When I Met Her....

Wifey

*STEPH IN THE MEDIA*

Wifey

Laurel's POV

Watching the yellow lines on the black asphalt road disappear beneath me, my eyes become heavy. Tall green trees whipping pass my window. My eyes droop lazily.....tree....yellow line.....trees....yellow line.....trees.....

Time flies by when your asleep. We were just passing over the state line when I drifted off. Now my vision is blurred as I press the sleep from my eyes with the heels of my hand.

"We're here." My dad smiles softly.

Looking around I see that we're in a brightly lit 3-car parking garage.

"Let's get inside. I know you have to be starving." He says stepping out of the truck.

My stomach roars and I smile sheepishly, closing the truck door as I hop out.

Inside the house is surprisingly gorgeous. I never remembered my dad as the stylish type. The simple glass cabinets and black and white decore really fit together.

"Black and white." I say to myself, letting my fingers trail against the cool black countertop.

"Its's classic." My dad knods, "Stephanie decorated."

"Stephanie?"

"My wife." He clarifies, "Come, I want you to meet her."

I trail behind my father as he walks confidently through his house. We pass through the dining room and the living room. The furniture all metallic colors, no one piece matching the other, but somehow coming together to create one masterpiece. Then down a dim hallway until we reached a shiny brown door with a brass handle. He turns the handle and pushes the door open. Sitting behind a giant mahogony desk is a woman, fairly pretty. Her blonde hair's wavy to right below her bosoms, her eyes blue and almond shaped with slim red lips. When she looks up from the papers on her desk her lips spread into a breathtaking smile.

"This must be Laurel." She says rising from her chair.

"Yes it is." My father says, placing his hand on my back, " Laurel this is Stephanie."

"Call me Steph please." She smiles, pulling my hands into hers, "I'm so happy you've decided to come stay with us."

I smile politely and then she draws me into an unexpected hug. My body grows stiff and Steph pulls away.

"I'm sorry." She says frowning, " I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"It's not you." I tell her, "Its just..."

I don't finish and let my eyes fall to my feet.

"No need to explain honey. I understand." Steph says smiling sweetly, glancing at my father then back at me. "Well I wasn't expecting you guys so early or I would have cooked. We can order in if you'd like."

"Sounds perfect. What would you like to eat?" My father ask, looking at me.

"Chinese would be nice." I say.

"Chinese it is." Steph smiles turning to her desk to pick up the house phone.

"Why don't I show you to your room while we wait for the food." My father suggest.

"Okay." I say, forcing a smile.

We walk out of the office and continue down the hallway, taking a sharp right and into the room at the end of the hallway. A queen size bed with white, red, and gold sheets is perched in the middle of the room. A desk with a small lamp and Windows laptop sits a few feet to the right of the bed with a wooden chair covered with white cushion. The rest of the spacious room is occupied with other convenient pieces of furniture: a stereo with a large collection of CDs, and a full body length mirror that hangs just above the plush tan carpet next to a large dresser.

"How is it?" My father asks nervously, "If you don't like it you can always redecorate."

I shake my head. "No, its perfect.

I see my father take in a giant gulp of air, running his hands through his salt n' pepper hair.

"I'm glad you like it. Stephanie put it all together when you and I first got in touch."

"I'll have to remember to thank her." I say, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"Yeah." He sighs, "Well I'll be in and out with your stuff and I'll come get you when the food arrives."

"Thanks dad. I really appreciate all of this." I smile, getting up to wrap my arms around him.

"Anything for you princess." He mumbles into my hair.

"I love you daddy." I whisper.

"I love you too princess." He whispers back, pressing his lips lightly to my forehead.

*****************

"So Laurel, what grade are you in?" Steph asks at the dinner table.

"12th." I answer, pulling an egg roll from the greasy white bag with a pair of tongs.

"That's good. My senior year was amazing." She beams.

"Were you popular?" I ask curiously.

"You could say that." Steph shrugs " I was the captain of the cheer leading squad and President of the Student Council."

"That sounds...busy." I say, forking at the shrimp fried rice on my plate.

"Were you involved in anything at your old school." She asks, glancing quickly at my father.

He's sitting quietly at the head of the table with Steph to his right and me to his left.

"Not really. There wasn't really that much to offer."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Steph frowns, "You'll love Knightingale High. It's a great school."

I nod and smile, bending my head down to look at my food.

"Rob, honey, are you registering Laurel on Monday or do you want me to?" Steph asks, turning to look at my father.

"I'll do it. I just have to make sure the hospital knows I'm unavailable Monday morning." He answers, wiping his face with his napkin.

I grin.

"Okay." She smiles.

"Well, Laurel, I'm guessing you'll want a few new things before school in Monday so tomorrow you and Stephanie can go shopping. Or whatever it is girls do." He chuckles.

"That would be great dad." I say.

For the first time in forever I'm actually looking forward to the next day.

"That's a wonderful idea. It'll give me some time to get to know Laurel." Steph smiles.

"Well I'm done." My father grunts, pushing his chair back from the table.

"You eat entirely too fast." Steph says, shaking her head playfully.

"That's not it at all. You girlies just insist on running your traps." My father banters. "I'll see you in the morning princess. And you, later."

He turns to Steph and kisses her on her jaw. A twinge of jealously pinches my stomach. I look at Steph briefly, then down at my plate.

"I really am looking forward to tomorrow." Steph says once my father has left the room.

"Mmhm" I mumble with fake enthusiasm before biting into my egg roll.

Honestly, I was looking forward too....until just a moment ago.