Researching With the Jock {BWWM High School Romance}

A Tie That Binds

Vivian

It's 3:38 in the afternoon and I slide into the driver's seat of my car and drag the seat-belt across my torso before I drive off, thinking about the project Greg and I have to work on for our Sex Education class. It's been on my mind all day, and I can't shake the feeling that it's going to be awkward. I mean, we're talking about Sex Ed after all. But it's more than that. I've never been to Greg's house and meeting someone's family for the first time always feels like stepping into a new world. The project for Sex Education class is due in two weeks and we decided it would be best to work on it together at his place. My mind races as I think about all the things that could go wrong, but I push those thoughts aside and ring the doorbell.

The door opens almost immediately, and I'm greeted by a tall, woman in her early-mid thirties with long sleek blonde hair, warm brown eyes, and a welcoming smile.

"You must be Vivian," she says kindly, her voice as soft as a lullaby. "I'm Wilma, Greg's mother. Come in, come in!"

"Thank you, Mrs. O'Neill," I reply, stepping into the cozy hallway. The house feels lived-in, full of warmth, with the scent of something delicious wafting from the kitchen. I look around, trying to get a sense of the place.

"Please, call me Ms. Wilma," she insists. "Mrs. O'Neill makes me feel old." Ms. Wilma leads me into the living room where a man I assume is Greg's father sits in a recliner, reading the latest issue of the Philadelphia Daily News newspaper.

"Tucker, honey? This is Vivian," Wilma introduces me.

Tucker puts down the paper and stands up, extending a hand. He's tall and sturdy, with a kind face. "Nice to meet you, Vivian. Greg's told us a bit about you."

I smile and shake his hand. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. O'Neill."

"Please, just Tucker," he says with a chuckle. "Greg's upstairs getting his things together. He should be down any minute. Why don't you have a seat?"

I sit down on the plush sofa, feeling a bit more at ease. Wilma sits next to me, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

"So, Vivian, do you have any siblings?" she asks.

I nod. "Yes, I'm actually the oldest of triplets. I have two sisters, Carolyn and Diane. And I have two preteen siblings, Penny and Johnnie."

Wilma's eyes widen. "Triplets! That must be something. How do you manage?"

I laugh lightly. "It's a lot, but we're all pretty close. We look out for each other."

Mr. O'Neill nods approvingly. "That's good. Family is important."

Just then, a girl about my age walks into the room. She has the same striking features as Greg—blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and a confident stride. "Mom, Dad, we're back bringing Mrs. Grady her cookies," she says. She looks at her parents before turning to me curiously.

 "Hi, I'm Claudine, Greg's sister," She introduces with a genuine friendly grin. "What's your name?"

"Claudine, this is Vivian. She's your brother's classmate from school. And, Vivian, this is my daughter, Claudine. She is Greg's twin sister." Wilma introduces.

"Nice to meet you, Claudine," I reply, surprised. I didn't know Greg had a twin.

A younger girl appears in the doorway, standing next to Claudine. My breath catches in my throat when I recognize her. It's Lucy—the same Lucy I stood up for this morning when she was being bullied in the hallways. She looks at me with wide eyes, clearly remembering me too.

"Vivian?" Lucy says, her voice filled with awe and a touch of relief. "You're the one who helped me!"

Claudine turns to Lucy with a curious look, then back to me. "You helped Lucy?"