The Quarterback, Outcast and Me ✔

Chapter Twenty-Two - Gobble Gobble, I'm in Trouble - Part Two

"Chloe, get up, we've got a long day ahead of us!" I stirred at the sound of my mother's calling, annoyed that she was ripping me out of the glorious dream I was having, where Caleb and I were walking along the shores of a white sandy beach, holding hands and just smiling giddily at each other. I wondered if that would ever come true someday. A girl could always dream, right?

Suddenly a knock on my bathroom door jolted me upright in bed.

"Chloe, get up! You heard your mom. Get up or I'll come in and get you." Jace started hammering on the door repeatedly. I guessed it was too much to ask that he would ever leave me completely alone, even in a house this big. I dragged myself out of bed and threw open the connecting door.

"Go away!"

Jace was standing there, shirtless and with only his blue striped pyjama bottoms. His chest was broad and sharp, with prominent abs that I could easily count with just one glance. Suddenly it was hard for me to focus.

"Go put on a shirt," I mumbled, pleased that my voice still sounded groggy from having just woken up, and not sounding as uncertain as it would have otherwise. He really should wear that outfit to school. No one would mind. I doubt even the boys would. Focus!

"Go put on some pants," Jace replied with a smirk, causing me to look down at myself, realising I was standing there, right in front of him, in an oversized t-shirt coming down to just above my naked knees, with only a pair of underwear underneath.

I scowled at Jace and slammed the door closed. Then I hurried over to my closet and pulled out the first pair of dark pants I could find. I would definitely not be able to rock that look at school.

The prominent smell of roasted turkey filled the entire house, making my mouth water as I stepped out of my room, freshly clean from the quick shower I just had. No sounds had come from Jace's room, so I figured he'd gone downstairs already. Despite worrying about him barging in on me in the shower again, the whole sharing a bathroom deal between him and I was working out rather well. Even in the mornings. Who knew.

Stepping into the kitchen I saw what appeared to be a headless chicken running frantically around, carrying various food items. It was just my mom, though.

"Finally!" She exclaimed dramatically when she saw me. She then went on to dump a whole bag of sweet potatoes in my arms.

"Those needs peeling and then put them in that pot to boil," she said, already busying herself with cutting up lettuce.

"Right." I went to work, peeling the potatoes in the large sink. I could hear the TV playing in the next room, knowing it was probably Jace watching the holiday game.

"Has Patrick gone to pick up grandma and grandpa?" I asked, dropping a freshly peeled potato in the pot of water.

"Yes, they'll be here any minute," mom replied.

Just as I was finishing up the last potato, I heard the front door open and an elderly woman's voice floated through house.

"Oh Patrick, this house is marvellous, don't you think so, Harry?" My grandmother, Marie entered into the kitchen and cried out a greeting.

"There's my gorgeous granddaughter!" I couldn't help but smile. At sixty-nine, my grams was practically still in her prime. She was a little plump around the edges, but it suited her. She had fiery red hair like me and kept it short, but she still styled it with hair gel, making it stick out everywhere. Her eyes were bright green and her skin tone was always a nice tan from being under the Orlando sun where she resided with grandpa.

Grams engulfed me in a big hug; she smelled like sunshine and lilies. I'm not even joking.

"Harry, come on and greet your granddaughter, you slow turtle," grandma shouted over my shoulder, still hugging me tight.