all very weird but had always been there for her granddaughter. And that's what was important. "Good. And that reindeer?"

Rylee cleared her throat awkwardly. "Sven?"

Gran waved her hand. "Yes yes, from that kids movie."

Rylee nodded, trying to not laugh. "Yes, Sven." She remembered the last time she had invited Sven, he came with the Blanc twins, she wasn't taking that risk this time. She certainly didn't want her grandmother to meet the Blanc twins. That is the perfect recipe for a disaster. "He can't come."

Granny pouted like a teen. "Has he become any hotter?"

"Mom!"

"Gran!"

"Eww!"

All three reactions made Gran smile. "Hey, I am widow but I am not blind."

"Dad is probably looking at you and getting angry." Elle muttered.

Granny rolled her eyes. "Oh, please you think so? He's probably made a few of those hell demons pregnant by now."

"Mom!" Elle screamed in revulsion. And Rylee and Daisy twisted their lips in disgust.

Granny shrugged. "I am just saying. If he can have fun, why can't I?"

Elle groaned. "Ma, please! And why would he be in hell?"

Granny drank the remaining water, emptying the glass. "Oh, he was a great husband and a wonderful father but he wasn't that good a man you know. I am sure he's in hell."

Rylee winced at the sheer bluntness. "Ow, gran!"

Granny pointed her small fat forefinger at her granddaughters. "That's why you must eat your vegetables."

Rylee rolled her eyes. "I am 18, not 8. That doesn't work on me anymore."

Granny sighed. "They grow up so fast."

Elle nodded, staring at her daughters. "They sure do."

"Where's Danny?"

Elle froze at the question, looking down at the ground.

Gran looked at her daughter and huffed out air. "What did you do now, Elle?"

Elle coughed awkwardly. "I didn't do anything. He is the one who left."

"He's an immature idiot."

"Ma, he is 22. He isn't a kid anymore."

Granny sighed at her daughter's dilemma. "Do you know where he is?"

Elle acted like it didn't affect her but her mother knew she was dying inside. Not being able to contact a child is the worst feeling for a mother."No, he hasn't called."

"How long has it been?"

"Over two months." Daisy replied, scowling at her mother. "I miss him. He's my only sibling."

Rylee glared at her younger sister. "Do you want to die?"

Daisy ignored her sister. "Get him back home, Mommy! I want s sibling!" she whined.

Elle got up, straightening her shoulders. Her lips were pressed in a thin line and she glared at her family. "I didn't throw him out, if he wants, he can come back. The door is always open for him. If he wants, he can call and apologize. I haven't blocked him." She said and walked away.

Granny shook her head and looked at her two granddaughters. "Your mother is still learning how to handle children's tantrums, poor girl. I'll go talk to her." She muttered, following Elle with her shaky legs.

While Rylee continued to glare at her sister. "Come here, you ungrateful pig. I'll show you what a sibling is."

Daisy shrieked as her sister leaped towards her. "Don't you hit me!" she said running behind the couch.

"I don't do animal abuse." Rylee said as she ran behind Daisy, trying to catch her.

"Did I say hit? I meant bite, you bitch."

"That's it! You are so dead." Rylee swore and continued to try and catch her rude sister.

Meanwhile Aahan was struggling with a serious dilemma.

He was standing in front of his bedroom mirror staring at his own reflection. He lightly poked his nose and winced. "Stupid pimple."

The tiny red dot right at the center of his nose was an unwelcome and unexpected guest.

He sighed in resignation. "Well, I can't ask Rylee on a date if I look like Rudolph. She would be appalled and disgusted."

He had googled, how to ask out a girl and 7 out of the 8 websites had their first point focused on – look good when you ask her out. And looking at his own refection, he was sure he didn't fit that criteria.

"Maybe next time." He muttered and walked downstairs. His house was enormous, especially since his mother was a world-famous painter – a fact only Zack knew.

"Mom?" he called out, staring at the well-designed hallways and ceilings. Along with paintings, his mother – Leona Miller – loved to do interior designing. Their house had the latest designs, a beautiful kitchen and electronically controlled lights and curtains. She had even been featured in Architecture Design magazine and was rather proud of the fact.

His mother's melodic echoed through the corridor. "In the drawing room."

He followed it.

"I am hungry." He spoke.

His mother lifted her eyes off her painting to see her son's serious face. "Sweetie, I am busy."

His eyes landed on a guy sitting next to his mom and painting something that basically resembled just lines. And they weren't even artistic. But he refrained from commenting on them. "I am hungry." Aahan repeated.

His mother sighed. "Tell Mrs. Bakes to cook something."

"She makes stupid food, it's yuck."

Leona's eyes widened. "That is rude Aahan, please tell me you haven't said that to Mrs. Bakes."

Aahan didn't reply and that was answer enough.

Leona closed her eyes and shook her head. Even after so many years, there were times she had to remember that her son wasn't normal, wasn't like other boys. He needed special attention and care. It wasn't his fault. "Okay, why don't we order some Pizza? All three of us can eat it?"

Aahan stared at the third person with a light scowl. "Why him?"

"Because he is my student." Leona replied.

"He acts like he's living here since ages. Plus, he sucks at painting. That color combination is revolting."

"Aahan!" His mother held a warning in her tone that Aahan was quite familiar with.

"Fine." He resigned. "Two large? Cheesy chicken?"

The stranger painting guy spoke for the first time. An indifferent grin on his face. "Oh, I like pineapple pizza."

Aahan blinked. "Good. Order it yourself." He closed the door and walked away.

Leona smiled awkwardly at the young man painting in front of her. "He is-" she pressed her lips trying to justify her son's attitude. "-funny." She ended up saying.

The boy nodded and mentally added. "And very rude."

Aahan stepped into the kitchen and saw Mrs. Bakes making dinner.

"Great." He thought to himself. "Now I'll have to order dinner too."

Mrs. Bakes turned almost as if she had heard him. "Mr. Miller." She greeted.

"Mrs. Bakes." He nodded.

"I am making Asian food today. Rice and dumplings."

Aahan actually liked that. But somehow Mrs. Bakes managed to make them taste yikes too. He stared at the burning gas. "I'll cook."

Mrs. Bakes blinked in shock, the spatula still in her hand. "Sorry?"

"I'll cook." He enunciated in a higher volume. He didn't want to tell her why because she wouldn't like that answer.

"Oh." Mrs. Bakes struggled with understanding this boy. She had just recently become their cook, solely because her cousin had urged her to take the job, she had worked for 4 years for them and spoke highly of them. 'They are such lovely people, you can cook whatever you want and they'll eat it.' She had sworn. Clearly her cousin knew how to lie like a pro.

Aahan took spatula from her hand and didn't wait till she was out of the kitchen. He took a sniff of the food being cooked and wrinkled his nose. "Eww." He promptly threw away everything in the sink, letting it all drain into the waste.

Mrs. Bakes stared at the horribly insulting scene with a hand over her heart. With rising anger and a decisive mind, she stormed off to meet Leona, to let her know that she was definitely quitting this job. It didn't matter if she would be jobless, she just could not work here anymore. She couldn't work in a place where she was respected.

Aahan started cooking, making up his own recipe that he knew would be delicious. Just then his phone beeped a message.

A sudden hope engulfed him, maybe it was Rylee. He quickly opened his phone and scowled. It was from an unknown number.

'Hey bro, sup? We are meeting at Rylee's place, wanna join? Bring Zack.'

He wondered who this message was from. Why would someone call him bro. Only Zack called him that. Before Aahan could type a message asking who it is, his phone beeped again.

'Oh, btw this is Krish, Nina's bro. The hotter twin.'

He didn't think before replying. He had a chance of meeting Rylee, an open invitation and he was smart enough to grasp that opportunity. 'Yes, I'll join. Thank you for inviting me.'

Aahan vaguely wondered how Krish even got his number.

He messaged Zack. 'Hi, meet me in 15.'

"Mom, I am going out."

"What about your Pizza?"

"The non-painter can eat it." Aahan shouted back.

"Did you order pineapple for me?"

"Obviously not."

There was no reply and Aahan assumed that was fine.

He quickly ran to his room, and then froze at his reflection. He touched the pimple again. "Well, dating Rylee will just have to wait."

~~~

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