CHAPTER FOUR - THE UNEXPECTED... STEP FAMILY?!

No, No, No this can't be good!

April blushed remembering what had happened earlier that day, “He’s just teasing me.” she muttered, hugging her legs against her bare body as she sat in the hot bubbly bath. Mr. McDaniel’s lightly knocks on her door, insisting that she’d hurry up. April intently took her time; she didn’t want to meet her future stepmom and only thought of her feelings and not her father’s.

The doorbell rings, having her father once more call out on her impatiently.  April got up twisting her hair into a bun as she got off the shower. As much as she wanted to stay longer, she retired into her father’s helpless plead and got into the formal attire he had instructed her to wear, a hot pink with shades of orange floral sunny dress. She nodded as she examined herself one last time before heading down, she had never seen her father this alarmed before and really hoped whoever this woman was, was worth the try especially since he got her to wear such inferior outfit for the very first time.

Downstairs, their visitors had already settled on the living room sofa. April was shocked to find Johan in a casual outfit alongside with his mother who wore a casual floral dress as well. Unlike her design, it was white with frilly blue flowers. The woman was incomparable to her son, who could have been mistaken as her brother in front of a total stranger due to the fact that they looked about the same age when they really weren’t.

Mr. McDaniel’s placed both hands on April’s shoulders, “good, everyone’s here.” He said, smiling at everyone clueless at the hidden secrets each of them holds.  Mr. McDaniel’s led April in front of the pair mostly praising the beauty. “May, Johan, I’d like you to meet my lovely daughter April.”

The woman nodded getting up to plant a quick kiss on both of April’s cheeks. “It’s nice to meet you dear.” She said smiling sweetly. Johan smirked, as he extended his hand towards April who had an obvious blush spreading over her face.

“Johan goes to Prada High, have you seen him around?” Ms. Gibson said patting her son who was wearing an embarrass look on his face.

April nodded, “Yeah, he likes to "” before she could finish Johan crept from behind halting her with his palms wrapped tightly over her mouth.

“Johan what are you doing?” Ms. Gibson scolded eyeing her son who had immediately released his hold apologizing, April humored the man, seeing how tough he was at school but in actuality had a weak spot with the woman who had the upper hand in their household.

“My, this would be interesting,” Mr. McDaniel’s chuckled motioning everyone to the kitchen, “Let’s talk it over dinner.” He dismissed rubbing his hands together. Everyone nodded as they tailed him in the tabled already prepped for their disposal.

Mr. McDaniel’s had already prepared dinner, setting out four dishes, and the main course on the tabletop. He had planned the dinner beforehand ordering two extra chairs in addition with the lonely pair that belonged to him and his daughter. He thought that it was better to be prepared for future.

Mr. McDaniel’s and Ms. Gibson had sat opposite of each other and so did the two rivals. April began explaining everything Johan had did to her, excluding the kiss earlier that day. Johan on the other hand kept a calm expression denying the blame she had told them no matter how true it was.

“I’m sorry about my son, he just lacks attention,” Ms. Gibson said looking over to her son squeezing the fat of his cheek “I bet he is a real pain.” She joked apologizing as she flashed him a fake smile that he had seen through.

April read their actions, watching closely at his expression towards his mother, as much as she could care less about the two, she can’t stand a child being rude to an adult, and kicked his foot from under the table. “Ow!” he beamed this time scowling at April, who dismissed it innocently,

“Man there are lots of mosquito’s here right dad?”

Mr. McDaniel’s looked from his daughter and back at the two visitors. “Really, then I’ll get some mosquito repellents when I make my next trip to the supermarket.” Mr. McDaniel’s chuckled aiding April cut through her lean meat with his cutlery. April nodded smiling sweetly at the distinguished guests.

After April and Johan’s share of their school life, it was the couple’s turn to share their story. The two had shamelessly talked about how they met in front of their children from how Ms. Gibson was heading to her car when a sleek thief had managed to groped her before snatched her bag; Mr. McDaniel’s being the man assigned for the afternoon patrol had caught the man and brought him behind bars. The thief had insisted that he didn’t do it telling Ms. Gibson was a liar but immediately confronted by Mr. McDaniel’s who had told him off.

For once, the two teenagers had finally agreed at the same wavelength, wearing an irritable expression as they watched the two become oversentimental. Both we’re over protective of their parent’s and they didn’t want to give them up just yet.

“Oh Jon, if you hadn’t put that man on his place, then I would have really caused a scene!” The woman giggled lacing her fingers with the man in uniform right in front of her. “It’s my job to serve justice in this town, and I can’t tolerate a woman such as you get robbed just like that.”

April rolled her eyes she can’t bare the intimacy the two was having, she looked up from her platter suddenly meeting Johan’s graze. As much as she can’t stand his presence, they both agreed that they couldn’t stand their parent’s sweet talk.

“So Ms. Gibson what do you do for work… how much do you get paid… any criminal records?” April bombarded tapping her chin as she observed the woman who was shocked by the incoming indirect blows of her words accusing her as if she had bad intentions with her lover.

Mr. McDaniel’s glared at April as he kicked her foot from under the table. “Ouch.” She beamed meeting her father’s graze. She casts a side-glance at Johan who snickered. April frowned apologizing.

“I’m sorry May, she could be overprotective.” Mr. McDaniel’s cooed lacing his fingers with the woman across him. This time Johan had kicked the swift man’s foot from under the table, glaring at him and his mother.

“Oww,” Mr. McDaniel’s screeched rubbing his foot sheepishly; he glared at his daughter who shook head denying the accusation. “I guess we do have a mosquito problem.”

Ms. Gibson looked from him and her son calmly smiling sweetly, she was dumbfounded, she was lucky to be the only one who hadn’t had her foot abused by the aggressive pairs below them.

The pairs had survived the aggressive nature of dinner and settled in the living room where the couple Mr. McDaniel’s and Ms. Gibson had cuddled together in the sofa opposite of April and Johan. April let out a pouting expression and so did Johan who had been irritable seeing his mother and the man all over each other. April got up on her feet, dismissing herself and so did Johan who had tailed her in front of her room.

“Could you stop following me?” April retorted planting both hands on her hips. Johan curled his lip teasingly, just by looking at him, April knew he was thinking what had happened earlier that day and was now alert and cautious at his every move.

“Look, we both obviously hate our parent’s being together and most specifically we don’t want to be siblings so "” before she could finish she is halted by his sudden finger planted on her lips instantly hushing her.

“I don’t like my mother with another guy, but thinking it through I don’t mind having you as a sister.” He winked having her reminisce what he had did to her earlier that day by tipping her chin up to meet his, she knew what he was about to do and move back.

“L-Like hell I’d want you to be my b-brother!” she stuttered, her complexion flushing and heated.

Johan laughed, patting her head playfully as he stepped back. “I was just joking I wouldn’t want you to be my sister either.” He leaned against her strawberry coated door burying his hands on his pockets, “Since we both agree in something, why don’t we join forces in having them separate.”

April crossed her arms over her chest, confused “What are you plotting this time Gibson!”

Johan shrugs, “And I thought I was dumb, all we have to do is try to get them to separate. Find ways for them to think that they shouldn’t be together. Make them hate each other.”

“I don’t like my dad dating your mom, but I don’t like seeing him sad either. I can’t just take away his happiness because of my selfishness. My dad is nice, he can be clumsy and easily tricked but he is the best man in the world. Therefore, I won’t team up with you separate them. But if I find out that your mom is using him I won’t forgive both of you.”

Johan grunted stepping aside as April slammed the door in front of him, he knew where she was coming from, even he didn’t want to hurt his mom, and he didn’t want her to marry anyone yet, especially not the father of the girl he liked. 

Author's Note

Man I don't want to be in her shoes right now, but I'd really love to be Johan's sibling ;) - Mosquito repellent anyone?