As you say

Chapter 5

"Mum! I'm home! And hungry!" I telled as I dumped my tour bag next to the front door. I would take it upstairs later. I listened tentatively for any footsteps. Nothing. "Must be out on a run..." I muttered to myself. "Oh well, I'll just watch some TV... wait for her... it's all good..." I say to myself. Damn, I am a psychopath. I sigh and plop muself down on the couch just as the home phone rings.

"Ugh..." I grumble to myself as I drag my lazy body across the room.

"Amberton residence, this is Zaili speaking, how may I help you?" I answer as my mother had taught me.

"Damn, you would make one fine secretary one day, Zaili dear!" Blake's mom, Leah, says chirpily in my ear.

"Mrs. Conners! How lovely to hear from you again! Tell me, when will you be coming over for dinner again? I miss seeing my second mum!" I said. Never let it be said that I can not woo older people. I have the necessary manners and everything.

"Oh, hon', I know have told you at least forty times to call me Leah! But I miss you too! And that is exactly what I am calling about! I wanted to invite you and your parents over for dinner! We would absolutely love to have you!" Mrs. Conners said. I smiled, she was such a cool mum, truly amazing piece of work right there.

"Well-" I started, but the sound of the front door opening and the footsteps entering the house told me Mum was home, and once she entered, I waved her over to the phone.

"Mrs. Co-Leah? My mum would like to speak to you. May I put her on?" I said as my mum tried to give an awkward one-armed hug.

"Of course honey!" Leah said.

With a 'Leah-is-my-BFF-yay' look in Mum's eye, she grabbed the phone and shooed me upstairs. Oh, well, I needed to prepare for dinner at the Conners anyhow. I walked into my spacious room, heading straight for my adjoining bathroom. As a lawer, my father was very successful. Mind you, he really didn't nees the second job, what with being second in command to the pack and all. It payed well.

I made a very convenient steam room out of my shower as I just sat in there, letting the hot water untie the the knots in my neck muscles. I have had a more than stressful week, thank you very much. When the water began running a little bit colder than my comfort zone, I put the water off and dried off. I walked into my walk-in closet and looked for a suitable dress to wear for dinner. If Mum had her way, we would've been neighbours, but the men in the families have refused to move - not that we really could, but still. Where Mum and Leah became instant BFF's, Dad and Austin remained acquaintances. It was as if there was just always some unresolved tension between the two. Yet, both of them simply adored me, just as my parents loved Blake. Yet never together. Father would kill me if we ever got together. I fished around and finally decided on a black-patterned-with-half-faded-gold-spots Column dress that fell to my knees, put on some pumps and I was good to go. My hair, I didn't do anything. I couldn't tame it. I despised make-up, and rarely wore jewelry. I was as girly as you could get me right now. I was good to go. Mum was too, and Dad simply look plain like a middle-aged man in his normal jeans and button down shirt. Mum had an amzing figure for a forty year old, and she wore a simple jean and halter top combination. Lovely.

"Hello Zaili!" Dad beamed at me, pulling me into a hug.

"Hey Dad, missed me?"

"Absolutely! Things around here are so quiet without you," he teased me. I glared at him, and he held his hands up in the universal 'I surrender' sign. I just smiled in satisfaction.

"Come on you two, Leah will be expecting us in ten!" Mum says excitedly. She is so easily excitable.

"Coming," we answer at the same time, shooting each other twin smiles before getting in the car and driving away from our little, tucked-away-between-mountain-scenery home. Great to be home. I smile and prepped myself for the awaiting evening. Joy.