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Smooth Criminal

one.

“Stella Lucille Underwood, come here, please.”

I mentally shuddered at the voice of my father, setting my pen down neatly over my calculous sheet that I had been slaving away at for the last hour and a half. I went over everything in my head that I could have possibly done wrong, coming short of any answer. I did the dishes, mopped the floor, threw away all the gross left-overs in the refrigerator, took out the trash, and now I’m doing my homework… I have done nothing wrong.
“Yes, sir?” My voice barely comes out above a whisper, the way it usually sounds when I speak to my father. He doesn’t say a single word. Instead, he points an angry finger at the back door that had barely any smears on it. I tried with everything in my little body to not roll my eyes at him.
“I thought I told you kids to clean the house right when you got home from school, did I not?”
I swallowed the growing lump in my throat and looked down at my Nike-sock-clad feet.
“Stella. Did I not tell you to clean the kitchen?” His booming voice made me jump in place.
“Dad, I cleaned the kitchen.” I answered hesitantly. “Rory was in charge of the living room and dining room today.”
We both averted our gazes to the “messy” living space in speculation of my sister’s lack of effort around the house. Granted, the house wasn’t actually messy; there was an unfolded blanket strewn across the back of the couch, a few magazines weren’t perfectly lined up on the coffee table, and Parker’s shoes were lying in the middle of the floor. Of course, in Daddy’s eyes, this was a total disaster. Sargent Underwood - police man extraordinaire by day, ballistic clean freak by night.
“This better be picked up by the time your mother comes home, Stella Lucille.”
Daddy turned around and walked out of the kitchen and my shoulders deflated as I let out a sigh. Nothing will ever be good enough for that man, I swear to God.
“What crawled up his ass?” My older brother, Parker, mumbled as he slipped past me to grab a bag of chips off the counter. I sat down in one of the chairs around the kitchen table and let out another sigh, blowing a strand of blonde hair out of my eyes.
“It’s dad. There’s always something wrong, Park.”
“What was it this time?”
“Rory didn’t clean the living room. Now God is damning us all to Hell for her sins.”
Parker rolled his eyes and shoved a Dorito into his mouth. “Where is Rory anyways?”
I shrugged, not too sure why everyone expects me to keep tabs on the twenty-two year old monster I call my sister. “She’s supposed to be in class, but you and I both know that’s not where she’s at, at all.”
“I’ll pick up if you vacuum,” Parker suggests, already making his way to the couch to fold the blanket. I nod in agreement, even though his back is turned to me, and head to the closet underneath the stairwell to pull out the vacuum.

“Stell, it’s Friday night. You can’t just sit at home and do homework all night long.” My best friend, Amanda, sighs at me over the phone. “You can’t just let me go to this concert alone.”
I rolled my eyes at her tone and absent-mindedly play with the mechanical pencil in my hands.
“You know the sargent isn’t ever going to agree to letting me go to a concert. At a club, none-the-less.” It was my turn to release a sigh, leaning back in my desk chair.
“Your dad needs to really invest in one of these things called a life,” Amanda groans. I smile a little bit and let out a small giggle.
“You’re telling me… At least you don’t have to live with him.”
“It’s like you live in a prison… You’re seventeen years old and you don’t have a car, you have an eleven o’clock curfew on weekends, nine o’clock on school nights, and you’re not allowed to talk to boys. I’ve taken it upon myself to be your knight in shining armour and rescue you.”
My eyebrows raise at her comment and I’m left very confused. “Rescue me?”
“Pack a bag. You’re going to the concert and you’re spending the night at my house.”
“Amanda, no. He won’t let me. It’s too short of a notice for him.”
“Oh my god, Stella. You cannot seriously tell me that you actually want to spend another weekend alone, locked in your room with homework.” The tone in Amanda’s voice made it very clear that she wasn’t going to let me win this one.
“He’s going to ground me, you know?” I finally say, giving in. Her high-pitched squeal made me take the phone away from my face and cringe.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes. We can get ready at my house. Just so that he won’t be suspicious of any ‘hoodrat shenanigans,’” she instructed, clearly mocking my father’s weird phrasing.
“If I don’t answer the door, it’s most likely because I’ve been murdered for asking to have a life.”
“I’ll bring my pepper spray. See ya in ten.”
I end the call and throw my phone next to me on my bed.
This is the day I die. If my father ever finds out that I went to a club to see some local band, he will actually murder me. And get away with it. I’m dead.

I hesitantly raise my fist to my parent’s bedroom door and lightly knock, following up with a quiet, “Daddy?” His voice bellows for me to come in and I quietly swing the door open, careful not to hit anything that might be in the way. I’m met with his accusing gaze and I automatically feel guilty for something that I haven’t even done yet.
“What is it, Stella Lucille?” His voice is sharp and loud in contrast to my quiet and relaxed voice.
“I was, uh, wondering if I could spend the night at Amanda’s tonight?” I asked, trying not to break eye contact with the man. It was a habit of mine to stare at my shoes when in a situation of one-on-one confrontation. “Her mom is ordering us take-out and we were going to watch movies all night.”
The silent pause that followed my question about nearly gave me a heart attack. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and swallowed the saliva that wasn’t in my mouth.
“Are there going to be boys there?”
I rapidly shook my head with wide eyes.
“And her mother is going to be there all night?”
“Yes, sir. We’re just watching movies all night. We aren’t even going anywhere.”
“Is the living room clean?”
“Yes, sir. Parker and I both helped clean it. And if she doesn’t do it when she gets home, I will clean the dining room tomorrow when I get home. I promise.”
My dad let out a short breath and propped his glasses up higher on the bridge of his nose. “I guess that’s fine then. But you’re doing homework all day tomorrow when you get back home.”
I nodded my head vigorously. “Yes, sir. Thank you, Daddy.” I quickly shuffled over to him and planted a quick kiss on his rough cheek. “I love you!”
I hurried to my room and threw some clothes and essentials into my Nike bag so that I’d be ready whenever Amanda got here.
A few minutes later, Amanda’s knock bellowed throughout the house and I smiled to myself, grabbing my bag and stuffing my phone and phone charger into my purse before making my way downstairs.
“Bye, Daddy!” I called out through the house. I gave a quick wave to Parker, who was watching Family Guy on the couch and opened the door to Amanda’s smirking face.
“Ready to get your party on?” Amanda said with a little dance. I rolled my eyes at my best friend and shushed her.
“He could hear you still. Shut up, child.”
Amanda slapped me lightly on the shoulder before unlocking her Honda Accord. “His hearing might be good, but I doubt it’s good enough to hear through a shut door and two stories, Stell.”
Point made.
“So who’s even playing tonight?” I ask once we’re enroute to her house. I flip through her iPod Nano in search of the perfect song and finally settle on some Sum41.
“All Time Low,” she smirks from beside me. I roll my eyes at her and her odd obsession with the local boy band that went to our school. “Do not roll your eyes at me Stella Lucille. They are talented, musical gods.”
“They’re immature seniors who hang out with my brother. They’re not as amazing as you think they are, Manders. Trust me,” I add in. And it was true. While a good portion of our school idolized the four members of the local band, I was part of the small percentage who really didn’t give a fly rat’s rear end. My brother hangs out with the same crowd as them so I’ve come across them a few times at school when I needed something from Parker, but that’s about it. I had absolutely no interest in the boys.
“They’re, like, royalty though,” Amanda countered my argument.
“One of them doesn’t even go to Dulaney, dude. And besides, I’ve heard they’re nothing but trouble.” I throw my hair up into a bun on the top of my head and roll my window down.
“Says who? Your father? Stella, your dad thinks that everyone is trouble. Except for his darling princess of a daughter, Stella Lucille, who does everything she’s ever told.”
“Ouch,” I mutter under my breath.
“Look, I love you. I really do. But you’re such a goody two-shoes when it comes to your dad. He completely controls every aspect of your life. It’s such bullshit.” I glare at my friend as she nonchalantly lights up her cigarette. “Do not look at me like that. You know I’m right.”
I roll my eyes at her and pull my knees into my chest. “You’re so mean to me.”
“Tough love, baby.” Amanda blows a kiss in my direction and pulls up in front of her house. “Alright. Let the festivities begin.”

Notes

So I'm putting She's Like Texas on hiatus because I'm experiencing some hardcore writer's block... So as of now, all of my time is going into Smooth Criminal. And then I'll pick back up on SLT. Hopefully y'all enjoy this story as much as I enjoy writing it. I know it's kind of your typical high school ATL fanfic, but I'm still pleased with what I'm doing with this story.

Feedback is always welcomed and thanks for reading!
-Kate.

Comments

This was one of my absolute favorite stories. I am very curious to know if you are going to continue with this? Because I have to know what happens next.

BreaClift. BreaClift.
6/14/21

I want to know if there is going to be sequel to this story?

BreaClift. BreaClift.
3/26/19

I don't remember anything. I need to restart this. Damn, all I remember is loving this. Only more reason to read it all again.

Haha, keepin' it real. :) No worries, the only one that was kind of concerning was the Blink-180 because I think that's the first time I've ever seen that. XD But I figured it was a typo.
:)

Nanook Nanook
1/4/19

@Daydreamers her big reveal will be in the last chapter ;) hang tight.

katybear18 katybear18
1/4/19