Number One Fan

“Is that weed!?”

Stella asks you in shock, while Cassie and Maddy are wide eyed upon seeing the small ziplock of weed placed on top of the pizza boxes when you put them down on the table.

“Yep!” you answer her, in equal disbelief as they are. “The pizzas and the weed are courtesy of our loving neighbor, and Madeleine’s grandfather, Mr. O’Brien.” you tell them.

“Grandpa Rick gave you his weed!?” Maddy asks you in total shock.

“No. He bought some for us from the pizza delivery guy, and gave the parting message to ‘have fun’.” You explain to her.

“Oh my god! Grandpa!” Maddy reacts in embarrassment.

“Not surprised Mr. O’Brien tokes up though. Probably helps with muscle pain.” Stella reacts, before opening up the pizza boxes so you can all grab a slice.

“Yes, my lovely daughter, please explain to your father the positive effects of smoking marijuana.” you jokingly tell her, pretending you’d be furious to find out she smokes weed.

“What? Can we not pretend you and I don’t both smoke weed recreationally?” Stella asks you, before taking a bite of her pizza.

“I’m just concerned, Stella. I just hope you’re doing it in a safe environment, and you’re doing it responsibly. You’re still in school, there’s definitely a school policy against that. That’s all I’m saying.” you tell her, as fatherly as you can.

“Don’t worry, Jay. She doesn’t smoke weed much, and she keeps to her schedule even when she does. It actually helped calm her down a few times after… um… yeah. I was more okay with her smoking weed than cigarettes to be honest.” Cassie assures you.

“What do you mean ‘she’, like I’m the only one? I smoke your weed!” Stella reacts to Cassie with a laugh. Cassie looks at you embarrassed, unsure how you would react to her getting Stella to smoke weed with her.

“Relax, Cassie. You’re both adults now, and those are your decisions. Just make sure it doesn’t get in the way of your futures, okay?” you reassure her, and your girlfriends just smile and nod to tell you they understand.

You are a bit surprised it’s Cassie who’s the one that’s getting your daughter to smoke up, and not the other way around. You consider it a good sign in regards to your parenting that your daughter isn’t the one getting other people to do **** with her, but also a bad sign in regards to you as a parent that you expected her to be the one that would.

‘You are also sleeping with her, so maybe there’s no argument to be made about how good of a parent you really are anymore’

More importantly though, you’ve come to the realization there’s still a lot you can still get to know about your girlfriends.

“Wow, you’re really understanding, Mr. Craig. You’re so cool. My dad would be livid if he found out I was doing ****.” Maddy tells you and the girls.

“I’m sure he’s just being protective. It comes with being a parent.” you reassure her.

“No~. You don’t know my dad.” Maddy tells you with conviction.

“Well, if she’s anything like your grandma, then we have some idea.” Stella tells her, and you can’t help but admonish her for that.

“Stella!” you shout in reaction. Stella apologizes but Maddy doesn’t seem to mind.

“Oh, you sound like grandpa Rick.” Maddy jokes back, which makes you and Stella smile a bit in relief, knowing she didn’t take what Stella said in the wrong way. “Grammy’s strict, but she’s been nothing but sweet to me and my sisters growing up. My dad though, he’s more than just strict. He threatened Grandpa Rick he’ll never see us ever again if he finds out he ‘put me on the weed’.” Maddy explains.

“Well, that rules out my theory that Mr. O’Brien bought this for us so we could smoke this with you then. Pretty sure Mrs. O’Brien will definitely tell your dad about it if she finds out.” Stella points out, while shaking the ziplock of weed.

“I… I haven’t actually tried smoking marijuana. I am curious, but you’re probably right about Grammy. I’m pretty sure she’s dad’s spy while I’m here.” Maddy says. You and the girls just give her knowing looks, since you have experience with how Mrs. O’Brien can be thorough in finding out things that happen in the building. “Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always love Grammy. She’s the one who introduced me to you, Mr. Craig. She was the one that sent me a copy of ‘The Undying Emperor’ back when I was in elementary. I’ve been following your work ever since then. The Chronomancer series is one of my favorite stories ever.” Maddy tells you.

“Wait, you read those books in elementary? HOW!?” Stella asks in disbelief.

“What? Why?” Maddy asks, surprised at Stella’s shock.

“I think Stella’s surprised you were smart enough to get it.” Cassie explains.

“Hey! Are you calling me stupid?” Stella asks with fake indignation.

“I’m saying she was smart enough to get it.” Cassie replies with a guilty smile, making it obvious to Stella that she was teasing.

“Oh, um… I actually think they’re very well written. It was never confusing for me what was going on, despite the time jumps, alternate identities, and alternate timelines. Figuring out that Al-Zayim was actually the Emperor in ‘The Desert of Time’ and not the POV character that was written to make readers believe he was The Emperor for being a chronomancer, but was actually only able to use chronomancy due to Al Zayim being secretly around him was such an amazing reading experience! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! I want to see if the theory on the internet is right and that the Emperor’s actually the God of Time himself and not just a chronomancer, and that he’s not actually cursed by the gods with immortality but he and his soulmate are both gods to begin with, and that his soulmate is the goddess of space, and they’ve been cursed with mortal bodies instead; and are therefore bound to live on Earth forever but always apart.” Maddy fangirls.

“You got any of that, Cass?” Stella reacts right after Maddy’s praises of your work.

“Nope.” Cassie replies, and the two girls look at you with puppy dog eyes and exaggerated pouts, acting like they’re asking forgiveness for not being big fans of your work.

“I still love you girls.” you assure them, but you pretend to wipe a tear, making Cassie and Stella giggle. “Anyway, I’m glad you enjoyed reading my works, Maddy. I’m sorry to say that the latest book is delayed due to personal reasons.” you tell her.

“Oh, that’s unfortunate; but no pressure, Mr. Craig! Take your time perfecting your book. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it!” Maddy tells you.

You kind of feel guilty that the book is the last thing on your mind right now. Especially since your publisher has given you time to take a break, and publish it when you’re comfortable enough to do a promotional tour when the book gets released.

“Didn’t you say the book was practically done?” Stella asks you, and Maddy gasps in excitement. The elation in Maddy’s eyes upon hearing that is palpable.

“Can I read it, Mr. Craig? That would be so amazing if I could!” Maddy asks giddily.

“My contract prevents me from sharing drafts with anyone outside of the editors assigned to me, so I’m really sorry, Maddy.” you tell her, tempering her excitement.

“That’s okay, Mr. Craig. I understand completely. It’s probably for the better too. So I can experience it as you intended.” Maddy replies.

“Okay, I think my Dad’s ego has sufficiently been stroked now, Mads.” Stella jokes, getting an embarrassed reaction from Maddy.

“I’m sorry I’m being such a fangirl. I’m not normally like this, I promise. It’s just rare to be around someone you idolize.” she explains.

“Oh! No, don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking you to change. I’m always happy to meet someone who’s a fan of my dad’s work. I’m just saying, knowing him, it’s going to go to his head.” Stella jokes, and you can’t help but react with a “Hey!” since it might give Maddy the wrong idea. Thankfully, Maddy seems to see it as a joke like Stella intended and laughs.

“I’m sure you meet tons of fans of Mr. Craig’s writing. I assume he’s used to it by now too.” Maddy replies.

“I’ve met some, but you’re the first without a neckbeard in a long time.” Stella jokes, actually making you laugh along, as that is a weirdly distinct trait some of your more vocal fans have. You’re not sure why.

“For that alone, I already consider dad’s fanbase a thousand percent improved.” Stella jokes, which actually gets a genuine ecstatic smile from Maddy.

“Hearing that’s really… I’m sorry. To hear it from his own daughter though, that’s amazing for me. I assumed you’d be his biggest fan! I’m kind of embarrassed to admit it, but I always kind of imagined myself in your shoes. Having such a brilliant father.” Maddy explains.

“Well, I’m obviously not what you assumed to be; but as his daughter, with the power vested in me by nobody, I’m dubbing you…”

“Dad’s number one fan.”