''I woke up one morning thinking about wolves and realized that wolf packs function as families. Everyone has a role, and if you act within the parameters of your role, the whole pack succeeds, and when that falls apart, so does the pack.''
-Jodi Picoult
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•September, 5...(Monday)
"This is...this is bullshit ! Y'all are not serious, are you ? "
"Auggie, you better watch your mouth ! " Their mother warned folding her arms.
"Sorry. But mom, that's unfair and...crazy too. I'm a senior this year, I have to think and to do a lot already and now you want me to write ya'll three essays ! And you're really gonna call everybody's parents to make them clean the house ? This is already cleaned ! "
"Lil'boy lower ya damn voice befa' I knock ya out ! "
Aug III groaned wiping his face, "Sorry, but we can't do that. Can we have another punishment ? Please ! Plus, I can't stay confined in this house for two months."
"But ya won't be confined in the house, y'all will be able to get out for school and for work."
"And what about practice ? "
"Uh, let me think 'bout it and I'll tell ya."
"Dad ! C'mon ! " He whined and then turned towards his little sister, "Why are you saying nothing ? You're good with that ?! "
Shay shook her head, "No, but why trying to argue with them ? They won't change their mind."
"And that's where you're so wrong." Kim said and her husband nodded his head.
The two teenagers were completely lost again. They shared a confused look before to look at their parents like each one had grown another head, "What do you mean exactly ? " Shaylia asked wanting some clarification.
"Do I look like I have time to read six essays and call everybody and their mama to clean my house ? Hell nah ! "
"Are you gonna whoop us ? " Lil'Aug asked sighing.
"No. You passed that stage." Kim answered and then the two parents sat on the other end of their long semicircle white couch. She sighed, "Listen, you're now seventeen and almost sixteen, so not little kids anymore. We could beat your bad asses, but at this point in your lives...it's not what you need. So...we thought about something, that will make you grow up and teach you something also."
"Wait...So everything y'all said was...a joke ? " Their son asked looking at them.
"We were laughin'." August simply said, shrugging.
"It was not funny." Shay exclaimed restraining herself from rolling her eyes or she was about to finally get that ass whopping. But they scared her with their supposedly joke.
"Of course it was ! What are ya talkin' 'bout ? Anyways, it ain't mean dat ya won't be punished tho and we're for real this time."
"Yeah, we suggest that you punished yourselves."
Aug III and Shay frowned, "What ?! "
"Ya..." Their father pointed his mini-me, "...decide the punishment your sister gon' have and your sister gon' do the same fa' ya." He explained to them, "And ya can't be too nice with each other, but be fair."
"What ? " Their son asked narrowing his eyes at them, "Are you serious ? "
"And you're going to start paying some bills since you think you can organize a party in the house where you're living for free. Auggie, you'll help for the electricity and Shay for the water. And we're going to stop giving you pocket money every month too."
"WHAT ?! " They exclaimed shocked at the same time. They weren't expecting that. At all.
"Wait, wait, wait. Do you know how many things I have to pay for already by myself ? "
"Except fa' your car, the other things ya're spending your money with is not dat necessary. Ya can use the money fa' somethin' more important."
"That is really unfair ! You're giving pocket money to Ant since more years than me, so why is it stoping for me too ? Y'all have to add one year at least. I still need to buy clothes and makeup every month of the year."
Kim and August fanned her off, "No. No, honey, you really don't need to. Don't worry, you'll be fine."
"I'd rather write five essays." Aug III said and puffed, "Now, I have to find another job."
"Aw, boohoo ! Poor baby, ya'on deserve it." August wiped fake tears, then smacked his teeth, "Those kids ! We didn't have all of this when we were 'bout your ages ! Plus, nothing in life is promised, we can lose all the material things in the next minute. Ya'll thank us later, belee dat."
The two sighed as a silence settled down between the four individuals.
"Shay, you can't get out for three weeks except for school, work and cheerleading. No phone, computers, video games, TV and all that for two weeks. And you'll do the triplets' chores, plus yours for one month." Lil'Aug punished his sister with his arms crossed across his chest and a frown on his face.
"Anthony, you can't get out for three weeks and a half, except for school, work and practice. No technology for two weeks. And you'll do the twins and June's chores, plus yours for one month and-"
"I dare you to give me more ! I effing dare you ! "
She shrugged, "You're older than me and you're the one who organized everything. It was your idea ! "
"Well, I'm giving you four months of chores then ! "
Her eyes grew widely, "Four months ?! Are you crazy ?! Then I'm giving you one freaking year ! And two without technology ! "
"I'll already be out of the house, you stupid girl ! "
"Don't call me stupid, you idiot ! "
"Oh, so now you want to talk bad to me ? I don't like too much the disrespect, so it's three years of chores now ! "
"Yo-"
"Hey, y'all stop dat immediately ! " Their father intervened in their argument, "Y'all really needa grow up ! You two have three weeks without gettin' out, except for school and allat, no technology fa' two weeks and a half, and chores for one month. Now, get outta our faces ! "
"You can put all of your stuff in our room." Kim added as the two teenagers were leaving the living room, both angry.
August took a deep breath, "When are we goin' in vacation just the two of us again ? "
Kim chuckled, "We just came back." She kissed his cheek.
∞
∞
∞
"Whaaaaaaat ?! They didn't ! "Cymphonique frowned at the other end of the line. Shaylia called her best friend as soon as she entered in her bedroom and she told her about everything that happened a couple of minutes ago in the living room. She wanted to talk with Narcissa also, but she wasn't answering her phone.
"Yes, they did it ! I don't want to pay bills ! " Shay groaned and stomped her feet, "Then I won't have enough money for the shopping and other activities." She sighed and sat on her bed. "What happened to you ? "
"Oh, the regular. He whooped my ass and I can't go out for one month. Plus, the usual threat to send me to a boarding school if I don't behave. As always too extra."
Shay stood up and walked towards her closet to choose her outfit for the next day, "These parents are always too extra. Anyways, I have to hang up and give my phone to them before they come here and try to lock me in my room or worst, to kick me out. You won't be able to contact me for two weeks and a half." She informed Cympho, who snorted.
"Two weeks and a half ? This is weird." She commented being honest.
"I know, but it's kind of my fault, I think. I'm the one who threw the half in there. Y-" She stopped speaking once she heard someone knocking on her door. She smacked her lips, "I think it's my mother or dad. See you at school tomorrow."
"Okay. We have to keep our heads up though. Good night."
"Good night." And she ended the phone call, "Come in." She told the person and then her father entered in.
"Your phone, young girl." He held his hand out to her and she placed the phone in it, "Thanks, miss extra."
She gasped slightly, "Uh...Did you hear me ? "
"Oh no, just a lil' bit." He got his index and thumb closer to show her how much, causing Shay to avoid eye contact with him. If he had heard everything, she did call him and her mother crazy two or three times in the beginning of the conversation, "Night, daddy's princess. Oh and everything your mama and I are doin' ain't ta' hurt ya. Never forget dat. I luhh ya."
"I love you too, daddy."
He smiled and kissed her forehead before to walk out. As he closed the door behind him, she suddenly heard someone hitting her window. She slowly turned around and made her way towards it.
Then she saw a little rock being thrown against her window a second time. She frowned and looked outside to see Rayshawn standing in their garden. Two things instantly came to her mind. One, why was he here ? Two, how did he get inside the property ? And a last thought came.
What was she supposed to do ?
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Let me know what you think about this chapter =)
A/N: I hope this story is not boring 😞 More is about to happen though.
THANKS FOR READING GUYS ! 💛💚💙💛