Danny sets down the bowl of mashed potatoes onto the table. I set down a plate of porkchops along with some mixed veggies, grape juice and water. "Everything looks, and smells delicious!" I exclaim as I pat Danny on the back. "Thanks, also did you check to make sure--" "yes I called not too long ago." I smile as we hear footsteps coming down the stairs. It was Monica, her hair was still somewhat wet. She looked at me with doe-like eyes, she looked guilty as her hair fell over her face and she continued down the stairs.
She came over to me and took a deep breath "I'm Monica. I'm 5' 3", I want to become a chiropractor when I finish college, my father died when I was 12, I lost my dog aka my best friend two years ago, and Danny is the one person that's really made me feel like I can be something big one day...even when we haven't seen each other in years. I'm Monica, and I'm so sorry." There was a long period of silence, I looked over at Danny. He was looking down at the table scratching it trying to distract himself from what just happened. "T- Thank you Monica, that was greatly appreciated." Her eyes watered up and she gripped onto me and held on tight. "Ha, okay okay, come on there will be a guest coming here soon we gotta be prepared." Monica nodded.
Shortly after the doorbell rang "she's here Jesse." Danny yelled as he went to answer the door. "Who's she?" Monica asked "she's--" "Jesse!" A tall blonde tan girl came flying at me, nearly knocking me over. "Gina!" I say as I finally get my balance and rip her off of me. A dazzling smile graced her face. "How are you sweetheart?" I ask rubbing her shoulders "I've been good, it's nice to hear from you guys again. I've just been so busy." She giggles. "It's fine. You're here now and Danny's prepared some delicious looking food." Out of the corner of my eye I see Monica staring. "God, where are my manners? Gina, this is our new friend Monica. She'll be staying with us for a while." Gina smiled and leaned over to me "did you go over the rules with her?" I nodded "yes I know the rules..." Monica said getting nervous.
"Well you're in good hands. These are the best boys I know." Gina said walking over to Danny and pinching his cheek. "Oh stop it." Danny said grabbing Gina and spinning her around. "Well then... I guess I underestimated this house." Monica says laughing. "Alright! Alright everyone lets get down to business before this food gets cold" I say.
30 minutes into dinner
Basically for the past half hour we've been reminiscing over old stories. The ways we helped Gina, and the ways she's helped us. Laughter reigned through the kitchen and Monica sharing a light chuckle every so often. Finally we're graced with a moment of silence. "So, Gina what is it that you do for a living?" Monica asks boldly.
"I'm a hairdresser." She smiles "oh what university did you go to?" Monica asks. Danny and I share a concerned look, "well I just finished university online." Gina says placing down her fork. "I was living on the streets before then. Going through trash trying to find my next meal. Trying to find a way to stay warm, or cold or whatever the season was." Gina diverted her attention to her hands. Then she looked up at Danny and I and smiled, her eyes red with tears on the brink of breaking. "But then these two came and saved my life. At first they were just two 15 year olds sharing any food they could, then they brought me blankets and when they got a job over at the old burger joint they convinced dear old Matilda to let me sleep there through the winter." We smiled at Gina as she grasped each of our hands.
"One day I'll be able to repay them." She finishes. But the sweet moment quickly turned sour when Monica opens her fat mouth. "So you let two kids take care of you?" The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. "Excuse me?" Gina said with a slight laugh of disbelief sprinkled in her voice. "You were a grown woman living on the streets, when you could've just went out and got a job?" Gina's nails dug into my palm, I didn't react. "Well I--" she was quickly cut off "what on earth could've been stopping you from getting a job? Like come on? You go and apply to any place! Even the burger joint! Like--" "Shut your damn mouth!" Gina yelled. Her nails finally deep into my palms Danny not wincing at the pain gives me a look. A look as if to ask which one of us should take care of this.
"Don't you think I tried that? I had odd jobs. Mowing lawns, cleaning cars, walking dogs those aren't the kind of things that help you get an apartment!" She yells "Gina--" I try to say before Monica jumped back in "You have parents don't you? They're your parents ask them for help!" "Monica!" I exclaim "I'm not gonna sit here and argue with some little girl. I have my degree, I have a house and a thriving business now. I don't need to sit here and take this." Gina grabbed her purse and stomped over to the door.
"Gina!" I yell after her "go and calm her down. Dinner is over for tonight. We'll get together with her another time." Danny says in a calm voice. I nod and run after fine to make amends.
*Monica's POV*
I sit there silent, arms crossed as Gina stomps away. I'm left alone with Danny by my side. "It's honestly ridiculous. Like if she's so grown why act like a chi--" "Monica shut the hell up!" Danny says slamming his hands down on the table causing my glass of water to spill over.
There was a small period of silence only filled with Danny taking deep breaths. I heard the muffles of Jesse and Gina as he tries to calm her down. "Danny..." no response. "Danny, come on, you agree with me right?" Still nothing, I go to touch his hand "dan--" "don't touch me." He says walking towards the sink. "Oh my god you just don't get it do you? I thought you've grown up! That you've stopped being so ignorant about this stuff!" I raise a brow, I'm shocked at Danny's behavior towards me. "Excuse me? Ignorant? No I'm just saying the truth." I say standing up "No. It's your truth. You can get an easy job ANYWHERE! Because of your last name. Because you work off your fathers legacy, you've done it ever since we were kids!" Danny says turning around and yelling at me "as if you don't do the same with your mothers name?" I fire back.
"Because I'm pretty sure the reason you were so favorited by teachers wasn't because you were so smart, it's because your mother being the top lawyer she is she got you in public school. They thought if they treated little Danny like a prince it meant more funds for them." I hiss.
"Are you for real?" He says softer now "literally no one was nice to me... it may have seemed that way but the teachers were so mean to me. And yeah I know I wasn't the smartest kid!" His voice getting progressively louder "I fucking know that. Being left alone with nannies while mommy and daddy were jetting off to different countries every week, but of course you know that." He started picking up the plates from the table and scraping off the unfinished food.
"I wasn't a poor little kid with hardly anything to eat. I had anything my heart desired and I'm sure my parents only did what they thought was best for me. Wanting me to know at least 5 languages they got a me a new nanny from their favorite country every year."
He was ranting now, and I feel my stomach flipping wishing I hadn't said anything at all. I knew Danny was hurting. "Yeah I use my mother's name. Am I proud of my mother's accomplishments? Of course. Do I wish I didn't have to resort to doing that and biting off her success... yeah..." he says putting the freshly scraped dishes into the sink.
"I didn't get it either. But I shut my mouth and I listed to these people that needed help. That I could help. That I could make a difference in their lives. Because Jesse made me realize I like anyone else, rich or poor we all have our struggles, but what matters is what we do about it." He smiles "quit it you're starting to sound like a fortune cookie." I say with a slight laugh "You're on cleaning duty tonight for offending one of our guests." He says drying his hands from the water he had left running during his rant.
"Wait what?" I exclaim "do you wanna have a place to live?" I ask "yeah of course but--" "the you're going to learn humility, accountability and cooperation. You're on cleaning duty tonight." I pout as I make my way over to sink, Danny eases his way out towards the living room "you'd better be glad it was me this time. Jesse wouldn't have been as nice." I shake my head as I begin to scrub potatoes off a bowl
YOU ARE READING
House Rules
Teen FictionHe did it as a favor for a friend. To house someone, a practical stranger! He laid down the rules. No one was exempt from them once they passed the doorway. She thought she was different, that she could defy what she was told, just as she did her...
