chapTer 16

                                    

                                          
**part 3 of chapter 14**
                          
It was nearly two hours before Jace and Daisy left the guest house. They danced around in there before they left, to make sure Daisy could walk. They laughed when she fell, and Jace decided to let her cling to his arm. They walked to the front door of the main house, well mansion. The place was a whole lot bigger than it looked when they were under that gazebo all those weeks ago. Daisy counted 6 cars, which Jace said wasn't just his grandparents. She gulped as she thought about his family behind those doors, all staring and judging her. Jace was only in jeans and sweatshirt, while she was in ripped black jeans, black combat boots, and a sapphire pullover hoodie. As they were getting ready, Daisy just threw her hair up into a messy bun and they drove to the main house. Daisy stood there, holding Jace's hand and leaning against him, scared of what could happen when she met his family.
                          
"Um, who's all here?" Daisy whispered to Jace as they waited for someone to answer the door.
                          
"My uncle, his wife and his three kids, Michael, Janet, and Phillip. Michael is a senior, Janet a freshman, and Phillip just started junior high. My mom, and my dad's parents. You talked to Papa the other day, remember?" Daisy nodded and Jace kissed her head and whispered, "Use your words, princess." Daisy blushed hard and hid her face in Jace's arm when the door opened to reveal a tall boy a bit darker than Jace. He had his hair shaved down to the same length as Jace's. His eyes were also dark, but to Daisy, they seemed ominous.
                          
"Wow, JJ, nice of you to bring me a snack," the boy laughed and looked Daisy up and down. Daisy's face was still hidden in Jace's arm but she could feel his ugly stare on her, and she clenched Jace's hand tight.
                          
"Michael, this is Daisy. My girlfriend." Jace rolled his eyes at his cousin, believing that he was kidding.
                          
"Hello, Daisy." Daisy looked up and her eyes widened and she clung to Jace more. He was on the football team, she knew Michael. She remembered him from the day she stripped in front of Donnie and he filmed it. "God, no need to be scared Daisy. I'm not going to bite. Unless you want me to." He smirked and Daisy stood her ground, smirking, keeping her cool and not allowing herself to show any weakness. Daisy straightened her body, still clinging onto Jace and she moved her arm at an angle that the sweater would fall a bit. When the hood moved, a piece of a large hickey peeked out. Michael's eyes widened and Daisy grinned.
                          
"Something wrong 2 inch?" Daisy tilted her head to the side innocently and Jace rolled his eyes.
                          
"Let's get to the family lunch." Jace fixed her hood to hide the hickey again and they slipped past Michael. "Two inch?"
                          
"Let's just say you're the biggest one in the family. Maybe even the whole school." She laughed and Jace rolled his eyes. They met everyone in the main living area, where Jace was greeted by Janet with a big hug. Daisy stood there awkwardly as everyone said hello to Jace and told him that they missed him. The first to confront was Papa, who left his giant chair and walked over to her, greeting her with a hug. Daisy hugged him back hesitantly, not understanding why this was his reaction.
                          
"Miss Howell! Oh, how great it is to meet you in the flesh. Ya look gorgeous darlin'!" Papa laughed as he pulled away from the hug and he held onto her shoulders. Daisy smiled and thank him, telling him that he didn't look a day over 10. They laughed at her comment, and everyone in the family looked at them. Everyone but Jac was surprised at how kind Papa was with Daisy. Papa was known for his cold personality to the people of the town. His stern face and scowl, he rarely laughed even with his family. It had been like that for ages, even when his sons were little. In history, Nana would swear only two other people other than her had ever made that man laugh, and that would be Jace the second and third, and now Daisy Howell.