Death of the Perfect Girl

57- The Too Serious

Poppy stood on Fisher's door step with sweaty palms. She took a deep breath then she rang the door bell. It opened.

"Hi Mr. Fisher- Foster," Poppy squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment. "I practiced that on the way here," she whispered.

Felix raised a brow on her.

"Oh...Hey, Felix."

"You're so lucky I wasn't my dad. Come in."

Poppy sighed then she walked into the house. Everything was neat and perfect. No wonder Felix wanted things to be just right.

"Shoes off," Felix pointed at her feet.

Poppy kicked her shoes off and put on the side near the others.

"Hanna's room is the last one upstairs. It's the one on your left. Fisher's is on your right."

Poppy nodded. "Thank you."

"No problem-"

"Is that Poppy?" A deep voice shouted from in the kitchen. "Tell her to come to the kitchen so I can see her."

Felix sighed. "It's my dad and older brother. Whatever you do, don't smile or they'll think you're not serious enough for Fisher."

"What-"

"She's coming."

Poppy gulped and followed Felix into the kitchen. Jesus, take the wheel.

"Hi, Mr. Foster," Poppy tried not to give a greeting smile.

"Fisher didn't tell us you were black," the guy sitting at the table cleaned his teeth with a toothpick.

Poppy felt her feet glue to the floor board. Great, they're racists.

"Phillip," Fisher's dad hit the guy with a wash cloth.

"Owe. I was joking. She knew that, right Poppy?"

"She isn't laughing. Nice to meet you Poppy."

"Nice to," Poppy felt a lump in her throat,"..."

They all stared at her waiting for her to finish.

Fisher walked into the kitchen. "Poppy, hey," he grabbed her hand. "You can...," he pulled her," just follow me."

She nervously stumbled away.

"Did you guys notice that she didn't smile at all?" Felix folded his arms.

"Yeah," Phillip replied. "Weird."

Poppy sighed, following Fisher up the stairs.

"What's wrong?" Fisher looked back at her.

"Your brother told me not to smile at your dad. So, I didn't."

"Felix is a trixter. Never listen to him."

Poppy giggled looking at the pictures on the wall. She stopped at one. It was a woman with stawberryblonde hair. Her smile was just like Fisher's. "Is this your mom?"

Fisher quickly looked back. "Yep," he scratched the back of his head.

"She's pretty. You look just like her. Unlike your other brothers. They both look like your dad."

Fisher frowned. "Come on."

Poppy stared at the pictures. Fisher was never in one with his mother. Nor was his little sister. She followed him up the stairs.

They walked down the hallway to the end. Poppy looked at the open door on her left. "Is that your room?"

Fisher nodded. "Yeah."