Chapter Thirty-One: Breakfast At The Lockharts

After washing my face, Kylie and I raided her closet talking about the latest trends in fashion and arguing about whose team was going to win the league this season. It was obvious Westerbridge was going to take the trophy like it has been doing for the past 3 years now since I became captain. Her Ridgeway Girls Academy fantasy was just a fantasy, but I humoured her anyway. We decided on a pair of black ripped skinny jeans, a white crop tank top and black combat boots. I was fairly relieved that we were the same size in everything. After spritzing my coarse curly hair with water, I ran my fingers through it to remove the tangles that formed last night. I moisturized my face while she put on her outfit. It was a shirt like dress that reached about mid-thigh that she topped with white Doc Martens and a lot of armbands. Her mom called us down for breakfast just as she tied her super long hair into two cute buns on top of her head. We were laughing about the first time the family of 3 met Justin and his dad, and how Kevin and Justin despised each other and were always playing tricks on one another, when we finally made it to the huge kitchen. The gang were already seated around the kitchen table, and wolf whistles chorused when we took our seats, making me flush while Kylie twirled and laughed before taking a seat.

"You look gorgeous babe." Kevin whispered into my ear and kissed my cheek. It's just some jeans and a top, but that did not stop the blush that spread to my ears. I scooped some scrambled eggs onto my plate, a sausage, and some bacon. The conversation around the table was light, and the crazy family seemed to have forgotten about the morning activities that happened in Kevin's bedroom.

"How's boarding school Kylie?" Justin asked as he shoved a whole streak of bacon in his mouth, which earned him a death glare from his stepmother. "It's great, as usual. And how's Westerbridge?" Justin and I scoffed, while Kevin grinned proudly and said, "it's great, as usual." echoing his sister's words.

"Azania and Sting don't think so." Kylie taunted her brother, who only rolled his eyes.

"Her name is Nia, Kylie." Kristian said in his cute 5-year-old voice. The tiny twins were the only ones who called me Nia. And I allowed it, because well, kids. Kristie snorted and rolled her eyes, smacking her twin upside on the head.

"She knows that fool." I had to laugh. "Kristie!" her mother scolded, and she mumbled a 'sorry' and got back to her pancake. Ever the terrorist.

"Anyway, these two don't agree with me because they always have run-ins with our new principal." Kevin said to Kylie, bringing back the conversation. I flinched at the mention of Jackass' name, the memory of my assault on him fresh at the back of my eyes.

"Oh, but he's hot Azania. Is that the reason why you're in the principal's office a lot?" Kylie asked with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

"Hot on my ass, maybe." I mumbled under my breath and stabbed at my eggs. The teenagers laughed, so did Chris. Kevin's mom scolded me on my language. "Plus, I've seen better." I flashed Kevin a cheeky smile, and he responded with his own. Truthfully, I thought Jackass was the hottest man I had ever laid my eyes on, but I wasn't about to tell them that. Besides, Kevin is gorgeous in his own right anyway.

"Must have been some good di-"Justin started to say but his stepmom threw a piece of scramble egg at him from across the table, obviously knowing what he was going to say.

"I seriously need to scrub that mouth of yours." She said disapprovingly while Chris laughed. He's always laughing.

"I thought we were over that! Gosh nothing happened. Can't a guy and a girl share a bed without people jumping to conclusions? I mean Kristie and Kris sleep together all the time." Kevin mumbled exasperatedly.

"Kristie and Kristian are 5 and aren't in a relationship. It's been 3 years since you two started dating, surely we aren't grasping at straws." She looked every bit of smug as her husband did in that moment, shooting both of us knowing looks.

"And the only dirty we do is when we roll around in the mud, right mommy?" Kristian asked his mom with doe eyes. "Right sweetie." His mom affirmed.

"How are you still here?" Kevin suddenly turned to me with a defeated look on his face, his shoulders slumped. "He does have a point though. Remember how many girls Sting has brought home, and how fast they run out of the door once they meet our family?" Kylie asked.

"Kylie Jessica Lockhart, I swear if you call me 'Sting' one more time I will shove your Rafael Nadal poster up your ass!" Justin suddenly growled at his stepsister, making her laugh at him.

"Justin Albertus Lockhart! Watch your language young man! There are kids around!" everybody suddenly started laughing when his mom addressed him by his full name. His face grew as red as a tomato and he suddenly pointed an accusing finger at his dad.

"This is all your fault!" he accused. Chris looked amused when he asked, "What did I do?"

"Why would you give me a stupid ass name like Albertus? Where did you even conjure up a hideous name like that?" he yelled. Yeah, there really is a lot of yelling in this house.

"Don't blame me kiddo, it was your mother who wanted to name you Albertus, after her father. You're lucky I refused to make it your first name. So, you should be thanking me." Justin's mom had passed away when he was 3, and his dad and Kevin's mom had gotten married when they were 10 and the twins were then conceived 3 years later.

"Oh, and don't worry, I won't call you 'Sting' anymore, I think Albertus is way better anyway!" Kylie laughed, rousing laughter from the rest of us. Everyone except Justin, who looked ready for murder.

"Well I for one think it is a beautiful name Justin." His mom cooed, making Kylie and Kevin laugh harder. The younger twins were engrossed in their own conversation and were completely oblivious as to what was going on around them.

"I honestly can't wait to leave for varsity." Justin grumbled.

"With grades like yours? Doubt it." Kylie said, clearly enjoying having a dig at her brother.

"Kylie, leave Justin alone." Their mom, the peacekeeper, said.

"Yes, Head Girl, leave me alone." Justin said childishly and I laughed.

"At least I have a title dumbass." Kylie bit back.

"Let's face it sweetie, they only gave you that title because all the other pretty girls were already cheerleaders." In Kylie's school, cheerleaders weren't allowed to be prefects. And the girls there really didn't care about being prefects; cheerleading was the number one sport in Ridgeway Girls Academy, netball being the second.

"Take that back!" Kylie yelled.

"The truth isn't so nice now, is it?" Justin probed. It had gotten real way too fast.

"Okay, both of you shut up. You're giving your mother a headache." Chris said, looking up from his newspaper to give his kids a stern look. Kylie huffed and stood up, storming out of the kitchen.

"Kylie, where are you going?" her mom yelled after her.

"Out. Have a date with Kate." She shouted back before slamming the front door. Kate was Kylie's girlfriend of 2 years. She went to Ridgeway Girls Academy as well, and was completely smitten by her

"That was harsh Jay." Kevin said to Justin, who looked annoyed.

"Easy for you to say. You aren't the black sheep of the family. You're the freaking head boy of the school. You're a twin and your name starts with a K. If you hadn't noticed, I don't have any of that." And with that, he too stormed out of the kitchen, slamming the front door as he left. Their parents sighed and that was when Kristie and Kristian looked up from their conversation and said at the same time, "what's going on?"

"Thank you for last night. And sorry again for my family's behaviour." Kevin said as he parked the car outside the Matthews' residence.

"I love your family. You don't ever have to apologize for them being themselves. Also ... thank you for uhm, listening. That really meant a lot to me." I said shyly. He reached for my hands and held them in his own.

"Thank you for opening up to me." he said as he kissed my hands.

"So many thank yous floating around in this car." I pointed out and he laughed before pulling me in for a kiss. We kissed for a few minutes before he pulled back and sighed. "I really have to go. I'm already late to the meeting." He said apologetically and I gave him a peck on the lips.

"It's okay. See you Monday?"

"Definitely."