Chapter 65: Chrismukkah II
"Okay, back to the New Eve, The Standard Downtown, Rooftop VIP - that's a good one!" Hailey glanced at me.
I paused for a second. "You can come with us, but if you cause trouble, I'm gonna kick you out," I warned.
The doorbell rang.
"It must be Marissa. I texted her saying we were already here," Summer noted.
"Marissa? Is that the short chick next door?"
Seth corrected her, "No, puberty happened," gesturing to show she was taller. "She's a Laker."
"Yep, can't say the same for Haley, Summer, or Taylor," I joked.
Summer gave me a light headbutt since my chin was resting on top of her head.
Marissa showed up a moment later. "Hey, guys," she gave a small wave to everyone.
Summer went to hug her since they hadn't seen each other on Christmas. I went to hug her too.
"Jake, Haley and I need your help," she spoke as soon as we pulled apart.
"Why the face?" She noticed my grimace.
"Nothing good ever comes from the two of you," I teased, getting a light shove.
Summer leaned forward, curious. "What do you need Jake for?"
"We need someone to wear what we designed. The problem with Dylan..." she hesitated.
"That he and Haley keep breaking up and getting back together," I finished for her.
And we all went to play video games, to the disbelief of Seth's aunt.
-----------------------------
After a while, Anna appeared.
"Hello, Anna, join us," I handed her the controller.
Summer sat even closer to me, and I placed my hand around her waist, making her smirk at Anna.
Anna ignored it and sat next to Seth. "Jake already lost?"
"Hey, I won against Sunny and Coop!" I exclaimed.
"Isn't it so sad?" Seth mocked.
I shot back, "What's sad is you sitting in a place with traces of what could've been my brother or sister."
Seth and Ryan stood up instantly.
"We forgot to change the sheets," Ryan grumbled.
Seth gave me a look of realization. "So that's why you took those chairs for yourself, Summer, and Marissa."
"Yep, I don't trust any place here," I laughed.
Anna looked at me strangely. "What happened?"
"My dad hooked up with Seth's aunt," I replied, unfazed.
"Wow!" Anna gasped, "They did it here?" she questioned, astonished, as this is Ryan's room.
"Here," I pointed to the bed, "probably there, there" I started pointing, "and there. Definitely there!"
"Dude!" Seth threw his arms open.
Marissa suddenly started laughing.
Summer lightly scolded me, "Look what you did to my best friend. Now she's laughing about your degeneracies."
"Hey! It wasn't me, it was my dad. I'm only stating facts," I defended myself.
Marissa finally spoke through laughter, "Only Jake could say something that absurd with such calmness."
Before we could continue the conversation, the doorbell rang once again.
Seth quickly checked his phone. "Must be Lindsay," he headed to the door with us following.
-----------------------------
He opened the door. "Hello, Lindsay," Seth smiled, "and Mrs. Wheeler," he greeted awkwardly.
Lindsay was about to approach Seth, but her mother held her firmly by the shoulder.
"Seth, can I talk to your parents?" she asked.
Lindsay immediately made a face. "Mom! You're being weird," she protested.
I frowned. She didn't seem to be doing it just out of motherly protectiveness or anything like that. I could see she was slightly shaken.
I decided to step in. "Seth, why don't you take Mrs. Wheeler to meet your parents?"
"Hey, Lindsay, I heard you want to join the Social group?" Marissa also pulled Lindsay aside along with Summer.
That left Ryan, Anna, and me.
"Is it just me, or did the atmosphere get tense?" Anna wondered.
I was still thoughtful. "Yes, there's something going on. She's clearly against Seth and Lindsay's relationship, but I don't know why."
"Doesn't seem like a 'he's not good enough for her' thing," I concluded.
It was not like Claire with Haley and Dylan.
"You're the genius one," Anna teased. "Solve it."
I shook my head. "I know little about her. There are so many possible reasons - maybe she thinks it'll hurt Lindsay's studies, or for some religious reason, or she doesn't want her involved with the rich kids from the Palisades. Gosh, Lindsay could even be someone's illegitimate daughter close to the family."
"Lindsay said she was raised only by her mother," Ryan commented.
"Okay, that would be bizarre," Anna remarked.
I nodded. The odds should've been minimal. Of all people, the one Seth started liking?
A knock echoed again. Ryan opened the door - it was Seth's grandfather.
"Mr. Nichols, everyone's in the kitchen," Ryan informed him. The man nodded and walked that way.
"Seems like Caleb Nichols still doesn't like you," I noted.
"Tough guy," Ryan replied shortly.
"Yeah, better not to say what I think of him," I added.
Seth came running a moment later. "Guys, I need your help. Mrs. Wheeler wanted to talk alone with my parents, and things got even stranger when she saw my grandpa."
We all headed to the kitchen.
Caleb was speaking, facing Lindsay's mother. "I can't believe you just showed up like this, Renee"
"Did you really think we could get away with it forever?" she reacted. "Besides, Lindsay and your grandson were about to start a relationship."
"What!?" he shouted, now turning toward us - more precisely, toward Seth.
Kirsten frowned. "Get away with what? Dad, start talking." She demanded.
Mr. Nichols took a deep breath and began to confess. "Kirsten, Hailey, I had hoped I could protect you both from this forever, but..."
He continued reluctantly, "Sixteen years ago, I made... I made an error in judgment - one that almost ruined my marriage."
"Oh my God!" Hailey and Kirsten exclaimed in unison.
"Wait, wait, wait," Seth repeated, "are you saying that Lindsay is my aunt???"
-----------------------------
If you enjoy it, please leave a Review and Power Stones
You can also support me on patreon and read up to 30 chapters ahead: https://[email protected]/Japa_Madrid