RECAP: Neil was rejected by Nicole and swore to change his pimpin ways, Gai moved out and started coming out of her shell. We visited Toni, Dane and Alice at home where Val made many ghostly appearances, Donna(the dog) was knocked up, Alice came out of her shell and entered a dance contest(that she won), did an impromptu dance in front of a hot guy(scored a number) and started thinking about college. Dane was racking up the promotions as was Toni. And now-

I really, REALLY do try man! But damn it! Look at that nearly there bikini!! How am I supposed to study when that’s standing right in front of me?  With a lot of focus I guess because I was able to tear my eyes away from her and go back to my book. I had a test in my art history class tomorrow. It was forty-five percent of my grade so I really wanted to ace it. I mean, it’s not like I have to study to pass. I’m just gifted like that. Yeah, I said it. But seriously. This is my junior year and I really have to buckle down. There’s no way I’m going to  be a career student. Mom and Dane wouldn’t go for it anyways. Speaking of mom and Dane…

They finally were able to stop by. How cool is that? I’ve missed them, but don’t go telling everyone I said that alright? I have a reputation to keep up and being a momma’s boy will not help me get the ladies. Neither will that jacket now that I see the view from the back. What was I thinking when I brought it? Oh, that’s right. The sales girl said that I looked amazing in it. Don’t laugh!

“Hey kid! What’s going on?” Dane asked as he came up the stairs. “I like the hair cut.”

“Thanks Dane. I like yours too. You look good. Have you been working out or something?”

He flexed. “I get the use of the company gym so I go there if I some spare time.” He winked at me. “I hear you’re getting a work out of a different kind.”

I smirked and mom sucked her teeth. “Okay guys! I do know what you’re talking about here. You do know that right?”

“Mom!”

“Hey baby!” She wrapped her arms around me and I was surprised that I had to bend down to hug her. Closing my eyes and hugged her back.

“I missed you mom.”

“You should try calling more,” she said as she poked me in the ribs. “Your sister calls us at least once a week and-”

“I know, I know. I’ll try to do better alright?”

“You’d better.”

“Hey big bro!”

“Alice! Wow, look at you. You’re gorgeous.”

After hugging her I took a step back and studied her. She was beautiful. I narrowed my eyes. “No guys have been pushing up on you have they?”

“What? No! Shut up!”

“There was this one guy-”

“Dad!!!”

“What guy?” I demanded.

“Neil! I know you, of all people, are not going to act this way. You do know that all the girls that you’re probably banging have brothers and sisters too right?”

“Alice!” Me and Dane said her name at the same time. She grinned and shrugged and I relaxed. There were traces of the little girl still there. I didn’t want her growing up too quickly. Her eyes widened when she looked over my shoulder.

“Oh my god!!! GAI!!!”

Looking over my shoulder I saw that Gai was standing there talking to mom. When she heard Alice’s shout she raced across the porch.

“ALICE!!!

“GAI!!!”

“ALICE!!”

“Okay guys, this is not The Color Purple!” I said with a laugh as I walked across the lawn. Gai poked me in the rubs with her sharp elbow before racing down the stairs.  I grinned as I heard the two of them shrieking in the yard. Ya know, I should have been embarrassed since people were coming out of the dorm to see what all the noise was about but…I wasn’t. This was my family. And no matter how dysfunctional we were we loved each other.

No matter what. I think those two see a bit of themselves in each other. I know Alice is quiet, she always has been and so is Gai but both of them are coming out of their shells. Which means that I’m going to have to keep an eye out for guys that, ya  know, are like me. Oh man, that sounds awful doesn’t it? You  know what’s awful? Do ya?

Having one of your frequent bed partners, okay if I’m not going to be PC, fuck buddies, come over and introduce herself to your dad. I mean to Dane.  And can I say that I must have been looking at that sells girls rack when she handed me that whole outfit? I look like some polo misfit or something. That’s just so wrong. Anyways I slapped a smile on my face and made introductions.

“Dane, this is Amy. A friend of mine. Amy, this is Dane.”

“Hello.”

“Hi! Now I know where Neil gets his good looks from.”

I could see Dane biting the inside of his lip to keep from laughing and I had to look away as well. There was absolutely no similarity between Dane and me. What in the world was she talking about? And when I had I really just sat down to talk to Amy about anything? There was no way that she could know that Dane was my stepdad but we’d  been sleeping together off and on for the last three years. Wow, just call me Shallow Neil.

“In your FACE sucka!!!”

I peeped around the corner when I head Alice give that exclamation then had to shake my head as she did this funky dance then went back to playing the game. She was a trip.  The family had split up. Mom and dad had went to the quad to get some brochures for Alice, Alice had wondered around the dorm for awhile before  she spotted the pinball machine and Gai…

…she said she had a test coming up. I don’t blame her really. But damn that girl has some good posture. And she looks happy studying. Who is happy studying? She is such a freak!

And while everyone else was busy Amy and I spent some time in the hot tub getting reacquainted. Hey, you can’t expect change over night now can you?