[color=e4dbdc][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/HMF4cQ6.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/V2fXZDh.png[/img]
[sub]featuring (clickable names)
The Lambert Family: [url=https://i.imgur.com/VJtNiSQ.jpg][color=dodgerblue]Frank Lambert[/color][/url] and [url=https://i.imgur.com/hJOF7C7.jpg][color=darkorchid]Melissa Monroe-Lambert[/color][/url] 
The Cross Family: [url=https://i.imgur.com/etnH7LL.jpg][color=royalblue]Wesley Cross[/color][/url], [url=https://i.imgur.com/5k1D3M7.jpg][color=hotpink]Florence Lambert-Cross[/color][/url], [url=https://i.imgur.com/GNnbKPC.jpg][color=mediumpurple]Abraham Cross[/color][/url], and [url=https://i.imgur.com/f57r6Gv.jpg][color=cornflowerblue]Winnie Lambert[/color][/url][/sub]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/sdW7s0m.png[/img]
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[indent][indent]The last week or so leading up to homecoming, Oliver and Stella had shared a few texts back and forth. Though the conversations were never all that serious, Oliver had enjoyed them. Upon hearing that he was attending homecoming, his mother was ecstatic. She had taken him to the nearest mall to buy a cornflower blue suit, Oliver not really wishing to make that big of a deal out of homecoming. Much to his pleasure, he had also managed to find a bowtie that matched the exact shade of Stella's dress. He had managed to get his mom to let him borrow her 2019 Jeep Cherokee for the night as well. Everything was falling into place perfectly so far. 

Arriving at Stella's house, he walked up to the door before ringing the doorbell, waiting patiently. 

But before the bell even had a chance to be rung, the door was opened, giving Oliver the sight to a rather menacing older woman with black hair and dressed like she was ready to take on the world. She wore a candy apple red dress that was intricately laced with white, small dots going from the right shoulder to the left hip with intersecting dots of black going from the left shoulder to the right hip. Where they met in the middle, the little circles created a mock-yin-yang symbol. 

As she met Oliver’s gaze, it was clear to her the boy was sweating bullets. [color=hotpink]“So, you must be Oliver,”[/color] her voice, so silky smooth, was that of a New Yorker with the slightest drop of Quebec French. She held out her hand, reaching for Oliver’s. [color=hotpink]“Florence Lambert, Stella’s aunt. Please, come in.”[/color] 

Shaking the woman's hand, Oliver walked through the door with a nervous smile. [Color=gray]”Nice to meet you, ma'am.”[/color]

Florence gently pulled the teen inside, leading him from the porch to the first right where he’d see the Lambert clan. [color=hotpink]“Allow me to introduce you to the family.”[/color]

One by one, Florence gave the introductions. First was Wesley, who was drinking the bourbon, smiling politely at Oliver. Next to him was Florence’s children with Wesley, Abraham, a med student and Winnie, a college freshman going to NYU Film School. All of this was stated as she warmly introduced them. Before she could get to Stella’s father, however, he beat her to it.

[color=dodgerblue]“So you’re Oliver, huh?”[/color] Frank stood up, looking Oliver up and down. The older man, who bore a short, yet sleek, hairstyle, gave Oliver the intimidating dad stare before smiling and pulling in Oliver for a surprise hug. [color=dodgerblue]“Man you’re a stud, aren’t you? No wonder my Stella talked so much about you.”[/color]

When Stella had said ‘The Whole Lambert Clan’ she had really meant it. While Florence introduced him, Oliver gave small waves, polite smiles and shook hands. Once coming to a stop in front of Stella's father, Oli didn't have to wait to see if he should say something first. While the glare was expected, it still filled Oliver with a slightly scared feeling. With his mouth dry, he couldn't find what words to say before he was pulled in for a hug. Luckily Mr. Lambert released him before he could figure out whether to hug the older man back or not. 

[Color=gray]”Y-yes sir. A pleasure to meet you,”[/color] he replied, clearing his throat. So Stella had been talking about him? A lot? There was no way. Sure, Oli had been thinking a lot more than he would care to admit about Stella, but that didn't mean that she had done the same… right? [Color=gray]”Where is Stella?[/color] he asked curiously. .

[color=skyblue]“Oh, Stelly will be down in a minute,”[/color] Winnie said, propping next to Oliver, smiling at the teen. [color=skyblue]“Tell us about you, Oliver. What’s it like being the fabulous Oliver Greyson?”[/color] Winnie asked, a playful tone in her voice. [color=skyblue]“ - Stelly’s words, not mine by the way,”[/color] she noted, giggling.

Fabulous? Not by a long shot. What [i]was[/i] he going to tell them about himself? He was the school gossip, not some really impressive jock. [Color=gray]”Well, there's not really all that much to tell. I've lived in Crown Heights practically my whole life. I'd consider my grades to be pretty okay. I usually make B's and C's. Oh, and I like to write.”[/color]

[color=mediumpurple]“Well, that’s impressive. Most around here get so self-absorbed that they forget about their studies,”[/color] Abe commented. [color=mediumpurple]“Good to know my little cousin found herself a self-aware man,”[/color] he said, a slight smile forming on his face. 

Frank went to open his mouth, but instead of saying something that was directed at Oliver, instead his words came out to be directed at the person standing at the entrance wearing a lavender dress with the faintest hint of a certain blue that matched Oliver’s suit. She finished off her elegant, yet comfortable dress with a pair of salmon-colored heels. The color pop could not be denied.

The young man followed Frank's gaze, his eyes landing on Stella just like everyone else's. She looked even better wearing the dress in person than she did in the picture. [Color=gray]”Stella… wow.”[/color] he commented, otherwise speechless as he pulled the corsage from his pocket. (The color would match her dress, of course.) [Color=gray]”I, uh, got this for you.”[/color]

While Stella was still in the state of shock when she saw that her entire family was practically making googly eyes at her, for the most obvious reason ever - especially when it came to the mind of one Stella Lambert - the way she was looking at Oliver was pretty clear: She thought he looked so handsome and that her family didn’t scare him off. At the back of her mind when her father said he wanted to meet Oliver, she thought he’d scare him off, but when he was right there, pulling out the lavender corsage. She didn’t know what to say. She was even more surprised when he took the initiative to put it on her wrist.

[color=pink]“Oh my god, thank you. It’s beautiful!”[/color] She replied, dividing her attention from it and him. The more she did that, the more she looked at Oliver. Goddamn, he was fine. [color=pink]“You look great, Oliver!”[/color] She finally said. The way her eyes shined at Oliver was pretty clear to her family, especially Winnie.

[color=dodgerblue]“Picture time!”[/color] Francis said, breaking up the love fest. He was partially doing it so he didn’t have to witness his princess and her prince make out. Francis was already set for when they were ready to pull their eyes away from each other.

Smiling as he finished putting the corsage on her wrist, Oliver looked up to find all of the attention still on Stella. At least that meant that her family might stop asking questions - not that he had minded them that much. His skills lied in talking about others, not himself. 

[Color=gray]”You really don't look that bad yourself, Stel,’[/color] he said wrapping his right arm around her waist awkwardly as he turned to smile at the camera. 

She was just as prepared for that as she was for her father’s sudden snap of the camera, the flash catching her gasping expression as her head had been on Oliver. She quickly collected herself as her father, as well as the others,  took their photos. After what felt like a lifetime, the ordeal of smiling through so many flashes of camera phones and traditional cameras was done. It would only finish as she hugged her parents, giving them a tight hug (more from her father to her than her mother to her).

And when she was finally able to leave, she let out a loud sigh when she and Oliver had reached his car. [color=pink]“Oh my god, I thought it would never end!”[/color] She said, leaning against his car, looking at him. [color=pink]“I’m sorry you had to endure the torture of my father’s need for flash photography. He refuses to update like the rest of us have,”[/color] she said apologetically.

Cheeks still sore from smiling, Oliver opened the passenger side door for Stella, allowing her to climb in. [Color=gray]”It's no problem. Your family actually seems quite charming,”[/color] he responded. Walking to the other side and climbing in the car himself, he turned to look at her one last time before cranking the car and giving his attention to the road. [Color=gray]”Ready to get this night officially started?”[/color]

She smiled at him, nodding. [color=pink]“Let’s go! I’m ready to party-arty-arty!”[/color][/indent][/indent]
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