Missing or Dead

Chapter Three - Prank it like you mean it

Joy's Point Of View

"Joy Adrienne Williams!!!"

"What is it? Why will you call me like that? It's scary."

"Where are you?"

"I'm here!" I snapped, "in my room. And whatever you are coming here to do gat to be important, it should be worth my full name", I added.

He ran into my room and said excitedly, "guess what's about to happen?"

I looked at him mindlessly, "well I don't know, you can as well just spill the tea."

"I said guess, well since you don't know and I do, I will just let you know", he cleared his throat dramatically, "hmmm, Daniel is coming..."

That caught my attention and I stood up excitedly, clapping my hands and simultaneously jumping around, "you don't mean it, Dan...Dan...DANIEL is coming to our place? OMG!, I can't believe this", I said, smiling sheepishly.

"Just stop all this drama, well he is coming in the next thirty minutes", he said going out of the room smiling to himself.

"Thirty minutes? Oh my God, but thirty minutes is not enough time. I can't believe my prince charming is coming, I need to look stunning for him."

I quickly combed through her entire closet for the 'perfect wear' and I settled for a black short gown with lace upper bodice, lacey long sleeve. The gown has always suited me well, it brings out my petite shape and with its heart shaped neckline and low back it shows some flesh. I ran into the bathroom for a quick bath.

"Addie!" Dorathy called from the living room, "what are you doing? You are needed here."

"He must be here by now", I said looking at myself in the mirror, "look how beautiful I turned out with this little makeup and I even got the hairstyle I saw on YouTube right, you rock baby girl. Mmm, I need a perfume, mine is exhausted. Mom should have one", I quickly went to her room, sprayed myself some then turned to the mirror, "now baby girl, let go catch our dream", I said and smiled seductively.

“Where is Joy? Is she not at home? I have something for her...”

"She is here," I said as I walked into the living room. Everyone turned to look at me and they were astonished by my dress and look, very stunning.

"Where are you going?" Fabian and Dorathy said simultaneously, "well, I will go with you, big sis," she added.

Peter looked surprised, "wow, gorgeous" he said smiling shyly.

"OMG!" Junior laughed

"What's going on here, Joy?” My mom asked me, giving me a worried look.

I laughed dryly, "oh nothing", I gave Junior a look that said 'Where is he?'

"You call this nothing and you are even wearing my special perfume. The perfume my love bought for me on our anniversary, I don't joke with that. Come to think of it, have only used it once and you have the effrontery to use it out of all the perfume there. Are you okay?"

Sh*t! Why is she making a big deal out of this perfume? Just because ‘her love' gave her? Why does she have to rub this love stuff in my face? I scoffed, well mom don't worry I will have someone who will love me more than dad loves you. "I'm sorry mom but it...not...not...um..." What will I even tell her to explain why I'm dressed up for? Maybe during our quiet time together.

"Oh...my...God, oh my God! OMG! Sissy! Big sis!" He laughed, right there I knew things were wrong, this i***t tricked me, again! F**king sh*t, I'm so going to kill him. "I just want to use this medium to wish you a very big happy April fool day", he said laughing again which included Fabian and Peter, who was laughing secretly.

"Are you crazy?" I snapped angrily.

"Eh! Have you forgotten I am here, no foul language in my house. And back to your dressing, what's going on?" He said pointing at my dress.

"Um...uh..." I forced a smile, "I just want to see your reactions, everyone, because I intend to join the school beauty pageant next week and it seems I am going to do great from the look of things."

"Are you joking? How many times have I told you not to join or think of joining that stupid show?" Dad yelled at me, I don't know why he can't just get over his fear of the show. Even if initially I wasn't dressed up for it but I always have dreams of being a contestant, maybe Daniel will notice me from it. He rolls with girls of that kind but it seems I will never step foot on the beauty stage. Too bad.

"Do you want to get grounded?" I shook my head, "I also don't think so," he added.

"She's lying", Mom said casually, she knows me too well. "Her smile was fake", she turned to me, catching me unaware.

"Mom, please I wasn't." I said, trying to leave the room.

"Young lady! Come back here. I know you too well, so tell me the truth, nothing but the truth, no fake smiles," she smiled following me to my room.

"Mom..."

PRESENT

"I miss her a lot."

"Oh! We all do." He angrily said, "snap it sis! How will I use pops as a prank or something?"

"Because it's possible and you have. Have you forgotten that I don't trust you? Do you remember one time when..."

He interrupted me sharply, "I don't remember and I don't even care to remember", he yelled.

"Hey, Joyee." Fabian called while transferring the throw pillows on the floor to the couch, "it isn't a prank."

"Well I don't believe either of you two. Where is Dory? She's the only one I really believe right now, not that I don't trust you, baby brother." I said when I saw how his face crumbled from my words, "I do but BJ(Benjamin-Junior) has a very great influence on you. So where is Dorathy?"

"She's sleeping."

"Oh Peter P, you're here."

Junior shook his head, "no, he isn't."

"Can you just see, I wasn't even asking a question", I clicked my tongue.

"Joyee...pops said I should tell you that", imitating dad's voice, "when joy gets back tell her to call my friend, Mr E, and tell her about what your uncle has done. Take Dora inside and calm her down he faced Dora and said sorry baby, dad will be fine, okay?" He looked at me as I looked back at him in confusion. "Though the Dora part was for me and the baby part was for Dora. So do you know your part?"

"Geez! Like seriously? Why are you like this?"

"Questions, he so loves telling stories."

"Just shut your mouth, please!" I gazed at him furiously. I faced Fabian, "The message was very clear, you didn't have to say everything he told you. You started this habit playfully and now, it's becoming part of you, you have to stop this ridiculous habit."

"I will try."

"Don't try, make it work." I yelled, I don't know but I was getting pissed off for no reason.

"You don't have to yell at me, I get the point. I'll try my very best to make it work."

"Promise?"

"Do I have to promise again?"

"Yes, you have to. To you broken promises is really a debt and I know you don't like debt, so promise me."

"I don't want to", he said with a cracked voice.

"Is all this necessary? You're making him emotional." Junior interjected.

"Your opinion wasn't asked for, so pin your mouth."

"We have a very delicate issue on ground and all you can be concerned with is getting a promise from Faby on an issue that just started recently, really?" He said violently.

"Geez! I can't believe you. You call this recently? Like seriously? A year ago is recent to you? I can't believe you. No wonder you turn out this way, because you don't take everything seriously, not even your own..."

"Okay, okay, I promise", he said with his hands in the air, "we aren't supposed to be arguing about me or anything else but on how to get through Mr E, come on guys." He said when he noticed Junior and I were still glaring at each other, "come on Joyee, be the mature one."

"Don't insult me, okay? I was doing this for you."

"Glaring at me was for him, jeez!" He scoffed.

"It's okay, guys. Aren't you going to interfere? You just kept mute, staring at them." Paul interjected.

"What do you want me to say?" Peter asked, "stop it guys, you should be thinking of your parents now not arguing over something that can be solved after this ordeal, right?" He mimicked, "like I should have said that or what? Like my voice even matters." He added before looking at Junior then turned to me and said, "you two have a lot in common."

"Like seriously?"

Peter pulled Junior outside to the balcony by the side of the living room to cool his head while I went to my room for a quick cool bath. I wasn't even allowed to sit or rest before I was told the bad news but I don't think I have anything in common with Junior, he acts like an immature baby, worse than a six months old baby.

"So who has Mr E's contact?" I said immediately I entered the living room.

"Question."

"Can you all see?"

"Just leave him alone, Joyee."

"I said who has Mr E's contact?"

"Question."

"Just shut up, moron."

"Okay ma, well I have his contact", Peter said smiling.