My mom comes out of the kitchen to see what is happening.
"What is wrong with her?"
"Nothing. She's mocking me, usually it's followed by a lot of laughter. This time she just laughed."
My mom laughs, "What did you say?"
Draven huffs and replies, showing my mom the magazine, "I just asked her what this cup does."
I almost fall to the floor if he didn't hold me up.
"Mom, he thought we still used a cloth. I'm sorry Draven, it's just absurd."
"Now, Morgan. Draven is right. It is not comfortable nor sanitary, but we wear so much chemical stuff we shouldn't. We'll need a couple of lifetimes to know if there's not side effects to the exposure to those. The white cotton cloth was the most organic response for women. My mom used it. She's not that old."
"Fine. You are both archaic." I reply.
"No need to offend me." And my mom goes away.
"Is she mad?" Draven asks.
"No. She's dramatic like that."
"I see. What is a Wii Sports again?"
I stand up and turn it on, fetching the wireless controllers.
"Get up Babe. I'm beating your ass at bowling."
"Okay, put I highly doubt it. I'm excellent at bowling."
He gets up and I slid the little stripe that lock to the wrist.
"That's what we'll see."
Fifteen minutes later and he's fuming.
"What is wrong with this... Thingy? I was clearly rolling my wrist in the right direction. Rotated at the right angle too."
"You're a sour loser that's what's this is all about."
"Morgana, this is about the inability of this remote thingy to follow my command. It is broken. I demand a rematch."
I laugh, " Fine. We switch it. Give me yours."
"Now, I'm going to win easily." He beams.
"Don't shout victory before the end of the war."
"I haven't realized this is a war, Kitten. Is there a prize at the end?" He asks.
"Sure, you get extra beef at dinner."
"I want something else. I want you to allow me to get you some clothes."
I smack him, "I don't need clothes and I know that you know that I don't need clothes."
"Kids, 10 minutes for dinner to be on the table." I hear my mom call out.
"Kay." I yell back, "Come on, if I win, I get both of you on the back seat of the SUV tonight."
"Mare, you can't. You must be tired."
"If you win, we can go to the beach house this weekend." I smile devilishly.
He puffs and the match starts.
Sadly, he wins.
Not really.
I don't get all my holes filled tonight but it's Wednesday. Two more days and I get a weekend with the boys.
"I knew it was the remote thingy. I told you." He claims victory.
Yeah, I totally didn't let him win...
"Let's sit down, people. You know how fast the food get cold in the winter." My mom singsongs.
"It was not the remote thingy Mister. You got lucky."
I say tidying up and moving to the table.
I get Draven the chair and we sit.
"Do you prefer red or white meat, Draven?" My mom asks Draven.
"Red please."
I cough "Cholesterol".
"Morgan, please don't try to control the guest. It's rude." My father says.
"It's okay Mr. Mendes. I'm used to it. She's constantly bullying me. Last week my sister had to intervene."
"Morgan, is this true?" I hear my father gasp.
"No. He likes it. Stop it, Draven." I smack his chest and laugh.
"John, let them be. We used to be like that all the time."
"I don't recall." he replies.
"You don't recall? Remember that day our group of friends went to the beach and the boys got so drunk you all ended up falling asleep?"
"No." he shakes his head.
"The girls took the sunscreen and made funny drawings on your chests."
"Oh. Yes. We were older."
"We were eighteen. How old do you think they are?"
"You never told me that one. What type of drawings are we talking about?" I ask, curious.
My father coughed, "Let's eat."
"We draw male genitalia." my mom bursts out laughing, "They got a tan and all we could see was dicks in a whiter skin tone all over their torso."
I am impressed, "No way. You were completely ashamed, father. I bet."
"Never heard the end of it. Morgan, I'm forty-five and still being reminded of that traumatic experience."
I laughed so hard, "D, I'm so doing this to Z someday."
"Who's Z?" My mom asks.
"Azazel, my adoptive brother. He's the same age as us."
"His parents didn't like him very much, did they?" My father asks.
I stop smiling, "They had problems with heavy drugs."
"I'm sorry. I know that name is demon derivative. That's why I asked."
"Azazel is very loved now. He was just a child when we adopted him."
My mom smile, "Of course he is. But why would you submit the poor boy to that childish spank, Morgan?"
"He's a muscle bunny." I puff.
"Sorry kid. I don't speak slang."
"He's rather good in all physical activities and have body proportions that could be classified as bulk." Draven answers.
"Oh. Another strong male. You talked about a girl too."
"My sister Samantha. She's not much older. She mostly does political work. She likes to give back to the community."
"Are she also an albino or is it just you?"
"Maria. Seriously woman."
"It's okay Mr. Mendes, I know it's not out of malice. All siblings. We adopted Azazel because of that specific tray. We knew when we saw him. As for my biological ones is a tragic family trait. As you may already know."
"There's two more?"
"Mom." I sigh, "Mal and Alex. I saw them once, they were abroad studying. Netherlands."
"Impressive. What do they study?"
"Art. They're really talented." Draven says taken his fork full of red meat to his mouth.
"You cook very well Misses Mendes."
"Sam showed me Alex painting. The one upstairs. You know the dark one." I tell Draven.
"Did you like it?"
"Yes. Why?"
He shrugs, "I think it is creepy. Hold too much desperation."
"There's beauty in desperation too."
I hear see mourning again. I look right into his eyes and smile.
He smiles back.
"So, you've been to his house multiple times."
I snap my head to my mom, "For studying. Yes."
"Where is that? I forgot. I know you mentioned it..." My father continues.
"I live behind the city hall, at the back street of the boulevard that leads to the metropolitan." they seemed puzzled.
"The big Mansion with the high black fence."
My mom looks interested, "The Cold Palace?"
"Your house has a name?"
"Yes, it has."
"Why don't you tell me these things?"
"What does it matter? You don't even want to know the extent of my properties."
"I don't want to know because I would make you give it all away to charity. That's why."
"Morgana, I can't do that. Humans come and go, propriety is forever."
"I knew it. I can't believe were having our first discussion in front of my parents."
"You are not." my dad stops me, "the boy is right."
"What? Mom, back me up."
"I'm sorry, honey. You'll understand when you have your own kids."
"Unbelievable."
"Samantha, she's the one you should talk to. I just manage propriety."
"Mom, Sam is so cool. You'll so like her."
"Yes. You'll all be amazing bullying the males around you."
My father snorts.
I laugh. Even my mom giggles.
"All right. Who's up for ice cream?"
We all help to clear the table and put the dishes on the dish washer.
I poke Draven several times.
We seat down again, and mom distributes the ice cream scoops.
"What is your flavor, Draven? We have strawberry, vanilla and chocolate."
"Vanilla please." he extends the bowl.
"Vanilla. How plain."
"I like vanilla." my father defends.
"With chocolate."
"Don't worry Mr. Mendes. I'll never try to win with Morgana. Is a lost battle."
I frown.
"He's a fast learner." my mom adds.
"Me and Mom are meeting some friend to have a caffé at the boulevard."
"Uncle Jim?"
"Yes."
"Maybe I could go with Draven and came back home with you."
"Sure honey, but we won't take long."
"It's okay. I just want to ask somethings to Sam."
"Let's go then. "my father says getting up.
It's not raining, so we walk there. It's a five-minute walk but I start to whine after a hundred steps, "Z would carry me all the way, Draven."
"Kitten, please. Your parents are right there."
"Fine. Piggy ride."
He sighs, "I accept."
He kneels and I get on his back. Holding him by his neck.
"Now you really are my stud."
He laughs and speeds up.
We pass my parents and giggle.
"Call me when you're done." I yell back.
We quickly arrive at the Mansion.