Did I hear you say 'more'?

Thanks to jueka1 and brightyeolie for comments on the last chapter

And to amiva0402 who has just about caught up.

I dumped a few too many chapters last week it seems... sorry.

Anyhoo... enjoy the sweetness while it... nevermind.

____

Turning around just in time to watch Flynn drag Callie by her chair into the room and gently close the door behind them, I couldn't stop the smile taking hold of my face. But as I walked back into the living room, mum and dad were far from impressed.

A united front, they both blocked my way, arms crossed over their chests with their best 'I'm so disappointed in you' glares masking their faces.

"We dropped you off at Sara's last night," mum started.

"You did," I said back, still trying to think of the cover story. I had never planned for them figuring out we—or, rather, Callie—had gone elsewhere once Aunt Jojo dropped us off. But mum and dad were much smarter than we had anticipated... and Callie did still smell slightly of alcohol this morning.

"But you came back from Aunt Jojo's this morning," dad said, also stating the obvious.

"Yes," I said back, still trying to figure out how to avoid a terrible situation whereby I don't get into trouble... but nor does Callie.

"And where are your clothes and bags?" mum then asked, eyes narrowed.

"At Sara's," I admitted, still keeping my eyes on them as though eye-contact would somehow suggest innocence.

"So you stayed at Sara's last night but somehow ended up at your Aunt's before ten in the morning?" dad countered.

"Yes, that is what happened."

When they realised I was only going to confirm their probing questions, dad heaved a sigh and sat on the couch, patting the spot beside him.

I knew it was a trap. He had used this method on me many times when I was caught sneaking into the house in the morning back in Melbourne after going out partying. While Jess always discussed responsible drinking with me, dad was full out against it—as though a boisterous teenage life might see us mirror his 'mistakes'. He was convinced if we didn't do the things he did, if we were studious little kids who never went out and never dated boys, then there's no chance that we could stray off the path of success... as though success was determined by one's education monetary accomplishments instead of quality of life. Dad was from an older generation.

Nonetheless, I took the spot next to him. Not long later, mum was on the other side of me, wedging me between the two.

I knew in that moment I missed Jess. Mum and dad had always been a united front on parenting me and Cal. They shared almost the same views on what we could and could not do. But Jess was more like Aunt Jojo, believing we would, in time, learn from our own mistakes. Only through trial and error without the limitations of parents would we figure out what makes us happy and what are things we shouldn't do again.

"Where did you go last night, Lex?" dad asked, voice soft, measured, but oh-so-accusing.

"I was at Sara's," I responded, tone full of truth. Because I was.

"And how about your sister?" mum then said.

Oh shit...

"She was at Sara's," I squeaked. Because she was... until she wasn't.

"The whole night?" dad pressed.

No response is the best response. No response is the best response. No response—

Though dad pulled me out of my mantra. "Was she with Flynn somewhere? Is that why he is here this morning?"

"Um..." Shit... how do I get out of this? How do—

"You're not in trouble, Lexi," mum said.

No... Callie is. I can't get her in trouble. She will hate me. But what can I say? Do I just lie? What type of lie would—

But before I could try to think of some story to save my sister, she appeared in the hallway, Flynn pushing her with a very happy grin on his face. Looking down to Callie, she also sported a similar smile, her eyes alight and her cheeks a little flushed.

"Leave Lex alone," Callie said, interrupting their interrogation. "She had nothing to do with it."

Mum and dad immediately got up, abandoning me on the couch and stalking over to Callie and Flynn.

Dad accusingly stared at Flynn, while mum was focussed on Callie. "Where were you last night?" mum demanded.

"At a party," she answered honestly. "And yes I drank. Flynn took me away straight away when he realised what I had done and helped me sober up. Yes, I stayed at his last night. I went to Aunt Jojo's in the morning to... avoid getting him in trouble."

Yeah, sure... I thought, trying to hold an eye roll at that lie. Though most of it had been truthful, which was surprising me.

"So you're taking my daughter to parties?" dad demanded, turning on Flynn.

"Hey!" Callie snapped, pushing off her chair to her foot. Flynn and dad's arms shot out at the same time to steady her. "You leave him alone. Yes, it was because of him I was able to get invited. But he only went because I asked him to take me to a party. I was the one who drank. He was the one who got me out of there after I acted stupid."

But dad was shaking his head. "This is so unlike you Callie. I mean, drinking?"

"That's completely my fault dad. And don't you dare try pinning it on Flynn. He doesn't drink. Ever."

"He doesn't..." That stopped dad in his tracks for a moment.

Mum heaved a sigh and turned to Flynn. "Thank you for looking after Callie last night, Flynn, but it's best you leave now. We need to talk to her alone."

Callie rolled her eyes and fell back into her chair. "At least let me walk him out then."

"Very well," mum replied, stepping away.

Dad lingered a moment, blocking their path, eyes still glaring at Flynn like men were always the cause of a woman's 'disobedience'... Like Callie had no freewill of her own. But eventually he moved aside and they disappeared from view.

Callie was grounded for a week. Her phone was taken from her and she was not permitted to see Sara or Flynn. But I wasn't grounded...

So once our parents were asleep, I snuck into her room and passed her my phone so that she could talk to Flynn. Meanwhile, I opened my laptop and messaged Sara.

I was glad things worked out for them.

I was ecstatic things worked out for me and Sara.

The next step was admitting everything to Callie now though...

"We should tell her today," Sara whispered as we walked a couple of steps in front of Flynn and Callie into the movie theatres.

"I don't know," I whispered back. "Flynn and Callie have only been a thing for a week and... Apparently they haven't even confirmed a label. We should wait until it's official and maybe then..."

Sara came to a pause, eyes warily going over me. I stopped not long after as I realised she was no longer beside me.

"Whoa!" Callie complained as she bumped into us. "Why'd you stop walking?"

"Sara... said something shocking," I muttered.

"Yeah? What did she say?" Callie grinned at the both of us, leaning into Flynn's arm that was wrapped around her. Nothing was wiping that stupid smirk off her face these days... except when she worried about the label.

"Oh... just that she's never seen the original Star Wars movies before," I plucked from thin air, desperate to not let slip the actual contents of our conversation.

But Sara only grimaced further, her eyes clouding over just before she turned her head away, evidently hurt that I was keeping us from Callie.

Soon, Sara... soon. We just need to wait a little longer.

Callie shook her head. "People still watch that old stuff? I haven't seen it either. It's not that surprising."

But then Flynn pulled away from my sister, saying, "You haven't seen it?"

Her brows pulled together before she muttered, "No. Why would I?"

Flynn's arm retreated from her. "Oh no. We must fix this."

"Why? Is it a deal breaker?" But her eyes went wide and she looked to the ground.

Because dealbreaker implied they had something to break... and they hadn't confirmed that yet.

But then Flynn said, "Nothing is a dealbreaker with you... I just think your quality of life is negatively affected if you haven't." Then he wrapped his arm around her again, pulling her close.

While the corners of Callie's lips turned up at him touching her, I could see that same sadness clouding her gaze that she still didn't have a label.

"I don't see why I need to watch a bunch of space movies."

"Says the girl who insists on always watching fairy tales..."

"Don't mock Disney."

"I'll mock it all I want until they have my people represented."

Callie clamped her mouth shut at that comment and retreated into herself. Though Flynn seemed to not notice, going on about how Disney needs to diversify their movies more still to be completely inclusive, all the while as we walked into the cinema.

Once seated and under the cover of the darkness, Flynn and Callie exchanged conversation in a low whisper. Then, suddenly, Sara's hand found mine.

Turning to look at her, she gave me a shy, apologetic smile, before mouthing, "I'm sorry."

I shook my head at her and leaned over, whispering in her ear, "Nothing for you to be sorry for, beautiful."

"You're right," she whispered back, glancing over me at Flynn and Callie. "She's not completely content there... We can wait. But maybe... maybe if they haven't confirmed a label by school return, you could give Flynn another nudge again? So that we can be out about us?"

I nodded back at her. "Of course. We can do that."

Sara beamed at me, her eyes dancing around my face before landing on my mouth. I knew we were thinking about the same thing in that moment... about how much we wished we could just kiss each other. But all we had right now were the lacing of our fingers together under the armrest where Callie was none the wiser.

Meme

This is me these days...