Rough Edges | The Outsiders

Chapter 1

Poppy jumped joyfully as our parent's old SUV rolled up into the driveway. "They're home! Finally!" Poppy squealed. She had some weird happiness for them being home, but whenever they were home, she wouldn't want them around.

I slammed my drink down on the table, letting out a low groan. Owen and I never quite wanted to have our parents around, we rather liked the loneliness of the house. It was almost like Poppy controlled us, she would cast a spell that would make us happy when she was happy, sad when she was sad.

"We're home!" My mom gleefully cried out. They had gone out to pick up Granny and Grandpa.

Poppy bolted to the door, "Granny! Grandpa!" Owen and I made our way around the door.

"My! Oh My! Won't you look at them! We have two beautiful young ladies and one handsome young man!" Granny said.

"I can be beautiful. I don't need to be handsome" Owen pouted, I released a small giggle and nudged him a bit, in a way to tell him to stop.

Grandpa moved forward, patting Poppy on the head "How old are you kids now? 26 and 24?"

"Well, Poppy and Owen are 14. I'm just sixteen. You were ten years off" I leaned against the door frame.

"Them boys in this town better not stare at you! You're becoming quite the lady, especially with them boobs you've grown!" Granny blurted out, she really has no filter on her.

I blushed and looked down, everyone was staring at me now.

"I'll go get some snacks ready" I stuttered, embarrassed that my grandma had pointed out my body.

"Granny's vision is really fading. You have nothing a guy could look at!"

"Shut it Owen!" I snapped.

"I only speak the truth"

"Mom! Owen is being rude to-" Owen covered my mouth to stop me from shouting.

"Why are you being such a tattle tail?" Owen said.

"Because I dislike the way you're talking to me!"

I brought out a platter containing a bunch of stacked crackers, thinly sliced brie cheese, tiny shrimps that you'd buy nicely packaged and slices of fruits. I set the platter on the glass table set out in our front yard, my family sat around the table, chatting away about my Uncle's new born baby.

"Well the baby is cute and all, but he had her with a lady of 38! He's only 34! You can't date a woman older than you" I scoffed at my Granny's rude remark.

"Age doesn't matter! Love is love!" I said, my family gave me a horrid glance, except Owen, he smiled awkwardly.

"Say that to Aunt Marie. She's in love with a woman for god sake!" Granny raised her voice.

"So what? She's happy!"

"Laura!" My mom snapped. The blood drained from my body, when Mom yells like that, it means I'm in the worst trouble. She pulled me into the house and pushed me up against the wall.

"You never say shit like that again! Grandma will think I raised a trouble child! You know our family doesn't accept Marie anymore, don't act like you care for that bitch" I watched Mom fix herself and walk out of the house.

"Bitch" I whispered under my breath.

It had been a few hours, everyone cooled down and was happy again. I put my legs up on the table while my dad barbecued a bunch of meat.

"You really are against being a lady aren't you?" Owen mocked.

"Male attention is her FAVOURITE thing. Can't you tell?" Poppy said, chiming into our conversation.

"At least I don't fall in love with every man I see... Poppy." I craned my neck forward.

"I'm only in love with one man and that is Ponyboy" Poppy said sassily.

"You have a crush on my bestfriend?" Owen said, his voice sounding uneasy and low, my gaze shifted from Owen to Poppy

"Sodapop's little brother?"

"Yes! Ok!" Poppy screeched.

My little sister has a crush on my best friend's brother? A true romance story, 14 year old Poppy dazed by how her sister can make friends with guys, falls in love with her sister's friend's brother. They found love in one another and they lived happily ever after. A classic ain't it? I thought, making myself chuckle lightly.

"Man, your standards are lower than mine!" I joked.

Poppy rolled her eyes and grabbed a little shrimp off of the picked over platter. She huffed and puffed, sighing every chance she could during dinner. At any moment I was ready for my mom to yell at her to shut up and Poppy to yell back 'it's just a phase'.