I couldn't help but smile, everything so far was going great.
I had already put all of my movies away, except for those that fell into the horror category. Or, more specifically, Halloween appropriate movies. After all, I couldn't leave my favorites out. I brought out a few blankets and extra pillows, since I was expecting company. When it got closer to seven, I was going to bring the snacks into the den and put on the popcorn, but for now, they sat on the kitchen counter. Much like my little sister.
"Marella, what are you doing?" I ask as I walk into the kitchen.
"Totally not stealing the snacks you paid for for you and your friends tonight." She hopped off the table, probably because we could hear our mom coming down the stairs and we're not allowed to sit on the counters, even though we do anyways.
"Mar, don't take her stuff. Steal what's in the fridge," My mom said, not evening looking up from her papers.
"Yes ma'am!" Even using a little salute, Marella made her way to the fridge, probably going to take some of the candy we had stocked up. Jokes on her, they're harder than bricks right now.
"Okay, so after I finish these last few pieces of paperwork, Marcella and I are going to pick up Fae from the airport, and then meet Zay at his work place so we can go to his apartment and, I dunno, we'll figure something out." Mom was walking through the downstairs area as she talked, most likely to think something out that was sprawled on her notes.
"You don't need to call it his 'workplace', it's only an internship for school credit." The sass was strong with this one. Marella was currently trying to bite into a rock hard Butterfinger, but she still had the motivation to make a snide remark. Mom shot her a glare, then turned her attention to me.
"Regardless," The word was stretched, her way of putting emphasis in her tone, "Don't destroy the house." Marella started laughing.
"Please, Mom. They're a bunch of nerds who spend most of their time online. It's how they met." Mom didn't skip a beat.
"And when you guys decide to go to the haunted house down the street, let Grayson's dad know. He wanted to go too." This new information alarmed my bratty sister apparently.
"I bet you ten bucks he pees his pants!" She shouted.
"Mar! Don't say that!" I yelled back. She smiled.
"Defending your boyfriend?" I shook my head.
"All bets counting on someone's behavior, especially ones that could mean said person could be embarrassed or humiliated, are worth at least twenty dollars." I rattled it off like I had it memorized, because I did, and it was my time to shine.
"She's right. House rules," Mom confirmed as she left the room.
"Hmph." Marella crossed her arms and pouted for a moment before she went back to trying to eat her Butterfinger. I could hear something about "real life ships." I knew exactly what she was talking about, and had to turn away so she couldn't see me smiling.
I follow Mom into the living room, and keep mouth shut since I can see she's focused, and I don't want to break her groove. It takes a few minutes, and I'm standing there awkwardly for a while, but my mom finally finishes what she's doing.
"What's up?" She asks.
"Thanks. This is, this is gonna be great." She laughs.
"What are you talking about? You're the one who's gonna be missing out. Family reunion, and you're the only one not there." I was tempted to say I'm actually not the only one who's going to be missing, but I wasn't enough of a Marella to spoil the mood.
"Fae is gonna be here until the third, and we can see Zay anytime after five. I'm sure I'll get my fare share of Tumsa Crazy. Copyrighted." I winked at my mom, and she laughed along with me for a moment, but then pursed her lips.
"Speaking of Fae, I don't know if she should really be taking off so much time from school when exams are coming up in a little more than a month. But--"
"As long as she's getting all her notes and making up all her work. After all, it's not like her professors bother taking attendance everyday," I interjected. I walk past her, poking her forehead, "Mental health days are important." If I knew my mom well, she was probably smiling at me as I walked away.
I grabbed Marella's bag from the den and brought it to her, and she accepted it reluctantly. Now, I was just waiting for her to start complaining again.
"I don't see why I can't stay with Dark and her friends." And boom goes the dynamite.
"We've been over this. Many times. You don't know these people. They're her friends, not yours, and she wants to hang out with them without her bratty sister around." Mom grabbed her keys as she talked, not wanting to waste any more time on this.
"But, what if they do something they're not supposed to? There's going to be a boy here!" She sounded like a baby, but that wasn't too far off from what she really was.
"You know Dark's not interested in anyone who's not a fictional character. You're the one who looked up what that was called," Mom challenged.
"But they could still do something they're not supposed to!" Mar continued to argue, but Mom only laughed.
"You weren't completely wrong earlier," She had to pause to breathe, so what she was about to say was probably hilarious to her, "They're a bunch of nerds, what's the worst they could do? Rage quit while playing Mario Cart?" Hook, line and sinker. It was pretty funny, but since she was making fun of my friends, it wasn't really appropriate to laugh. My mom, however, had no trouble sounding like hyena.
"Well, I'll see you guys later." I say, waving them off.
"Yeah, see you." Mom beamed, putting her key in the lock.
After they left, I took my time double checking, and not too long later, I heard the first knock. Making my way to the door, I'm faced with a familiar face.
"Ina!" I yell, wrapping my arms around her.
"Hi Dark! Where's the murderer?" I giggle, moving out of the way so she could come in.
"Not here yet. I guess they're running late," I think for a moment, getting an idea in my head, "I've got a plan, actually. First off, though, are you okay with getting that shirt covered in stains you probably won't be able to get out? Because if not, you'll need to borrow one of mine."
