A Typical Cole Family Dinner

"I'm so sorry, Bran," Ashley repeated for seemingly the hundredth time since kicking him. She stood next to the open passenger door of Brandon's SUV. "I just reacted."

"I think he knows that by now," Heather said from behind the blonde.

"It's alright, Ash. I know," Brandon grimaced. He sat in the passenger seat of his SUV with a bag of ice against his groin. "The pain's not as bad anymore."

"Do you need to go to the hospital?" Ashley asked with wide, worried eyes.

"Miss Zee doesn't think so. If it swells, she recommended I have it checked."

"Hey, you need a ride home?" Madison leaned forward so she could see her teammate around her brother.

"No, we need to stop at Vicky's. We've got a few more questions for her," Heather answered for Ashley. She tapped her friend's shoulder. "Come on, let him get home and rest."

"Okay, I'm sooo sorry again." Ashley leaned into the vehicle to give him a quick kiss.

Madison rolled her eyes as Heather slammed the door shut. Starting the engine, she muttered a comment to herself.

"What?" Brandon groaned, dropping the tough guy act he'd put up for his girlfriend.

"I said that I'm not going out like Victoria did."

"What's that mean?" her brother asked with a pained face.

"Haven't you seen Dustin today?"

"Yeah, he's in my Spanish class."

"And you didn't notice him walking on cloud nine?" Madison questioned, turning the vehicle out of the school parking lot.

"No. Did something happen?"

"God, you're such a dumbass," Madison said with a withering look at her brother. "Forget about it." She then noticed his level of discomfort. "Do I need to take you to the ER?"

"No. Let's just get home."

"Good. I didn't want to have to hold your hand for whatever you did."

"I didn't do anything," Brandon protested.

"Please. Ashley never gets angry. But she's been angry twice in three days, and she was furious today," Madison explained with a knowing look. "That fight started because of you."

"Maybe it did, but I didn't cause it. Ashley caught Bianca teasing me," Brandon attempted to explain, but he also turned toward his sister, causing more pain.

"And you didn't encourage Bianca?"

"I did not! I have zero interest in her. Come on, Mads, you know their families and that stupid rivalry," Brandon denied.

"Either way, I bet Ashley's sick of you embarrassing her. I know I am," Madison said as she flipped her middle finger at a driver that cut them off.

"When have I ever embarrassed you?!"

"Like today with Kevin and Leon," she growled.

"Well, yeah, but I thought you punched him for a reason."

"I did! We were joking around," the brunette glanced over to the passenger side. "You need to apologize to them."

"I know," her brother groaned. "Delilah and Zack both told me."

"You shouldn't have to be told. And for the record, you embarrass me all the time with your protective brother bullshit," Madison stated.

"I'm trying to keep you from getting hurt," Brandon declared. "It was bad enough when guys would talk about your volleyball uniform, but now you're a cheerleader. Do you know what guys want to do to a pretty cheerleader?"

"Oh, so you think I'm pretty. Do I have to worry about a pervy brother?" Madison teased him.

"What? No! I just—can't a guy at least acknowledge that others might find his sister pretty," Brandon awkwardly responded until he caught the smirk on her face. "Why...you little brat! That's not funny."

"It is to watch you squirm. It's all I can to get back at you."

"Shit, Maddie, I never wanted you to be a cheerleader. Guys drool over them or do worse. Look at the rumor out of Swallow Crossing! The cheerleaders held an orgy in the school gym with a bunch of football players!" Brandon relayed the gossip. "You know that gives guys ideas at other schools!"

"It's supposedly only a rumor. It is!" Madison insisted when she saw his doubtful look. "Heather's mom is originally from there, and she said it's not true. The rumor started years ago after a girl got kicked off the squad, but the story pops up every few years."

"Heather's mom is from there? I didn't know that...whatever, that doesn't mean it's not true. Trent heard that a fire alarm went off, and that's how they got caught."

"And the girls have heard at cheer camp in the past that the janitor walked in. Then another year, it was the principal. There was also talk that it was a gangbang and not an orgy," Madison repeated what other cheerleaders told her, while they waited at a red light.

"Jesus! I don't want to ever hear the word gangbang out of your mouth, Madison!" Brandon nearly shouted.

"Why not? Are you worried I might want one?" Madison smirked devilishly.

"No! But, I wouldn't put it past Sharon or Heather to try and set one up."

"Oh, please, you're the more likely one to be in an orgy or gangbang," the cheerleader replied, leaving her brother speechless.

They drove a few more minutes until they reached another red light. There Brandon found his voice again.

"I don't want you talking about stuff like that, you got it? Guys hear you saying gang—things, they might get the wrong idea," Brandon nearly pleaded with his sister.

"Where in the hell did you get the idea that I'm a nun living in a convent? We're twins! We grew up with the same people," Madison pointed out. "God, you're ridiculous at times, I tell ya. As if your friends don't talk about that shit around me all the time."

"What?! Who...what...dammit, are they trying to get you into one?" sputtered Brandon. "Is it...Trent?"

"Way to immediately suspect one of your best friends," Madison shook her head as the SUV turned onto their street that led to their neighborhood.

"Well, I don't know! He's always talking about sex," Brandon defended his guess, even if he knew it wasn't a good one.

"Trent is a sweetheart. He treats me like a sister. Well, not like Trish...he treats me more like he does Tiara," the brunette clarified. "Whatever way, he at least treats me with respect and not like an ogre."

"He better not treat you like...hey, did you call me an ogre?"

"You're the one that thought I would line up your friends for a gangbang," Madison shot back as she parked in their driveway. Hopping out of the SUV, she tossed his keys to him.

Brandon watched as she walked around the front of his car and toward the front door. Opening the door, he leaned out and shouted, "Aren't you going to help me?"

"Nope. I might catch the vapors and turn into a gangbang queen. Oh, dear," Madison cracked, fanning her hand in front of her face. "You want Mom or Dad to come help you?"

"Who do you think?" Brandon challenged before realizing his mistake. "Mom!"

"What did you do now, Brandon?" asked Waldon Cole, his brown eyes narrowing at his son, who hobbled to the dining room table.

"Oh, it's nothing, honey. Bran was waiting for Maddie's practice to finish, and he didn't see a basketball coming his way," Vanessa lied. Unlike her children, she knew her husband's disappointment in Brandon's choice of a girlfriend. He felt that his son should date the cheer captain, or at the worst, the vice-captain. Even the captain of the Honeybears would be better than a regular cheerleader.

Waldon grumbled to himself.

"You need to pay attention to your surroundings, son. What would the coaches at Breakwater think if you injured yourself in such a clumsy way? They'd drop any notion of offering you that scholarship if it frees up," lectured the father with short black hair. "Walk-ons don't get the same opportunities to play."

"I know, Dad," Brandon responded as Madison entered the dining room.

"There's knowing, and then there's KNOWING," Waldon stressed, before turning to face his daughter. "About time you joined us."

"I'm here, aren't I?" Madison sassed back.

"I don't know where you got such a sour attitude, Madison. You used to be a sweet little girl who listened to me."

"Wally, you know Maddie was never like that. Stop rewriting your past," Vanessa scolded him. She placed the last dish of food on the table before sitting down. "And Maddie gets her amazing wit from me."

"She gets something from you," her husband replied but knew to flash a smile at his wife. "Now, isn't it nice that we're all together for a family dinner. It seems like it's been forever."

"We just had Thanksgiving together," remarked Madison.

"That doesn't count," Waldon snapped.

"You're the one that hasn't been around for the last few weeks," his daughter continued as she picked up another forkful of her mother's delicious food.

"I've been busy at work. I do own a business that puts that food on your plate."

"Mom owns a business and cooks this food," Brandon pointed out. With a mouthful of food, his sister snapped her fingers at her brother in agreement.

"Enough! I'm your father, and I won't be talked to like that," Waldon bellowed. Brandon knew better to respond, but Madison didn't care.

"We're only pointing out that Mom works just as hard, if not harder."

"Kids, leave your dad alone," Vanessa ordered as she saw steam coming from her husband's ears. "He's decided to grace us with a rare appearance tonight because he has big news."

"Yes, Mom," both twins agreed at the same time.

"Vanessa, I wanted to set up the big announcement," Waldon complained.

"I didn't give anything away. The kids have known that something is going on. Your brother practically drooled over it at Thanksgiving. You better hurry up before your food gets cold."

"Alright. Brandon, Madison, great things are coming for the future of this family," their father melodramatically began. "Waldon Automotive is taking the next step in dominating the region as the premier dealership for new automobile sales. Your Uncle Thurman and I have agreed to purchase—"

"Hansom Auto—" Madison interrupted.

"In Black Well," Brandon finished.

"What? How did you—no, that's not what I was going to say. Sure, we negotiated a deal with Hansom, but we pulled out. He's limping along, and in a few years, we can buy him out for a better deal," Waldon explained in surprise. He looked over at his wife.

"I told you that they heard things."

"Well, we're not buying Hansom. We're purchasing Rohlmann & Sons in Green Hills," Waldon announced.

"Really?" Brandon asked.

"Seems like they would be expensive," Madison commented, not necessarily caring. She picked up another forkful of food.

"You would think, but Thurman caught wind of a brewing scandal! Rohlmann's youngest son has been embezzling from the company to fund his gambling addiction. The old man is trying to protect the family name as his other son wants to be mayor someday. So they need to pay off their business debts and do it quietly."

"Seems like another of our uncle's asshole moves," Madison commented with Brandon nodding.

"It's not an asshole move! It's good business," her father defended. "And don't talk like that, young lady."

"Maddie, let your father have his moment," Vanessa said.

"This is huge for us, Coles. It's far better than picking up Hansom all the way up in Black Well. Rohlmann brings in customers from all around the area. They have this friendly, family-owned image. One that we need to maintain."

Madison snorted, while Brandon choked on his food.

"We do that by introducing the extended Cole family to our new customers with a major marketing blitz. I'll be in charge of that while TC goes in and cleans up the mess at Rohlmann. Mercedes will handle the day-to-day operations in Azure Rocks," Waldon revealed, referring to the sales manager at Waldon Automotive. "While I handle our promotions, I'll be back and forth to Green Hills."

"So you'll be around even less?" Brandon inquired as he felt required to say something.

"Unfortunately, yes. But, I'm going to need your help too, son. Since your cousin, Lindsey, is in her last semester at Green Hills College, she's going to be helping her father up there. I had a vision the other night for commercials."

Vanessa shook her head as she knew what was coming.

"Rohlmann pushed the family vibe, and it clicked with customers. So our commercials will introduce our family. Well, TC won't be in them. He says they make him look pale and fat."

Madison snickered and muttered under her breath. Her twin brother tried like crazy, not to crack a smile at his uncle's useless worry.

"So it's going to be me and our younger generation. We'll promote Lindsey's tennis accomplishments as she'll be the face of our Green Hills dealership once she graduates." Waldon turned to face Brandon. "And we're going to have you as our football star. The three of us should be able to promote our family-friendly image."

"I don't know, Dad," Brandon responded, looking at his mom for help. "I'm not really comfortable with this idea. I won't know what to say or do."

"Nonsense. All you need to do is stand around and smile. Oh, and throw a football a few times when you knock down the prices on a few cars. Lindsey will do the same with her tennis skills. We'll put you in a helmet and pads, and your cousin in one of those cute tennis skirts."

"Uhhhh, I don't...acting isn't my thing. I might look like an idiot," Brandon remarked, glancing across the table, where the grinding of teeth grew louder.

"All you do is stand in front of a camera and say a few words. Acting isn't tough," Waldon said dismissively.

"So, it's going to be Brandon and Lindsey acting in a commercial. That's it?" Madison questioned.

"No, I'll be in it as well. And we'll probably line up a few of the employees in the back for a group shot at the end. Potential customers like to meet people they see on TV in person when they come in to buy a car," Waldon explained, looking entirely pleased with himself.

"Brandon and Lindsey are the actors in this family?" his daughter inquired, her face devoid of any emotion.

"Well, they are our two sports heroes. It's a shame you quit volleyball. It would've been nice to have two children out there to remind TC of his screwup with Landry," Waldon remarked.

"Wally, I don't think that's—"

"Hey, that's great, Dad! You can be out of town even more. That way, I can have plenty of time to spend with my new boyfriend after I give him my VIRGINITY!" screamed Madison. She jumped up from her chair and stormed out of the dining room.

"New boyfriend? Virginity? What the hell is she talking about, Vanessa?!" Waldon declared, jumping to his feet too. "Brandon?"

"Uh, I don't know. She has been acting—"

"Dammit, Wally! Maddie is pissed that you picked Brandon and Lindsey to act in your commercials and not her," Vanessa replied in anger while shaking her head.

"Why would I pick her? She quit volleyball. I guess we could have her next to Bran in a cheerleader uniform."

"Dad, really? Mads is the actress in this family," Brandon reminded him.

"Dressing up in those weird outfits for school isn't acting. I need someone that can help sell cars. Local sports stars will do that," Waldon waved off his daughter's interest. "Now, what the hell is this about a boyfriend?"

"Oh, Wally, you can be such a dumbass at times," Vanessa remarked, wiping her hands on a napkin, and standing up. "I have to go console our daughter. Let your son fill you in."