Mary's in Love

-Chapter 2-

Mary returned home at six for dinner. She knew if she missed dinner she wouldn't hear the end of it.

When she entered, the house was full of activity and bustling. Mary immediately knew something either had happened, was happening or was about to happen. Mary went into the kitchen and saw her mother slaving over the stove whilst gossiping on the phone with Mrs. Carmichael, her sister Poppy was sitting on top of the kitchen island counter talking loudly on her cell. Her other sister Livia was laughing just as loudly with her atrocious husband Daniel in the corner and Grover our greyhound was barking loudly as he ran around the kitchen.

Mary left and went in search of her father. He was the calm one in their family. Mary knocked on his office door and waited for him to reply.

"Come in," she heard him say roughly as if frustrated. Mary turned the handle and entered. Her dad sat behind his big and heavy mahogany desk which was full of papers. Mary never really understood what her dad did for a living. She knew it had something to do with providing fresh meats and produce to supermarkets all across the country. Well then, Mary did know what her father did after all. She closed the door behind her and sat in the worn brown chair adjacent to him.

"How can I help, Mary, my love?" he asked sincerely. Mary was close to her father because he appreciated her love for poetry and piano.

"What's with all the activity? And why is Livia here?"

"You know your mother loves to be a busybody. Apparently, a new family moved into Mr. Chase's old house at the end of the street. Your mother found out from Mrs. DeGeneres that they had two teenage boys. So she went straight over with a chicken pot pie and invited them over for dinner."

"Ugh. Dad! Why didn't you stop her! This is just ridiculous. Why does she do this to me every time she sees a single teenage boy?!" Mary exclaimed in frustration to her father. Mary was truly frustrated with her mother, her mother was always meddling and matchmaking.

Her father shrugged.

"Who am I to deny your mother of what makes her happy? I agree your mother is a bit extreme but she loves you and just wants to see you happy."

"She couldn't possibly want to see me happy if she continuingly does this. She knows this upsets me yet she still does it." Mary said sulking.

"Mary, darling your mother loves you. Now go wash up and help your mother with dinner. Oh and I don't know why Livia is here. If you want you can call Elly and Van to come." He told her.

" No, I wouldn't put Elly and that wonderful husband of hers through such a horrible dinner," she told him while rising and going to the door.

Mary heard her father chuckled and couldn't help but sulk more. Mary went back into the kitchen and the only thing that had changed was that her mother was now off of the phone.

"Oh there you are darling. We're having guests. Go and change into something nice," she said to Mary without looking up from making the toss salad.

"And something with colour dear; you too Poppy, get to dressing," her mother continued. Mary turned to leave and go to her room.

"Stop sulking Mary, it's unattractive," her mother said. Mary's sulk deepened and she marched her way up the stairs. Poppy followed giggling and gushing about how cute the boys might be. Mary was so happy when she finally reached her room and closed the door.

Mary didn't bother to change, she just fell straight across her bed and sulked some more. She wished she could leave like Livia did or even live with Elly. Mary sighed for the upteenth time that day.

Mary didn't know when she dozed off but she was abruptly woken up by their absurdly loud door bell. She tried to rub the sleep out her eyes, hoping that would help her brain to start functioning again. There was a knock on the door and Livia's husband Daniel head popped in. He was giving her his sly smile.

"The guests are here. Time to come out of your room little girl," he told her. Mary frowned and scowled at him. Mary really detested Daniel. She didn't know what possessed Livia to marry him.

Daniel was Elly's former professor and Livia had met him when she went to see Elly at the university an afternoon. Elly was talking to Daniel outside after class and introduced Livia to her professor.

Livia was 16 at the time and Daniel was 26. Livia fell head over heels for him and married him a year later. It was a huge scandal in their little town. It was probably the only time Mary had ever seen her mother disappointed in one of her girls having a boyfriend but due to Livia's consistent tantrums she consented to the marriage. Dad was livid. He didn't speak to Livia for almost 8 months. They still aren't on the best terms. No one, except maybe Poppy liked Daniel because of what he did to Livia. Plus, he gave Mary the creeps.

Mary was too into her thoughts that she didn't notice the person at the entrance of the dining room and she collided with them. Mary, with the help of the person righted herself. She quickly apologised and looked up.

"YOU!"

Mary didn't know what to say. The hazel eyed boy from earlier was in her house staring at her with complete shock and surprise. Mary tried to think of the best acceptable social response for this situation.

Just as she was about to say hi, her mother ruined it.

"Oh, I see you've met my Mary. She's so clumsy but she's very intelligent and very much single and she's in the same year as you. I think that's a perfect match, no?"

Everyone in the room except Poppy and Livia looked at her mother like she had grown three heads.

Mary couldn't help but blush in embarrassment. It seemed to be her only response to her family.

"Um, I don't think I understand what you're trying to say," the guy said to her mother, his eyes flicking between Mary and her mother. He was probably trying to decipher if the crazy gene was in her too.

And for the second time in Mary's life, she felt mortified.