Chasing Happiness (Rewritten Under My Other Story "It's Just Pretend")

Chapter 10

AN: Yes, I know Ki Hong Lee is almost 30, but he fits the role so well, we're gonna pretend he's 19. ;) Picture's above! By the way, this is just a filler. I've been..... Busy?

Anne dragged her suitcase behind her as at stepped onto the Basey's porch. A wall lamp glowing florescent, white light lit up the space. Inhaling and exhaling deeply, she rang the doorbell. A familiar man appeared in the doorway. His skin was tan and his eyes were a deep, emerald shade of green. His hair was slightly darker than that of his son's.

"Anne!" His baritone voice had a hint of an Italian accent when he spoke.

"Hello Mr. Basey. It's so nice to see you again! Thank you for having me on such a short notice."

"You're always welcome here Anne. And how many times have I told you to call me Mark?" he chided. Anne smiled warmly.

"And how many times have I declined Mr. Basey?" The middle-aged man let out a hearty laugh.

"Touche Anne." He side-stepped, motioning her into the house. Her bare feet softly padded across the dark, hardwood floors toward the living room. A thin, Italian woman sat upon the couch with her feet propped up on a coffee table. Her pixie cut hair ruffled gently as the fan above her whirled in a dizzying motion. Awkward, Anne shuffled from foot to foot and cleared her throat. The woman spun around and a mixture of surprise and happiness swirled in her chocolate brown eyes.

"Anne! My future daughter-in-law has finally arrived!" she exclaimed delightedly. She walked over to her and wrapped the teenage girl up in a welcoming smile. Anne's face quickly resembled the shade of a tomato.

"We're..... I mean..... It's just..... We're not..... I... Uhhhh..." she stuttered. A laugh echoed from the kitchen.

"Mom, you're embarrassing the poor thing." Anne whipped her head around and sighed in relief and Mrs. Basey released her.

"Kara!"

"Jarod's older sister at your service. How's it going squirt?" Kara playfully fussed up Anne's hair. Anne swatted away her hand and whined. Kara was beautiful. Her dark hair contrasted with her porcelain skin and bright, green eyes in the perfect way.

"You're nineteen. We're only one year younger than you."

"Ahh...... But I'm one year and six months older than you and one year and four months older than your boyfriend grasshopper." Anne rolled her eyes but smirked nonetheless. She was about to speak when Jarod galloped down the stairs screaming out the lyrics to a song- purposefully off-key just as she had before.

"I wanna swing from the CHANDELIER. From the CHANDELIIIIEEEEEERRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!! I- Uhhh, hey Anne....." A panicked look crossed his face and he blushed profusely. Anne bit down on her bottom lip in an attempt to keep in her howls of laughter. Attempt being the key word. Soon, everyone broke down into peals of laughter. Jarod scowled.

"Anne!" he grumbled, annoyed, but she was too busy clutching her stomach and chortling loudly. Jarod huffed and turned to leave when a small hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned around and saw Anne chuckling.

"You look so cute when you pout mio amore." (TRNS: my love) she pinched his cheek playfully.

"Are ya done?" he deadpanned. She began to snicker, but covered it with a cough.

"Yeah. Yeah. Totally." He rolled his eyes, walking into the kitchen and opening the fridge. She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

"Forgive me?"

"Nope," he answer her without looking at her. She tucked his chin between her index and middle fingers, forcing him to face her. He immediately knew he was going to lose this battle. Her eyes widened and her lower lip puffed out, making her look adorable in every way.

"Please Jay?" He internally groaned.

"Fine. Just this once." She smirked, knowing fully well it wouldn't be.

"Awwww.... You know you love me Jay Jay." She winked over her shoulder before rejoining his family.

"Yes, yes I do," he murmured under his breath and followed her into the living room.

*break*

Anne stretched out her arms and yawned, her grey eyes adjusting to the subtle sunlight as it oozed through the shutters and invaded the guest room she would occupy for the next month. Of course she got the room directly facing the sun in the morning. She glanced at the alarm clock; it read: 5:13am in glowing, red print. Ugh! Way too early to wake up. Anne slumped back down and tried the fall back asleep, but the chirping bird just outside her window and different plans. Grumbling, she accepted she would never be able to finish up her dream and headed down to the kitchen. Throwing her hair up in a sloppy bun, she started breakfast. She hummed quietly to herself and began to cook. Her eyes widen as the entire Basey family stampeded down the stairs.

"My gosh that smells amazing!" Kara smelled the air. Anne blushed and smiled sheepishly.

"It's not much." Jarod open and closed his mouth as if he were a fish out of water.

"Not much?!" he exclaimed, "Bacon, eggs, toast, pancakes, and sausage. It's a fucking feast!"

"Language Jarod! But he's right dear, it all looks fantastic. Let's eat!" his mother exclaimed. And eat they did, talking comfortably and laughing the entire time. I could get used to seeing her every morning, Jarod smiled to himself in content and enjoyed the morning before hell- I mean school- started.