Family Dinner

*Willow*

“Um, who are you trying to seduce with those clothes?” Joy asked. 

“Powerful men,” I laughed as I grabbed different colors. 

“Guess that was a Bianca Monroe idea.”

“You’d be right.”

“Mom said that?” Scarlett asked. “That woman is certifiable, I swear! When I was your age she thought I was a total slut.”

“Well you did get pregnant by two men at the same time, Mom.” Joy pointed out. 

“And now you’re here, you should be grateful I was a slut.”

“Look, Nathaniel said he’s hitting heavy this summer, so I have to use everything I can. Even my body.”

“Don’t you want to get far on hardwork and merit?” Joy asked. 

“Hm…take forever to get somewhere because I’m a woman and let Nathaniel win…or fast track that by being super hot and in the process beat Nathaniel. Hard choice but I gotta go with the latter.” I shrugged. 

“Well, Mom you were alive long enough to witness the death of feminism, how does it feel?”

“Historic.” Scarlett laughed. “We gotta hurry girls, we’re gonna be late for dinner.”

“Please don’t tell me we’re doing the family dinner thing,” I groaned. 

“Of course we are! And there will be family dinner twice a week all summer. On Monday you kids will run off and we’ll barely see you if we don't force it.”

“Isn’t that what you have Robin for?” Joy questioned. “So you wouldn’t be lonely?”

“No, we had Robin because your father is insatiable and I forgot my birth control for our honeymoon.”

“There is no world in which I needed to know that mother.”

--

Levi was the first person I saw when I entered the house. 

“Hey, Will. Did I hear that Aston Martin is yours?” He smiled.

“It is. A present from my parents.”

“Nice! I’ve always wanted to drive one.”

“You can drive mine! We can drive it together.” I said.

“That would be cool. I’ll let you put your stuff away.”

“Okay bye.”

“My son sure is dreamy isn’t he?” I turned and saw Avery.

He had a smile on his pale face. Under his blonde hair, his dark green eyes squinted from behind his glasses. 

“Um…Levi? Um…he’s a very nice young man.”

“Do you have a crush, Willow?”

“No, no of course not!”

“Avery, what are you bothering Willow about?” Avery’s wife, Skyler, approached us. 

I always thought she was just the prettiest woman ever. Beautiful, glowing dark skin, big chocolate brown eyes, a wild smile and great nose decorated with jewelry. 

Levi looked like neither of his parents, considering he was adopted. He was Skyler and Avery’s entire world. He made them so happy. 

“Willow has a crush on Levi.” Avery informed her. 

“I do not!”

“Why, is he not handsome enough?” Skyler questioned. 

“What? No! Um he’s very handsome!”

“So he has a terrible personality?” Avery asked. 

“He’s amazing!”

“So why don’t you like him?”

“I do!”

“We got her!” Skyler and Avery high fived. 

“You guys are the worst,” I frowned. 

“You should ask him out, Will.” Avery insisted. “I think he likes you.”

“I think he’s nice to me.”

“You were always his favorite in the baby gang.” Skyler informed me. “I say go for it.”

“I’m not talking to you guys about this, it’s weird!” I hurried to the elevator.

As the doors were closing an arm stopped them. Nathaniel entered the elevator with me. 

I should have taken the damn stairs. I hummed along with the elevator music. 

“Could you be any more annoying?” He asked. 

“Yes.”

“Ugh, I have no idea why Orlando likes you.”

“Wait what?” I questioned. 

“Nothing.”

“Tell me you jerk!”

“Fine god! Orlando says he likes you for some odd reason.” Nathaniel sneered. “I thought he had better taste than that.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really I thought he had better taste than liking you.”

“No, I mean he really likes me?” I snapped.

“Yeah and he asked me to help get you. Like that’s ever going to happen.”

“I don’t need you to get a guy anyways.”

“Yeah, I’m aware you’re very experienced in that area.” Nathaniel snorted. 

“And what does that mean?”

“The guys don’t call you ‘Willing Willow’ and ‘Moaning Monroe’ for nothing.”

I gasped. “They don’t say that.”

“Oh yeah they do. I hear you give it out like pop quizzes on a Wednesday.”

I had to stop myself from punching him.

“You’re one to talk, Watson! Girls say stuff about you too, Needy Nathaniel!” I shot back.

His eyes widened. “You are lying, no one calls me that.”

“I hear you're noisy too. Is it true you whimper when you finish and then you need a cuddle?”

“Well I heard you have nosebleeds during sex!”

“That was one time!”

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. 

“Slut!” Nathaniel spat. 

“Whore!” I shouted.

“Are you guys trying to address me?” Julian asked, popping his head out of his room.

“No!” Nathaniel and I chorused before I stomped to my room and slammed the door. 

That horrid tramp! He was so infuriating. 

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw I had a text from Orlando.

Can’t wait to see you on Monday. Save me a seat? :)

I eagerly typed back. 

Absolutely :)

*Nathaniel*

I hate her so much!

Willow constantly chose to be a total bitch to me all the time. I was being nice and telling her Orlando liked her and she attacked me? What the hell was wrong with her? Was it just in her DNA to be that nasty and mean?!

I barged into Julian’s room. 

“Do girls call me Needy Nathaniel?” I demanded. 

“How the hell should I know?”

“I don’t know. Just ugh! Willow got in my head man.”

“What’s new?” Julian asked. 

“That I have a plan on how to throw her off her game.”

“Dude, come on.”

“I’m not gonna hurt her or anything. In fact, I’m not going to do anything to her directly.”

“I don’t get it.” Julian stated. 

“Orlando Ruiz is.”

“Oh that guy is a skeeze!”

“And you’re not?” I challenged. 

“Look, I’m very nice to the girls I entertain.”

“You truly are your father’s son.”

“Have you heard he’s bringing a new girlfriend for dinner tonight?” 

I looked at Julian to see how upset he was about it. Julian loved his father, but hated the severe amount of women that had been in and out of his life since he was a kid.

“Maybe this one is really nice a-and it’s serious.” I said hopefully. 

“It’s not, I know it. He’s been engaged seven times, Nathaniel. That’s not normal! A-and it’s his fault that it doesn’t work out! He suddenly doesn’t want to commit anymore!”

“Do you know why?”

“He’s in love with my mom. And she’s in love with Grayson. I think something broke in him when she didn’t choose him. He just pretends it didn’t. And I’m so tired of dealing with that.” Julian whispered. “I just wish he could finally be happy.”

“I’m sure it’ll be okay. I mean…look at Bianca. She found her second love in her forties. Did that lead to the most obnoxious human being born? Sure, but she did it. Lee can too.”

“But he doesn’t want to, that’s the difference! I think he likes the misery or something. Sometimes I think about how different life would be if Mom chose my dad.”

“Very different I imagine. You don’t like…resent Grayson or-”

“No, of course not. I love Grayson. I mean he’s my other dad. I just want them all to be happy.” Julian ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. 

“Dinner time!” Scarlett’s voice announced on the intercom. 

Here we go.

--

Lee’s new girlfriend was pretty.

She had long red hair and bright blue eyes. She had some incredible breasts, but an unfortunate laugh. She was also like four years older than us. Julian was incredibly upset.

“So, where did you meet…Lolli?” Julian asked. 

“At the gym.” Lee smiled. “She helped me with my form.”

“I mean it was great, but there is always room for improvement.” Lolli smiled. 

“That’s how my parents met,” Willow offered. 

“Actually they met when Robbie was a teenager and Bianca was a married woman, right? He used to babysit Scarlett.” I smiled.

Willow’s jaw clenched. “What I meant is that’s how they reconnected, but thank you for that history of my family…Nathaniel.”

“Lee did tell me this family was a little unorthodox.” Lolli giggled annoyingly.

I was sure dogs in the neighborhood could hear it. 

“While we’re talking about how parents met, Nathaniel, your parents met at school right? Your mom was his student.” 

“Teaching assistant.” I responded.

“Oh right! But he was married to my mom at the time actually and then here comes Gerald!” Willow laughed. 

Gerald snorted along with her. He was always amused by how he had come into this world. 

“Anyways!” Joy snapped. “Lolli what is it that you do?”

“I’m a dancer.” She smiled.

“Like a stripper?” Julian questioned. 

“Julian Gerald Watson-Windsor!” Scarlett and Lee chorused. 

“It was just a question!” 

“A very inappropriate one!” Scarlett shook her head. “I’m sorry Lolli, I like to think I raised my kids with some respect.”

“How many do you have again?” Lolli questioned. 

“Three. Joy and…Julian,” She glared at him. “And then that’s my other son Robin.”

“Can I take a picture with you Lolli?” Robin asked. 

“Sure!” 

“No that’s not necessary,” Grayson assured her. “Robin, let’s have some manners.”

“I just think she’s pretty.” Robin shrugged. 

“Aw, thanks!”

“Back on the topic of you and my dad Lolli,” Julian forced a smile. “How long has this been going on?”

“About five months.” Lolli smiled. “It’s been amazing! I had no idea about the whole Windsor business.”

“It’s a big one.”

“Yeah, it’s great! I love it.”

“I’m sure you do, Lolli.” Julian stated. 

“Could someone pass the wine?” Levi whispered. 

“So…any fun plans for the summer?” Lolli asked. 

“We have an internship,” Willow informed her. “Whoever does the best gets to go back after graduation as an entry level worker, it’s gonna be amazing.”

“Yeah, I can’t wait to win it.” I grinned. 

“You’ll be waiting for a while, because I’m gonna win it.”

“The two of you do not start!” Scarlett said quickly. “This is supposed to be a nice family dinner.”

“Willow is not my family.” I blurted out. 

“Thank god for that!” Willow announced.

“Okay! Lolli, is that your natural hair color?” Skyler asked. 

“Yes, it is,” Lolli nodded. “You can ask Lee. The carpet matches the drapes.”

“Oh wow.” Avery chuckled.

“You have any kids Lolli?” Julian questioned.

“Oh no, I don’t want to have kids. That’s why Lee and I work. He doesn’t either.”

“He already has one.”

“Julian, she didn’t mean it like-”

“Just because I’m an adult doesn’t mean I’m not your kid anymore, Dad!”

“I know that, I do!” Lee insisted.

“Then why do you keep putting me through this?” Julian cried. “This is like the forty-seventh woman I’ve met at this point. Why can’t you settle down?”

“He can,” Lolli assured Julian. “We’re getting married.”

On the beautiful hand of Lolli was a giant diamond ring on her ring finger. 

I looked at Julian. 

He looked horrified before downing his drink and standing up so hard, his chair flipped over. 

“Congratulations Dad. Maybe the eighth time is the charm.”