School Mom for sweetcandygirl

[malcolmeffect]

Ian was used to being called away for business. This time he had to go to Texas for a few days. Normally he would send the Kelly to stay with the Murphy's nearby but Harley had insisted. Kelly and Harley got along well even if Kelly was a little nervous at first that there was going to be another woman come into their life and leave. She had cheered quickly when Ian explained that this was Loki's other partner. That this was a visit to keep her happy because of the long trip Loki had gone on. Everything was smooth after that. It was almost like a family, maybe more like a family than his marriages had been.

Harley came and went as she pleased but Ian cooked and Harley was eager to learn all the traditional Jewish and Senegalese foods he made. At one point, with his first wife, they had a culturally blended household. Ian and Kelly had kept that up even if Maya was out of the picture for a long time now. Harley went to the college gym with Kelly sometimes to do gymnastics and of course the rumors started immediately about Malcolm picking up another young woman to marry. He ignored it.

The night before he had left for Texas though and left Harley the car and instructions how to get Kelly to school, times for drop off and pick up, gymnastic practice and the like. He trusted Harley to take care of his daughter and he wondered if she knew how much that meant.

Kelly was fine with this and woke up the next morning on her own to shower, dress and make breakfast for herself and Harley.

Comments

[malcolmeffect]

Ian was grateful that Harley and Bruce had integrated into the family well. He needed the company and didn't mind the fact that they slept in the same bed. He had found the lack of pressure knowing that they were just friends eased his tension and provided both of them with needed comfort. Kelly responded well to that particular arrangement. Harley was a family friend and not some girlfriend she hoped would like her.

She paired her new shirt with a pair of black jean shorts, though not short shorts like Harley often wore, and some black combat boot style booties. Seeing the ribbons in Harley's hair Kelly took up some extra time lacing some purple ones into her braids before they left.

Kelly was always excited for practice and this afternoon was no different. She gave Bruce a scratch on the head before shouldering her bag and stepping out of the car. She immediately saw the people out front, especially the parents looking. They didn't believe her that Harley was just a family friend and they were starting to say things about her dad again. She hated the way they tormented her but nothing was going to stop her from practicing. If she learned anything from watching her father in academics it was how to ignore people that insulted you and your work.

[sweetcandygirl]

Harley spotted the parents who were giving Kelly a side-eye. She made sure to park properly, and step out of the vehicle herself. The back window left down for Bruce, so he was content to stay in the car for now.

"Keep her in neutral." She told Bruce, as he hopped into the driver seat, watching the two head towards the school. The hyena laughed in response to her joke.

Harley smiled and walked beside Kelly, her heels click-clacking on the pavement as she moved. She smiled brightly at the parents who were trying to torment Kelly, just so they knew that there was nothing they could say that would upset her, or the young woman.

"Dontcha all have something better to do than gossip?" Her heavy broken Brooklyn accent was thick with her question.

[malcolmeffect]

They weren't confrontational but as soon as they were out of earshot she knew they would start whispering. The worst was their kids, sometimes. Though the parents were horrible too.

She put her arm though Harley's to keep up her confidence while they walked by. "Dad says to ignore them, but they say such nasty things about him and about me. I don't like any of them."

[sweetcandygirl]

"I never pay any mind to nasty things said."

Harley pops a piece of bubblegum in her mouth, and pops it.

"They are just afraid to say anything directly to me."

[malcolmeffect]

"They get me in trouble with the teachers too." Kelly sighs and tried to stay tall and ignore them like Harley was, but it wasn't easy for her. "How do you make people scared to say things to you?"

[sweetcandygirl]

"That ain't right.... why the hell they doing that?"

Harley sometimes forgets to watch her language around Kelly.

"It ain't about making them scared of you. It is about standing up to them, and showing them that you ain't going to be upset by their words."

"You want me to show you... what I would do?"