|THE NARRATION AND THE ASSUMPTION|

"Kirlia Hemmings! Either you are waking up right now or I'm breaking the door!" Dad shouted from outside the door, as I jolted up in my bed.

Breathing loudly, I massaged my head, which was throbbing consistently. Another knock on the door broke me from my not so peaceful slumber. "I'm awake Dad. Geez, I'm coming down in ten minutes."

Content with my response, I could hear him walking downstairs. Sighing deeply, I switched off the alarm, which was blaring from the bedside coffee table. My phone buzzed with messages, but I was too consumed by the dread of my nightmare.

It's been a week since I've been with the gang who would always call themselves the "Scandalous Six" but with me present, it was "Scandalous Seven". Whether it's about fooling around with Zeta and Sierra or getting our nerves wrecked by Addison's outburst, or about Felix's immense wisdom or of Nick gobbling up every edible stuff, they were the weirdest assortment of people, it was the best thing I've ever experienced.

Finally, a place to be me.

Jumping out of the bed after aimless daydreaming, I quickly freshened up for the day, trying to push back my nightmare at the back of my mind.

It's better to not ponder about it. At all.

Fifteen minutes later, I stood in front of my dressing table, drying my hair with the blow dryer. My hair, a tangled mess of brown hair didn't seem to be in a mood to be messed with. But I was too stubborn to leave it like that and which was why I had been blown drying it and then leaving it like that. Classic messy hair.

Back in Bridgeton, I hardly remember my looks because there, I was nobody and no one would give a damn about my presence. But in Pride high, I was somebody. Someone who wasn't ignorant of how people would always talk about me. There were times when Zeta or Nick would rudely shut them down, stating how they should get to know me before sporting baseless rumours, which indeed was true.

Rumours sprout up like roots and soon spread around in the whole school, making it no less than a nuisance.

The phone, which vibrated again as it sat on my dressing table, showed a message from Zeta.

Zeta "Not So" Evergreen:

Wear a cool star pendant too. Would match with the outfit. Also, wear a beanie if possible. Blue.

I smiled lightly, looking at Zeta's latest message as I kneeled in front of my dresser to find a silver pendant that Aunt Perry had given to me one Christmas, five years ago. Perry Hemmings, Pa's younger sister, was his fine and sadist version. Sharp-witted and outspoken, Aunt Perry would like to believe that sarcasm and sassiness are made out of her.

Wearing it around my neck and spraying the deodorant for the last time, I picked up my backpack along with my phone, leaving my room messy as usual.

Blue plaid skirt with a long blue sleeve, the sweater perfectly tucked in, along with black stockings, was what I and Zeta had decided to wear for the day. It was Addison's sarcasm that paved the way for this idea. She would always stop us from twinning while we would converse, so I took it a step ahead. Twinning our clothes.

"Kaia! Don't tell me you are still sleeping, honey," Pa asked from outside my door. Ever since I had hit puberty, they made sure to keep a safe distance from my room to avoid encounters with "girl stuff". My room, which was the epitome of messiness, still had a box of stale pizza somewhere below the bed, and yesterday's clothes had fallen on the floor.

Can't blame him for not entering such a place.

"I'm awake, just heading down," I replied, getting verified by my appearance at the last glance. I've never in my whole life pulled such a thing and it was pretty daring to do so. We knew that this would piss Addison off immensely but Zeta assured me that she won't react much.

Picking my backpack up from the bed, I swiftly walked out, closing the door behind me. The baby blue walls stared back at me as blank intricate designs were drawn on them, making it look pretty vintage. The wooden floorboards creaked lightly as I skipped through steps and hurried on my way down, the nightmare tucked safely at the back of my mind.

The voices from the dining table were hurried and rushed as my fathers stopped talking abruptly as I entered the room. They smiled crookedly at me, doing a failed attempt of hiding something from me.

Dad gave me his biggest fake smile, which made Pa facepalm as he squeezed his hand tightly, making him wince in return.

Sighing, I sat in the chair directly opposite to them on the wooden dining table, eyeing them carefully.

Something doesn't seem right-

Even before I could complete my thought my phone started vibrating inside my pocket. Pa and Dad whisked their head towards me, eyeing me carefully as if I was a time bomb, ready to explode.

Aunt Perry's name illuminated my phone screen, a picture of her set as the default contact picture. "Why is Aunt Perry calling me?" I unquestioningly glared at both of them, and they gave me an innocent look.

"Don't keep my sis waiting, Kirlia," My thumb paused at the green button as I looked up at Pa, who had just called me by my name because he never did that.

Keeping my eyes on them, I picked up the incoming call.

"Hey, Aunt Pe-"

"Have you been feeling horny lately?"

Dumbfounded, I stared at my fathers, unable to make out words that seemed to have stuck in my throat. Dad looked nervously at me, muttering something under his breath which made Pa hit him hard at the back of his head.

"Huh?" I dumbfoundedly responded, as I was still clueless as to how my dear aunt, who had been recklessly living her life in Seoul, along with her husband, Hyun-Jung Lee who was a caring and loyal to my feisty aunt. Dad would sometimes narrate as to how all four of them were in the same high school, with uncle Jung being head-over-heels for Aunt Kinsella- but now was not the time to think about that.

"My dear niece," She started speaking way too slowly as if I was five or younger." I just asked whether you have a sudden urge to suck dic-"

"NO!" I shouted way too loudly, standing up abruptly as I felt my cheeks heat up quickly. Dad stood up way too swiftly along with me, as Pa shocked his head in disappointment as he bent down to pick up the fallen chair, patting Dad's shoulder.

"To be honest, I won't judge you because that's what I do," At which I grimaced loudly, disgust etched on each one.

"But I won't be shocked if you have an urge. I mean, you always see your fathers banging each other at every corner of your house."

I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck, embarrassed by the whole conversation already. Whats' gotten into her?

"Not every corner, exactly-"

"Rubbish," she cut me off in the middle, which was a very new thing for her to do."A few years ago- it was Christmas- when I saw them banging each other in your room. I remember threatening them to never enter your room."

I stood flabbergasted, fixated in my trance. The reason why they never entered my room was not that I reached puberty but because-

"What is it, honey?" Pa started, as beads of sweat trickled down through both of their foreheads. Dad looked as if he would instantly rip off his unruly tuft of chocolate brown hair.

"Kirlia Hemmings, the main reason I called you was because your fathers want me to give you sex education-"

"Fucking pardon? Did you just say sex education?" I eyed my fathers weirdly, as their faces morphed into one of pure dread as they gulped meekly.

"Yes, I guess you need hearing lessons more than sex education but whatever," Aunt Perry commented as I could hear her mutter something under her breath.

"Rules of sex education, now. Rule No. 1, you'd always have to carry condoms in your bag, no matter what," At which my embarrassment knew no bounds as I threw a stony glare at my fathers, who looked more embarrassed than I was.

"Aunt, why would I need cond-" But she cut me off.

"Unfortunately, you don't have any in your house, because your fathers really can't get each other pregnant-" At which I scoffed loudly, much to my father's dread, as they grew more nervous.

"Rule No. 2, never fuck each other when-"

"Babe, I guess you should leave it here. I mean- not to be rude or something but Kaia is smarter to know when and where to fuck,'' Uncle Lee's voice came from behind and Aunt Perry huffed in annoyance.

Finally, I thought. Someone fucking finally said it aloud.

"Aunt, listen to me," I finally voiced, and I could see how both my fathers had visibly taken a deep breath waiting for what I was about to say.

"I and Lucas are just friends," I gave my fathers an icy glare at the last part as I continued. "And nothing is going on between us. So, stop worrying about something which is not going to happen."

I cough hear both Dad and Aunt Perry sighing deeply in relief as Pa gave me a small smile, showing how embarrassed he truly was.

"I know, honey. But Noah had been pestering me to talk to you about it all," I could feel how she would have rolled her eyes if she was in front of me then.

"Don't worry about that. I'll talk to Dad," I said rather loudly to convey the message clearly to both my aunt and my Dad.

She quickly bade me goodbye as she mumbled a "talk to you later" which never comes. I pocketed my phone slowly, as I was aware of the two sets of eyes intently on me.

"So-" I started, as I sat down on the chair yet again, taking deep breaths to find the correct and appropriate thing to say. "- you know right Aunt Perry would suck at sex education?"

Pa had a smug expression as he too glared down at Dad because I knew he agreed with me. Dad looked at his hands which clutched the chair a bit too harshly before he too sat on the chair.

Taking a deep breath, he started." I was just looking out for you, Kaia. I don't want anyone to break your heart."

"By asking Perry, of all the people in the world, you asked her? Were you even thinking straight, Noah?" Dad interrupted haughtily.

"I couldn't think of any other woman in the family-"

"You could have just asked Izzy or Beth! Even Evelyn would have loved to give some advice."

"Dang! Why didn't I think of it?" Dad mumbled under his breath, which made Pa grimace. I looked up at Dad as he kept on mumbling something under his breath.

His dark brown hair was dishevelled as he sat in front of five empty coffee mugs which I hadn't noticed until now. There were light bags under his eyes, which made him look like a zombie who was high on caffeine. His green eyes, which always radiated energy, looked dull and sleep-deprived.

Sighing intently, I stood up from my chair and stood right next to Dad, as Pa arched an eyebrow towards me.

"Dad, did you sleep properly?"

"Yes?"

"You weren't supposed to answer my question with another question, you know?" I shot back, as I kept a hand on the table, bending to meet his gaze.

"Look, it's the first time I've met so many people whom I can call friends. I'm happy, Dad. I'm genuinely happy. "

I started, emphasizing greatly on "happy". "And I seriously don't want to get all worked up because a guy is helping me after school with Calc, okay?" I tried to reason with him. Pa nodded as he kept his hand on Dad's shoulder and he squeezed it affectionately.

"Okay," He mumbled under his breath.

"Louder," Pa voiced even before I could say the same.

"Okay," He raised his hands in defence." I'll try to be a worry bot. Now come one and give your lovely Dad a hug."

"You mean, Worrisome Dad?" I snickered as I threw my arms around him, pulling him close to him as Pa hugged both of us too.

Another sweaty bear hug.

We pulled apart, as Dad grinned back at me and I could feel all the worry dissipate from him. For a time being.

"And I need a good reason as to why on earth were two banging in my room, " I stated as I smiled crookedly.

Pa and Dad looked at each other and then at me, giving me a small not-so clueless smile.

These guys.

●●●

"Nope, I'm still not believing it," I repeated myself to Zeta as we walked towards the glass doors of the high school.

After having a rather "enlightening" conversation with my family, Pa dropped me at the school as Dad was too sleep-deprived to function properly. He stayed back as Pa drove me to school, dropping me at the entrance where Zeta already stood, intently for me.

She too wore a blue plaid skirt with a long blue sleeved sweater, the sweater perfectly tucked in, along with black stockings. She had pulled her hair into a ponytail, as she wore silver dangling earrings. Walking side by side, we again looked like real sisters and it felt amazing.

"Believe me!" Zeta exasperated as we walked through the students." Trust me when I say that Nick gave me his whole pack of french fries when we were watching the movie!"

Even though it was just a week of knowing them, Nick never shared his food with anyone, especially French fries. His unhealthy obsession with them was astounding, but him sharing them was unbelievable. Unless-

"You two are late," Addison stated, as we turned by a corridor to see her waiting for us as she sipped her coffee.

"Right, grumpy pig," Zeta muttered under her breath and I stifled a laugh. Addison, having caught onto that, just rolled her eyes as she started walking beside me as we made our way towards our locker.

"Sierra's in trouble," Zeta suddenly perked up, making both me and Addison turn our heads towards her, stopping midway.

"The what-" Both mine and Addison's phone buzzed our pockets and we took it out without wasting a second. It was Sierra who had sent all of us the same message.

Sunshine Sierra Smarson:

COME TO THE LOCKERS RIGHT NOW YOU FOOT LICKER

"Is foot licker suppose to be insulting?" Addison gave a grave look to Zeta, as she looked slightly tensed about Sierra's latest message.

"I think we should go there and see what's the- Holy Shit," Zeta trailed at the end, as her eyes widened comically at the crowd ahead of us. Some turned our way and maliciously grinned as we walked carefully towards them.

They were crowded around the corridors where our lockers were supposed to be. I felt a tremor in my spine, dreading the worse, but I felt Addison's hand suddenly engulfing mine, making me focus on that rather than the bustling crowd around me.

The crowd dramatically parted as we reached nearby, and we came face to face with Olivia, who stood there with her minions, Carol and Christine.

"Admire our artwork, Scandalous," She grinned as she nodded towards a locker in front of her. The locker was vandalized with graffiti and papers stuck on it.

And it was my locker.

It was supposed to be one chapter but it came out way too long. Ngl, it was fun writing this chapter.

Especially the cliffhanger-if I can call it that.

It's gonna be fun from here as this chapter was full of fluffiness between all the characters.

It's gonna be fun from here and I'll once again apologize for not being very regular with updates as I still have college admissions going on, so no promises.

But I can promise more fun *wink wink*.

Btw, if you've reached here even after the irregularities, lemme know what you feel about it till now. That'd mean a lot to me.

Oh and do NOT forget to like, share and comment cuz the comment section is da best (fight me)

Peace out,
Sasha♡