Dale Flowers's Story

Dale Flowers
"Dale!" Dale's eyes fluttered open for a second before he squeezed them shut again, he didn't want to deal with it. Even asleep he could reconise to shrill yelling of his mother. He only got a few minutes longer of sleep though before he felt someone shaking him awake. Rolling over onto his back, he opened his eyes an took a moment to get used to the light. After a moment he looked to his right at the person who had woken him up, finding the last person he had expected. His younger cousin Luke had woken him up, the kid had turned eight last month, the youngest of the family. "Auntie Maisie wants you," the boy simply before moving out of Dale's eyesight.

Grunting Dale sat up and slowly left the protective casing of his bed. Looking to the other side of the room he discovered that Luke had retreated back to his own side of the room and as playing with some sort of racing car. Ever since Luke had left his crib they had been sharing this room together. Normally any teenage guy would complain about sharing a room with an eight year old but well, before Luke, Dale has shared a room with Casey one of his other cousins. And yes, Casey is a girl. Besides it gave him and Luke one place in the house where the didn't have to deal with the overwhelming number of girls. Sighing Dale threw on a dark blue tee that was laying on the ground on as well as a pair of tatty grey jeans before heading further into the house to find his mother.

"Gail, geez at least put a little pride in your appearance," before Dale could respond though he was assaulted by a pair of hands from behind. He didn't have to turn around to know it was Casey who was currently fixing up his bed hair. Ever since he had moved in with his aunt and uncle his four cousins, yes, four older girl cousins, had treated him like a carnival act. Always getting annoyed at him when apparently his clothes didn't match or he tried to leave the house with messy hair. To them he was like a little doll that they could dress up all day long, at one point they had even begun calling him Gail pretending he was their little sister. Dale was honestly surprised that they hadn't turned him gay yet. It only made it worse that he had his father's last name; flowers.

He had learned early on that it was easier to let them do what they wanted then fight it, so he stood there and let Casey fix up his hair. "What would I do without you Case," He said simply giving his cousin a kiss on the cheek before moving into the kitchen, finding his mother baking some form of cake. She was always baking or cleaning or something, always serving someone else, always replying on someone else. She was such a co-dominant person. "Dale, the back door has come off it's hinge, so you're going to need to fix it sometime before it gets dark. I also need you to take this mail up to Old Adeline's house." His mother said quickly, handing him a pile of mail before shooing him out of the kitchen.

Sighing Dale grabbed his phone from his room before leaving the house and heading along the road, up the hill towards his neighbors house. They had the worst mailman ever, okay, well to be fair the way their street was developed is quite confusing. The houses didn't exactly go in numerical order and some house were added later and people were stupid. There was also this little bit that Adeline lived off that look like it was part of a different road. No one ever really minded though, everyone knew everyone, so every couple of days they all just swapped the mail around between them.

Arriving at Adeline's house he knocked a couple times on the door before leaning against the wall, this wasn't his first visit to the old woman's home. He had learnt that she was old, and she always took a little bit of time to get to the door, so he had settle himself in for the wait.

Cambriah Van Dam
The family SUV pulled up out front of her grandmothers beautiful beachfront home. It was two stories and a backyard that lead right down to the sandy beach. Her mother glanced back to the two girls. ”Are you sure the two of you want to stay here, I mean Cami darling there is still time for you to sign up for Miss Teen USA and…”Her mother began, but she politely interrupted. ”Mom” she began in a soft kind voice ”I need a break. I really do, I promise after summer I’ll get right back into it.” She said with a smile. She glanced to her sister who looked terrified that their mother wouldn’t let them stay. Cambirah simply winked, giving her fourteen year old sister a I’ve-got-this-under-control, kind of look.

They got out of the car and the strong ocean smell hit Cami’s nose and she inhaled closing her eyes taking in the cool, salty beach smell. “You guys made it!” their grandmother said cheerfully as she walked along the cobble stone path that lead from her front door to the street. Cambriah smiled “Grandma you look beautiful.” She said gently hugging the old woman and kissing her cheek. Haden followed her sister’s actions like she normally did, hugging her grandmother and kissing her cheek. “You girls have gotten so big!” she said hugging them back excitedly. She hadn’t seen her granddaughters in about four years, unfortunately there father wasn’t exactly the type of man to visit extended family so they very rarely spoke to any of their family. “Well Come on inside.” she said as she waddled back up the path, Haden and her mother in tow.

”Do you need help dad?” Cam asked softly, her father like always was dressed in a black Armani business suite and his personality was cold towards his eldest daughter, most would find him mean and intimidating, but Cambriah was use to her father. He handed her purple suite case and matching duffel bag. “Don’t get yourself into trouble I’m not going to deal with it and if your sister gets into trouble it’s on you, your responsible for you.” he said his tone was a bit harsh. “Yes sir.” she replied respectfully, as they headed inside the house.Her father and mother didn’t stay very long, her father was a business man and he was always on a schedule, even when he had nothing planned. Her grandmother explained that her and her sister would be sharing a room, which Cambriah didn’t mind at all. Her grandmother had a cute little guest bedroom on the second floor with two twin beds.

After Cam finished hanging her cloths she headed back down stars, humming something to herself when she heard a knock at the door. “Grandma, I think someone’s here.” She called to her grandmother who was already spending quality time with her youngest granddaughter Haden as they were in the midst of backing some cookies. They had only been there for a few hours and Cam already felt more at home than she ever had. “Would you mind getting it dear?” she called back. “Sure.” she answered back happily. She headed towards the door opening it and smiling to the guy leaning against the wall who seemed to be about her age or maybe even a little older. “Hey, can I help you?” she asked crossing her arms in front of her. Her blonde hair hung around her, that was done up with a little too much make up, much like a rich preppy girl would wear. Her outfit only added to her rich girl look and to a small town boy like him she probably looked more or less like a huge bitch.

Dale Flowers
Dale looked over the blonde girl that had answered the door, now that he wasn't expecting. From what he had heard though she must have been Adeline's granddaughter, the old woman was always talking about her two granddaughters, and the girl definitely fit the description of Cambriah. 'Hi, I'm Dale I live just down the road,"Dale said introducing himself politely to the girl infront of him, giving her a friendly smile. "I've got your grandmother's mail," indicating to the pile of mail he held in his right hand, he side stepped the girl and moved further into the house. He had decided he had given the girl enough of a description of why he was here, besides he knew Adeline well enough to walk into her house.

"Adeline, my mother has sent me with your mail," Dale said with a good natured grin as he located Adeline in the living room playing with a younger version of the blonde who had answered the door. He assumed the younger girl was Haden, if he had remembered the names correctly. "Oh, thank you dear, you're a lovely boy for doing that for you mother. Speaking of which, how is everybody doing down your way?" Dale grinned, she was such a sweet old lady, to her everyone's was a lovely person, she'd probably never survive outside Bradentown though. She'd get conned way too easily. He was glad her granddaughters were finally here to stay with her, Adeline was always talking about how she wished she saw more of them. Then again why would they want to spend their summer here, no doubt they'd rather go to fancy restaurants and do exciting, rich people things all summer. In some ways he was jealous of the upbeat lifestyle they clearly had but in other ways he was sure they were pretentious, snobby people who didn't even make time for family.

"Everything's at my place is good, no doubt you've heard about Shay's recent engagement, it caused a blur of activity. Everyone's busy looking busy so they don't get roped into helping her move out." Shay was his aunty and uncle's oldest daughter and she had recently gotten engaged and would be moving out any day now. Dale was happy about her moving out as it meant one less girl, girlying up the house. He wouldn't miss her though as it wasn't like she was leaving Bradentown, he'd still see her just as much. He only hoped he avoided helping her move, though this was probably a definite scenario, his uncle was always working so Dale was stuck doing all the 'guy' jobs. Like fixing things, opening jars and, you guessed it, moving heavy things.

"What about you, how have things been here, other than of course the obvious difference?" He asked Adeline obviously referring to her two blonde granddaughter's apparently staying with her now. Leaning back against the wall behind him, Dale settled in for a longer stay than he had anticipated. Obviously this wouldn't be a drop and run situation, not that he minded all that much. Adeline was probably his favorite elder in Bradentown, she was always a good chat. Plus, she was an excellent baker and always had a well stocked pantry. Maybe the size 0 blonde granddaughter of her's might gain a curve or two during her stay. Okay, he didn't really mean that, that was too judgmental, he didn't even know the girl. For all he knew she could be really nice.

Cambriah Van Dam
"Ahh that's very sweet of you." She softly as he walked past her letting himself in she shut the door as she followed him inside the house. He seemed just as home as her she assumed he did this a lot. She could help but notice how attractive he was of course she had really never had a moment to stop and actually admire a cute boy her mother said boys wernt on her schedule and just like everything else her mother said she obayed, her mothers voice played in her head and she quickly stopped the thought as he spoke with her grandmother. She headed into the kitchen to help her sister who was cleaning up the kitchen. She had already promised her grandma she.d makelunch for them and it was getting time to start.

"I'm the happiest woman alive."the old woman smiled joyfully it didn't take much to make her happy "I've got my two favorite girls here for the whole summer!" she exclaimed happily, her gray hair was always up in curls and although she was in her late sixties the remnents of a beautiful youn woman was still visible she had aged well, mostly because she had taken care of herself so well through out the years. "found your summer romance sis he's georgous." Haden smirked teasing her older sister. Can shot her sister a small playful shut the hell up kind of look, but she honestly didn't mind she was barely ever mad at her sister . Her and Haden where busy getting the ingredients out forlunch when she almost chocked on her chew gum at what her grandmother said next. "Dale why don't you stay for lunch, then you can take Cambriah out and show her Braden I known there's not much but she could use a cute boy god knows her parents never let her out of the damn house with anyone. Maybe I'll even convince her to play us something you just have to hear her play and that voice of hers I've told you so much I'm sure you want to hear it know that she's here." the old woman was practically being him to take her grandaughter out.

Haden tried containing her laughter and snorted a few times failing to hold it in. Cambriah shot her little sister a dirty look as she blushed from what her grandmother had said " it fine really, grandma I'm sure he's busy he doesn't, have time to spend with usim sure he has better things to do. she said in a polite tone careful not to disrespect her grandmother. "Oh pish posh, Dale come your joining us and i simply won't take no for an answer. she said gently tugging him to the bar and pulling out one of the seats motioning for him to sit while they cooked. Cam tried to hide her embarrassed look but it was no use the red tent pleged her pail complextion.

(PS just saying at some point I think that dale and can should slow dance to collide by Howie day just cause its an amazing song and I think it totally fits them)

Dale Flowers
"Seems like you've had quite a change of heart Adeline," Dale said through his own laughter that he made no attempt to hide. Adeline was infamous in Bradentown for prying into the residents private lives. One look at Cambriah and he knew she wasn't used to her grandmother's lack of subtlety. He gave her a quick sympathetic smile before turning back to Adeline. "It was only last week you were making comments about Ashley and I getting back together."

Dale and Ashley had been boyfriend girlfriend almost all of junior high and Highschool, they were like Bradentown's 'it' couple. They had a really ugly breakup at the end of last summer, and everyone was sure they were going to get back together. Eventually everyone came to accept that it wasn't just a fight, that they had completely broken up. At the end of this school year though thing got better between them and they regained their friendship, of course it didn't take long for rumors of them getting back together to begin flying. Everyone was sure they's be back together by the end of summer, and while Dale hasn't said it out loud, he knows if he continues down this path they'll end up back together.

"Well, if you wont take no for an answer, I guess yes is my only choice." Dale replied grinning as he allowed Adeline pull him into one of the seats. She may have been a lot older but she was just like his cousins and well, all women. They knew what they wanted and if you wanted to get out alive you gave it to them, it was easier than fighting it. "It smells delicious I can't wait to try it," Dale said grinning at Haden first and then at Cambriah, he was always appreciative of someone else cooking for him. He was trying not to be too judgmental but honestly he was surprised to see the rich girls actually knowing how to cook.

"If you guys'd like I could show you both around the town, introduce you to some other people our age. That way it won't be the most boring summer ever." Dale said politely, Bradentown was a dead end town but it had a few good people and places that these girls needed to know if they wanted to have a moderately okay summer. Besides he loved Adeline but spending a summer with an eighty year old woman that's first language was gossip wasn't anyone's idea of fun. "Of course no offense to you Adeline." Dale added on the end as an afterthought. He grinned at Adeline though knowing she would have of been in anyway offended.

Griffin Dover

Griffin chuckled lightly, he really did know her family very well, and they were an awesome bunch. His smile faded into a grimance as he heard Ally call out his name in that sweet voice she used sometimes. That voice wasnt very rare but still deceptively sweet, he knew for a fact she wanted something from him when she used that voice. "Finny, You wanna go see who the new girl in town is? She's at Adeline's right now... with Dale."

Finn looked to the window and he did infact see the blond head of hair that belonged to Dale. This did catch his interest, he had been trying to make friends with Dale ever since he got his Dirt Bike. How bad had Finn wanted to ride that thing, he'd practically do anything for it. He bounced on the chance looking with a grin to Ally, "Oh you know how to play me Al. And besides, Adeline wouldn't mind a couple more visitors right?" He nodded standing and tucking his skateboard under his arm. He stood still for a minute suddenly bursting out, "Race you there!" And running towards Adeline's house.

Allyson Merrill

Finn said, "Race ya there!" and took off for Adeline's. Grabbing her latte, she yelled her thanks to the Luciens and ran after Finn. "Not fair," she said as she caught up to him. "Where's that sportsmanship gone?" She smirked and then ran faster. When they reached Adeline's front porch, they couldn't decide who had won, so they reluctantly decided it was a tie. Ally peered into the window. She saw her friend Dale talking to Adeline and the strikingly beautiful girl from before. Wait, was there another one? Ally rubbed her eyes and saw that there was a lovely younger girl, maybe thirteen? Fourteen? Ally knocked on the door and waited for Adeline to come out. She looked at Finn, who was standing around, and said to him, "It's the dirt bike, isn't it?"