Settle down

Chapter 22

When in the car I want to ask if I can stay home, not only do I feel like crap but the gala is the most boring thing ever. There's never anyone there in my age which means that Dora runs off with her friends and I have to sit by the adult table and die out of boredom.

"Mom, dad? Why can't I stay home tonight? I've been to this gala every year since forever and it's soooooooo boring. There is never anyone in my age there. Please can I stay home?" I ask with a sweet and innocent voice hoping that they'll feel sorry for me. They don't.

"Oh, stop it you. It's one night once a year. You'll survive honey. Why don't you hang out with Dora and her friends?" My dad responds as he start the car and drives away from our house.

"Are you serious!? If I would "hang out" with Dora and her friends I would not only commit a physical suicide, but also a mental and social one!" My dad clearly has never been young. He was probably born old. Like Benjamin Button.

"You're exaggerating sweetie. Life's what you make it, so make this night fun." Of course mom has to quote something and make this argument poetic.

After 30 minutes trapped in this car Dora decides to speak.

"Daddy? Who's hosting the gala this year?" She asks with her sweetest baby voice. Uck! Daddy's angel. It makes me sick, oh no wait! That's probably the flu that I already have.

"This year an old friend of mine is actually hosting the gala. He's never really been into charity before, but after he remarried last summer he all of a sudden became very interested and decided to host the gala this year. His name is Marvin. Marvin Styles." My dad says. Hmm. Marvin Styles, I've never heard that name before. They must be really old friends.

"How long till we're there?" I ask. I already feel sick and more time trapped in a car will not help.

"Oh, not too long. About 10 more minutes I think." Okay, so if my dad says 10 minutes, we'll be there in 20. He's not the best driver ever and finding a parking spot can take hours if we're unlucky.

I must have fallen asleep because I'm woken up by Dora pulling my hair and saying that we're there. Not the best way to wake up... gotta love them younger siblings huh?

The house is huge and beautiful. It's big and white and there are lights surrounding the house making it look like a castle or something.

"Hey? Do they live here or is this some hotel or something?" I ask.

"They moved in here right before the wedding actually, so they have lived here for a bit over a year if I remember correctly." My mom answers. Personally I don't see why people would want to live in a house as big as this. I don't understand my parents and I don't understand these people.

We walk up to the door and ring the bell. After just a few seconds the door is opened and behind it a couple is standing. They both look very fancy, they must be Marvin and his new wife.

"Marvin! That was certainly not yesterday." My dad says when he enters the house.

"Tom! Come here!" They hug each other and my mother and Dora walks into the house as well.

"Well, this is my family. My lovely wife Carol, you've met her, and my daughters Dora and..... Lola?" He looks around the hall. Shit! I walk into the house and smile embarrassed.

"Sorry. Hi, I'm Lola. You have a lovely home." Marvin shakes my hand, takes my jacket and introduces his wife.

"You have a lovely family Tom. This is Louise, my newest wife." He laughs. Ew. I don't like this guy.

"I have a son as well, one second. SON?! Will you come here for a second?" He shouts. From the living room comes a tall figure and as he comes closer I think I recognize him.

Oh fuck it. I should have guessed. The last name Styles is not that common, how did I not get this.

"Hey there. I'm Harry." He smiles and shakes my mothers hand. My fathers hand. Dora's hand. And then mine.

"Hi Lola." He whispers so only I can hear and smirks at me. I can see where he gets the disgusting creep gene from.