" Prince~ Aimscious..." Nina called from the hall as she descended the last stair~ all dressed. Her hair dangled over her shoulders, feeling wavy and bouncy. 
" We're getting late!" She alarmed. As a form of the family norm, Nina had opted to introduce their new member, Aims, at their occasional family get-together event. 
It's usually a gathering where both the extended and nuclear families of the Scots, come together to have fun and all. And bringing Aims along this time was their little way of outdooring and accepting her as a member of the Scots– and to meet the others as well as get to know them.
“ We'll be down in a bit...just a moment.” Their voices respectively howled from Aims' room. Prince had earlier moved to Aims' room to help her out in picking a dress.
Adorned in a pair of jeans and a white and blue lacost, he scanned at her from the doorpost. He kept smiling from cheek to cheek as he watched her struggle with her makeup and hair. 
She was not a make-up person but a slight touch for the occasion wouldn't be bad, Prince had suggested. It's almost past 30 mins since she towered over the mirror for a touch-up but then, things aren't going as smoothly as she had thought.
She'd managed to pull a simple light make-up but then, getting her hair done felt like a 3rd World War– no sign of ending soon either. “ Gosh...” She growled in frustration. “ This is driving me crazy.” 
The hand full of hair stuck in mid-hair dangled down to her shoulders like a waterfall. Prince chuckled which redirected her gaze from her reflection to him~ the face she made at him made him laugh.
“ It seems you're having lots of fun...” She cried and he chortled. 
“ I guess I am~,” He said as he neared her. “ Can I help out?” He finally offered, towering over her. Aims helplessly nodded, her puppy eyes pleading with a faint smile as she glanced up at him from her seat. 
“ Why let me struggle alone if you could help out.” She grumbled.
“ This wouldn't have been fun then~” He giggled. He felt delighted teasing her, this was what it felt like, to have a sister or a sibling. He was already in love with this feeling, he admitted.
“ Ok...ok, here, I won't tease you again.” He smiled. “ Let's see what we can do about this.” He started while she patiently monitored their reflection. Although his phone kept ringing, ignored it.
“ Will do that afterward” He said. Soon, he managed to pull on a messy hair bun which she fell in love with. 
“ This will do...thanks a lot.” She smiled but then, his phone's continuous ring made it frustrating. “... I think you should get that now~ I'll join you in a bit. Let me get dressed.” He nodded to it and she dashed off to the closet.
When he reached for it, he noticed it had been Jasmine, their cousin all along and he knew for sure what it was about.
“Hey... where are you?”  the loud echo made him cringe his face with a pained gaze~ distancing the mobile away from his ear.
“ Watch it, you almost blew my eardrums.” 
 “ You wish...you've kept us waiting. Where are you guys?”She asked in a single breath.
“ On our way~ we'll be there shortly.” He said, dropping off the lone before she could say anymore. Aims instinctively called out to him from the closet realizing he was done with the call.
“ Need anything ?” He asked as he settled down at the edge of her bed. He looked anxious yet composed– the next ring brought his gaze back to the phone. It was his uncle, Randy. With no interest at all, he ignored it.
“ I've invited Lilia to join us. Hope it's alright?” She announced and his face intuitively lined with displeasure. “ She'll be here in no time.”
“ Seriously ?” He frowned. “ You should have told me earlier. ” He stared at Aims who had now joined him– her blue jeans went so well with her white off-shoulder blouse; and her purple and white sneakers.
“ You know I don't appreciate her around you, right?” She gently nodded with an uncertain gaze, reaching for her mini purple bag pack.
“ Ain't you overreacting about this?” She questioned. “ Lilia is more like a sister than a friend to me~ It's been ages since she left the country so having her around now makes it comfortable enough to adjust.”
With the look on her face, he didn't want to upset her any further. To him,  today was more like her day than just a family time out. She should have fun and enjoy herself rather than fight over little things that might put her off. He still needs to work out their siblingship bond– he thought.
“ Fine...suit yourself. Don't say I didn't warn you.” He briefly added and she chuckled.
“ You're just overthinking~” She giggled. “ Shall we?” 
Aimscious lead the way out. Prince stared at her back as she rounded out of the door, a faint scoff exuded from his lips and he smiled.
      
                                       *******************
After what felt like forever, Nina noticed the two approach from the stairs. A smile instinctively lighted her gaze. “ You look good together ~” She praised and they both smiled.
“ We should get going now~ Jasmine and Uncle Randy called.” He explained. “ I know I'll get roasted when we arrive...I ignored his call because I had no excuse” He added and Nina chuckled.
“ I bet you deserve it then.” She teased but then, her words were halted in her lips at the opening of the door.
“ Good morning,  ma'am” The familiar yet unfamiliar figure at the post greeted but before Nina could question, Aimscious wrapped her in a hug. Nina instantly glances at Prince in confusion.
He smiled, “ Don't get worked out, they are friends” He whispered and she nodded with a smile.
“ Mum...meet Lilia, my childhood friend. I invited her over for the occasion ” She finally explained.
“ That's nice~ good you have someone around to make you feel more comfortable.” She welcomed. “ Nice to meet you too Lilia, I'm Mrs Nina Scot, Aimscious' adopted mum.” 
With a few pleasantries, Prince cut in. “ Shouldn't we get going?... We're already late.” He lamented and Nina gave in.
“ Yeah...we're going”.
Taking the driver's seat, he called to Aims who had wanted to take the back seat with Lilia. “ Over here young lady~ take the front with me.”
Her cheers intuitively turned dry. “ But I'm okay joining Lilia at the back.” She objected.
“ No buts, I insist you join me here~ It's more of a command than an option.” This upset her but then, she had no option but to adhere. Her gaze crumpled in a frown, she took her seat and soon, they had hit the road.