TEETH [chris sturniolo]

22. [1/2]

n/a: double update! so make sure you read the chapter after this one :)

"Please mom, it's Nate's party!" Chris said pleadingly

Piper looked at the exchange, it had been the same thing ever since they got grounded. Every morning one of the triplets would beg their mother to lift their punishment. And every morning, Mary Lou would say no.

"And? I said two weeks, Sunday is your last day. You can miss one party."

"We can miss one party, sure, but not Nate's!" Nick said. "Mom, you don't understand, he's our best friend!"

Mary Lou sighed. "Go to school, I'll talk to your father and we'll see."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" The three of them said, peppering the woman in kisses.

"Piper? Can I have a word with you?" Chris and Piper tensed at his mother's plead. The boy looked at the girl with an alarmed look.

"Yes, of course, you boys go ahead I'll catch up with you in a second."

The triplets nodded before leaving the house.

"Chris told me you need to be in L.A in a few weeks."

"Oh..." she visibly deflated. "Yeah, but they told me I need a tutor or a guardian with me since I'm not eighteen yet."

"That's... bad" Mary Lou said. "When's your birthday?"

"December first."

"That's... close," she said. "But don't you worry, honey. I'll drive you up to Los Angeles myself and we can talk to the casting director. If this job is meant for you, I'm sure they can wait a couple of months."

Piper's heart swelled. It probably didn't work like that, but the sentiment was heartwarming.

"Thank you."

"Have you done other stuff?"

Piper recounted her past experiences, the commercials and small gigs. "But that money's long gone by now, my mom probably snorted it" she finished with a laugh, then immediately cringed. "Sorry, I... it's my way to cope."

Mary Lou grimaced slightly.

"I better get going, thank you for breakfast and... everything, really" Piper hopped off the stool and quickly hugged the woman. "See you later!"

Piper left the house quickly and practically jumped in the car with the triplets, slamming the car door shut behind her.

"Whoa, slow down there, Cruz," Chris said, glancing back from the passenger seat. "What happened?"

"Is everything okay?" Matt echoed, pulling out of the driveway.

Nick cut in before Piper could answer. "Did our mom say anything about the party?"