One Step Forward, One Step Back

Both Astrid and Wendy looked absolutely shocked when I revealed Jasmine's true nature.

"So you really have been using magic this whole time," said Astrid. Oh boy, please don't tell me I'm about to lose all progress with her.

"It's not like that. I didn't **** anyone to do anything," I said. Thankfully, she smiled.

"I know. I trust you," she said with a smile that warmed my heart. And thank goodness.

"First a strange man threatens Joseph, then Mio's parents get a ton of compromising pictures of her. This can't be a coincidence," said Jasmine.

But before anyone could answer, the door opened, and the last people in the world I ever thought would step through were there.

My parents.

My eyes basically fell out of my head. I haven't seen them in so long, I almost forgot what they looked like.

"Mom, dad. What are you doing here?" I asked them, ignoring the gasps of shock from the girls.

I later found out that all of them were glaring at my parents.

"We wanted to see you honey," said my mom in a fake sweet voice as she went in for a hug.

"If you wanted to see me, you wouldn't have left like you did," I snapped at them, avoiding the hug.

"Son, who are all these girls? You're not paying prostitutes now, are you?" questioned my dad. That really pissed me off.

"THEY'RE NOT PROSTITUTES! THEY'RE MY GIRLFRIENDS!" I snapped, ignoring the fact that Astrid and Wendy are just friends.

My parents looked at me and the girls in shock.

"No, I don't believe it. There's no way you'd be able to land one of them," said my mom. That, that really hurt actually. My own mother seems to have a really low opinion of me.

Wait, is that why they left? They thought I was worthless, so they left me.

"DON'T TALK TO HIM LIKE THAT!" snapped Amy. With a fire in her eyes, she walked right up to my mom and jabbed a finger into her chest.

"YOU DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT YOUR SON. HE'S THE BEST MAN ANY OF US COULD EVER ASK FOR. BUT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO GET TO KNOW HIM, YOU ABANDONED HIM!" she yelled. My mom backed away, but my dad didn't.

"DON'T TALK TO MY WIFE LIKE THAT YOU BITCH!" he yelled. This time, it was Lyn who snapped.

"LEAVE US ALONE. YOU'VE NEVER SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT BEFORE!" she snapped. By this point, all nine of my girls were standing between me and my parents. I've never felt this much love and support before.

"We can have you all arrested for trespassing," snapped my dad.

Shit, that's true.

"Everyone just calm down. I don't want you guys getting arrested," I begged.

"NO! Joseph, these people abandoned you, their own son. They have no right to be here," said Heather.

"We love you, and we're not going to let them hurt you anymore," said Mio. My parents looked over the crowd of girls and scowled.

"He's our son, we can do whatever we want with him. So back off and go home," snapped my dad.

"I WANT them here. Each of them mean a lot to me," I snapped as I squeezed my way to the front of the crowd.

"But we don't, and we're in charge of you," snapped my mom.

Fuck, I can't see a way out of this. My parents do own the house, so they can call the police on the girls. Sure, they might not get arrested, but they would have to leave.

And I already used my wish for the day. Worst of all, Mio just got kicked out and moved in. That's when Jasmine whispered something in my ear.

"We can't win this today, but we can tomorrow," she said.

"Whatever, let's just go. Jasmine, Mio, I'm sorry, but we'll have to stay the night somewhere else," I said, not caring about how confused my parents must be.

"You guys can stay at my house," said Lyn.

"Joseph, you're staying right here, with your parents," snapped my mom.

"You guys stopped being my parents a long time ago," I said before grabbing some stuff and leaving.

We have to put off until tomorrow what we can't do today.