[Comments Closed]
Well, you call him your cousin to the face of the public. For sanity's sake.
Sitting in your kitchen at your dining room table (in YOUR spot, you irritably note,) is the ever-popular Rick Stryker. Your father's eldest brother took his wife's name, Stryker, as your mother took McAlister, giving you a headache any time somebody found out about your familial connection. Or, what's supposed to be your familial connection. There are some people who wish they weren't related to their cousins. You know for a fact that you aren't.
"Rick" is really a changeling that replaced your cousin when he was stolen by the Fae as a baby. He kicks puppies. He steals your stuff. He makes fun of you in front of his friends (and behind your back), and he once called Kait a slut in front of half the student body. That's only a couple of reasons why you dislike him, but there are plenty more. You could make a Christmas Wish-list out of the reasons you dislike him, but all in all, it surmounts to a boiling rage that makes your toes curl.
"Finally! How do you manage to sleep half the day away, Collie?" Rick's voice was sweet but bitter as he winked. You flinched slightly when he used that absolutely atrocious nickname he had come up with years ago, but you don't say anything.
"...Oo, still sleepy, little baby?" He cooed, eliciting a small giggle from your mother as your father simply smiles. "Yeah, sure, whatever." You finally snap, taking the last step with a thud as you walk briskly to the fridge. There was no way in hell you were sitting at that table with him. Rick noted this with a slight frown, to your satisfaction as you glanced over your shoulder, but he recovered quickly. He was a pro at that, it seemed.
"Anyway, thank you for the lovely morning chat and delicious breakfast, Aunt Thalia, Uncle Leo. Would you mind if Colin and I speak alone for a little bit?" The changeling turned his speech briefly to your parents, and you freeze for a second. What could he want with you? Surely it wasn't... "I need to get him to his feet on all the Soccer stuff for this semester." ...well, shit.
You down a glass of orange juice before Rick beckons that you head to your room. You cringe at the thought of being alone with this douchebag, but you put the cup down on the counter (spitefully "forgetting" to put it in the dishwasher) and follow him at a slower pace.
Taking the stairs one at a time, you reach the second floor and head back to whence you came, unsure of what to expect. Rick left the door open for you, so you proceed to see him sitting on your bed, the coy smile from before once again curling his lips. After staring (or glaring, in your case) at one another, he opens his mouth to speak.
What does he say?
Credit to: Miss Saxon, Bobbie, Sagie Wagie!!