Remi Never Smiles ✔️

Chapter 7

We woke up to Adonis and Adelpha bursting into his room.

"Mom's making pancakes," they said in unison as we jumped up.

"Knock next time!" Luke shouted groggily before mumbling, "Little fuckers."

I hopped out of bed to get dressed. Red Converse, black hoodie, black beanie, dark jeans. Depressing. The black eye that ended up bruising really badly and yellowing around the edges tied it all together.

I brushed my teeth and went back to his room to find Luke still laying on his bed.

"You plannin' on missing school?" I asked, leaning against the doorframe.

He mumbled some type of an affirmative response into his pillow.

"Shame. You can't stare at me in class all day."

I flipped over to look at me for a second. "Good. Now I have a mental image."

I rolled my eyes. "Get up."

He sighed audibly and rolled over onto the floor, pulling on clothes that he put out the day before. Instead of brushing his messy hair, he also slid a beanie over it. Matching black ones.

He went into the bathroom, telling me I could go downstairs without him.

I did as told and walked down the 16 stairs, into the kitchen. Luke's mother flashed me a smile and handed me a plate with chocolate chip pancakes on it.

"Thank you," I mumbled shyly, taking my seat at the table.

The twins looked up at me in complete unison, gave me innocent smiles, and continued their meals. Little fuckers.

I slowly nibbled on my breakfast as I waited for Luke to come down. When he did, his mother gave him an 'are-you-serious?' look.

"You can't keep putting your greasy hair in a beanie everyday, Luke." She handed him his food and he sat down next to me.

"I can and I will, mother."

She came up and slapped the back of his head.

"Jesus!"

"I may be 42, but I can still kick your ass. Watch it."

He rolled his eyes and smiled. We ate the rest of our food in silence. I managed to eat 4 pancakes. I rarely get through half of one.

Alexandra looked at their black cat clock (the one that is in, like, every Melanie Martinez video). "School."

Everyone got up from the table and grabbed their backpacks.

"Luke, drive us to school," Adonis demanded.

"Absolutely not," Luke replied, starting to walk with me to the door.

"Mama, can Luke drive us to school? Please?" The girls gave their mother puppy-dog eyes that she saw right through.

"He'll be late. Bus. Both of you."

They pouted and groaned, taking their lunches and walking out of the door with us.

As Luke and I drove past them while they were walking to the bus stop, they both flipped him off. Luke rolled his eyes and drove off towards the school.

Within minutes, we were already in hell's parking lot. After finally coaxing me, we got out of the car and began walking to the outside eating area. I kept my head down, but people still noticed the huge black eye on my face. Including Zoe and Everly.

"Aw, look. Somebody finally taught the mutt a lesson!" Zoey exclaimed, making Everly laugh. "Who was it? Your daddy? Or did he think you were your mom and hit you instead?"