What it is

***Chrissy**

~
First of all, I'm on the brink of losing my mind. And then, Dayle’s home—I mean, my new home is gigantic and wholesome. It's nowhere close to my imagination.
“Welcome home, sweetie!” new Dad says in a soft tone and I feel my cheeks flush lightly, with the way he's all about me—I tend to feel that I never had a real father or felt a fatherly love and so, I'm receptive to whatever Mr. Owen does to me, it's affecting me positively. “Feel at home, this is your new home! Nina would show you to the room and also assist with your clothing and whatsoever!” he adds and gives me a peck on the forehead.
“Yes baby, I'll be with you shortly!” Mom adds as well. Grandma and Aunt Shallie are leaving tomorrow morning and it still stuns me that is yet to meet Dayle’s uncle and grandfather. I smile at her as the house help motions with her eyes for me to come along, I follow her obediently. I can hear Mr. Owen complaining to Mom over Dayle’s inability to be present, the man is worried and pissed off and there you have Mom trying to calm him down by all means.
We ascend the carpeted stairway, my hand takes hold of the golden railings, the interiors, and decors of this huge mansion are one to die for, it's the definition of luxury. I'm still trying to decipher if this had been the same house Dayle and his Dad had been living in, I mean—it is super large. Now I understand the rumors around school, not everyone tags along to see Dayle’s house; it's super constricted. From what I've gathered, Molly is the only one who’s seen this entirety. Maybe, it is more reasons why she feels highly of herself amongst the other girls. He never brings girls over to his house. The boy-trio are known for the same things, they don't bring just anyone over to their homes. I happen to be incredible around Egan or else, I would stand a chance. There was this one time that Dayle organized a party, it was historic and lavishly hot, people say that it wasn't his home- which I’m in -and that it had been one of his Dad’s properties. How could one be this fucking rich if not wealthy?
“Here's your room little madam,” Nina opens the door and the smell of roses hit my nostrils, it is well decorated in red and white, well-ventilated, and it's spacious and my taste— it became my taste now. “If there's anything you'd like me to take away or make do, I'm at your service,” she says
“I guess I do!” I snap
“What exactly, little madam?” her brows arch at once.
“Call me Chrissy!” I tell her interlacing my fingers behind me.
“Oh really, I'll try but you should know that some rules can't be changed! So please, if I may... Let me show you around! We could make adjustments if you deem it fit!” she says rolling away in her uniform. We head to my closet, it's a whole new segment in the large room. There are varieties of outfits for every occasion, every item is in place and order. And there, on the other hand, lies my shoes...
“Shall I show you to your washroom?” Nina interrupts my unending skimming. I follow her as he walks right in. I don't need to be shown these things, they could be anybody's taste just like mine.
“Everything is lovely! I love them!” I tell her and she gives me that ‘I-know-you-would’ look.
Once we step out and are back to the room, she walks to the door and turns to me again.
“The rest of the family would be waiting in the dining room. Dayle too. I guess!” she smiles at me and exits the room. Fuck. His name alone is sending me into a chasm of doubt and concern. All at once.
I sit on the soft bed that's a 4x6 and sink my fingers into the cotton white sheets, next, I lay on my back on it and have a very deep breath. Like the rest that I need, my soles are sore due to the use of heels for approximately an entire day. The air conditioner is serving my purpose, likewise doing its job.
My phone vibrates and I lazily peek at it. It's a text from Molly.
*Did I miss out on one of your specials? You could have at least told me, yeah???*
Fuck! I exit and toss my phone away, Molly would not understand the irony of this whole thing right now, it is sickening. Very sickening. When Ken, Ellen, and I had been talking the whole shit turning and twisting, we were just left in a blank space. No nothing. What else could they have done if not wished me well in my new home? They are excited that I'm going to have a new and good Dad unlike Garry, my friends hate him as much as I do.
The thing is, I don't know how things would be from now henceforth, how do we cope? Dayle and I? What if things didn't go as expected? I can't tell.
I lift myself gently rising to my feet. I start to undress from the sexy dress before making my way into the shower room.

~
I step out of the room dressed in a white shirt and black sweatpants, making my way in the direction of the dining room, I don't know where but my instincts aren't lying.
I see Grandma, Aunt Shallie, Dayle’s grandpa, and his uncle, and then there's another young man who's a part of the family. He's been clinging to Mom and Dad through the entire wedding, looking over their shoulders like a detail.
I join them, fighting my timidity. There's this other lady that is sitting next to Dayle’s uncle, they look like a couple—perhaps his wife.
“There you are, baby girl, did you have to take forever changing?” Grandma starts scolding me sweetly, she does that a lot.
“I'm sorry!” I say to them and not just her.
“Come on mama, let the girl flex a bit! This is more like her wedding too, don't you know?!” Aunt Shallie teases and they all crack up in response.
“Fine wine! Did you like your room?” the old man asks tilting his greyish brows.
“I love it, sir. It's awesome.”
“Your grandmother has just been hinting to us about you, please feel at home and call me Grandpa!” he adds and we smile. I start eating the dessert, while the oldies discuss whatever but nu eyes wander around. I haven't seen my parents neither have I seen Dayle.
“So Chriss, have you met my mysterious nephew, Dayle? That boy is something but lovely. In a different way!” Dayle’s uncle says and they all laugh as well.
“He's only a youth. They'll pass soon!”Grandma asks
“I've seen him. We spoke at the reception!” I tell him and he smiles.
“That bothers me a lot? He's nowhere to be found, shouldn't we call the cops?” the man’s partner says in a warm tone and everyone nods, agreeably.
“I've got his location, I'll be back soon!” the man that's like a detail leaves the table partly looking into his phone’s screen. I hope that Dayle is doing well, could it be that he's left because of me or what? I'm not finding things easy too, but we'll have to learn. Right?
I see Mom and Dad descending the stairs, they are dressed up in another light-hearted outfit—fuck, I forgot that after a wedding procession, there's always a honeymoon. Mom had hinted to me, they'll be flying to Rome for a couple of days. They look happy except that Dad is trying to reach someone through his cell phone, it would be Dayle.
They walk over to us after they exchange a few words with the other man.
“Hi sweetie, did you like your room?” Dad asks and I nod a thank you.
“Thanks a lot, Dad!” it finally escapes my mouth and he strokes my head swiftly. Mom also rubs my arm lightly.
“We'd be taking our leave now, I do hope that you all enjoy your time while my WIFE and I...” he embraces her like the way teenagers embrace each other when the butterflies are still roaming. “Enjoy our alone time.” he kisses her on the lips and there is a fair applause for them. Everyone seems excited about their wedding, just like I am. It's a good sign.
“We wish you the very best, Owen!” Grandma says
“Make healthy babies too, just in addition, don't stress up Lee—she has a lot to deal with already!” Grandpa adds and there's a loud laugh, all together while I smile faintly. I do remember some time ago, I saw some test strips in Mom’s bag, there could be a high possibility that she's expected or wants to expect. Yikes! (in a weak tone)

Aunt Shallie and Mom move away to talk as always while Dad is bidding them goodbye and lastly, he and I take a walk into the large living room.
“I wanted to er... talk to you about Dayle. Your brother. I'm wondering...” he loosely crosses his arms against his rolled-up sleeves. The shirt hugs his body like a second skin and you could tell that the man isn't the regular type of Dad, he's physically fit and healthy. “...if not happenstance argued with Dayle? Did he say some things to you before he disappeared?”
Heavens, I saw this coming. I fold my lips and reply.
“Not really, we spoke during the dance and suddenly I didn't see him anymore. He must have gone away with Egan and Steve!” I force a faint smile.
“Perhaps!” he nods lightly, did he buy that lie? Fuck. Did I just lie or partially not tell the entire truth? It's terrible, I know. “Dayle could be unbelievable sometimes... I know—I have known, but he's a sweet boy. I’m hoping that you two get along well, it would be an additional joy for your mother and I. Trust me, it matters to us—me!” he stops
“Don’t worry, Dayle and I are good!” I assure him knowing fully well that we had just collided hours ago. I'm partly the reason why he left. I know.
“Do you promise to call me whenever you feel troubled?” he asks
“Yes Dad, I promise.”
“That's our pact.” he graces me with a smile and suddenly, he pulls me in for a hug. I feel warm and secure. When our hug cuts, he says again. “You can reach Dom for anything, he'll get it sorted out before you know it. Don't worry, he'll show you things around here! I'm certain that you can mother our home, right?!”
“I'll try!” we smile.
I see the man that's too serious and focused scurrying in our direction.
“Sir? Sir?”
“Yes Dom, got him?”
“Yes, we spoke. He's on going way home—”
“No Dom, fetch him. Make sure returns him, yeah?” Dad instructs a slight frown settling on his face.
“Count on that. The jet is ready, I've got the car ready too, you should be on your way now!” Dom adds and Dad nods. He turns to me and gives me an assuring nod before leaving. I give Mom a final hug before she leaves too and in a blink, she leaves behind the clanking sounds of her heels.