Unbreakable

“See, “ I say. “I really don’t want to let any of you drive my Jag, but at the same time, only two other people will be able to ride with us.”

“Yuppp, Ronnie you can take my car.” Ashley says , and tosses Ronnie his keys. “And Tum and I will take the Jag.”
He climbs into the driver’s seat. “Um excuse you.” I say in my half ghetto mode. “This is my car, you’re not driving.”

“Come on Lace.” He begs.

“But Pierre’s my baby.” I say quietly.

Ashley looks at me, smiles, and gets out of the car. “I understand.” He wraps an arm around my waist, and pecks my lips. Ronnie makes a whip noise, and we all laugh. “Shut up man.” He smiles as he climbs into the passenger’s seat.

I roll my eyes at Ronnie. “You know how to get to my loft right?”

“Yupp!” Ronnie yells as he climbs into Ashley’s car.

I drop into the driver’s seat, and start the car. “Stacy’s my baby too.” He tells me. I smile at the way he refers to his bass. I pull out onto the highway, and we blare Octane.

After about fifteen minutes of driving, I park Pierre outside of my loft. “Ready?” I ask Ashley.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He sighs.

“You can stay in here while I go get them if you want.” I tell him.

“That might be a good idea.” He nods.

“I’ll be right back.” I give him a soft kiss, and get out of my car. I see Ronnie, and CC in Ashley’s car behind mine, so I wave. I walk into the front door, and into the elevator.

When the door opens, I step out, and hear nothing but silence. Stephen is asleep on the couch, and Greg is on the air mattress. An evil grin creeps across my face. I get back in the elevator, and run to the trunk. The horn goes off. I jump, and look around frantically. “Tum!” Ronnie calls. “What are you doing?” I turn back around, and grab the air horn that I was looking for. I hold it up, and shake it. He nods, and rolls the window up. I wink at Ashley, and run back up to my loft.

I stand in the middle of the floor, and raise the air horn above my head. 3...2...1… I press down on the button, and watch Stephen fall off the couch. “What the fuck?!?!” Uncle Derek screams.

Greg goes to sit up, but he hits his head off of the coffee table. “God damn it!” He growls.

“Geez I didn’t know you guys were in the Navy.” I smile.

“You little bitch.” Stephen mumbles.

“Love you too bro.” I grin.

“And to what do we owe this pleasure Tum?” Mark asks as he walks down the stairs.

“Oh you know, just the fact that we’re supposed to be headed to breakfast, you know, as a family.”

“Oh shit.” Mark says with wide eyes.

“And that makes me the only one left to swear this morning.” I sigh.

“Oh Tummy I’m so sorry, we forgot.” He tells me.

“It’s fine, just hurry up, and get ready.” I smile.

“You’re to good to us.” He pulls me into a hug before running back upstairs.

“Do you want me to leave?” I ask.

“Nah you’re good.” Stephen mumbles. I walk over to the counter, and sit on it. We’ll be out in five minutes. They forgot about it. I text the guys.

“Tum what should I wear?” Uncle Derek asks from upstairs.

“Jeans are good!” I reply.

“Are kakis to dressy?” Mark asks.

“No, but if you’re planning on wearing a sweater with them it’s a bad idea.”

“Well what else would I wear with them?” He sighs.

“Do you want me to help you?”

“Yes!”

“Okay!” I smile as I meet my brother upstairs.

“Is this good Tum?” Uncle Derek gestures at his jeans and t-shirt.

“It’s perfect.” I smile. “Now you.” I walk over to Mark. “Let me see what you packed.” I start pulling clothes out of his suitcase. “Do you own anything but button up shirts and sweaters?” I laugh.

“I have suits too, and sweats, and I think I have a pair of jeans stuffed somewhere in my dresser.”

“Prep.” I tease.

“Goth.” He retorts.

“I’m not wearing black today.Here now put this on.” I throw him a black and white small plaid print shirt.

“Oh so you want me to?” He smiles. I throw a black tie at him, and walk back down stairs. Are you coming??? Ronnie texts me. Outfit problems, surely you’ll understand ;) I reply. “Loafers or dress shoes?”

“Loafers! God, we are going shopping while you’re here.” I scoff.

“No! You’d probably dress me up like kiss or something!” He walks down the stairs in the outfit that I chose for him.

“Are you two ladies ready?” Uncle Derek chides. I roll my eyes, and we pile into the elevator.

“Okay so two of you are riding with me, and Ashley, and two of you are riding with Ronnie and CC.” I tell them when we get outside.

“Who’s Ronnie? Tum why are you the only girl?” Greg asks.

“Okay first of all I’ve been asking myself that question for my whole life, and second of all Ashley is is my boyfriend not Ronnie or CC.”

“Wait CC is a guy?” Uncle Derek asks.

I roll my eyes. “Yes, now why don’t you ride with him.” I point to Ashley’s car.

“Alright, come on Greg.” He grabs Greg, and pulls him toward Ashley’s car.

“Well get in.” I tell them from the driver’s side.They look at each other, and then climb into the back seat of my car. “Ashley you met Stephen already.” Stephen waves. “And this is Mark.”

“Hello.” Ashley smiles.
“Geez I got jipped.” Mark says with a furrowed expression on his face. “I got a Ford for my eighteenth birthday.”

“Yeah, and I got a Chevy.” Stephen says with the same look on his face. They look at each other. “How did you get such a nice car?”

“I’m the baby, and the only girl.” I shrug, and pull out onto the highway.

“Come to think of it, you always get the nice things.” Mark states.

“Yeah… you do. I’m supposed to be the baby!” Stephen realizes.

“Do you have your way with everyone?” Ashley asks.

“Everyone but Darin.” I reply.

“Who’s Darin?” Mark asks.

“Yeah why do you have so many men in your life?” Stephen asks.

“It’s always been that way!” I defend. “And Darin doesn’t count as a guy, he’s my wife.”

Ashley’s eyes go wide, and he nods. “What?” Stephen asks.

“He’s our rep, and he calls, texts, emails, am I missing anything?”

“Yeah Skype, Facebook messages, and and direct messages.” Ashley replies.

“Oh yeah I forgot about those. He does all of those things all the time, and it’s so annoying! He always asks about the same things, and he asumes that I can’t do my job right.” I rant.

“He’s really condescending too.” Ashley adds.

“Oh don’t even get me started.” I tell him.

“What? You mean you don’t want to talk about how he sends you schedule, and talks down to you?” Ashley smirks.

“Shut up!!” I whine.

“Wow, I never thought I’d see the day when Tum took someone’s crap.” Stephen says.

“Yeah, she normally beats them up, or manipulates them. Tum are you okay?” Mark asks

“Oh yeah I’m fine.” I tell them. “Fingers crossed I’ve got him taken care of.”

“How’d you manage that one?” Ashley says suggestively.

“Oh shut up you Bod! I laugh.

“What did you just call me?” He asks.

“She called you a dick man.” Stephen pats his shoulder from the backseat.

“And we’re officially an impure family.” Mark states.

“What?” Ashley asks.

“Tum was the only one who didn’t swear this morning, but she just did.” Mark explains.

“I’m pretty sure she swore at me this morning.” Ashley says.

“I did not, you did!” I defend.

“No, I’m pretty sure you said something along the lines of T-”

“I did not!” I interrupt.

“What ever you say Rose.” He smirks.

“Tum is there a Nando's around here?” Stephen asks.

“No bud, that’s a UK thing.” I tell him.

“Damn…” He sighs. I roll my eyes, and pull into the Denny’s parking lot. “Oh I like Denny’s.”

“I know.” I smile. We climb out of the car, and watch Ronnie pull in. “I’m so happy you guys made it in one piece.”

“Says the one that drove over one hundred to get to a show.” He smirks.

“Hey we were late.”

“Because you over slept.”

“You were supposed to wake me up.” I say.

“You know how responsible i am.” He smiles.

“I can see how you two are friends.” uncle Derek nods as we walk in. Ashley doesn’t look as nervous, and that makes me happy.

Notes