My mom, Katherine Dickson, was a tall woman (but that never stopped her from wearing high heels on every occasion). Her dark brown hair was always tied in a ponytail and her eyes were light brown. She was simple in many ways and she was definitely the most beautiful woman to my eyes.

"Good afternoon, mom," I greeted her back as she hugged me.

"How was your day?" she asked me happily.

"It was good. What about yours?" I asked her as I made my way to the kitchen. She immediately followed behind me, replying that her day was good too.

As soon as I stepped into the kitchen, I let out a sigh at the horrible view in front of me. It was a complete mess. There were dirty dishes in the sink. The counter was covered with some strange liquid and an empty tray of eggs was laying on the floor. That was it; that was my mom in her natural environment; a messy kitchen.

Deciding to ignore all of this, I went to take a cup of water while my mom made her way to the oven.

"I have to tell you something, Luffy," my mom started and I leaned against the sink, my cup of water in my hand.

"What is it?" I questioned.

"You remember when I told you that Frederick wasn't going to be there for the dinner?" she asked me and I nodded slowly.

Frederick was my older cousin. Since we were kids, we didn't share the very best of relationship. To be honest, he was a complete ass. He liked to annoy the hell out of me and he treated me like I was his personal carpet. Over the past years, we had shown a complete dislike for each other and it was not going to change so soon. Frederick was also the son of my aunt and uncle who were going to be present today.

"What about Frederick?" I asked my mom, hesitantly.

"There is some change of plans, he is coming too," my mom said.

"What?! But you said that he was not going to be there," I exclaimed as I put my cup in the sink.

"Yeah, I know but he changed his mind."

"But I don't want him here," I complained.

"It's life, Luffy and in life, you don't always get what you want," my mom said before adding, "And besides, he is only staying a couple of days."

"You got to be kidding me, he is staying here?!" I exclaimed once again in disbelief.

"Yes," my mom simply replied. She walked towards me and pushed me out of her way. She then began to wash the dishes.

"Why is he staying here?" I asked and she shrugged.

"I don't know. He just said that he wanted to stay here a couple of days."

"And you just agreed?"

"He is my nephew. Of course, I did."

"But I'm your son and you know that I don't like him."

"I know," my mom said, "And I also know that he doesn't like you but I can't do anything about it so you will have to cope with him. Go prepare yourself now. They will be there soon."

I pouted but didn't say anything else. There was no use to try to change her mind. While silently cursing Frederick, I made my way up the stairs to my room. As soon as I entered, I threw my bag on a nearby chair and jumped on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

Maybe I should just go to this party, it would be better than seeing Frederick, but again I couldn't. My mom wouldn't let me and it would be mean to not be there when my aunt and uncle arrived. Besides I wasn't really a party - type of guy. I had gone to parties before but I didn't like it. I had stayed for about one hour, looking at people dancing before going back home because I got bored easily.

I sighed heavily before I got out of bed and went into the bathroom to take a shower. I dripped down my clothes, putting them in the basket of dirty clothes and removed my glasses. I could remove them for a few minutes. I put them gently near the sink before entering the shower. The hot water fell on my shoulder as I let my mind wondered.

Cloud.

Why did he, of all people, have to come to my mind?

I finished taking my shower and put a towel around my waist. I put my glasses back on and went into my bedroom. I went to my drawer and searched for something comfortable for me to wear. I didn't have to put anything fancy so I chose to wear a simple white shirt and a blue jean along with my slippers.

"Luffy, come down. They are here," I heard my mom shout from somewhere in the house and I sighed.

It was time to face the devil, Luffy.

I got out of my room, closing the door behind me and went down the stairs. I arrived in the living room and saw my aunt, Clara, and uncle, Johnny sitting on the couch. There was no Frederick in sight.

"Luffy!" My aunt exclaimed. She got up from the couch and came to hug me.

"Auntie Clara," I said happily as I hugged her, "How are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you," she replied. She stopped hugging me and looked at me from up and down, "Look at you. You have grown so much. You are much taller than the last time I saw you."

"The last time, you saw him, he was fifteen, darling," my uncle said. He came to shake my hand, "Hello, Luffy."

"Uncle Johnny," I greeted my uncle.

"How old are you now?" My aunt asked me happily.

"I'm sixteen," I replied and then I heard the most annoying voice that ever existed.

"Sixteen? You're still young my dear little cousin," I heard Frederick say. I turned around and saw Frederick leaning against the doorway, his arms folded over his chest.

He still hasn't changed since the last time I saw him. His blond hair was still short. His eyes were still the same color which was of light green, the same as mine. And he was dressed completely in black.

What were people lately with black clothes?

"Frederick, you're here," I finally succeeded to get out of my mouth.

"I'm here," he said as he made his way towards me. I expected him to mess with my hair like he always did when he saw me but he completely surprised me when he hugged me instead.

Frederick was taller than me so automatically my head buried in his neck when he hugged me. Strangely, he smelled really good.

"I miss you, little cousin," he whispered in my ear but I could tell that was a lie.

A big fat lie.

"Like hell, you do," I murmured and he let out a laugh, his chest vibrating against mine.

"Oh, you have no idea," Frederick stepped back and looked at me with a smirk. I opened my mouth to talk but my mom came into the living room, saying that it was time to eat.

"Sorry but I'm not staying for dinner," Frederick said and I nearly did a victory dance.

"What!?" His mom and dad exclaimed at the same time.

"I have a place, I need to go," Frederick replied.

"Where are you going?" My mom asked him.

"Somewhere," his reply was short and vague.

"But we are supposed to have a family dinner, Frederick," his mom said and Frederick shrugged.

"I have to go, mom. It's really important. We will have this family dinner another day. Besides, Luffy's father isn't even here."

"My father is not here because he is in Paris doing a conference on cancer," I informed him.

My father, James Dickson, was a doctor, a very important one, I might add. He started to work in a nearby hospital when we arrived here. And his boss sent him to do a conference in Paris on cancer so he couldn't be there for dinner.

"Tell us where you are going, Frederick," Frederick's mom ordered him but he shook his head. Aunt Clara opened her mouth to say something else but Uncle Johnny stopped her.

"Okay, you may go," Uncle Johnny said and my mom and aunt looked at him in shock while Frederick smiled victoriously but then Uncle Johnny added, "But you have to take Luffy with you."

"What?" Frederick and I shouted at the same time.

"You heard me."

"Yeah, I think this is a good idea," my mom agreed.

"No, he can't come," Frederick complained.

"So you can't go," Frederick's mom snapped back and he gritted his teeth. Frederick seemed to have an inner battle with himself before he gave up and nodded slowly.

"Alright," he said at last and everyone smiled except me. Frederick turned to me, "Luffy, let's go before I'm late."

Did I have at least a say in this?

I didn't think so as Frederick took me by my arm and dragged me out of the living room. I heard our parents shout us goodbye but Frederick didn't stop or say anything.

We both got out of the house and went in the direction of Frederick's car. He got me in the passenger seat before he went to sit in the driver seat. He started the car and got out of the driveway.

"Wait a second, Frederick. I didn't even get the time to put my shoes on," I informed him and he looked at my feet. Looking at his face, I knew that he was amused.

"You're good the way you are," he told me, trying to control his laughter.

"Are you crazy? I'm wearing slippers."

"I didn't tell you to wear them."

"I didn't plan to go out tonight, idiot."

"Not my fault. Besides, I'm sure that nobody will see them."

"Where are we even going?"

"A party," Frederick replied and I looked at him in disbelief.

"A party? That's the important place you have to go?" I asked him, incredulous and Frederick nodded.

"Yes, I have someone to meet here. Now, keep quiet. Your voice is annoying."

"I could say the same to you," I snapped back and Frederick smiled.

"Oh, I really missed you, Luffy," he said as we drove in the direction of the party.

Like hell he did.