movie nights - casey gardner (discontinued)

season 1 - chapter 15

Harriet, Casey and Evan climbed out of the small car. It was already dark and they had been hanging out with Evan since school had ended. They all walked toward the house Evan saying, "Are your parents cool with me coming to dinner? because I'm pretty sure that your dad hates me."

"Don't worry about it he hates everyone." Harriet assured him.

"Yeah they're fine with it..." Casey paused pushing open the door. "...because they don't know."

"Damn it, Casey." Evan whispered as the three walked through the door. "Hey, Mrs. Gardner."

"Evan. Wow." She looked very shocked to see him, which Harriet remembered she probably was. "What a nice surprise."

"Hey, hi." Evan stood awkwardly putting his hands in his pockets as Casey and Harriet glanced at each other with a small smirk.

"We have cheese." Elsa said pointing to the table. "Help yourself. And figs."

"Oh. Love figs." Evan said, but judging by the look on his face he hated them.

"All kids do." Casey finally cut in, with a small smile. Evan walked away leaving the 3 girls in the entrance to the home. 

"Casey, this is a family dinner." Elsa scolded, clearly Harriet wasn't getting any of the blame. "I've been cooking all day. This is important to me." Casey looked away, defiantly, rolling her eyes at the same time. Harriet just stood looking at the taller girl. "Only you would invite someone to a family dinner without even asking."

Right at that moment the door opened and in walked Sam, Zahid and a blonde girl that Harriet recognized as the girl Sam had been talking to before the meeting with Briggs. 

"Sam...and friends." Elsa said, sounding irritated. "So many people!"

Casey laughed, "This is awesome." Evan walked back over to join the now large group. 

"Zahid is my friend, Paige is just a girl from school." Sam said, bluntly as Paige waved enthusiastically.

Zahid raised his arms in front of him and looked at Elsa, "Come on. You know the drill."

"I certainly do." Elsa said, looking disappointed as Zahid wrapped his arms around her. "So strong. Thank you."

"Well, it's very nice to meet you all." Paige finally spoke up as Doug entered the room. Paige seemed very eager to be there which to Harriet made it obvious that she really liked Sam.

"Evan." Doug said, growling at the young boy. 

"Mr. Gardner." Evan replied promptly. 

"Dad." Casey said, mockingly. 

"Doug." Harriet laughed but Doug failed to see the funny side and she stopped giggling right away which made Casey giggle and the two were trying their hardest not to burst into fits of laughter.

"Why are we all saying each other's names?" Sam asked, gripping his bag straps as Paige watched him admiringly. 

"Guys, why don't you all go to the sofa and talk amongst yourselves? I'll be there in a minute. Maybe tell an embarrassing story about yourself that no one else knows. We did that as an ice breaker at Sam's last summer camp and boy, were there some red faces."

Casey grabbed Harriet by the sleeve, which was becoming more and more regular but Harriet didn't mind, and pulled her down to the couch which the two sat down on. However, Casey had pulled Harriet to sit down and now the two were slightly closer than they needed to be.

Everyone else followed the two girls into the living room and dumped themselves onto the seats. No one sitting nearly as close as Harriet and Casey, but neither girl moved over.