As Kavi stood outside, watching Ariel’s car drive off, he stayed there for...well, he didn’t know how long he stayed there. He was feeling good and not just the sort of good that meant he was going to be having a hot date at some point in the future, but a genuine feeling of joy and relief. There never was a day that he ever thought he’d find himself in the position that was in right now: committing to one person instead of playing the field.

When he came inside, a grin on his face unlike any prior times, he suddenly came to the sight of his kid sister waiting for him. Was she watching the entire time? Kavi pondered that, not saying anything to Nikki. He walked around her and started to walk towards the kitchen. By the time he had done so, he heard the sound of her unreasonably-large feet stepping rather annoyingly behind him. When he finally turned around, Kavi, who had all that he needed for a sandwich, rolled her eyes. ”I feel like you’re going to ask me something. So just be done with it so I can get back to making my sandwich.” Kavi just looked at her, wondering exactly what was on her mind.

As per the usual with Nikki, she didn’t speak at first. She kind of circled the kitchen and took a place in one of the high chairs across from him. Much to her older brother’s annoyance, she still didn’t say anything until she kind of hummed. “You know, I heard about that one,” she finally spoke.

“That one? You mean the thing we call ham? Shocking! Can’t believe you’re that observant.” He didn’t bother looking up at her as he constructed his turkey-ham club sandwich.

“Okay Mr. Smartass,” Nikki rolled her eyes at him (not that he saw). “I’m talking about the pasty emo chick who was just here. Serafina or whatever her name is.” She seemed to try and remember her name.

“Ariel. Her name is Ariel. She hates going by Serafina,” Kavi properly corrected her, going back to the fridge to get the dijon mustard.

“Well, whatever her name is, I’ve heard whispers about her."

Stopping for a moment, Kavi looked up at Nikki and, to his surprise, there was a worried expression on her face. Almost as though she wasn’t bugging him because she didn’t have better things to do. “What things?” He asked her. “You’re a sophomore, Nikki. How could you possibly know about a senior, let alone a senior I know personally. Don’t you think these things you keep vaguely referencing would have gone into my ear instead of yours and whoever you heard it from?” He asked her. As soon as he did, Kavi went down to bite into his now completed club.

“Well, maybe if you weren’t so busy trying to two-time her, then maybe you’d know some things about that wonderful girl.” Nikki’s famous fiery tongue spat back at him in full.

Kavi sighed, giving only a small amount of his attention to his sister. Honestly, he was about ready to just ignore her and go back to his room. He wasn’t exactly thrilled with her at the moment. He didn’t know if he was more bothered by the fact that she claimed to know something he didn’t about Ariel or that she had to throw in the most recent of his mistakes in her face. Either way, Kavi was only going to entertain her nonsense for so long.

“Fine. What did you hear from your little group of little hellions?”

“I don’t know how true it is, but I heard from a guy who heard it from his sister who then heard it from their older sister’s friend’s aunt that heard some troubling rumors about Trillian Grey.”

Kavi stood there as his sister explained. “Okay, so what troubling rumors?”

“He has a bit of a temper.”

And in the span of the shortest moment, Nikki lost her older brother’s undivided attention. “Get the fuck out of here. That’s the big thing you had to tell me? The hotshot criminal defense attorney has a temper? That’s barely worthy of a mention, let alone hyping it up like it was some cardinal sin.”

As Kavi started to walk away, Nikki got in front of him. “You didn’t let me finish, pinhead! The rumor wasn’t just about his temper. It was about what he does with that temper,” she had clarified, a rare worried look on her face.

Kavi had known his sister to be a lot of things. She was overdramatic, teased him a lot (as he did to her on several occasions). She could also stretch some truths to bide time for whatever she needed time for, but as he looked into her eyes, this was the first time he could see a genuine worry in her face for anyone other than her family. Something in him told the teen to shut up and listen to what she had to say.

“Nikki, what’s wrong?”

She shook her body a little. “I shouldn’t be saying this cause it’ll probably get back to her, but that friend’s aunt I mentioned? She had apparently treated someone for a broken wrist that looked a lot like that Ariel girl."

“What are you saying?”

“Maybe nothing. Maybe it’s everything, but if Trillian has a temper and can be an asshole to his clients and those who work at his firm, who is to say he could be the same way with his own daughter?”

Kavi didn’t say anything, not to himself and most certainly not to his kid sister. All he did was smile at her and take his sandwich as he went to his room. As the door closed behind him, he set the plate down on his desk where his laptop and Playstation 4 was. He just sat in his chair, head leaning back, looking up at his ceiling. He must have kept his eyes up there for at least ten minutes. He didn’t keep track of the time. The only thing Kavi did was think about what Nikki told him and run it on repeat in his mind. If it was just a rumor, then it was all fine. Ariel wasn’t in any danger and her father wasn’t an abusive prick. He was just a regular, arrogant lawyer prick.

“But what if he wasn’t?” Kavi questioned himself.

He grunted loudly as he leaned forward. The thought of it turning out to be true was not being entertained. If proven to be the whole truth and nothing but the truth, then could he just sit on this information? What right did he have to do that? Kavi knew he cared about Ariel. He didn’t know exactly how much because they weren’t exactly close like they used to be. The date he’d take her out on at some point was going to be the start of whatever they had between the two of them. So he couldn’t exactly assert himself with something that he’s not even sure was true...

No, he couldn’t do shit right now. And he knew mulling over every detail of a rumor that may very well be just that: a rumor -- nothing but teenager gossip. But, then again, what if it was true?

And that’s when he remembered the bruise. That bruise on her neck. “It couldn’t be...could it?” He ran his hands through his hair, frustrated with all of the back and forth. He couldn’t take it. Not knowing was hard but running back from rumor to paranoia was getting to him. He needed to distract himself for a few hours. Kavi knew just exactly what that was. “Time to kill some zombies on Black Ops!”

And with that, Kavi flipped on his PS4 and was going to have some quality time with his sniper and hopefully get a few undead walkers in the process. It was a lot better than driving himself crazy with the totally crazy idea that Trillian Grey was abusing his daughter. It was crazy…

“Crazy.”

Someone, somewhere had made it near impossible for Stella to get a decent start to her official morning. The whole early start she had when she went with her parents to see her cousins and her favorite Uncle and Auntie off their flight back to New York (and her father’s embarrassing inquiry about her and Oliver), she didn’t have much to complain about. The car ride back to Crown Heights was quiet after her mother came to her aide and shut her father up. She was able to enjoy a long bath before heading over to Penny’s for -- well, she wasn’t exactly sure what it was, but she was pretty certain it would involve being in a two-piece of some sort.

She spent a few minutes just trying to find a cute outfit that she didn’t absolutely hate. It was after those couple of minutes that past did Stella come to the startling realization that she had the worst luck when it came to making a decision. And she also had the worst luck when it came to everything else. As she saw something she thought she liked, the teen had tugged on a pink top, but as she pulled it down, an avalanche of summer and pre-fall clothes came down on the poor girl and she had only her high yelp as she couldn’t do anything to evade it.

And at that same moment, she heard her phone go off. It took Stella a long moment to get out from under her makeshift coffin of cotton and silk as she crawled ungracefully from her closet to her bed and saw she had a few unread text messages and a few missed calls from Chris. “What does he want?”

Stella read his text.

And that was it. For some reason, her father felt like telling her big brother about Oliver as if it was his thing to tell anyone about. She couldn’t believe the nerve of him. Who did he think he was!?

Stella, who was now so visibly frustrated, that she was screaming into her pillow stayed like that for a few minutes until she hurried her clumsy behind into a pink, striped shirt and a pair of jean shorts, marched her way down the stairs in pink flip flop sandals, and despite her parents being in the living room, decided not to give them a wave goodbye. She only told them “I’m going to Penny’s.”

As she walked from her parking lot and into her car, Stella sat in her car just letting out an annoyed squeal. She continued to do this for a full minute until she felt her throat dry out. So she just turned her car on and drove to Penny’s. Before pulling out, she texted Penny real quick.



And as promised, ten minutes was all that Stella needed to find Penny’s house. Contrary to what others may probably suspect, she had a decent grasp of direction. It was navigating Crown Heights’ large residential area that proved to be her biggest obstacle, but Stella was a fast learner. She didn’t exactly take long to find a parking spot and soon she found herself knocking on the front door of the Richards house.

Penny received the text and grinned. Ah, at long last. She whipped up a couple of Stella’s favorite drinks and set them out on the kitchen counter just as there came a knock at the door. The curly haired girl walked swiftly to it and opened it to find her gorgeous friend looking a bit miffed. “Come on in, love. Tell me what it is dear old dad did this time.” She stood back to allow the young woman entrance into the extravagant house.

Once she had entered she led the way to the modern kitchen - granite countertops, the hanging pot thing from the ceiling, and every appliance known to man. The sink was even automatic. She pushed a hurricane toward her friend before sipping her own, waiting for Stella to dish.

Stella didn’t really care about what time it was nor did she have any care how desperate it made her look, she took a big sip of the sweet hurricane and as soon as it touched her lips, her relief nearly jumped her out of her skin. All of that stress from her father had seemed to die away with her sober-like state. The hurricane was truly the ultimate fix that she needed for her rare mood of annoyance. Penny attempted to hide a smirk behind her own glass as she watched Stella down her drink like a college girl on spring break.

It was only after a moment of letting the alcohol soothe her throat and she had taken another, lighter sip, she set it down, and gazed at Penny. ”I don’t know where to start,” she sighed out more of her rising ire, though this time it resulted in her frowning slightly. ”I know he means well, but gosh, I really wish he didn’t tell Chris about Oliver.”

“Uh oh,” she responded. “Ultimate parent faux pas.” While she had never had a parent do this to her, nor that it would have mattered, she understood the dilemma was common among all high school youth. “So, papa bear is worried about his adorable baby bear running off with some strange wolf, huh?”

She shrugged, taking another sip. “It’s not like Oliver is some horrible person like Santiago--” She stopped herself as soon as she heard what she said play back in her mind. “--Oh no, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.” Stella’s face went red. Whether it was from realizing she said what she meant to keep to herself out in the open or from the alcohol in her system, she couldn’t say.

“It’s not like you’re wrong, babycakes. Santi is the wolf, Oliver is more like a little lamb by comparison.” Penny shrugged with a playful grin forming on her face. “You were gonna tell me how things went with Oliver anyway after you left. So… Spill girlfriend.”

Stella had brought her face up from looking down at her glass to Penny and smiled at her friend. She then recalled their conversation and how he revealed to her some things that she didn’t know about him before. She couldn’t fully explain what happened without betraying his trust and she just couldn’t do that to him. Stella was a true friend and she would never do something like that to anyone, especially the boy she was starting to really like. But, she did feel like there were some things she needed to get out, specifically what he told her moments before he dropped her off.

“We talked and he told me he likes me, too,” she said to Penny, the red on her cheeks increasing even more. “I mean, he said he thinks he likes me, but that still counts, right?” She asked, uncertain eyes on Penny.

Penny laughed lightly. “Of course it counts. I think our boy has a lot of thinking and soul searching to do, huh? You’re probably the first girl he’s ever been interested in. Like that I mean.” She sipped her drink again, and upon noticing that Stella was nearly done with her own, stood up. “Want the same? Something different?” she inquired, gesturing toward the nearly empty glass.

“Yeah, I’ll take another hurricane,” Stella said, handing Penny her nearly empty glass. There was only a sip and a half left of it so that’s why she didn’t bother drinking the rest of it. “So how was your night, Penny?” The teen asked.

Penny accepted the glass and went about refilling the drink. She hummed a little to herself but stopped when the question was posed to her. She wasn’t about to tell this innocent little flower that she had drowned her lonely sorrows in OJ and vodka. Instead, she put on her charming grin and said, “Oh you know. The usual. One of my daddies was in town for the night so we had ourselves a little so and so. Nothing too exciting.” She placed the drink in front of Stella.

She smiled, nodding Penny’s way. “That sounds pretty relaxing. You didn’t leave with your school-appointed date?” Stella asked, trying to remember who it was that Penny was paired up with as she sipped her drink a little slower than she had done with the first one. She knew most of them, but Penny’s was a blank to her.

“Nope, no idea what happened to him really. We arrived together, chatted, and then poof! Worst date ever. Didn’t even compliment me. I tell you, that boy musta been dropped on his head!” she joked. She topped off her own drink before sitting at the kitchen island again. “He was even a bit decent looking but my goodness, not a lick of sexuality.” She shook her head and sipped. “So, what are you gonna do about your pops?”

She tried to contain her laughter as she was talking about her date, but Stella couldn’t. The way Penny spoke about .. “Declan! That’s who it was!” Stella suddenly spoke, her voice suddenly loud and her smile wide. It was like she was overcome with a sense of achievement. She would then cough as if to collect herself from the sudden burst of energy she was in possession of. “I mean, yeah, he was pretty cute. I wonder what happened to him?” Stella mumbled somewhat inaudibly, rambling mostly to herself.

Stella looked at Penny. “And, honestly, I don’t know. I think I’m just gonna ignore him. I’m honestly more worried about what Chris might do. He has always been overprotective over me, so I’m kind of afraid what kind of fear he’ll strike into Oliver. Bless his heart, but Oli was practically dreading meeting the nice side of my family. I’d hate to imagine what he would be like when he meets my abrasive older brother,” Stella admitted, glancing down at her drink once more.

“Your brother will realize Oliver is just a soft little baby. I could always give him a blow job before he meets Oliver. Would make him calmer,” she said jokingly. “Besides, if he were a good big brother, he would understand how important this was to you and not be an asshole about it. I can always talk to him if you want. Lecture and a blow job.” She snorted as she laughed. The thought of Chris letting her anywhere near his bits was absurd - at least in her mind.

She nearly spat out her drink when Penny mentioned the act that Stella couldn’t even mentally repeat. “P-Penny, that’s okay. I-I’m sure it’ll be fine.” If Stella was honest, she didn’t want Chris to hurt Penny. She knew her brother was a bit of a heartbreaker. She adored Penny too much to let him near her in that way.

“ Sure, sure. But you say the word honey bunches and I’ll put him in his place.” She winked, sipping down more of the alcoholic beverage. “ So, what would you like to do this weekend? The pool is always an option. Television. We could sneak out and get into a bar. I’ve got some pretty bomb fake i.d.’s” Penny tapped her manicured nails against her glass as she surveyed Stella’s reaction about the last suggestion.

“I could go for a swim if I’m being honest,” Stella admitted without even flinching. “But honestly, I don’t have a preference. I just want to be out of the house for a few hours so I don’t say something to my dad that I might regret. So, if you think it’s cool, can I just hang here for a bit?” She asked Penny, taking a big swig of her drink.

““Of course love. Though if you have too many more of those I am not about to let you drive anywhere,” she teased. Pool it was then. ““Did you bring along a suit or should we go and peruse my collection?” She wiggled her eyebrows and her face lit up with excitement at the thought of getting to dress up the prettiest little model a girl could hope for.

The door opened and Penny jumped, her eyes narrowed as she looked toward the entrance of the kitchen. In came the infamous Daddy Donny. He was a tall fellow with black hair that was greying at the temples. He still had a rather muscular physique as he took quite good care of himself, taking pride in not looking like any other fuddy-duddy 50+-year-old. He could be described as handsome in a Richard Greer sort of way. He loosened his tie as he entered the room. His eyes first alighted on Penny and he smirked that stupid fucking smirk he always smirked.

Then he saw Stella and the smirk turned slightly feral. Penny jumped up and approached her adoptive father. ““Daddy! You’re home! I thought you were gone for the weekend!” Good little actress she was, there was no hint of the derision she felt for him or the fear she felt for Stella. She wrapped her arms around Don’s neck and leaned up to kiss his cheek.

“Meeting got canceled so I don’t have to fly out Princess.” He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her. As he let go to move further into the kitchen he slapped Penny on the ass. “And I expect a proper greeting later. Who is this delightful young lady?” He bowed slightly, holding out his hand so that he could accept Stella’s and kiss the back of it.

Stella had blushed only slightly more than she had been a few minutes ago. She wasn’t certain if it was from the alcohol or how Penny’s father kissed her hand like she was royalty of some sort. “Stella, sir. Stella Lambert,” she said, trying to get her word out as coherently as she could.

“Stella. A shining star eh? Well that you are.” He straightened and lets his fingers caress the palm of her hand as he slipped it from hers. “Well, you are welcome to enjoy anything you like while you are here. A guest is always treated as royalty.” He reached out, twirled a locked of her hair between his fingers before approaching the living room. “Penny, honey. Be a doll and make me a drink.”

“ Yes Daddy,” Penny called. Once he was out of earshot she turned to her friend. How could she get Stella out without this being suspicious? Or scaring her? She chewed her lower lip as she considered. “ You really want to go for a swim?” she asked as she began the process of mixing together a martini for the man of the house.

She had only heard Penny about three or five seconds after she had mentioned the swim. “Oh, yeah! I’m dying to get into the water,” Stella smiled Penny’s way, pulling her hand from Donny’s grasp. “Do you have a suit that I can borrow?” She asked, “I don’t want to get my current outfit wet.”

““Oh, why don’t we go to the beach? It's such a beautiful day outside! Let me take Daddy Donny his drink, I’ll be a sec.” She carried the martini glass through the archway and into the living room. She handed the beast his drink with a false smile. ““Here you go, Daddy. Need anything else? Stella and I are gonna go to the beach.”

“Thank you, princess. Just that proper hello.” Penny had to suppress a sigh as she leaned over the couch. Don tilted his head back and they shared a long, passionate kiss. When they broke apart Penny wiped her mouth.

“ See you later Daddy!” She went back to the kitchen. “ Come on Stella, let’s go get you a suit and get out of here!” Her face was all joy and charm, showing no hint of what had taken place moments before.

When they walked away, Stella wasn’t quite sure how to feel about what she just saw between Penny and her father, Donny. Maybe that’s how the Richards’ greeted each other. As strange as it was, she didn’t know quite enough to speak her mind about it. That and it wasn’t her place to do so. She’d much prefer to focus on spending the afternoon with Penny by the beach. That’s what was most important to Stella Lambert, not a strange custom to a family she didn’t belong to.