I'm forced to fake a smile, a laugh every day of my life -- Summer 2017

I chuckled.  "I am, but thank you," I said.  "Now... go run off to bed.  I'll see you in the morning.  You don't want your dad to com ein here and see you passed out with a girl in your room."  I chuckled slightly and watched him leave.  They were being far too kind to me.  I curled up in Stan's bed and the smell of his body wash on the sheets helped me drift off to sleep.

I went to the couch wiht a blanket and fell asleep.  I woke the next morning to the smell of some breakfast.  I stretched out on the couch and sat up.  "Dad, that you?" I asked quietly, not entirely sure if it was Dad or Dona or who was in our kitchen.  I suspected that Daphne was still sleeping after the night she had.

I looked into the living room where stan had been sleeping.  "It's just me, bud,"  I said.  "I didn't mean to wake you... but I am making a spot of breakfast for everyone."  I figured that it would be best o have food when surprising Sedona and ryan with Daphne being here for a little while.

I stretched, wincing as the pain in my wrist reminded me of what happened the previous night and why I was in Constantine Black's bed.  I stood up slowly and looked around his room.  As many times as I had been to the Black's to visit Stan, I had never gone into his room before.  It was kind of odd... I felt like I was invading his privacy so much.  I could see his quick-notes quills and then all of the rolls of parchment.  It always amazed me what Stan did to cope with his blindness.  He always bewitched his notes to speak only what was written aloud to him.  I had planners that did that during exams... so it was the same type of magic, but I just could not believe he could do it.  

I heard movement out in the main part of the house.  I walked out, folding my arms around myself, and saw stan talking to his dad in the kitchen.  I was careful about my wrist and walked towards the kitchen.  I cleared my throat slightly before speaking.  "Would you like any help, Mr. Black?" I asked politely.  It was the least I could do.

I woke up and checked myself in the mirror.  I did not look that bad - I had my long hair in a loose braid that fell over just one shoulder.  My pajama pants fit loosely on me and I was wearing a camisole beneath one of Dad's old t-shirts.  I always layered when I went to bed.  I opened the door and heard an unfamiliar voice.  Was our house becoming a half-way house?  First Tommy came to stay... and now who?  I walked out to hte kitchen and saw blonde hair that was pulled into a ponytail.  Ugh, Daphne Turner.  I sighed and prepared myself to be nice.  "Good morning," I said, going about to make myself a cup of tea when I saw that Dad was already on top of it.  I smiled and thanked him, taking the mug from him.

I was just wearing some shorts pulled over top of my boxers, though the band was showing.  My hair was sticking all over the place, but I did not care.  I walked out of my bedroom that I was sharing with Tommy -- he stayed with us as much as possible because of his mother's decisions to go back to that horrid man who was his father.  Tommy was still sleeping for the time being.  I only woke because I could smell bacon -- my favorite food group.  "What the hell?" I asked, stopping and seeing yet another stray that the Black family brought in.

Great... the other two were awake which meant that Tommy would be joining shortly.  I sighed.  "RJ, be nice," I warned, wishing that I could give him a look, but I had no idea where Daphne was compared to where Ryan was standing.  "And morning, Dona," I added with a smile.  She was at least being polite.

I was not surprised to see the kids come out once I started making the breakfast.  I looked at Daphne and smiled kindly at her.  "No, thank you," I said when she offered to help.  I handed Dona her tea in the morning like I did any other morning when she was home and I beat her awake.  Normally I was just getting home near this time and she was making me a cup, but on my days off, I always tried to be up and whatnot for them.  I rolled my eyes at Ryan's response as I flipped some of the pancakes I had cooking.  "Ryan, why don't you grab some plates and set the table?" I suggested, thinking it best ot put him to use.

I should have expected that type of reaction from Ryan at the very least, but it still sort of stung.   I smiled politely at Sedona, glad that she was at least mature enough to be civil.  "Good morning," I said in return.  I looked at Mr. Black and was about to offer to help set the table instead, but I could tell he was trying to give Ryan a job to do as to not be a problem.  I looked over at Stan.  I whispered, "thanks," to him for standing up to his brother fo rm.e

I rolled my eyes at my dad and went to set the table.  I made sure that there was a plate for our two guests.  I hoped that Daphne was not staying as long as what Tommy was.  If she did, it would get rather crowded.  I knew that Dad was just doing this to make me busy so that no one would argue.

I took a sip of my tea and looked over at Daphne.  She looked a little rough.  "So... why are you here?  I don't remember you coming over last night..." I said, trying to be polite, though Daphne and I had some differences.

"She came after everyone was in bed," I said to my siblings.  I hoped that they would just drop it and not want any more details.  But then again, this was Sedona and Ryan.  THey would want details.

"Breakfast is finished," I announced, trying to stem any questions.  "Everyone find a seat."  I waved my wand and all the food went towards the table and landed neatly.  I was not as good as a cook as their mother, but I managed.

I smiled and then I found a seat, sitting down next to Constantine.  I looked up when another person came trudging down the hall -- Tommy.  Well, this could easily get interesting.  I looked down because I did not need to deal with any ridicule from the biggest hypocrite of all -- he was a Riddle after all.  Every Slytherin knew it, too.

I heard voices and smelled breakfast so I decided that it was time to get up and functional.  I stayed in my pajama pants and wife beater as I walked out of the bedroom I shared with Ryan.  I saw that there was a new houseguest -- Daphne.  I smiled at her.  I never had issues with her really before.  "Morning everyone," I said as I sat down and pulled the scrambled eggs towards myself and piling them onto my plate.