THE GRANDPARENTS

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"Well, I hope you're very proud of yourself," Micky said. Her eyes bore into Chip's as she pointed towards Ben. "Your brother has burned off all of his tastebuds."

We all glanced over to see Ben wearing a harness around his face, which propped his mouth wide open, forcing him into an uncomfortable smile. Drool was slowly dripping out of his mouth and onto his shirt. It made a gross slime-like noise that made me cringe as I looked away from him in disgust.

"I'd like to apologize for my behavior," Chip spoke up. He unfolded his arms as he spoke to Micky and then glanced at Sabrina, Alba, Ben, and me. "I understand—as a new patriarch of this family—you're all looking to me to set the tone and I fell short." Chip crossed his arms again as he nodded to himself.

"Was that supposed to be an apology?" I questioned Chip.

"More or less," he replied uncaringly.

"Right.." I narrowed my eyes and nodded slowly. "It was a little unclear, so you might want to work on that."

"Why?" Chip asked bluntly. He had a smug look on his face as he was under the impression that he hadn't done anything wrong.

"Stop it," Micky spat at Chip. She was definitely over his antics. She was probably over everyone's antis actually. I was surprised that she was still here in all honesty, but I was very impressed that she stayed this long. "Nobody's looking to you for anything," Micky remarked.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Sabrina spoke up, her voice laced with sarcasm. "You think you're in charge? We're not gonna listen to a single word you say."

"Well, you're not gonna have to," Micky said ominously. She took a dramatic pause. I raised my eyebrows as I waited for her to explain. "Cause I'm catching the last chopper out of Saigon." She wore a smirk as she nodded her head, almost like she was proud of herself.

Alba gasped, "You're leaving?"

"Yeah, Alba, I'm leaving," Micky stated. "Have you seen that car outside?" The blonde woman pointed towards the door. "That's a pig, probably FBI and I'm pretty sure the IRS is not far behind. Once all this is gone, Alba, all that's left is this." She waved her hands over Chip, who was still sat with folded arms and a cocky grin. "And nobody wants just this." Suddenly, his face dropped.

I glanced over to look at Chip before shrugging to myself. He wasn't so bad. Sure, last night was a train wreck but at least it was a funny train wreck.

"But where are you gonna go?" Chip asked. He almost sounded worried, which surprised me.

"I'm gonna go back to Rhode Island, where I have no responsibilities and nobody to answer to," Micky exclaimed. Her eyes had a faraway look in them now, almost as if she was daydreaming about her home as she spoke.

I perked up a bit. That sounded really nice actually.

Sabrina's face was stone cold as she made yet another rude remark towards her aunt, "So, unemployed and alone." She sat in silence for a moment to revel in her stoic nature. "Sounds neat."

"I wish I could bash you," Micky threatened with a look for of hatred. Her hands were balled into fists as she shot daggers at Sabrina with her eyes. Although her tone was void of emotion, I could feel the anger radiating off of her.

"Okay, thank you for your time, Mackenzie, but I think I've got it from here," Chip interrupted. He wore another one of his infamous smirks.

"Oh, wonderful!" Micky said with fake happiness. "I bet you do, Chip. Great."

I glanced between the two of them and met Micky's eyes as I shook my head and mouthed 'no he doesn't.' She feigned her chuckle and pulled her lips into a slight smile, knowing all too well.

"Just in case, I've called your dad's parents and they're on their way," Micky told the Pemberton siblings.

"The Colonel?" Chip exclaimed. "No way, that guy's a legend! I've modeled my entire career after him."

"I've modeled my entire career after Bob Ross. It's so cool how he paints nature in only yellow and blue," I said in admiration. Art was an important hobby of mine ever since I fell asleep watching some 'What If?' videos on YouTube, and suddenly woke up at three in the morning with Bob Ross on my phone, painting a meadow in only yellow.

Everyone in the room turned to me with confused faces. I looked around at everyone as my eyebrows pulled downward. "What?" I asked. They all shook their heads as if they were ignoring my previous statement. I didn't understand why they were all confused about my interest in Bob Ross. The guy was genuinely cool!

"It's good to know that you two are just so original!" Sabrina said sardonically. "You're definitely going somewhere in life."

"Shut up, Sabrina," Chip said with an eye roll.

I rolled my eyes as well as I glared at Sabrina. "The only place you're going in life is to hell for always being a heinous bitch."

Micky laughed and held her arm up for a high-five. "Nice one, Windsor."

"You two are so immature," Sabrina muttered. She crossed her arms and turned away.

"Can we please get back to the Colonel?" Chip spoke up in annoyance.

"Oh, yes, I like the Colonel very much," Alba admitted. "When I was a little girl, he came to my village in Guatemala and built the hospital. Then, brought me and my mother back to the States. He would call me his libélula.. Dragonfly."

"And you've been trapped here ever since?" Micky exclaimed. Alba nodded and smiled, making her shake her head in disappointment. "Ugh, you're like a veal! You gotta get out more." Just then, Micky stormed out of the room. Sabrina and Alba followed after her quickly with Chip, Ben, and me right behind.

"Wait, aren't him and Grandma like a hundred years old?" Sabrina asked. She was trailing after her aunt.

"They sounded about a thousand on the phone, so I'm gonna get out of here before I get stuck talking about soup or whatever," Micky joked. She made her way upstairs and turned down the hall.

"Fine. Go," Sabrina shouted at her. "You think I care?"

I folded my arms across my chest. "I feel like if you have to ask yourself that question, then you already know the answer."

Sabrina groaned angrily as she turned around and stared down at me. "Why are you still in my house?" She spat.

I took a moment to think about that before coming up with no answer. "I've got nothing better to do," I said with a shrug.

"Get a life," Sabrina muttered. She rolled her brown eyes as she followed after Micky, who had returned back downstairs, but with multiple bags filled with her own belongings and even theirs. She tossed everything into the trunk of an expensive, black car, which also didn't belong to her. "Why are you taking our stuff?" Sabrina asked as her and her siblings watching Micky push the trunk shut.

"Call it payment for services rendered," Micky remarked. She opened the car door and slid into the drivers seat.

"You get that for living in our mansion for three days?" Chip questioned her.

"Well, I was eyeing the G-Wagon but I didn't wanna be gassing up the whole time, so I decided to go solar," Micky flaunted her decisions in stealing her niece and nephews car and other riches.

"It's electric," Sabrina corrected her.

Micky smirked. "I know right." That statement must've completely went over her head.

"Where's my payment then?" I asked. "I've been here for about three days too, and all I got was bs about my kicks."

"Ugly people deserve ugly things," Sabrina said simply.

"I guess that explains your personality then," I retorted, her smug smile dropped when mine rose.

"It's okay, Alice, just go steal some stuff like I did," Micky advised me. "Take all the payment you need!" I chuckled softly as I smiled. I didn't really want Micky to leave.

"Wait!" Alba shouted from inside the house. She was clutching her purse as she jogged down the front steps. "I'm coming with you!"

Micky was taken aback. "What? No you're not!"

"We are friends, yes?" Alba asked. She swayed side-to-side. I wasn't sure if it was because she was out of breath or unsure with her own question.

"Well.. we're friendly," Micky replied. "But I, ya know, I- I already got the rug." She struggled to formulate a valid excuse. Then, she pointed towards, Sabrina, Chip, and Ben. "The kids need you!"

"No we don't," Sabrina said.

Chip just shrugged uncaringly. "Take her."

Micky rolled her eyes and nodded her head in annoyance. She was clearly disappointed in their responses.

"Ms. Micky," Alba started passionately. "When I smashed that man over the head, I felt an animal in my chest wake up and roar. I would very much like to feel that again."

Micky shrugged and smiled. "Okay! I mean, how am I supposed to argue with that?" Alba perked up in excitement. "You can come along for a few days, but you gotta keep up, okay? I don't feel like babysitting. Otherwise, I'd stay with these animals."

I put my hands up in an attempt to pause their conversation. "Wait, I wanna feel that too," I exclaimed. "Micky please take me with you!" Chip and Sabrina sent me a look of surprise. "You guys just kicked out the only reason I come over here."

"I thought I was the only reason you came over here," Chip spoke somberly.

I ruffled his blonde hair and put on a fake frown. "Awe, that's cute."

He perked up again. "Did you just call me cute?"

"Don't push your luck," I replied with an eye roll. I turned back to Micky with raised eyebrows, waiting for her to answer my request.

She made an unsure face. "I don't think so," she admitted.

"Please," I begged. "I'll behave!"

"Well, I know that. You're the best out of these three and you're not even apart of the family!" Micky said. "Besides, there're only two seats in the car."

"I'll just hide in the trunk," I said simply.

"What if I get pulled over and accused of kidnapping?" Micky asked.

"The police wouldn't find me because I'll be hiding under a blanket," I replied with a smirk.

Micky quirked a brow. "What if the cop moves the blanket, thinking there are drugs in the trunk?"

"I'd obviously be hiding under two blankets," I explained.

Micky pointed her finger at me. "What happens when the police move both blankets?"

My eyes rolled. "Easy. I'd stop breathing and pretend to be dead."

"Then, I'll get charged for kidnapping a minor and murder," Micky pointed out. "I've been in jail a few times and I'm not trying to go back, if you know what I mean." She winked ominously.

I shook my head in disagreement. "You won't be going back if your lawyer claims that you're mentally insane during the trial, which would result in your sentence to an asylum, rather than a prison, if you know what I mean." I sent a wink back. I crossed my arms coolly as I added, "I watch a lot 'What If?' videos on YouTube."

Micky raised her eyebrows and nodded slowly with a smile. "I'm impressed," she admitted.

"I'm freaked out," Sabrina sighed.

"So, does this mean I can come?" I asked.

She took a moment to think before saying, "No but you can send me the link to some of those videos."

I dropped my arms as I sighed, "Damnit."

Alba crouched down to meet Ben's eyes. She placed her hand over her heart as she spoke, "It's up to you, Benito. I will only go if I have your blessing."

Ben just shrugged. "Okay!"

Alba smiled as her shoulders dropped in relief. She pulled out a napkins are wiped Ben's mouth before cringing and standing back up again. "Okay, let's go," she spoke hurriedly. Alba jogged over to the passenger's side of the car and quickly slipped into the seat.

"Well, that about does it," Micky said with a cocky grin. She sat proudly in the stolen car with all of her stolen stuff from her own family members. "Good luck to you, take care of yourselves, and if you need anything at all do not hesitate to call 911."

"What about me?" I asked.

"I left my number on a sticker note in your purse, while I was stealing some coins," Micky explained.

I smiled and nodded. "Awesome."

"You're not concerned that she was going through your purse?" Chip exclaimed. He wore a judge-mental expression on his face, which meant he was probably my about to say something dramatic. "Not only is that a violation of privacy, but it's against the law, Mackenzie."

"Don't worry about," I said as I placed my hand on Chip's shoulder. "I don't like how coins jingle and jangle anyway."

"Yeah, butt out of it," Micky remarked. She turned to Alba with her hands gripping the steering wheel. "Hold onto your nips.. cause this kitty can purr."

I waved after the two women as Micky sped off down the street, leaving the four of us alone in a huge mansion as we waited for the Colonel and his wife's arrival.