The Town Plaza

Ella

I smile and sigh, "What do you want for breakfast?" I ask them before looking at Kyle, "And no ice cream."

Ian

Kyle pouts. I smile and shake my head at him.

"Pancakes!" he smiles again, excited. "Chocolate pancakes?"

Ella

I smile and nod, walking to the kitchen. My mom flashes infront of me, a drink in her hand. She sets it down on the counter before glancing around, "Where's your father?"

I blink a couple times before shaking my head, "I have no idea, mom."

She flicks me in the forehead before walking to the door to open it when there's a knock, "Who's this?" She asks, looking at Kyle and Ian.

Ian

Kyle cuddles into me as the new woman asks about us. She looks a bit like Ella and the man she lets in looks like her as well. Uh oh. Parents? Fire... I shudder, remembering what she told me.

Ella

I Facepalm myself when my dad arrives and curse myself mentally. Any other people. Any other people, would've been fine.

"Their names are Ian and Kyle," I say, "And they are...good friends."

My father studies Ian for a little, an eyebrow raised, and I swallow.

Ian

I plaster a smile and clear my throat, "Hi."

Ella

"You...smell like him," My mom raises an eyebrow, looking at me. I glare at her, thinking of a smart a*s response.

"How do you know what he smells like, mom?" I grin. She chuckles at me before shrugging.

My father just stares Ian down and I bite my lip, "Daddy?"

"Hm?" he snaps out of it and looks at me.

"You alright?" I ask.

"fine," He mutters.

Ian

I'm... uncomfortable. I shift Kyle in my arms before he climbs off the couch and walks over to Ella, opening and closing his fists in a desire to be picked up.

Ella

He wants to be picked up and I scoop him up, shifting him in my left arm. My father swallows, studying Kyle.

"Please tell me -dear god - that...he is not your child," He says calmly.

"No, daddy," I reassure him, "He's Ian's."

My father lets out a breath I didn't know he was holding before nodding, "Good... Your too young."

My mom snickers before smiling and mocking him, "Too young. Yeah..."

Ian

I flash a smile, watching the man glare in the woman's direction.

"You... We'll talk about this later, Rayah," he says, eyeing me again.

Ella

I try not to laugh and catch my dad staring at Ian again. I study him before lagging him do what he wants.

"Uh huh," My mom looks at dad, "Cause you didn't say that when I was her age."

I Facepalm myself. Here we go again...

Ian

Awkward. Ella's father sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Let's not do this here," he says. "We came to visit our daughter; not talk about what I did or didn't say."

Ella

She bites her tongue from saying anything more before looking at Ian, "So," She begins, sitting across from him, "Why are you here?"

I roll my eyes and sit next to Ian, Kyle on my lap.

Ian

I bite my lip, "Kyle fell asleep here last night--we were having dinner--and I didn't want to move him. I stayed on the couch, don't worry. But... I definitely know not to wake a sleeping toddler."

Ella

I nod and sigh, my father sitting next to mom, "Guilty," He says without thinking.

My mom elbows him before shaking her head, "I apologize for him."