Note to self: learn social skills

Chapter 19

Screaming. This is the first sound I hear. Screaming at me. Then I feel warm. Legs wrapped around mine, a rock hard stomach in front of my face, someone breathing on my hair. I'm sooo comfortable. I snuggle into the stomach and blankets more, trying to block out the screaming. I feel a sharp pain on the back of my head. Someone is tugging my hair.

"Ow!" I yell, "Let go!" before I can even open my eyes.

"You whore, get out of that bed."

Say wha? I finally get my eyes open all the way and see Grandma Monroe standing above me. Glaring. Looking grumpy. Hal is in bed with me and getting the same grumpy look on his face.

Wait... Hal is in bed with me? This will have to be examined later as Grumpy is still yanking my hair.

"Let her go." Hal orders in this really eerie calm voice. Grandma Monroe releases me and Hal pulls me to him as we sit up.

Note to self: figure out why Hal isn't wearing a shirt.

"What is the problem?" Hal asks.

"The problem, Henry, is that our family name is being ruined by this little hussy. She's seducing you."

My mouth drops open. I am incapable of seducing anything. Obviously Grumpy has never met her grandson.

"Katie isn't ruining our family." Hal says harshly. "And I think you have the wrong idea. We just fell asleep watching a movie."

"Is that all you did Henry Percy Monroe?"

"YES!" we both yell.

She throws a stack of papers at us. Hal grabs them and I see about a million paparazzi pictures of me taking off my pants. Hal holding me in the water, us making out. Hal holding me, my legs around him. Us on the beach.

I let out a shuttered breath and feel the world move away around me as my stomach drops. A few pictures of us kissing was weird but okay. But this is different. That night was different. Or so I thought.

"I'm thankful that at least you came inside before removing all clothing." Grandma Monroe says. We don't say anything. "I hope you know, if you get pregnant, you won't see a penny of his money." I snap my head up to look at her. "Did you mother train you to do this as an option to get out of work?"

I jump out of the bed. "My mother works her ass off for us. Richard knocked her up and abandoned us and I never saw any of his money. The only thing my mother taught me to do is work hard because you can't rely on anyone."

She sniffs, sticking her nose up in the air, "I'm having Bridgett pack our bags. You will leave before lunch."

"Great I can't wait to get out of your stupid house."

"I'm going too." Hal says, standing up beside me.

"Nonsense, Henry. I don't blame you for her wild, classless behaviour."

"Katie is my girlfriend. I like her. And you can't treat her like this, no matter what you think she's doing. If she's not welcome here, neither am I."

Grumpy purses her lips. "Just remember who your family is, Henry."

"Yea, yea. Blood is thicker, whatever." He says.

Grandma Monroe stomps out of the room and slams the door. We stand in silence for a minute. Then I feel Hal's hand on my shoulder. "Kate..."

I wheel around and glare at him, "Did you plan this?"

"WHAT?"

"You did! You take me out and get me to "really kiss" you so there's a million pictures of us halfway fornicating."