Bad Boy Lessons: How to Live, Laugh, Love

♥ Chapter 5 - Meetings and Greetings ♥

***Hazel's POV***

"Madam, it's a pleasure to see you again!" Dad blurted out as he offered his hand.

"Please, David. I beg of you, no need to formally address me. We are not working right now. Call me Catherine, your neighbor. And please, only that at work as well. But don't tell anyone else of this special treatment," Catherine, dare I call, said as she shook Dad's hand.

"Well, Catherine," Dad pronounced the woman's name carefully, prepared to get in trouble with his boss and was surprised that she just wanted him to continue. Relax, Dad. It's not Mom. "This is my wonderful wife, Deborah."

Mom cut off Dad and held her hand out to be shaken by Catherine. "It's so great to meet not only my husband's new boss, but also our new neighbor."

"I like you already!" Catherine smiled, making everyone laugh.

"And these are our children, Hazel and Cameron," Dad gestured to the both of us.

I tried to keep my glance away from the person I dreaded to see at my door and instead focused on Catherine. "Nice to meet you, m'am," I greeted just as Catherine pulled me into a suffocating hug.

"Now, you I don't like. You're just like your father! Not that I don't mind your kind manners, but please call me Catherine," Catherine said.

"Will do," I smiled as I pulled away from her hug subtly.

"How do you do, madam?" Cammy asked which resulted in another bone-crushing hug from Catherine.

"Oh my gosh, you're such a sweetheart! I know you probably might be only around my daughter's age, but you please also call me Catherine!" Catherine exclaimed.

"Okay, Catherine," Cammy shrugged which just made Catherine take him again and hug him.

"Um, Catherine...you're hurting me," Cammy said in the most adorable way possible.

"Oh, Cameron, I'm so sorry! You just remind me of my own son when he was younger and how much I miss those days!" Catherine pulled away from Cammy and tried to keep her distance even though she was miserably failing.

"We all miss those days," Mom replied, looking at me but instead said, "I was so much younger." Seriously, Mom?! This just caused another laugh from the group.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry for getting distracted but David, Deborah, Hazel, and Cameron, meet my children, Adam and Rose," Catherine gestured to her children. "Hazel, you look around Adam's age. How old are you?"

"I'm a senior at Clayton High School," I answered.

Catherine's eyes lit up with delight as she replied, "Really?! So is Adam! Have you two met before?"

I tried to put a smile on my face as I responded, "Oh, I am very well acquainted with him."

Adam smirked in reply as Catherine smiled even more, "That's great to hear! And what about you, Cameron? How old are you?"

"Catherine, how many meals are we supposed to have in a day?" Cameron asked.

"Four," Catherine answered, puzzled.

"Exactly!" Cameron exclaimed, jumping with his hands in the air and shrugging. Everyone laughed, including Adam.

"You are too cute! Rose is also four years old." Catherine replied, once she understood how Cameron liked to answer people. She tried to restrain herself from hugging Cameron again and settled for a pinch of the cheeks, which I knew Cameron hated. I waited for Cameron's response as I smiled.