TEEN MEMO

NEW FLORIDA FAMILY

“Aunt Katie, Florida is really a big state and Tallahassee itself is really a big city and a very busy one at that."

Daniella says as she observes the hustle and bustle of Tallahassee while looking through the window of Katie's car as she drove past tall buildings, skyscrapers, places of interests and people of different backgrounds ambulating around the streets and roads of the city.

“You aren't wrong, my dear." Katie smiled as she continued driving.

“We're almost home. We have about ten minutes left before getting to my humble abode." She eked.

Meanwhile, Ramsey was in the sitting room watching football when Olive came into the sitting room. She was wearing a comfortable house outfit and a pair of comfy fluffy pink slippers. Pink was actually her favorite color.

“Ramsey, can I have the remote?" She asked as she stretched her hand to collect it.

“For?" Ramsey asked as he furrowed.

“I want to watch a movie. You've been engulfed in the TV since morning. It's high time you took a break. It's my turn now. Give me the remote control."

“Do you know the problem you have, Olive? You are too over possessive and you find it very difficult to say the word 'please.' For the past consecutive three days, this poor remote has been in your custody. As a matter of fact, you hide it each day after using it. I finally found the spot you hide it and now that I want to enjoy my pastime, you want the remote. You irritate me by your actions." Ramsey said.

“Oh really. Not like you're any better. You irritate me the most. Your presence pisses me off." Olive said.

“Suite yourself." He dropped the remote on the center table and left the sitting room.

Olive hissed as she took the remote and sat comfortably on the sofa. She tuned in the channel she desired and crossed her legs.

* * * * * * *

“Ram! Olly!! We're home."

Katie yelled as she enters the living room with Daniella's luggage. Ramsey walked into the sitting room.

“Welcome home mum. Hi Daniella. How are you doing?" Ramsey asked.

"I'm as fit as a fiddle. You?" Daniella replied.

“Doing great as you can see and keeping cool." Ramsey smirked.

“Ram, where's your sister, Olive?" Katie asked him.

“I have no idea mum. We had a tiny quarrel so, I left the sitting room for her." Ramsey replied.

“Mum you're already home. Welcome!" Olive says as she walked into the sitting room with a bowl full of popcorn.

“Thank you, dear. I heard you and your brother quarreled again?" Katie questioned mildly.

“That's not a new thing here. You should have known your two children by now, especially your annoying son." Olive said as she smirked.

“Me?" Ramsey asked.

“Wait a minute! Are you the Daniella Rogers that has come to stay with us? I mean, are you the Daniella I know or do you share the same name with my cousin, Daniella by coincidence?" Olive asked to clear the doubt in her mind.

“I'm Daniella, your maternal cousin. The one whom you visited with your brother few years back." Daniella answered to erase every possible doubt from Olive's mind.

“That's a lie. You're an impersonator." Olive yelled.

“Aunt Katie, what's she saying?" Daniella asked her aunt in confusion.

“Olly, this is really the Daniella you know. Your cousin, Daniella is standing right in front of you." Kate answered.

“But mum, she was really small-sized and fragile when I met her. How come she's all grown now? She's even bigger than me." Olive asked.

Ramsey could do nothing but laugh at his younger sister.

“Olive, you met me about eight years ago. That's enough to form an ocean from a tiny drop of water." Daniella emphasized as she smiled.

“Yeah . . .right!" Olive mumbled.

“Anyways, you're welcome."

“Thank you." Daniella said as she grinned.

“Mum, where's she going to stay?" Ramsey asked.

“Good question, son. Well, I would've wanted you to stay in the guest room but I remembered that you're not a guest. You're a part of the family now. For this reason, I've decided that you'd share Olly's room with her. She's your sister henceforth."

“Mum! You didn't inform me before making such an arrangement. You know I have a lot of stuff scattered all over the room. They're just so much that I don't know how and where to arrange them." Olive shrugged.

“If sharing a room with you will be of inconvenience to you, I wouldn't mind sleeping on the couch in the living room every night." Daniella blurted.

“No . . . You can't do that Daniella. You can have my room. Olive has no other alternative but to make space for me because from now on, I would share her room with her." Ramsey smirked.

“Dude, you're crazy! You're the last person I'd ever share my room with coz you're so annoying." Olive said with clenched fists.

“Who even wants to share your childish pink room with you? I was only joking when I said that. After all, I don't want anyone to disturb me when I'm enjoying my snores while hibernating at night." Ramsey said as Daniella giggled.

“But mum, I've come up with an idea. How about the room upstairs, the one in which Olive turned to her pastime room? She has a room already. She can't be in possession of two rooms, at the same time, in one house." Ramsey suggested.

“You're very right, Ram. Olly, you have to hand over the keys of the empty room upstairs to your sister, Daniella since you don't want to share your room with her." Katie said.

Olive then eyes Ramsey with indignation.

“No problem, mum. She can have the room." Olive said as she left the living room with her bowl of popcorn.

“Thanks aunt Katie." Daniella smiled as Katie smirked.

“I think Olive will be the only problem I have here. She's something else. . . really." Daniella said in her mind.

“Mum, don't bother about the cleaning of the room. I'd do it." Ramsey offered to help.

“No, Ramsey. I'm here. It's going to be my room so it's my duty to ensure it's clean." Daniella chipped in.

“No! No!! No!!! For now, you're still a guest and we ought to cosset you." Ramsey spoke softly.

“Alright, but you'd allow me to assist you." Daniella said.

“No problem but that's on the condition that you'd go have something for lunch. There's food in the kitchen and Olive would serve you." Ramsey said.

“Don't bother calling Olive. I'd serve Daniella myself." Katie offered to help.

“Ok mum..." Ramsey said.

“Thank you auntie." Daniella said, yet again.

While having lunch of burger and strawberry smoothie, Ramsey was halfway done cleaning the room. After doing the dishes, Daniella meets Ramsey cleaning the room.

“So Ramsey, you made me go to have lunch so that you would do what you intended to do?" Daniella asked him.

“Of course. You have to rest because relocating to a new state is quite stressful." Ramsey said.

“If you say so..." She said as she watched him him do the final cleaning.

He was really diligent.

“Ramsey's so nice. He makes me wish my elder brother were alive today." She said in her mind.

“So, was it really difficult for you to make up your mind on leaving New Orleans for Florida?" Ramsey asked her.

“Yes, it was really difficult but my parents encouraged me to do it if I wanted to achieve my dream profession." Daniella said as she leaned on the wall.

“That must have been really tough for you." He said compassionately.

“So tell me, what is your dream profession and why did it require you to relocate to Florida?" he questioned softly.

Daniella narrated everything connected to her dream profession, leaving nothing to the imagination.

“Wow! You really love writing . That's profound!" Ramsey said after hearing the narration.

“Thanks Ram."

“You've really grown. Look at you now." Ramsey said.

“It's the handiwork of the Almighty. I used to be tiny and weak but things changed abruptly. Thanks to our creator for his infinite mercy." Daniella said as she smiled.

“Of course!" He smirked happily.

“I just remembered something I've been meaning to say to you." He said.

“What?" Daniella asked in suspense.

“Thank you." Ramsey said as he smiled.

“Thank you? Is that what you've been meaning to tell me?" Daniella asked as she was quite perplexed.

“Yes. Thank you very much for the card you designed for Olive and I when we visited New Orleans. I didn't get the opportunity to thank you then because I was feeling too proud but now, I've learned that pride doesn't take a person anywhere. So, thank you Daniella." He said as she smiled more.

Ramsey was really handsome. He was tall with broad shoulders, a thick black hair and greek nose. He had dim orange lips which looked perfect for his visage.

The sweet thing about him is that he is really hilarious and never takes things to heart. He's fun and free all the time.

“Duh! Ramsey...You didn't have to say the thank you with you mouth. I knew you appreciated it even if you didn't say it. Well, it's fine. That's in the past now. It's a good thing to know that you ain't proud anymore. Pride doesn't even suite your personality, not a bit." Daniella told him.

“No one has ever told me that but I changed myself because I felt that the proverb: Pride goes before a fall, isn't a joke. So, I had to put on a new personality." He smirked.

“Interesting!" Daniella nodded and smiled at the same time.

“But why is Olive really like that?" She further questioned him.

“It's just her nature. Olive believes that she's the best and that no one can really compete with her." Ramsey replied.

“Is that what she really thinks?" Daniella asked as Ramsey nodded.

“Well, she had better changed her mindset before it becomes too late." She added.

“I've told her the same thing several times but she pays deaf ears to my words because she feels irritated by my presence." Ramsey said as he laughed. Daniella shared in his laughter.

“Yeah, I noticed. You both argue like cat and dog. You're the dog and she's the cat." Daniella giggled.

“Of course. We quarrel almost all the time because she's really really annoying to the core. I still wonder how I put up with her attitude everyday. I sincerely don't know what type of a sister she is." Ramsey spoke out his mind without fear.

“Shhhh! Never say that again. You should be grateful you have a sibling. Look at me, I have none, not even one. I actually envy those who have siblings because I didn't get the opportunity to meet my elder brother coz he died few days after his birth and ever since then,I've been an only child." Daniella said dolefully.

“That's really sad but you've coped all your life. Just keep enduring. Besides, you have me as your brother and Olive as your sister. We are all one despite the annoying attitude of Olive. I wonder where she learnt her chaotic behavior from?" Ramsey said.

“Well, it's an honour to have two siblings now but I don't know if Olive would get used to me, she doesn't seem to like me." Daniella spoke calmly.

“She will, as time goes on. You need not to worry about that." Ramsey told her.

“Meanwhile,I don't want to be calling you by your first name, Daniella. You are unique and you deserve a more unique name from your brother." Ramsey added.

“LOL, Ram. You're so silly. What's wrong with the name, Daniella?"

“Nothing really. It's just that you have been identified by that particular name. I want to call you something different. What's your middle name, if I may ask?" Ramsey questioned.

“Ava. That's my middle name." Daniella blurted.

“Hope you wouldn't mind if I called you Eva?" Ramsey asked her.

“Both names are similar: Ava and Eva. Besides, they both have the same meaning. I have no problem with the name at all." Daniella said as Ramsey smiled.

“Thanks Eva. I'm done cleaning. It's time for you to pack into your new room." Ramsey announced.

“Thanks a bunch, Ram. You're indeed my brother. I appreciate your willingness to help me. I'm really grateful." She said.

“It's nothing for my lil sis. You're sweeter that Olive." Daniella smiled warmly.

*******

Someone enters Olive room while she was sitting on her bed,with a mug of hot coffee in her right hand.

"Chloe,you're here already. Where's Kim?" Olive asked as she stood up from her bed and dropped the mug of coffee on her dressing table.

"Kim couldn't come with me. She has been grounded by her dad for failing to do her home chores. You know how strict her dad is?" Chloe asked.

"Of course! So strict a fellow! But truly speaking Chloe,you've got the highest amount of freedom amongst the three of us. I mean,your parents give you and Tess the liberty to do whatever you both want without query coz you are now a teenager and Tess is at the brink of 21. It's only MaryJane that's still under your parents because she's just nine." Olive said as she goes to sit on her bed. Chloe sits on the couch.

"Yh...but,your mother still gives you and Ramsey freedom."

"Limited freedom,Chloe. Most times,I don't even get to do what I want because my mom wouldn't allow me. Take for instance, Tess is in the third year of college but she's schooling in Texas without your parents around her but the reverse is the case for Ramsey. He's in college year two but he attends a college here in Florida so that my mum can keep close watch on him. It was even my dad that suggested that to her." Olive furrowed as Chloe laughed.

"At least,Ramsey is a good dude. They don't want him to become a spoilt brat like us. Besides,it's good that he's always around so that I can get to see his face whenever I visit. He's so handsome. I can't wait for us to start a relationship together." Chloe said as she harassed her cheek.

"Stop daydreaming Chloe. Ramsey's not like that. He's like the opposite of me. He doesn't believe in dating and relationships. All he's interested in is studying and maintaining his Grade Point Average." Olive told her.

"I can see it from his look. He's the nerdy type but he's jovial. That's what I love about him." Chloe said.

"Whatever...." Olive said. She detests when people compliment Ramsey and not her.

"So tell me. What did you want to tell me that you couldn't spill on the phone?" Chloe asked.

"You know I told you that my cousin would be coming to live with us for sometime." Olive asked as Chloe nodded. "Now,she's here."

"That's good news...Yay!" Chloe says but she observed Olive's unpleasant disposition and pauses. "Or is it not?" Chloe asked with regards for a reply.

"It's not. I've planned all the tactics I'd be using to turn her into my servant to get what I want but with the look of things, I think I'm going to be her servant." Olive exclaims but realizes that Chloe is confused.

"What do you mean? Stop beating around the bush,Livie." Chloe told her.

"I can't even explain what I saw earlier today. When I met her a few years back,she was really tiny. I could even break her with my pinky finger but the reverse has become the case now. She has really intimidated me in beauty and endowment. Nature has blessed her thoroughly." She pauses as she gulped her saliva. Chloe laughs so hard that she started crying.

"What a crazy joke! Who could be prettier than you? I thought you believed that you're the prettiest girl in the world?" Chloe asked.

Olive always flaunts her beauty wherever she goes. She's so conceited about her beauty that everybody had no other option but to deem her the 'most beautiful girl in Florida' which makes her always feel on top of the world. But on seeing Daniella, things changed. She became speechless because comparing Daniella to Olive would be an embarrassment and cringe to Olive because Daniella was way more prettier than her,over and over again.

"Well,I used to be. I must confess that she is prettier than I. She is really beautiful and cute,a pulchritudinous one at that and her beauty is beyond words." Olive said sadly.

"Was she wearing makeup?" Chloe asked her.

"That would have been the end of me if she was wearing makeup because there wasn't a single makeup on her face. She didn't even need makeup because she's a natural and rare beauty." Olive told her.

"This is unbelievable in my hearing. Could she really be that beautiful? What planet did she come from if not earth?" Chloe said.

"That one is not really my problem. I don't understand how she got all those beauty and curves precipitously." Olive said confidently.

"Must she have undergone plastic surgery?" Chloe questioned.

"I don't know but she doesn't appear to be like someone who did such a thing. Her curves and beauty looks natural."

Just then, Daniella knocks on the door of Olive's room.

"Come in!" Olive says as Daniella enters.

"Hi." Daniella waves at Chloe who waves back. Chloe was bewildered. She literally started drooling as she was lost in Daniella beauty and endowment.

"Olly,so sorry for disturbing your conversation with your friend." Daniella said as Olive nods. "Please lend me three hangers because the hangers in the room were not enough for me to hang my clothes." She said softly with her melodious sweet voice.

"Sure. You can have them in the wardrobe." Olive said to her.

"Thanks a bunch." She collects the hangers from the room and as she is about to leave, Chloe asks her a question.

"Sorry cutie, but what's your name?" Chloe asked.

"I'm Daniella. What about you?"

"Chloe McClain." Chloe replies. Daniella grinned.

"Sorry but did you by any chance undergo plastic surgery?" Chloe asks.

"No,I didn't. Why do you ask?" Daniella asks her.

"Because..No, nothing. Just asking but where are you from?" Chloe asked again as if she were to be an interviewer.

"I'm a Yankee but I was born in New Orleans." Daniella answered,yet again.

"Okay...Thank you. You may leave now. Bye." Chloe says as Daniella waves and leaves the room.

"O.M.G, Olive. That girl is an epitome. You weren't wrong at all. She was prettier than I ever imagined. She is a ravishing beauty. Could a person be that beautiful? My eyes grew blurry on seeing the prettiest girl standing right in front of me. The eyes,the nose,the dimples,her pink lips, everything is just adorable."

"LOL... whatever." Olive said.

"Her beauty could stop a moving train or a working clock. But for real,beauty runs in your blood. Take a look at the both of you, gorgeous girls. Daniella is an angel in human form. She's not just drop dead gorgeous and well endowed,she has a unique fashion sense, a perfect gait and a well nourished hair. She is is impeccable and faultless to the core." Chloe confessed.

"Are you trying to say that she is better than me?" Olive queried her.

"You know it,Olly. She's good,better and best than you." Chloe said.

"My fear is that Daniella would become the cynosure of the school. Everyone's attention will be on her." Olive said as she hid her face under her soft pink pillow.

"Wait! She's resuming in our school?" Olive asked her to earase every possible doubt.

"Yes! She'd be resuming next week in our school. I don't want Daniella's coming to spoil things for me. The way I'm seeing it, she'd snatch a lot of things from me. I already breed an aversion for her." Olive said as curled her fingers inward.

"For now,don't try something stupid. She's your cousin." Chloe warned.

"I won't coz I'm not crazy. All I'd have to do is to protect all that is mine." Olive replied.

"Well! Well!! Well!!! She's harmless and I think she's nice." Chloe told her.

"It's enough. I just can't believe she'd be in the same class with us. She's really brilliant." Olive complained.

Chloe laughed so hard

"Even laughing hurts,you know? Meanwhile, don't be jelly of your cousin. Face the fact." Chloe said.