Morph.

Chapter 7

It's quiet except for the odd crickets outside as my eyes open slowly. My muscles feel like concrete and I don't move, instead opting to lay in my bed as my eyes get used to blinking again. I check my phone - 5.47am. Damn, too late to go back to sleep. Wait. It's a Sunday. No, Monday. Wait. Monday.

Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. Check the time - 6.13am.

I get out of bed and jump in the shower, taking my own sweet time, seeing as how I've managed to wake up 45 minutes before my alarm. A dark blue tank top and a black skirt for today, paired with a pair of grey Converse and a ponytail. Hmm, decent.

Downstairs, mum is already awake and preparing the coffee as I decided to give her a hand at making breakfast. "Morning, mum.". "Good morning, darling.", as we give each other a small peck on the cheeks. As I begin to scramble some eggs, the doorbell goes off. Mum and I pause for a slightly extended period of time - probably confused and shocked as to who would come knocking at 6.50am. "I'll get it.", quips Mum as she dries her hands and heads for the door.

"Morning Mrs. Chapman! Is Stephanie awake yet?".

That voice. Familiar. Tobias?! I scoop up the remaining bits of eggs from the pan and make a run for the door.

"Oh hey! Tobias! Hi!", I improvise as I approach the doorway, Mum wedged awkwardly in between Tobias and I.

"Honey, do you wanna' invite this young man in?", she looks in my direction.

"Uhm. Yeah, sure.", I guess?

"Sorry to startle you Mrs. Chapman, I know how odd it must be to find a man in your doorway at this hour but I'm here to give Stephanie a lift to uni!", he says as he dusts his shoes and enters.

"It's not a problem, Tobias. Nice name. That's very sweet of you, at least join us for breakfast before you two leave", as Mum leads him to the dining area.

Mum?! Seriously? He's not my boyfriend.

"Actually, we could always just pick up something on the way to class, right? Tobias?", I countered. God, what will Dad and Lisa say when they come down for breakfast.

"MORNING EVERYONE! OH HEY!". It's Dad - guess we're about to find out.

"Dad! Tobias, meet my Dad and Dad, Tobias!", as they shake hands. "So? You're the fine young man who's taking lil' Stephie to the conventions, huh?", Dad says as he motions Tobias to take a seat.

"Yes, sir.". Sir?! Who actually says that?

"Sir?! OH! Please, boy. There's no need for that.", says Dad, obviously already charmed by Tobias, seeing as how he's already filling his glass with juice.

This is going to be the epitome of all the awkward meals I've ever had.

"Hey everyone! Hellooo-?", Lisa stops momentarily in her tracks.

Yeah, the epitome.

I roll my eyes and take my seat and begin the introductions all over again.

___________________________________________________________________________________

With breakfast done, and my entire family convinced that Tobias and I are sleeping together, we head for uni.

"WHAT? THE HECK WAS THAT ABOUT?!", as I smack him across the chest when he's upshifting, causing him to miss second and slot home fourth, bogging the car down momentarily.

"If I do recall, lil' Stephie said that she wanted a lift to and from uni as it'll make her life a lot easier", he chuckles.

Did he seriously just call me that?