The inbetweeners' game

Chapter 1

Today was dad's birthday and so he had invited his girlfriend and his girlfriend's son to have supper with us. It would be the first time I met them, therefore I was quite nervous as it was the first time he brought someone home. Although I don't really like the idea of my dad having a girlfriend I couldn't blame him, he had been single since my mother disappeared, so my brother and I were really looking forward to making a good impression on that woman - we really wanted my dad to be happy.

The door bell rang. "Go and open the door Mike," my dad yelled.

"Sure, wait a second," my brother answered. He checked his hair and tie and went towards the door.

"Hi! You must be the amazing football player your dad doesn't stop talking about," she said sweetly.

"I'm nearly one hundred percent positive that's me, am I right dad?"

Dad rushed to greet them. "Of course, who else would I be talking about? Well, come in and take a seat please!"

"Thanks!" she said with a grin on her face. The woman was quite tall and slim with light brown eyes and had nearly perfect facial features. I didn't expect her to be so attractive or even pleasant however, she really was. "And you must be her splendid daughter by the name of Leighton."

"That's me," I replied not showing an eager enjoyment about it, honestly, I was jealous of Mike as I didn't have any hobbies what so ever to be proud of myself. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you -"

"Brenda, Brenda Parsons," she added. "The pleasure is mine darling!"

"I'm Ryan, nice to meet you all too," dad's girlfriend's son interrupted emphasising the last word. He sounded a bit offended but at the same time careless about the situation.

"Oh sorry honey," she told her son. "This is my son Ryan."

"Hey Ryan! Thanks for coming!"

"Sure..." he replied with a disgusted look. By the look of it Ryan didn't approve her mother dating other men.

"Well, happy birthday Declan!" she congratulated him and gave him a big hug before kissing him. It was very cute but awkward as it was the first time I had seen my dad kiss a woman or even be in love with one since my mother abandoned us. "Thanks!" my dad finally said.

"Can we eat now? I'm really hungry," I said quite rudely. It wasn't really my intention to sound like that, I didn't want to make a fool of myself.

We all went to have supper, I honestly didn't know my dad's food could reach such an exquisite degree of perfection.

"I thoroughly enjoyed supper!"

"I can't agree more with her!"

"Thanks ladies! I really appreciate it, I've been planning this supper for days!" He smiled and got up from the chair. "Now, if you excuse me I'll get the cake."

"I'll get it for you dad," I offered.

"I'll go with you!" my brother offered.

We went together to the kitchen, I opened the fridge and got out the home-made chocolate cake. "Mike, get a lighter out for me," I ordered him.

"Where am I supposed to find a lighter for you?" I knew he wouldn't know where it was because he never cooked. An explanation for why he didn't cook was as simple as cool kids don't cook.

I didn't bother to answer his question and got it myself. "Here."

"You could have told me..."

"And you could have looked for it," I lit the candles up and went to the table.

We sang the happy birthday song and ate the cake. After it, dad wanted to announce something to all of us. "Brenda and I are going to marry," He waited for our reaction, both them seemed delighted so...why not be happy for them?

"Oh...ehh...congratulations!" I answered.

"Yeah...congrats!" Mike finally reacted.

"Yeah...congratulations...whatever," Beau copied Mike and added his own unnecessary word at the end. It must be very hard for her mother to have a son that disapproved their planned future.

I looked at Ryan with disgust and he looked back at me and winked. Ignore it, Peyton, I thought to myself.

"And...when will it be? The wedding, I mean," Mike asked timidly.

"Well, we have been planning it for months and we've decided it to be in two weeks time, just before you two start school and you start to work."

"Wait, what?! Why didn't you tell us before? How am I going to find a dress for your wedding in two weeks?" I complained.

"Don't worry darling, I've got you one, you will be dressed the same way as Ryan's girlfriend, my daughter and my best friend; you four girls will be the bridesmaids."

"Oh really? Thanks Brenda!"

"No problem darling."

The time passed and apparently they were going to stay with us tonight and forever. Brenda would, obviously, be sleeping with dad and Ryan would have to sleep in my bedroom or my brother's.

"Can't you let him sleep in your bedroom Mike? Please?" I begged.

"No," he simply answered.

"Well, he can't sleep with me..."

"Why not?" he wiggled his eyebrows

"Oh shut up!" I hit him softly.

"Well I'm not letting him sleep in my bedroom..."

"And he isn't sleeping with me neither, so what do we do?"

...

I ended up sleeping on the couch and Beau on my bed.

I was on the couch not being able to fall asleep, I turned and turned. I decided to turn on the television when I heard some footsteps. "Dad, is it you?" Nobody answered. "Mike?" The answer didn't change.

It was Ryan. He didn't say anything and sat down on the couch. "Are you going to be staring at me all night or will you turn on the TV?"

"Oh sorry," I replied and obviously chose the latter.

Half way through the film Ryan fell asleep. It was nearly three in the morning when I went to sleep, I didn't want to wake him up so I left him there. I planned on going upstairs but it was too late and I was very sleepy, so both of us slept on the couch.