Fall was fast approaching. In a blink of an eye, school resumed and the streets were busier than ever.
Claudia became an egg protected by everyone. Flora was still Flora, dirty-mouthed and wild. The older generations were still as gossipy as ever. Including the Cooper and Bolton families, the gang grew bigger. The families met every other weekend for outdoor dinner. The first barbeque meeting was weird, but it gradually turned into a family reunion. The whole situation was comparable to the families in Indian movie classics like "Hum Aapke Hain Koun" or "Hum Saath Saath Hain."
The bond between Queen and Seraphina was tighter than ever. It may be because she grew up as an only child, but she definitely liked the feeling of being depended on by a younger sibling.
Quincy and Seraphina dated with much enthusiasm. Movies, shopping, cooking classes, exercising, and longer cuddles were the couple's regular practices.
"Those boots would look nice on you," Quincy said as he picked up the pretty brown thigh boots.
"I think so too," I took them from him and was about to try them on when an overly enthusiastic feminine voice came from behind.
"Quincy, is that you?"
We both turned back, and I was especially curious to know who was asking about my man.
"Hi Beatrice," he said smilingly.
Beatrice strutted forward and gave Quincy a hug.
"I just knew it was you. I know your back too well."
'Um, excuse me, I exist back here,' I screamed in my head.
Beatrice finally looked behind to see me while her left hand was still around Quincy.
"And who might this be?" She asked in a rather interesting tone.
I raised my eyebrows as if to say "I should be the one asking that ma'am."
Quincy carefully detached himself from the claws of the unknown woman and drew me closer.
"My girlfriend, Seraphina. Darling, this is Beatrice."
I was quite pleased with the introduction. 'Just Beatrice, no title,' I laughed in my head while my face showed no fluctuations.
"Hi Beatrice," I showed my best smile.
"Hi there. I'm good friends with Quincy, and I returned to town recently," I could have sworn she'd come at me any moment and rip my head off my shoulders with those big black eyes.
"It's nice to meet another one of Quincy's friends." I wasn't gonna give her the satisfaction she sought. Her ambiguous words weren't gonna shake my feelings for him.
She turned her attention back to Quincy, and they exchanged a few more words before she excused herself.
"Why are you looking at me that way?"
I guess someone didn't catch the memo.
I rolled my eyes at him, "Beatrice, good friends with Quincy, undetached hug... um hello... red signs everywhere," I stated sarcastically.
"I did say you had a lot of work to do. It's time to get out those pesticides darling," he placed a fast peck on my lips.
It was time to put my hands to work. Picking out these weeds wasn't going to be an easy task.