Teen Trials

Family Fights

"You be good for Pops and Grams now." Amy whispered in the younger girls ear as she hugged her goodbye.

"Yes ma'am."

"Now Dad, I want you to remember how you were with me and Alex growing up, and treat Niko and Emma like that." Hunter said. He handed off the toddler to his wife and pulled his teen in for a hug.

"I don't know what you mean Son."

"I mean, a lot of training can be undone in a week. Don't spoil them." Hunter said.

"Boy, I think you've forgotten who you are talking to. I will do as I please with my grandchildren." Pops said, pulling Emma away from Hunter and into his own hug.

"Don't forget she is grounded. No electronics." Hunter reminded them

"Y'all should get back on the road so you still have daylight going home." Grams said.

The adults took the hint gave each kid one more hug and kiss and left. Emma stood in the doorway watching them pull out.

"Whatchya looking at kid?" Pops asked her.

"They left my car." Emma said.

Pops nodded. "Yeah, interesting choice, huh?"

Emma shrugged, trying not to let it bother her. It was probably supposed to be a reminder of what she had lost. "I bet the took the keys with them."

Pops reached into his pocket and pulled them out. "Want them?"

Emma frowned in confusion at the man, "Seriously?"

"Seriously. Do you want them?"

"I'm grounded from it. Why would you give them to me?"

"Because just like your parents who left the car with you, I trust that you won't take off."

Emma slipped into her ballet stance, she felt thrown off by not understanding this. "I literally just took off."

He nodded, watching his wife walk down the stairs after putting Niko down for a nap. "Do you want the keys? You need to start your chores."

"I'll take them." Emma reached out to take them, still surprised when the man put the keys in her hand. She placed them in her pocket. "What's my first chore?"

"We are going to make cookies to bring to church tomorrow." Grams told her.

"That doesn't sound like a chore."

"We have six dozen to make, so don't think it will too fun." Grams teased.

"I don't think Hunter will be happy about this." Emma said reluctantly.

"Leave your Dad to us. You just get in that kitchen with your Grams." Pops told her.

"Yes Sir." Emma said, following Grams into the kitchen.

The next three days progressed very similarly. She was always doing a task with Alex, Grams or Pops and they always let her put her music on and they talked through it. She felt like she was really just hanging out with the three adults and she was really enjoying the time. She was surprised to find that she did miss Hunter and Amy though, and looked forward to talking to them every night on the phone. She missed her brothers sometimes but never really her parents.

Wednesday morning she sat on Hunters bed, flipping her phone in her hands and stalling. Grams had sent her up her to call her parents and she was dreading it.

Knowing that she just needed to get it over with, she picked up the phone and called her Dad.

"Hey Killer," He answered. She almost didn't think he was going to answer with how long it took him to pick up, and had been mentally preparing her voicemail.