10 Chapter 10: Dinner. (Part 1)

(A/N: I finished my book debut. 10 chapter in 3 days haha. Next chapter will be on Monday, and I will try to post at least 5 chapter per week from now own. If you love the story, add it to your collection. See ya)

"Hello. Is anyone home?" I shouted as I knocked on the door of Dunphy's house. Adorning a black t-shirt and black cotton pants, I completed my assembly with converse shoes and a grey-textured sweater.

I heard some clattering from the inside, and took a step backward from the door as the sound grew nearer.

Phil in a simple, green and purple collared shirt opened the door and said, "Edward. You're early!"

"Hmm? You said to come by at 5?" I tilted my head in confusion. I arrived directly on time, neither late nor early.

"Why do you do that Phil? Dinner is at 7.30." Claire approached Phil from behind and asked in frustration. Her hair was tied up, and she wore a green dress with white pants.

"Well…I thought we could have some fun first before dinner." Phil answered guiltily. Claire stared at him with scary eyes and her arms crossed, causing him to avoid his wife's gaze.

"Welcome Edward." Claire said after pushing Phil out of the way.

"What's that?" Claire asked when she saw the box in my hand. "Well, as I'm still underage, I couldn't buy wine…"

"That's true. And…Don't." Claire interjected. I nodded slightly and continued, "So I made dessert. But it needs to be placed in the chiller for another hour."

"Okay. Come on in Edward. Phil, show him the fridge." Claire smiled and ordered. Phil stopped avoiding the gaze as he watched his wife walk upstairs and smiled at me.

"So, what did you make, Eddy?" Phil said as he tried to take the box from me. However, the content inside was delicate so I smoothly avoided his hand.

"I would like to put this in the freezer first…if I can…"

A little stunned, Phil replied, "Okay. It's in the back." He didn't mind my behaviour, and just thought I was embarrassed by the gift.

"It's an Oreo cheesecake." I replied to Phil, albeit a little late.

"Oreo?" Phil asked in confusion. Luke downstairs as he heard the commotion at the door. "Hey Edward!" Luke greeted cheerfully.

"Hey Luke."

It was my first time walking inside the Dunphy's house, but the place was familiar.

The white coloured stair with black coloured steps, the beige sofa with 2 multicoloured cushions where they usually conducted their interviews, the pictures on the stairs, the fireplace, and then the kitchen. Nothing had changed from the house that I knew off.

I set the cake inside the chiller and finally breathed in relief.

"Can I see it?" Luke asked.

"Buddy, it isn't ready yet." Phil said.

"You can see it. But promise me not to disturb it. It isn't ready yet." I said calmly, but warned them at the same time.

"I promise." Luke replied. I then turned to the smiling Phil. He was confused, but then he realised it. "I promise too."

"Okay." I opened the box to let them see the cake. It's a circular shaped cake that looks like a giant oreo. The bottom layer was a crushed oreos biscuit added with melted butter. The middle part was a combination of cream cheese, the oreo fillings and other stuff. The top part sieved blended oreo cookies, just to make it look good.

I decorated the top part with whipped cream and placed 9 whole oreo cookies in a circular pattern, alternating between the whipped cream.

Phil asked excitedly, "Did you take off the oreo's fillings and make a giant oreo for dessert!"

"What? No-"

"MOM! ED MADE A GIANT OREO!" Luke called his mom in excitement hurriedly. Alex heard the shout from her bedroom, and was curious about the situation. She put her pen down and closed her books.

"Luke! No!" I panicked and my voice turned into a weird high pitch voice.

"What was that?" Phil asked while laughing.

"Puberty I think." I replied, checking my voice a few times to make sure it had gone back to normal.

"Oh." Phil was stunned and stopped laughing abruptly. He changed the topic quickly and asked, "How many packs do you use to create this?"

"Not many. Just 2 packs. Also, it's a cake, not a giant cookie."

As I closed the refrigerator door, I walked to the and crashed with Alex who had just come downstairs. She widened her eyes as she didn't expect the boy who'd been bothering her for a few days was inside her house. Phil tried to grab me, but it was too late.

"Oh Hell." I cursed as I was falling down with the girl. I grabbed the back of her head and hugged her tightly as I changed our position so that I would take the fall instead of her. I closed my eyes as I prepared myself!

BAM

"Ouch." My back slammed onto the floor, but I'd saved my head in the fall. I felt something soft brushing my lips while I'm falling, but as I closed my eyes, I didn't know what had happened.

"Are you okay?" I asked Alex who's frozen still while on top of me. "You-you!" Alex became flustered as she heard the question.

"Can you get off? I don't mind you staying on top of me, but we should wait until the third date-"

"ALEX!" Claire ran toward the scene of the accident and removed Alex from being on top of the boy.

"Mom! Why is he here?" Alex asked, her voice filled with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.

"Your dad invited him to dinner. What happened? Why are you both on the ground?" Claire asked anxiously. "Did you throw him?" She asked accusingly.

"Claire. Alex didn't use judo throws on him. They crashed with one another as they didn't look where they were going." Phil clarified as he helped me get up from the floor. "Are you okay Eddy?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. This is nothing." I replied to Phil and then turned to Alex. "Are you okay?" I asked in concern as she had been quiet, which quite wasn't in line with her personality. I expected to be cursed at, but nothing happened.

Alex covered her mouth with both her hands and ran off to her bedroom hurriedly. "She's okay." Claire replied.

"Mom! You need to see this. Ed made a giant Oreo." Luke said, already had opened the fridge door I'd closed before.

"Hmm?" Claire exclaimed and took a look at the giant cookie. She covered her mouth, and turned her scary gaze at the creator.

"Edward, this is very unhealthy." Claire said with a pitiful voice.

I rolled my eyes and picked up a spoon. I took a spoonful of the cake and pushed it into Claire's mouth.

She tried to object, but my hand was too fast, "Ed- Hmm.." Claire tasted the dessert properly and licked the cream on her lips seductively.

"It's… good. And…it's cheesecake?" She asked.

"Yeah. Now. Let it settle. It isn't finished yet." I said sternly. Claire nodded and closed the fridge door.

"Wait, I want to try." Luke said hurriedly, but I stood guard in front of the fridge door. "What did your mom tell you about eating dessert before dinner?"

Claire and Phil were stunned, and Luke lowered his head. " Not to." he replied sadly.

"Good. You'll get the biggest piece later." I said as I rubbed his hair a few times.

"I know I'm adorable, but hands off the hair." He rolled his eyes and walked to the den where his show was on. "Make sure to keep that promise!" Luke shouted as he sat on the sofa.

"Do you need any help with preparing the food Mrs Dunphy?" I asked politely.

Still in disbelief, Claire shook her head slightly and answered, "N-No. You can sit with Luke."

"Okay. If you need any help, just call." I said and went to sit next to Luke. The TV was showing the movie 'Ratatouille', a movie about a rat controlling a chef to cook inside his chef head.

"Oh..It's been a while since I watched Pixar." I muttered as I relaxed myself on the sofa. The movie continued as I talked and joked with Luke. The movie was released in 2007, so we both had watched the movie before.

"Luke, if I pull your hair like the rat did, will it move?" I asked teasingly. Luke widened his eyes as if he heard the most interesting things in the world.

"Do it. If this works, I no longer have to brush my teeth on my own!" He said in excitement. I laughed and asked him to sit in front of me.

-3rd person POV-

Phil and Claire stood side by side as Claire took out the ingredients for the dinner.

"He's really mature. And polite." Phil complimented as he looked at Edward from afar.

"That's true. But can I know he's not just pretending? I mean…You heard his songs…" Claire held a knife in her hand and started to cut the carrot.

"Maybe he just heard it from somewhere. I don't think he would do that…I think…" Phil argued.

"Also, there was so much more to his songs than the alcohol part. Why can't you focus on that?" Phil asked. He stared at the children longingly and wanted to join in the fun on the sofa.

He then heard Edward's question about hair controlling the body.

"Phil, you're going to help me. We have to cook a bit faster now because you invited him so early. Phil…Phil?"

Phil heard the question and ran toward the sofa, leaving Claire alone in the kitchen. She stared at her husband in disbelief, her knife wielding hand was pointed forward at Phil.

The doorbell rang, but only Claire heard it as Phil had joined Luke and Edward, laughing like mad as Luke pulled Phil's hair. His hand moved, making Edward open his mouth in awe!

"¡Hola Claire!"

In the front door, Gloria, Jay and Manny had come to visit. Jay wore a horizontal pattern, black shirt, Gloria wore her blue dress and Manny was in his puffy shirt. Claire widened her eyes in confusion, but welcomed them inside anyway.

"What's going on?" Claire asked.

"Gloria wants to ask about the soccer match on Sunday…morning…" Jay explained with a hint of sadness in his voice. He had to wake up early in the morning for the Sunday matches. He thought that after his own childrens, he wouldn't have to anymore.

"You…couldn't call?" Claire asked in disbelief.

"This is important." Manny interjected anxiously. "My dad told me that football is easy, but I'd never played it before." He meant his Colombian father, not Jay, his step dad.

"We're thinking… Luke teach Manny one or two things before his match… this Sunday." Gloria explained.

"Luke?" Claire contorted her face as she couldn't believe her ears.

[Jay and Gloria's commentary]

"Manny is a bit worried about his first match in his new school. I thought playing with Luke could help him." Gloria explained.

"Tell them about the other thing." Jay said and pointed at the interviewer. Gloria looked at him and then at the interviewer with a complicated expression. "Maybe, the kids getting along will make our families closer. It's been hard for me and Manny to…get along with the rest of Jay's family."

[Commentary ends.]

Edward POV.

"Hmm?" I turned to look at the door as I saw the newcomers coming in. It was Jay, Gloria and Manny.

"Huh." I exclaimed flatly. Phil and Luke were still laughing together, unaware of the visitors.

"Luke. Manny's here to see you…" Claire said flatly with a forced smile as she brought the visitors to the den.

Gloria and Jay had only been married for 6 months at this time. Although Claire tried her best to make Gloria feel comfortable with their family, sometimes she couldn't help but feel a bit conscious when around Gloria, especially with Phil always acting like a perv with the Colombian beauty.

"You're new." Jay noticed the additional kid inside the room.

"Well, I am Phil's estranged son… that came to visit after not knowing who my dad was for 14 years." I replied seriously.

"YOU'RE WHAT!" Gloria asked in a loud voice. 'Boy, is she loud.'

Claire stopped what she was doing and turned her attention into the conversation. Even Phil was shocked by my statement and he started to think about all the girls he dated before.

"I'm just joking. I'm the neighbour's kid." I explained with a smile. I stood up and held my right hand for a handshake to the new family.

"My name's Edward. I live down the streets." I introduced myself politely.

"Jay Pritchet. I'm Luke's grandfather." Jay introduced himself curtly while shaking the hand I offered.

"Gloria Delgado-Pritchet." Gloria said as I shook her hand.

"Manny Delgado." Manny introduced himself quickly.

"Pestañea dos veces si estás siendo retenida en contra de tu voluntad. (Blink twice if you're held against your will.)" I said with a calm smile as I looked at Gloria.

"Que?" Gloria was a bit stunned, and then she laughed out loud. "No, este es mi esposo.(No, this is my husband)" She explained and hugged Jay's hand to show that everything's fine.

" En serio, ¿puedes elegir a cualquier chico del mundo y lo eliges a él?(Seriously, you can pick any guy in the world and you choose him?)" I asked jokingly.

"No lo parece, pero él tiene mucho dinero.( He didn't seem much, but he has a lot of money.)" Gloria gestured money with her finger stealthily.

I chuckled while Gloria laughed again. We both know that we're just joking. Manny chuckled too as he knew what Gloria and I talked about. From the kitchen, Claire muttered silently, "He's fluent in Spanish too?"

"What's going on?" Jay asked in confusion. "I know what dinero means. That means money!" Jay demanded to know angrily.

"Nothing. He just said I look very nice. The dress must cost a lot of money. That's it." Gloria covered up quickly to Jay.

"Your Spanish is very good." She complimented, skillfully changing the subject. "Even better than Manny's."

Manny looked at his mother in shock. As Jay was becoming frustrated, I knew the perfect thing to ask to calm him down.

"I studied hard. Mr. Pritchet, any chance you're related to Danger O'Shea? The legendary daredevil?"

Jay broke into the heartiest smile and said, "No. But I know that guy. I collected a few of his memorabilia. I will show it to you…you know… if you want."

"Of course. I am his fan." I said cheerfully.

'That was his persona before he fully committed to the closet business. I need to have a 'Speech increased by 100' notification popping out now. I could feel my sweet talk level increasing.' I thought secretly.

After learning Gloria's purpose to visit, Luke went to his room to grab the ball. He and Manny ran outside to the backyard to play while Jay watched. I decided to join in and saw two kids messing around with the ball, not practicing in the least. Manny brought his own ball, so they were playing with one ball each kid.

"Do you guys even know how to kick a ball?" I asked.

"I know. My dad taught me." Luke said. "Same here." Manny replied. Jay turned to look at me, but he still didn't say anything.

"Throw me the ball." I said to Luke. He then threw the ball with all of his might, not caring whether I could catch it or not.

But for an ex-European who called the game as its true name, I had years of experience in 'soccer'. I trapped the ball with my chest, canceling its momentum. It fell on the ground, and I stopped it from rolling away by stepping lightly on it with my right foot.

"Luke, the aim of the throw is to pass the ball to your team member, not to kill him." I joked. Jay snorted but he covered his mouth to not let the kids see him smile. He's afraid it would hurt their self-confidence or something.

"Let's do a simple passing practice. You'll run side by side, and you need to pass the ball to your team member as you run. Jay and Phil will show an example."

"Wait, what?" Jay asked in confusion as his name suddenly called out.

"Yeah. They need an example. I can't do this by myself." I lied. It would be a good memory for Phil to play with Jay. I saw him peeking through the sliding door as he was captured by Claire to help him cook dinner tonight.

Jay and Phil stood facing each other after Luke called Phil to help. Claire couldn't handle Luke's cuteness and released Phil from her grip.

"Use the side of your leg to kick for a pass, not with the front." I said as I teached them a few tips and tricks to get started. They knew how to run and play with the ball, but they never received any proper lesson for it.

"Lock your ankle for your kicking leg. The other leg should be pointed in the direction you want to pass the ball to. Okay… now pass."

15 minutes later.

"Can we stop doing this now?" Jay said, already sweaty from the exercise. I used Jay and Phil to help the kid follow the example they showed."

"Okay, they got it now." I said as I pointed at the kids. They already showed massive improvement in their skills, and had been playing on their own for 5 minutes. I just let Phil and Jay continue playing on their own as Phil was loving it.

3rd Party POV.

In the kitchen.

"Gloria, why don't you and your family eat with us tonight?" Claire said awkwardly while putting the chicken into the microwave.

"Really? Won't that be an…in- ..inconvenience." Gloria said with broken English. She'd been growing up in Colombia, and English was her second language.

She struggled to find the words sometimes, therefore she was feeling pretty great when she could talk to Edward in Spanish before.

"No. Not at all. Also, what did Edward talk to you about before?" Claire asked, trying to get the details.

"Nothing. We just talked about my dress." Gloria covered up for Edward again. "Huh." Claire exclaimed, her eyes filled with suspicion.

Alex peeked at the kitchen from the stairs, and found out that Edward was outside the house. She traced her lips, thinking about the incident before. Edward closed his eyes, but Alex's eyes were wide open. As they were falling, Alex's almost lip accidentally pressed against Ed's.

"That was my first kiss. That bastard!" Alex growled angrily. She then shrugged and corrected herself, "Well not technically a kiss. But still."

Haley walked into the house through the front door as she just got back from the mall.

"What are you doing crouching there you weirdo?" Haley asked as she saw Alex.

"Nothing. When is your friend going to get here? Did dad invite him along with Newgate? Or is he…"

"He is not my friend. But yeah, it's him." Haley said teasingly. Alex's face turned horrified and she ran off to her room again. Haley laughed as she saw her sister's misery.

"Ooh. This is so fun." Haley exclaimed as she walked into the kitchen. After talking with her mom for a short period, she went upstairs to poke more fun at her sister.

"Will he confess his love here too?" Haley teased.

"Shut up. He didn't confess to me. He only said I'm pretty!" Alex replied. Haley was stunned for a second as she didn't think Edward would say something like that. Not when he was attracted by men instead of women.

'Maybe Alex's masculinity attracted him? I'm so confused right now.' Haley thought to herself.

Authors Note:

Join My Discord Channel for more updates and gacha recommendations. I will put the recs into a lottery wheel before I rolled the next gacha he will get and build the story based on the randomness of the gacha!

https://discord.gg/CAmd34bj

See you there!