Under the Influence

XXIV.

February 18th 2000.
Detroit, Michigan.
Los Angeles, California.

*Chapter inspired by: SZA- Drew Barrymore (my absolute favourite song right now! More fitting for second half of chapter btw. I'll put a wee note for when you should play it!)*

(Let's just pretend Cassie isn't holding an iPhone in that photo up there okay)

"You guys need to finish you're food before you leave the table" Marshall asserted in his 'dad' mode voice.

"But dad" Hailie whined. "I'm full!" she shoved her left over mash and peas around the plate in protest.

"The deal was that if you wanted a movie you had to eat all your food. So, eat". Alaina and Hailie simultaneously pouted, staring at the leftover food as if it were mountains they would never conquer.

"Come on girls, you only have a couple mouthfuls left. You don't want to miss out on Toy Story do you?" They shook their heads and Alaina tentatively took a forkful, pushing the food into her mouth, Hailie quickly followed her big sister's lead. I caught Marshall's eye over the wine glass I was taking a swig out of and winked, loving the fact that the girls always listened to me now and never him. He slyly flipped me off in reply making me choke on my wine as I laughed. Hailie and Alaina also giggled, even though they had no idea why.

"Can we please go now?" Alaina asked her dad, eagerly pointing to her now empty plate.

"Yeah, go get in your pajama's and I'll come put it on upstairs".

"No!" Hailie objected. "You two need to watch it too!"

"Not tonight Hails, me and Cassie have some things we need to do".

I lightly kicked him under the table. "They can wait Marshall. Of course we'll watch it with you guys, go get changed okay?"

Marshall groaned once they were out of earshot and shook his head at me. "Now I have to watch some fucking kids movie for the next two hours" he grumbled under his breath whilst he headed to the kitchen with the dirty dishes.

Just over an hour later we were all huddled on the two couches in front of the blaring T.V screen as the movie played to an inattentive audience because; surprise surprise, I was the only one awake. Marshall's head rolled off the back of the couch as he snored loud enough to wake the heavens, showing me a good view of his nostrils. Lovely. As silently as I could, I tip toed over to the T.V and switched it off before going to Hailie and Alaina's couch. They were both balled up and sound asleep. Hailie's thumb was stuck into her slack mouth and Alaina's foot rested so near Hailie's face she was nearly kicking her. I carefully moved the foot down and then gently shook them awake.

"Girls" I whispered. Very slowly they stirred awake and looked around in the now dark room like lost possums, probably wondering what had happened. I quietly chuckled at their bewildered faces and carefully stood up. "Time for bed". They both nodded absentmindedly and trailed along beside me up the stairs like Zombies. They'd been having lots of 'sleepovers' recently so I decided to just let them both sleep in Alaina's room, it made my job a lot easier anyway. I moved the duvet back and watched as they crawled tiredly up to the top of the bed, snuggling in as I tucked them in tightly. Just as I began to leave the room, thinking they were both fast asleep, I was drawn back in as I heard a small "Cassie?"

"Yes Hailie?"

"Can you tell us story?"

"Not tonight honey, it's bed time now".

"Please?"

I sighed but nonetheless sat on the edge of their bed, adoring their youthful faces. "Once upon a time there were two very smart  and beautiful princesses named Hailie and Alaina. One day they were lucky enough to watch a movie after dinner but since they were both very tired little girls they fell asleep with their dad in front of the T.V. Then, the wonderful Cassie carefully woke them up and took them to bed where they fell straight asleep. They all lived happily ever after. The End".