February 27th 2016

IMPORTANT!

Ok, things to know- multiple characters in this update, so here's who is who:

> is Charlotte.

> is Emma.

"normal print" is Sophie. -italics- is when Sophie is talking to her sisters.

"bold print" is Daniel.

Not so important.

The M3 and M4 are motorways (highways) in Britain. Amesbury in Wiltshire is to the West of England, and Surrey is near London. Sarah xx

~*~*~

"You said you liked old school rock bands, didn't you?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Luc, my sisters and I are going through Dad's record collection and there are a ton of vinyl here that I thought you might like. Do you have a record player?"

"Yes but I can't accept your father's old records."

"Why not?"

"He might want them."

"Nope. There's a reason we're going through them. Us girls don't like Dad's taste in music and Luc is too modern to want vinyl. We were discussing if we knew anyone who'd want them and I thought of you. So?"

"What are they?"

"There's some Beatles, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones... Jefferson Airplane, Moody blues- whoever they are- The Kinks... Do you know who Buffalo Springfield are?"

"Yes."

"Yeah, this collection was practically made for you."

"I still can't accept them. Do you know how much records like that are worth? They're vintage classics. People would pay a fortune for those records today!"

"Luckily, you'll get them for free."

"Sophie-"

"Look, Daniel, either you take them or I throw them into the first skip I see when I get back to the city. Up to you."

"I'll take them! Throw them into a skip! That's madness."

"Glad that's sorted."

"Why are you going through records anyway?"

"It gives us something to do. We're listening to old school music, flipping through photo albums, reminiscing... the usual."

"Sounds nice."

"Yeah, it kinds is."

>

>

"-No, that's me.-"

>

>

"-Hey! There's nothing wrong with my nose. Daniel says it looks fine. And I even sent him a picture of me in profile.-"

>

>

"-You two are weird.- Daniel?"

"Still here."

"I was thinking- Do I need to bring anything with me tomorrow? Apart from the photo of Connie."

"No, just bring your lovely self and I'll bring the rest."

"You sure? I can bring dessert or something."

"Not necessary."

"Wine?"

"God no! My grandmother is a massive wine snob! We'll just drink something that's been in her collection since the last century."

"I don't feel comfortable going to your grandmother's place and not bringing anything."

"Well, you're bringing yourself and you're bringing the photo of her from her younger days. That's more than enough. Personally, I wouldn't even bring myself to her house."

"Out of interest, do you talk to your grandmother like this?"

"No, I'm not brave enough for that. I usually just bite my tongue in front of her."

"What about Samuel?"

"He's a loose cannon. You never know what he'll say."

"What should I do? I'll tone down the sarcasm and I'll curb my dirty mouth, but do I bite my tongue too, or do I mimic Samuel?"

"Just be yourself, Sophie. Sarcasm and dirty mouth, too."

"Why would you say that?! I want your grandmother to like me."

"She will, as long as you are yourself. If you pretend to be something you're not, she'll know and it's guaranteed she won't like you. Why do you think she prefers my brother over me?"

"Still, I don't think me swearing like a sailor is the best way to go."

"As long as you don't sway too far from who you really are, then fine."

"Has Connie liked any of your past girlfriends?"

"Not particularly. She wasn't overly fond of them."

"Why not?"

"Because they all tried to suck up to her. Arabella was the worst. All Arabella wanted was a family heirloom on her left ring finger and a title a few short months later."

"Well, at least I have that going for me, then."

"What's that?"

"I don't want the ring. Or the title. You did make it clear that we're not dating, right?"

"Yes, many times. She knows that we're just friends, Soph."

"Good. So, I'm doing one better than Arabella already. Not that it's a competition but I really want Connie to like me."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I just do."

"In that case, it's like you said- you're already one step ahead of Arabella."

"Ok. Right."

"Oh, my God! Sophie, are you nervous?"

"What? Me? No!"

"Haha. You are."

"No, I'm not!"

"You so are!"

"Ok, maybe just a little bit nervous!"

"Look, Soph, you have nothing to worry about. If it seems to me that my grandmother wants to kill you, I'll get you out of there."

"Wait, what? There's a legit possibility that she'll want to kill me?"

"No. But she will give you this look. It's the chin down, scowl from under the eyelashes, while drumming her wedding ring against the stem of her wine glass. If she does that, you're screwed."

"You're not making me feel any better about tomorrow! You suck at making me feel better about it."

"I wasn't trying to make you feel better about it."

"This is too much."

"Sophie, just breathe. It'll be fine."

"Are you nervous about meeting my family?"

"I've already met Charlotte and Emma. I'm a little scared to meet your mother. Lucas, I'm sure I'll get along with, but it's mainly your father that I'm terrified of."

"Yeah, my father can be a intimidating."

"He makes Lord Sugar on The Apprentice look like a pussy cat."

"I'd like to say that he gets less intimidating the more you get to know him, but I can't. Emma's fiancé still does this stupid loud gulping thing whenever my father calls him by his name. It's hilarious!"

>

"Don't listen to Emma, she has no idea what she's talking about. Girl doesn't have a funny bone."

"Well, at least I have a little longer before I have to come face to face with him, then."

"You'd think that. Um, where does your grandmother live?"

"Tomorrow, we're going to the country house in Wiltshire. Why?"

"Well, I was thinking, instead of me going back to the city tonight and you picking me up from there, you could pick me up on the way."

"And where is 'on the way?'"

"Wentworth, Surrey."

"Oh, yeah,of course. I'm passing that way, anyway."

"You are?"

"Near there, anyway. Connie lives in Amesbury so it's easier to go on the m3, rather than the M4. I'll pick you up on the way if you text me the address. I'll put it in the GPS."

"Cool, thank you."

"No worries."

>

>

>

"-They mutilated it. Obviously.-"

"What did you parents do to your hair?"

"Dad gave me a bowl cut when I was three, but it went spectacularly wrong. For months people thought I was a boy because I had to have it cut really short. This photo Charlotte is currently brandishing shows me after Dad's cut but before the professional cut."

"Can you bring that with you tomorrow?"

"No."

"A boy could try, eh?"

"No."

"No look who doesn't have a funny bone."

"I hate you."

"Keep telling yourself that, babe."

"Just remember, tomorrow I'll be in the company of your grandmother. I'm sure she has embarrassing photos and stories of you to share."

"Fuck, I forgot about that."

"I didn't. And I won't. Are you still sure you want me to come tomorrow?"

"... Yes?"

"That was a very convincing 'yes.'"

"Really, because I thought it wasn't."

"I was being sarcastic."

"Yes, I know."

"Did you, really?"

"Yes."

"Doubtful.I'll pray for you."

"You pray?"

"Not usually, but I'm willing to try anything in order to save you."

"Save me?"

"From being stupid."

"I'd have to actually be stupid first in order to be saved."

"When you don't understand my sarcasm- especially the obvious ones- you are kinda stupid."

"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. Therefore, I shall pray for you in the hopes that you become wittier and less sarcastic."

"I'd rather be sarcastic."

"I'm still going to pray for you though."

"Go ahead."

"I shall."

"Good luck."

"Don't need it."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"You still there?"

"Shh."

"Sophie?"

"I'm praying, so shh!"

"Seriously?"

"Shh!"

"I better go, then. Who knows how long I'll have to pray for you."

"Ditto."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Soph."

"Cool."

"Don't forget to text me the address."

"Will do."

"Will do, as in you will text me the address, or you will forget to text me the address?"

"Huh? Never mind, I'll text you my address as soon as you hang up now."

"Thanks. Well, keep praying, Sophie."

"You too, Daniel."

"Haha, ok. Later, alligator."

"In a while, crocodile."