Modern Family: New Life

September 1, 2008

At 7:10 AM, the alarm clock went off. Today marked the start of classes—the first day of ninth grade.

Andrew opened his eyes, dark circles visible underneath them. He got out of bed with a groggy, half-dead expression. He hadn't slept well at all.

His excellent quality of sleep had been completely destroyed by his new baby sister, Lily, who cried nonstop throughout the night at random intervals, making it all the more frustrating.

When the crying stopped, you could sleep peacefully, but just before you drifted into a deep sleep—BAM!—she'd start crying again, loud and irritating.

Andrew got up and changed at a much slower pace than usual. After that, noticing he still had some time, he turned on his computer.

He wanted to check if his video on YouTube had gained more views, received any new comments, or had any updates.

"Not bad," Andrew murmured, noticing that the video had surpassed a hundred views. Granted, many of those views were probably from him, Leonard, and Howard, but they couldn't account for all of them, so it was a good sign.

His subscribers were still only two—Leonard and Howard. They were also the only ones who rated the video five stars. Andrew couldn't wait for YouTube to switch to the classic like/dislike system. Maybe he should give them a call and suggest the idea—if they'd even take a 15-year-old kid seriously.

'I'll upload another video today,' Andrew thought as he turned off the computer. He had two videos already recorded and ready to be uploaded.

The ideal schedule would be around four videos a week. He needed to calculate precisely how much time it took to record, edit, and upload videos, especially now that he had football practice four times a week, with each session lasting over two hours.

On top of school, his time would be limited. He needed to get organized.

Andrew headed to the kitchen, where his dad Cameron was preparing breakfast, and his dad Mitchell was sitting at the table, reading the newspaper and sipping his morning coffee.

"Good morning. Great night, huh?" said Andrew, flopping into the chair like dead weight, which groaned under his weight.

"Yeah, fantastic," Mitchell replied in a weary tone, glancing at Andrew. He also had large dark circles under his eyes.

"Do you know how many times I had to wake up? Eight!" Mitchell said indignantly, setting the newspaper down on the table.

"You weren't the only one who woke up," Cam said, turning around and placing Andrew's breakfast in front of him: oatmeal, egg whites, a protein shake, and fruit.

"I had to get up more times than you," Mitchell added in a competitive tone, as if winning would earn him some kind of prize.

"It's not a competition…" Cam said, shaking his head and starting to eat his own breakfast. He was starving after such a stressful night.

"I never thought a baby could make so much noise," Mitchell complained, rubbing his eyes. "And what about you, Andrew? Did you sleep through the night like always?"

"No. I woke up a few times, but at least I didn't have to stand guard like you two," Andrew replied, taking a sip of his shake.

Andrew couldn't help but glance at Cam's breakfast: fried eggs, greasy bacon, and buttered toast.

"What's wrong?" Cam asked, raising an eyebrow at Andrew. He knew how strict his son was about food. It wouldn't be the first time Andrew tried to convince him to eat healthier.

"Your entire breakfast is empty calories. Saturated fats," Andrew said, unable to resist giving him a critical look.

'Here we go again,' thought Mitchell. He wasn't sure what was worse, Andrew's nutrition lectures or Lily's crying.

"I know. But you have to be indulgent. Life is for enjoying, right?" Cam said with a chuckle, taking a bite of his toast.

"That's not being indulgent, Dad. If you eat like that every day, it's not indulgence, it's a habit," Andrew retorted.

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! The fuel that gives you energy to start the damn day!" Andrew exclaimed, his voice full of emotion as if he were giving a motivational nutrition speech.

"Oh boy..." Mitchell thought, resuming his reading of the newspaper.

"I know, Andrew. You've said that a hundred times. By the way, what's going on with your girlfriend?" Cam said, quickly changing the subject with a mischievous grin. Mitchell tuned in to the conversation.

They were both surprised to find out the day before that Andrew had a girlfriend after the small party they threw for him, thanks to them.

They were great parents!

Take that, Claire! (Mitchell's thought.)

They didn't get to talk about it further because the whole family came over for dinner and they exhausted from the trip. So, the mystery of Andrew's new girlfriend was left hanging in the air.

Andrew stared at his oatmeal with a grimace on his face. "Oh, that..." he said.

Cam and Mitchell exchanged looks.

"And?" Cam pressed, his eyes fixed on his son. "What's up with that girl?"

"It turns out Veronica declared her love for me in front of everyone at the party. And I didn't want to reject her, because if I did, there'd be a scene. So... I ended up being her boyfriend. Life's pretty crazy, huh?" Andrew said with a sigh.

Cam and Mitchell sat in silence for a moment, processing the information. Then, in unison, they exclaimed, "Damn it!"

'What's going on with them all of a sudden?' Andrew thought, looking at them strangely.

"So, our strategy to help you be more... social... resulted in a relationship by... obligation?!" Cam said, frowning.

"Strategy?" Andrew repeated, furrowing his brows. He knew exactly what his parents were trying to do, but hearing it from their mouths made everything even... stranger, for lack of a better word.

"Oh, no... I didn't mean strategy, I meant spaghetti! Yes, spaghetti! Today is September 1st, and the Tucker family has the obligation to eat spaghetti every year, no exceptions," Cameron said with a nervous laugh.

"..." Andrew rolled his eyes and said nothing. They never ate spaghetti on the first of September.

"Well... Looks like you've got a teen movie plot on your hands," Mitchell said, sighing.

"How do you plan to handle it?" Cameron asked with a thoughtful expression, as if searching for a way to help Andrew get out of the situation without anyone getting their heart broken.

"I don't know... I'll think of something at some point. For now, it's not like the relationship is unbearable or anything," Andrew replied.

Just then, a message arrived on his phone, and when he read it, his expression darkened.

'I spoke too soon!!' Andrew thought, feeling like the words on the screen were a virtual slap he had given himself.

"What's going on?" Mitchell and Cameron asked.

Andrew turned the phone toward his parents without saying a word. On the screen appeared a message from Veronica:

[Hi, good morning, Andy! I was thinking we could hang out this afternoon after your football practice. Does that sound good? 💕 See you in a bit]

"Oh..." Mitchell said, not knowing what else to add.

"She seems very determined and polite. Are you sure you don't like her?" Cameron asked, remembering Veronica. She always attended Andrew's games and was a good friend of Haley. A very pretty girl.

"I don't have time for a girlfriend, or dating," Andrew said, placing the phone on the table. He already had enough on his plate with seven hours of school and more than two hours of practice.

If he has a girlfriend, when will he have time to upload videos to YouTube, play video games, or read comics?

"It's hard to believe a guy your age would say that," Mitchell said in a low tone.

For most guys his age, everything revolved around romance and the gossip in high school. For example, Howard and his desperation to get a girlfriend.

"We'll figure something out so you can break up with your girlfriend... but you're already late. You must leave," Cameron said, standing up from his chair.

Andrew gathered his things, and before leaving, he silently said goodbye to Lily so as not to wake her.

"Dad," Andrew said, looking at Cameron, who had followed them to the door.

"Yes?" Cameron replied, intrigued.

"Even though I hate your greasy breakfasts, your buttery lunches, and anything with more than two layers of cheese..." Andrew paused.

Cameron blinked, confused. "Huh…?"

Andrew continued, "Even with all that... I love you, Dad. Even if you still think fried food is a valid food group."

"Well, I love you too, but just so you know, cheese is a pillar of happiness," Cameron said with a smile.

"And blocked arteries," Andrew responded.

"Don't curse my cheese in this house!" Cameron exclaimed with mock indignation.

"Whatever you say, Dad. See you later," Andrew said, walking out the door.

Mitchell said goodbye to Cameron, grabbed the car keys, and followed him. Today, he would take Andrew to school, since it was the first day and the start of his high school journey. A very special time.

Mitchell was happy to take Andrew. Cameron couldn't, since he had to take care of Lily.

When Mitchell and Andrew left the house, they were both surprised to see not one, but two cars parked in front of their house.

---------------------------------------------------

You can read 15 chapters in advance on my patreon.

Link: https://[email protected]/Nathe07