Slightly Less Badass

~Chapter Twenty Six~

Mira's POV

When I hear the front door open, I sigh in relief. Finally my savior has arrived. I drop the box I'm currently carrying and run towards the door. I throw my arms around the first person I see, which happens to be David. He looks surprised but puts one arm around me. I let go of him and look at Rina.
"Thank goodness you guys are here. My parents, siblings, and Jay's mom are all here. And Jay's father is on his way over. They're all planning our house design for us and they keep discussing details for the wedding and I heard mentions of planning a baby room. I can't take any more polite conversation and pretending I like their ideas. I can't do it anymore. Is this what being an adult means? Because get me the fuck out. And it's so damn hot in here but I can't take off my stupid flannel or socks because then everyone will see my stupid tattoos and I'm so not in the mood to be scolded. And-"
"Mira. Breathe. Eat your delicious ice cream that my wonderful husband brought you, play with the puppies, and just calm down. I'll go try to sort things out and get them to lay off."
I sigh again in relief and smile gratefully. David hands me a large bowl of chocolaty goodness while Rina walks out of the room. David nods to the stairs, which were the only place to sit besides the floor. I follow him and sit on the very bottom stair. He picks up the two adorable puppies and sits them next to me on the stair. Tessa instantly lays down and falls asleep. My dog tries crawling into my lap.
"Hello Magnus," I coo at him.
"I thought it's name was Jem?" David questions.
"It was but now I think he looks more like a Magnus. Not only is it one of the sassiest characters ever but it is also Latin for 'great.' I thought it was more suitable."
David's eyes squint slightly as he stares at the dog. Then he starts nodding.
"Ya you're probably right... So things haven't been going well?"
I groan and put some more ice cream in my mouth, stalling so I don't have to answer. Eventually, though, I swallow the ice cream and reply.
"That's an understatement. I just wanted to move some of our crap in and start picking out colors and stuff and then put that dumb primer stuff in the walls so we can paint later. Instead, our family is literally designing and picking out everything for us. Whenever I tell them my idea, they just tell me that I can't do that. They say my color scheme is too bright." I stop my rant to take a deep breath to attempt to calm myself. It didn't work very well. I continue ranting, saying, "And there's talk of babies. I'm not ready for babies! I'm not even sure if I'm ready to take care of a dog. They also have made the decision that Jay and I will have them over every Friday for dinner which is stupid. Plus, during all of this, they've started planning my wedding details. My parents have never been nosy so I don't know what their problem is today. After I reached the age of eighteen, they started respecting all of my ideas and plans and didn't butt in too much. Now it's the opposite. They're giving me panic attacks. And to add to all of this misery, I'm now out of ice cream."
I look in disappointment at my empty bowel. David holds out another bowel that was melting and half gone. I look at him skeptically.
"Take Rina's. I think you need it more than she does," he says. I hesitate only for a second before practically ripping it out of his hands.
"You don't have to listen to them, ya know," a female voice says from behind us. I jump and spin around to around to identify the person. I'm rather creeped out to see it's Eliza.
"No offense by why the hell are you here? I don't recall texting you," I say. Her cheek twitches, as if she's about to smile but doesn't. It reminds me of Jacob.
"Jay texted Jacob. Jacob was busy. I decided to offer my help instead. It was either this or do schoolwork."
She scrunches her nose in disgust. That's the face I used to make at the thought of college, too. I don't blame her for procrastinating as much as possible.
"Ya but where have you been hiding?" I ask. I've been here for nearly three and a half hours and I haven't seen her once.
"I got stuck putting primer on your basement walls. You mom didn't even question who I was. She just shoved a can and brush into my hand and told me to go downstairs. What's the point of that stuff anyway?"
"It makes the walls easier to paint or prevents stains or something. No one really knows it's just something you do before actually painting," David replies.
"Well it's a waste of time in my opinion," Eliza grumbles.
"Yes it is but Mother insists. And I know I don't have to listen to them. But still, they have a million suggestions. It's annoying."
"Just ignore them and do what you and Jay want to. Did Jacob tell you why I'm living with him?"
"Ummm nope."
"We used to be best friends when we were little. Up until I was seven, Jacob and I would play together all the time. Then we moved to Florida. My parents and I didn't get along that well in Florida. I don't really know what happened. Then they had four new children to worry about and little me didn't like that at all. Our relationship just continued to go downhill after that. The day after my eighteenth birthday I called my aunt, Jacob's mom. She happily offered Jacob's empty bedroom. He's not too happy about it but I really don't care. It's better than that cramped, tiny house full of people that do nothing but annoy me and scream. I applied to some colleges here, packed my bags, bought a ticket and was gone three weeks later. The first thing I did when my plane landed in Cincinnati was dye my hair an obnoxiously bright pink. That was Dad and I's number one argument. All I wanted was some blonde highlights and all he wanted was for me to not do anything fun. Second thing I did was get my ears pierced. After that I threw out all of my prudish hand me downs from my older sister and bought some nicer things."
I wasn't sure how to exactly react to that backstory. It was way more information then I expected. It was reassuring but I was too awkward to say that. Luckily, after a moments pause, David says something.
"Ya and if it makes you feel any better, I didn't listen to my parents either. They wanted me to be a lawyer," he whispers as if it's an important secret. I almost face palm. Instead I settle with hitting his leg.
"But you are a lawyer dummy," I tell him.
"Not the kind they wanted," he scoffs. "I teach a class every other week at some snobby university and pick up cases whenever I want. Hardly any of the kids show up to class so it's practically a waste of time. My family wanted me to be a real lawyer full time like they all are."
"And besides," says Eliza, "painting your house the way you want isn't that big of a deal. They'll either get over it or just not ever visit. And they can't force you to have children. That'd be silly."
"You're right. Maybe I was just overreacting," I admit.
"Nah you weren't. Now, who wants to go play in the swings in your backyard?" Eliza ask. She bounces up and down excitedly, which causes Tessa to wake up and Magnus to wag his tail and bark.
"Oh yay! I forgot those were back there. Let's go!"
"Why is there a swing set in your backyard? That wasn't there before," says David.
"My dad brought it over. He said he didn't want it sitting in his backyard anymore. They brought a lot of junk over that I'll be later throwing away. Now come on let's- oh wait I can't yet. I have to take this box upstairs to my dad. He's building me a bookshelf so I don't have to pile my books on the floor like I have been doing," I say with a shrug.
"Shouldn't you wait until after you paint the walls before putting furniture in?" David questions.
"Ya but he offered and I wasn't going to deny free labor. I'll try to find Rina then I'll meet you guys out there. Here take Magnus for me."
I hand Eliza my dog then get up off of the step. I walk back over to the box that I dropped when Rina and David got here and pick up one end of it. It was too heavy and big to carry so instead I just drag it across the floor. When I get to the stairs, though, I realize there's no way I'm going to be able to pull this up all twelve steps by myself. I open my mouth to yell for Jay but before I have a chance Eliza and David are standing next to me.
"We'll take this side. David you take the other end," Eliza says and moves to stand next to me.
"Thanks," I say sheepishly. There was no need for all three of us to carry the box but I'm still grateful for their help.

Slowly Eliza and I walk backwards up the first two steps. So far, so good. But of course nothing can ever go well for me without someone tripping over their own feet. When we get to the third step something goes horribly wrong. I'm not sure who slips first- me or Eliza- but we both scream loudly as we fall. If it weren't for David, we'd be crushed under the heavy box. Somehow he manages to adjust the box quickly so it just barely misses us. My butt hurts as it slams against the wood stair. There a long stretch of silence as the three of us just stare at each other with wide eyes.
"Are you okay?" David asks in a hushed tone. I glance over at Eliza and she nods.
"I think so. Are you? You've got some fast reflexes," I say in awe.
"Ya I'm fine. You two are so clumsy."
"It's these damn socks. They're too slippery," I say angrily. Then I reach down and rip off my stupid socks and throw them over David's head. They weren't really the cause of my clumsiness but I still prefer to blame them then admit it was my fault. We look at each other again and start giggling.
Just then we hear footsteps running above us. The three of us stop laughing and look up to see my parents, Jay's mother, and Rina looking down at us in concern.
"What happened?" Mom demands.
"Y'all have a very late reaction," I mutter. "We fell but we're fine."
Eliza and I get up and pick up the box again. This time we manage to get it up the rest of the way without falling again. We set it down in what will soon be my bedroom. The four of them were still trailing after us looking worried. I don't like their scrutinizing looks. I'm a very clumsy person. They should be used to me falling constantly. I decide now is a good time to tell Rina about the swing set just so I can escape their looks.
"Hey Rina there's a-"
I don't get to finish my sentence. Instead I get to listen to Dad freak out.
"What the hell is that?!" he yells. He points at my foot, which no longer had a sock on it. The tattoo was very noticeable. "You may be a grown adult but you are not permitted to-"
"Last one to the swing set is a rotten egg!" Eliza shouts. I seize the opportunity and run from the room. I don't bother to see if anyone is following because I can hear footsteps pounding after me. I hardly slow down when I reach the stairs. I just tumble down them, praying I don't fall again. I jump off the bottom two steps then go running towards the backdoor. The dogs were already there, wagging their tails excitedly as I attempted to open the sliding glass door. I must be extremely dim witted though because no matter how hard I yank the door won't open.
"I think it's locked," someone whispers in my ear. I turn my head slightly to see that it's David. The others were just now running into the room.
"Thanks," I whisper back then quickly locate the lock and fling open the door.
David and I are the first ones on the swing. There was only one more swing left. I thought for sure Eliza would get it because she's only steps behind us but Rina comes up behind her and pushes her out of the way. She dives onto the empty swing with a groan and lays on her stomach.
"Violence is never the answer," I say to her. She looks up and glares at me.
"I'm not a violent person," she grumbles. David snorts but quickly hides it with a cough when she glares at him.
"You just pushed Eliza so you could get on a swing set. You are a violent person."
She sits upright on the swing and stares at Eliza, who was still laying on the dirt. The puppies had come over and started crawling on her and licking her face.
"Are you dead?" I ask her.
"No. Just too lazy to get up," she responds. "Is someone's phone ringing or am I hearing things again?"
I don't know how I didn't hear it before but my phone was ringing. I pull it out of my pocket and check to see who it was. I roll my eyes and almost hit the deny button. But then I get curious as to why he'd be calling me right now so I click answer.
"Pool party tomorrow," my brother says. "More details to come later. Don't tell anyone."
Then, before I can say anything, he hangs up.