Irmarie P.O.V.
I went inside my loud ass house.

"So, Amy was serious then?" Frank asked.

"Yeah. But, he's actually nice." I said heading to the closet in the hall.

"I guess. If that fucker hurts you, give me a call." Frank said.

I put my jacket in the closet. "Okay. But, I think him hanging out with me is making him loose his friends," I thought out loud.

"Then those fuckers aren't his friends then." Frank said closing the door for me.

"Yeah. But I can't help but feel a little bit guilty. That's all," I said walking to my room.

"Don't feel guilty for him. What's his name again?" Frank asked.

"His name is Gerard." I said putting my book bag in my room.

"Gerard, eh?" Frank said.

"Yep." I said.

"Is he coming to dinner?"

"Yeah. I told him to bring Mikey too," I said heading to the living room.

"Irmarie, does your Mom know?" Frank asked.

"Nope. Wait, where is she anyways?" I asked.

"Star said she was still at work. So is Vinny and Spike," Frank said sitting on the couch. Well, laying down on the couch.

"Dude, make some space for me at least," I said.

"Nope." Frank said.

"Fine." I said then sat on top of his legs.

"If you're trying to make it hurt, it's not going to work," Frank said.

"Shut up, you bastard." I said.

"I'M HOME!!!" Mom yelled.

"HEY MOM!!" we all yelled back.

"Hey Mom! Frank is here," I said.

"Hey Frank. Where's your mother?" Mom asked.

"She's going to be here in a couple of minutes." Frank said.

"You guys staying for dinner?" Mom asked putting away her coat.

"Yeah."

"Oh, that reminds me. Mom, Gerard and Mikey are coming for dinner too!" I called.

"Good. Glad you're making friends, Irmarie," Mom said with a smile.

"But I thought I was her friend!" Frank complained.

"Dude, you're my cousin." I said.

"But can I be your friend too! I mean, it's quiet possible, we don't even look a like at all!" Frank complained again.

It was true. He was pale while I was tan. Well, not really tan since it was winter, I was a little bit light skin than I am if it was summer. He had hazel eyes, I had brown.

Basically, I look a lot like my mom while Frank was just like everybody from my dads side.

"True," I said.

"So, does that mean I'm your friend too?" Frank asked.

"Yes Frank." I said.

"Yay!" He said.

"Now, will you move your legs so I can sit my ass down on the couch?" I said.

"Fine." He said and removed his legs.

"Much better," I said.

"Hey!" I heard Auntie Linda call.

"Hey!" We all called back.

"Is Frank here?" Auntie Linda asked.

"Yeah. He's on the couch with Irmarie," Star replied.

"Thanks Star." Auntie Linda said.

I heard Auntie Linda walk to the living room, where we both were.

"Frankie! Hello Irmarie," Auntie Linda said and hugged me.

"Hey Auntie," I said.

"Has Frank been a pain in the ass for you?" Auntie Linda asked.

"Hey! I'm right here!" Frank said.

"We know," we both said.

Frank stood up and threw his hands in the air. "I can tell I'm not wanted." He said and made a dramatic exit.

"Yeah. He tackled me while I was talking to someone," I said loudly enough for Frank to hear.

"I heard that!" He called.

"I know! You were suppose to, bastard!" I called back.

Auntie Linda laughed. "Oh that Frank. I knew I shouldn't have drank any caffeine when I was pregnant with him."

"Well, it's too late for that," I said.

"Irmarie. I have to tell you something first. I'm going to announce it at dinner tonight, but I want you to hear it first. Frank doesn't know this." Auntie Linda said.

I can tell she was serious by the tone of her voice.

"Okay," I said.

She sat down on the couch. "I'm pregnant." She said.

"Congratulations!" I said quietly.

"I know! But, I'm scared. Frank doesn't know, not even his father knows," Auntie Linda said.

"Why are you scared of?" I asked.

"That I'll have a miscarriage."

"Oh, Auntie Linda. You're young. Don't worry about it, with all the science there is now, the worst that could happen is, I don't know, something bad, but a miscarriage? With you being so young, I don't think so." I said.

"Oh, thank you, Irmarie. You always make me feel better," Auntie Linda said while hugging me.

"How far are you in?" I asked.

"A month in." Auntie Linda said.

"Do you know what you're going to name the baby?" I asked.

"Well, if it's another boy, I'll name it Miles, if it's a girl I'm stuck between Lily or Cherry," Auntie
Linda said.

"Well, if it's a girl, ask Uncle Aaron which one he'll pick." I said.

"But what if he doesn't want the girl or the boy to be named Miles or Lily or Cherry?" Auntie Linda asked.

"You stand up to him! Tell him you're the one that is carrying that baby for nine months, and, that you're going to be in labor after the nine months! So, he should let you name the baby." I said.

"How does that work?" She asked.

"It worked with Mom. She named us because she gave the same excuse when she had us." I said while nodding my head.

"So that's how she did it," Auntie Linda said.

'Sh, don't tell Mom I said that," I said.

"I promise." Auntie Linda said.


Mom, Star, Auntie Linda, and I made dinner for about fifteen to twenty people. The reason why we're having a lot of people over is because it's Amy's birthday. Yeah... she and Robin share the same birthday month.

So, we have a big family...

I set the white rice on the table and heard a knock on the door.

"I'LL GET IT DON'T WORRY!" I yelled and went to the door. I opened it and it revealed Gerard and Mikey.

"Hey!" They both said.

"Glad you guys made it." I said.

"Yeah. So what is dinner about?" Mikey asked.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you!" I said face palming myself. "It's Amy's birthday. But we're celebrating
both Amy's and Robin's birthdays."

"Okay." Gerard said. "Is that why that Frank guy was here?"

"Yeah. He's my cousin." I said.

"Oh." Gerard said in some what relief.

Okay... I thought to myself.

I step aside so I can let them walk in.

"Who is it Irmarie!" Mom called.

"It's Gerard and Mikey!" I called back.

"Okay." Mom called.

"Sorry, we're kind of getting ready still. Robin and Amy are still not here. Which is a good thing! Want to help?" I asked.

"Uh, sure." Gerard said and looked at Mikey.

"Yeah." Mikey said.

"Great! MOM, GERARD AND MIKEY WILL HELP!" I yelled.

"GREAT! GO GET READY, IRMARIE!" Mom yelled back.

"Okay-"

"HAS ANYBODY SEEN MY RED TIE!?" Yelled Rocky.

"DID YOU CHECK THE LAUNDRY ROOM!?" Vinny yelled back.

"NOPE!" Rocky yelled and ran to the laundry room.

"Told you," I said.

"I can see that you weren't kidding," Gerard said.

"Okay. My Mom is in the kitchen. Go help her. I'll be getting ready. Oh God is it just me or is it
hot in here!" I said quickly.

"Just you," they both said.

"Okay. Well, I should get ready." I said.

I showed them where Mom was. I quickly ran to my room and grabbed my black dress that I got from Hot Topic weeks back. 'Hell Bunny Red Polka Dot Swing Dress' read the tag.

I put on the red dress and then the black belt that came with it. I know you're suppose to put on your makeup first before you put on the dress, but cut me some slack, I'm trying to hurry up here!

I just applied some mascara and red lipstick. Put on a black necklace that has red roses and black crosses, and black cross earrings to match.

My hair was already straight, so I just left that alone. I put on my black flats. I took a quick look of myself in the mirror.

"Looking good," I said to myself. God I can be a creep to myself sometimes.

I headed to the kitchen, where Gerard and Mikey had been helping Mom.

Mikey and Mom were in the dining room, helping Star and Auntie Linda set up the table. Gerard was in the kitchen with Frank. They both were watching the soup.

"Hey guys!" I said.

"Hey!" Frank said.

Gerard didn't say anything for a second. He was looking at me... Frank punched his arm.

"Ouch! Hey," he said.

"How long is if until Amy and Robin come?" I asked.

"Mom said in thirty minutes," Frank said.

"Is the soup close to being done?" I asked.

"I hope so." Frank said.

"Has my Dad come yet?" I asked.

"Yeah. He's upstairs." Frank asked.

"Good. Hey, Frank, where's Uncle Aaron?" I asked.

"Cleaning up the living room." Frank said.

"Vinny?"

"Out to get some soda," Gerard said.

"Spike?"

"He said he went to go get his girlfriend, Coco." Gerard said again.

"Rocky?"

"Went to get Wolfgang." Frank said.

"Okay. So, now we have to make sure that they all come before Amy and Robin get here." I said as I sat.

"Having a big family is tough," Frank said.

"Ha, yeah." I said. Oh Frank and Uncle Aaron didn't know about Auntie Linda. Yet!

"Why are you laughing?" Gerard asked.

"Oh, you'll find out later." I said.

Gerard turned to Frank. "Has she always been creepy like this?" He asked.

"Yep." Frank replied.

Rocky and Wolfgang got here first before Spike and Coco did. Vinny came back with the sodas. We were now just waiting for Amy and Robin.

Mom and Dad told the plan to us. We all were going to hide. Amy and Robin think that they're just coming to get some things. They also think that we'll be out.

Mom said that Frank will turn off the lights while we all hide. Dad has one of the neighbors, Mr. Young, out being the watch out. He said Mr. Young will call us if he sees Amy and Robin's car coming.

Some of us will have partners to hide with, that's what Mom said. Since Amy had paired me up with Gerard on the art project, Mom thought it was a nice idea to pair Gerard and I as hiding partners. Dad told everybody their hiding spots.

I knew where my hiding spot is going to be. Gerard and I are going to be hiding in the coat closet in the hall. That's extremely close to the front door.

And so we waited for the call. After about ten minutes, Dad's phone started to ring.

I quickly grabbed Gerard's hand and pulled him to where the closet was.

"Get in," I said.

I separated the coats so Gerard and I can get in the back. I was kind of hoping we'll discover
Narnia back there. But, I forgot this is a closet and not a wardrobe.

I'll tell you something, the closet isn't big. So, when I closed the closet door, Gerard and I were squished together. I kind of wished I was paired up with Mikey instead of Gerard. One reason is because you shouldn't send one wide person (me) and one average person (Gerard) in a small space.

I'm not calling myself fat. No, I'm just wide from my hips, that's all.

"Do you feel squished?" Gerard whispered to me.

"Yeah." I whispered back.

Even though it's dark in here, I can kind of see Gerard. Well, more of his figure.

I waited to hear the car pull up to the drive way. We made sure Auntie and Uncle's car was parked in our neighbor's drive way. And, that our family car was parked at the Young's driveway.

"Gerard." I whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I'm kind of hoping you're tickling me," I whispered.

"Why? I'm not tickling you." He whispered back.

"Oh God..." I whispered.

"Where are you being tickled?" Gerard whispered.

"My left arm," I whispered.

Gerard inspected my left arm. I'm not sure how he can see in the dark.

"Okay. Question. Do you have a fear of spiders?" Gerard whispered.

"OH MY-" I was now sort of yelling, but Gerard covered my mouth with his hand.

"Sh! Don't worry, I'll get it off." Gerard whispered. I nodded my head. He some how manage to get the spider in his hand while his other hand was covering my mouth.

I would close my eyes, but then again, closed or open, it's pitch black in here.

"It's just a house spider, not a fucking tarantula," Gerard whispered. I can so fucking tell he's smiling.

Note to self. Kill him after all of this happens.

Gerard set the thing from hell down on the floor, which involved him kneeling. It was weird because we're in a fucking small closet.

"Okay, it's gone." Gerard whispered. and let his hand that was covering my mouth fall down to his sides.

"Thank God!" I breathed out.

I was caught up in the moment, that when the front door opened, I jumped. I guess Gerard thought I was going to scream because he covered my mouth again.

"So, where did Rosa said she put it?" Amy asked.

"I think she said the closet." Robin asked.

I felt Gerard looking at me. He let his hand go. I guess he was now panicking just like I was because Mom didn't said anything about this.

We heard the footsteps come closer to us. I swear, I felt like I was in a horror film. The door opened. The lights turned on. Gerard and I jumped out and everybody else yelled: "Surprise!"
Amy and Robin were surprised. They so didn't see that coming.

After the little surprise, we were all very hungry. And I tell you, if my family is hungry, we run. We ate. Auntie Linda told the news. After a while, the house had gotten too hot for me. I decided to go outside to get some fresh air.

I grabbed my coat and wrapped it around me. I opened the door, and stepped onto the porch. I breathed in the cold January air and sat on the concrete stairs.

To be honest with you, I was freezing my ass off. After all, I am wearing a dress. But, I wanted the fresh air.

After a minute outside, I heard the door open and closed. The mysterious person sat next to me.

"I guess you were too hot in there?" I asked.

"Yeah." Gerard said.

"Yeah..." I repeated.

"You look pretty. Red and black really suits you." Gerard said.

"Thanks. You look pretty nice yourself." I said.

He had on some blue jeans and a nice shirt. "Thanks." He said.

We sat in silence for a while. None of us knew how to talk to each other. We were still getting use to it.

"Irmarie?" Gerard said.

"Yep."

"Last year. When I was still being an asshole, we um, locked you in your locker, but you didn't
put up a fight. Why?" Gerard asked.

I didn't say anything for a moment. I didn't want Gerard to know anything about me that is too personal, yet.

"I'll tell you as time goes on, okay? Right now, now is not the right time." I said.

"Will you tell me in a couple of weeks or so?" Gerard asked.

"Yeah. Don't worry." I said.

"Okay."

After the conversation, we went back inside. The little party ended around eleven. I bet Gerard and Mikey didn't thought they were going to celebrate their art teacher's birthday. Ha ha ha, suckers!