Maddy

“We’d actually like to get to know you more too, Maddy. How long are you staying with your grandparents?” Cassie asks her.

You and the girls finished your lunch and have been talking to Maddy for quite some time now… Well, it was mostly Maddy talking, and it was almost exclusively about her love for your works, her asking you about your worldbuilding, and asking your opinions about her headcanon of certain plot points you’ve left grey for the readers to piece together. After some time, Cassie took it upon herself by asking her the question so that she can stop gushing about you; as it did kind of make you feel uncomfortable with how relentless she was with her questions.

“Oh, I’m starting college after this summer. My dad didn’t want me to stay at a dormitory where he can’t keep an eye on me, and wanted me to attend a college close to home. I had to argue that the pre-med course in the college I’m going to is one of the best in the country and way better than the ones back home, so mom and I convinced him that it gives me a better chance at landing at one of the top med schools later on. My mom was the one who ultimately persuaded him to compromise, and that’s why I’m staying with my grandparents instead. So they can keep an eye on me for my dad. My mom convinced him to let me go here earlier too. She wants me to get used to the city, and the commute, and a life outside of homeschooling so she convinced my dad to allow me to stay with his parents before school starts.” Maddy explains.

It seemed like a reasonable enough thing for her dad to want, until you and the girls find out where she’s going to school.

“Wait, that’s our school.” Cassie has a sudden realization after Maddy answers where she’s going for college.

“Oh, cool! We’re going to be schoolmates! I haven’t had many schoolmates outside of my sisters.” Maddy jokes, giggling at the end.

“Mads, that’s like a two hour drive to outside the city without traffic!” Stella reacts. “Also, is it cool if I call you Mads from time to time?” Stella adds.

“Sure! I like Mads!” Maddy answers Stella’s second question first. “Oh, and yeah, I heard it’s also around that time if I take the subway and a bus, so my dad thinks it’s doable since public transport’s a little more consistent for my time management.” Maddy replies.

“Everyday!?” Stella asks incredulously again.

“Yeah. Believe me, I’d rather he allow me to dorm, but I’d rather have a two hour commute than be stuck at home.” Maddy tells them with a somber tone. Stella and Cassie just look at each other, before they both look back at Maddy trying not to pity her, and failing miserably.

“Why is your dad so adamant about keeping an eye on you? He’s more willing for you to commute two hours to school than get a dorm room. It’s not like public transit in this city isn’t dangerous either.” Stella asks Maddy.

“Well… my older sister is kind of the reason. She had a pregnancy scare when she was in college, and my dad was furious to say the least. Trust me, he was paranoid enough to begin with; but after that, he became a lot more paranoid about protecting us sisters from boys.” Maddy explains, not hiding her annoyance at her father’s parenting choices. Stella and Cassie glance at you with knowing looks, before looking back at each other and both stifling a laugh.

“Yeah, I know. My dad’s paranoia’s kinda funny, right?” Maddy asks the girls, not knowing why they found what she said amusing.

“It kinda is Maddy. Your dad can’t protect you from the real world forever, that includes boys.” Cassie tells her.

“Yeah, I believe that too. So does my Mom. She’s always been the one to help us find balance between Dad’s paranoia, and learning about the real world. She knows we can’t live in our bubble forever. That’s why she takes us to different places to talk to people from time to time as part of our homeschooling. Mostly retirement homes, so we can hear a wider range of life experiences that Dad doesn’t want us exposed to. It’s what got me into wanting to pursue a career in healthcare. I wanted to be a nurse specifically, but dad said he’d only allow me to move out if I pursued medicine and became a doctor so… here I am.” Maddy explains.

“Okay, that sounds so~ constricting. You’re going to need to let loose at some point. Maybe Mr. O’Brien did buy this so you could have fun with us.” Stella jokes, making Maddy laugh.

“I’m sure that’s something Grandpa Rick would do, but I wouldn’t want to get him in trouble… and I definitely don’t want Mr. Craig to get into trouble either. I need to make sure whose side Grammy’s on first.” Maddy replies.

“My dad can handle himself, and it seems like you’ll have Mr. O’Brien and your mom on your side if your dad ever finds out.” Stella points out.

“Okay, calm down, Cheech. We’re not smoking weed right now. You and Jay have a date later.” Cassie points out.

“Aw~ that’s so cool! Do you guys do daddy-daughter dates often? Also, is Cheech one of your nicknames? I can start calling you Cheech if that’s what you prefer.” Maddy asks, resulting in Cassie trying to stop herself from laughing too hard.

“Please don’t call me Cheech. Cassie’s just teasing with a dated reference.” Stella tells her, and Maddy’s a little embarrassed she’s not familiar with the reference, probably thinking it’s a result of her sheltered upbringing. “As for the Daddy-daughter dates, when I was a kid, yeah. We did those from time to time. Tonight’s our first real date though.” Stella answers her.

“What do you mean by a real date?” Maddy asks.

“Like, boyfriend and girlfriend.” Stella answers her nonchalantly.

“Oh! You’re dating your dad? That’s… I personally wouldn’t even want to imagine it; but then again, J.R. Craig isn’t my dad.” Maddy jokes, but Cassie gives you a knowing look, implying Maddy would date you if you were her dad, and you tell her with just your eyes to stop with the suggestive looks already. “Then again, at the rate of my dad’s insistence to not want me to have contact with boys, my only option would be him.” Maddy jokes, but the frustration is evident in her voice, before she visibly shakes in disgust at the idea she just proposed.

“How long ago was it that your sister got pregnant? Maybe that’s still fresh on his mind, and that’s why he’s still overprotective?” Cassie asks her.

“Yeah. Maybe he’ll ease up once he sees his grandchild.” Stella adds.

“Oh, my sister didn’t even get pregnant. She just had a pregnancy scare. My dad was just super afraid she threw away her future, and he didn’t want the rest of us to have that ‘problem’.” Maddy explains.

“That sounds like someone in the room.” Stella jokes.

“When did I ever stop you from going after boys?” you ask back jokingly.

“I was talking about the stand on your daughter getting pregnant, Dad.” Stella clarifies.

“I took you to a clinic to get birth control, not prevent you from meeting boys.” you defend your parenting choice.

“Gee, I wonder why you went that route?” Stella asks sarcastically, insinuating that the if you went with the other option, the only ‘boy’ you’ll be preventing her from having sex with would be you. “Plus, I think us being in a relationship is pretty much you stopping me from going after boys, Dad.” Stella jokes again.

“Yeah, I’m beginning to think that’s the only reason he’s dating you.” Cassie teases her, making Stella playfully slap her arm. Maddy laughs at Stella and Cassie’s playful interaction.

“I guess you should thank your lucky stars your Dad didn’t go the same route as my Dad, Mads.” Stella jokes.

“Ew~. NO!” Maddy reacts in disgust, making the girls laugh.