Love is a Riddle

Mariposa’s P.O.V
“Thanks for helping me move in until dads get here,” I said to Brody and Kell as they carried my boxes into the apartment I’ll be sharing with three strangers. Right now both of my dads are on flights to New York along with my younger sisters, Isa and Lora.

“Of course! We’ve passed by a couple of guys on our way here, don’t worry they won’t be bugging you anytime soon,” Kellan said winking at me and I rolled my eyes. Leave it to my brothers to mark me undateable within the first ten minutes I’m on campus. Just great.

“Seriously? Was that necessary?” I questioned in frustration.

“Uh duh! We won’t be here to do it throughout the year so we’ll cover our bases now and do a check up when we come get you for Christmas,” Brody said setting down his box on my full size bed.

“Or you could let us handle it throughout the year,” Louis said as he and Niall poked their heads into my room of the apartment.

“How did you even get in here?” I said as I hugged Louis.

“First lesson of living in a dorm like situation. Never leave your door cracked open. You never know who might decide to walk in here,” Niall pointed out to be as I gave him a hug. His uncle is Brendan, who first started dating my dad when I was two and they got married when I was five in 2004. Since my relationship with my mom is rocky I’ve always depended on those two for everything. Once they were married Brendan officially adopted us all and we hyphenate our last name.

“Thank Ni, means a lot,” I said to him rolling my eyes.

“We’re counting on the two of you to keep our little Cinderella safe. If anything happens to her or if anyone hurts your we’re coming after you two first, family or not,” Brody said looking between our cousins.

“Trust me we already warned half of the frat to stay away from her,” Louis said winking at me. After the four helped me unpack everything but my clothes we all went to walk around the campus while my dads and sisters were on there way to campus. About ten minutes later I got a call from my baba, Brendan, letting me know that they are parked outside of where my apartment is. I told him we’ll be there in a few. Once there I hugged all four of them.

“Awww a mini family reunion. Only missing Chris and Dex. Where are they anyways?” Louis questioned.

“Chrissy is at a YouTube convention and Dex couldn’t get out of work,” Brody explained.

“Gotcha. Well we have to go help our frat brothers move into the house. I’ll text ya later Cinds,” Louis said before walking away. Once they were gone my brothers, sisters, and dads all put in a middle of a group hug.

“Do you want to see the apartment before dinner?”

“Of course! Have you met your roommates yet?” Isa asked as we began to walk inside.

“Not yet. I’ll probably met them after dinner or something,” I replied with a shrug. Once inside I gave them a mini tour saving my room for last and when I walked in I found a girl sitting on the other full bed in the room. Along with her in the room were three other people.

“Um hi,” I said smiling awkwardly. The girl on the bed has the widest smile and stood up to hug me right away.

“Hi, you must be Mariposa! I’m Phillipa, that’s my cousin Calum who goes here as well and of course my parents,” She said stepping back and introducing everyone.

“Oh cool! Two of my cousins go here as well. Maybe you know them, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan?” I asked looking Calum and he nodded his head.

“We’re in the same frat actually,” Calum said smiling at me.

“We were actually just about to go out for dinner if you four would like to join us,” Caspar said.

“Sure, why not. Can you tag along Cal or do you need to get back to the house?” Phillipa asked her cousin.

“I should be getting back to the house, but I’ll catch up with you two later. It was great seeing you two. I’ll tell mom and dad you said hi,” Calum said hugging his aunt and uncle before walking out of our apartment.

“I’m sorry I forgot to introduce my family. These are my dads Caspar and Brendan, my brothers Broderick and Kellan, and two of my sisters Isadora and Lorelei. Missing are my brother Dexters, my sister Christa, Josephine, and Genevieve, my mom Ophelia, and her husband Oscar,” I said.

“Well it’s nice to meet you all. Do you have a preference on where we go to eat?” Phillipa’s dad asked us. None of us had a clue as where to go so we wandered around campus a bit until we all agree on somewhere. Over dinner I learned a lot about Phillipa and she learned a lot about my mixed up family. At the end of dinner my parents and siblings went to the hotel they’re staying in tonight while Phillipa and I went back to our apartment without her parents. When we walked in we found two other girls sitting on the couch laughing with each other.

“Hey,” Phillipa said greeting the pair with the same warm smile she gave me.

“Hi I’m Apolina, but most call me Polly,” the blonde one said coming and giving both me and Phillipa hugs.

“And I’m Penelope, but I prefer Poppy,” the brunette one said following Polly’s example.

“I’m Phillipa, but I go by Pippa mainly,” Phillipa said introducing herself before sitting in one of the chairs in the living room.

“I’m Mariposa and I have a lot of nicknames, but the main ones I go by are Posa or Posey,” I said before sitting down in the other chair. Just as I did my phone dinged and it was Niall inviting me and the girls to a party they were having tonight as a welcome back type of thing. He did give me the heads up that he invited both Broderick and Kellan to come as well, which I didn’t really mind because they do their own things and I do mine.

“So my cousins’ frat is having a party tonight and the four of us are invited. What do you say?” I asked looking between the three of them.

“I’m in if you guys are,” Polly said with a shrug.

“I say we go. It’ll be good to meet some more people,” Pippa said.

“Looks like we’re going to a party then! Let’s get ready!” It took all four of us a total of two hours to get ready, simply because we each wanted to shower and all of our clothes are packed up. I had decided to wear my white crop top, white leggings, and my white baseball cap that says “dad” on it. For shoes I went with a simple black flat situation.

“I don’t think we’re on this level of friendship yet, but I’m going to say it anyways. You look hot as fuch mami,” Phillipa said as I walked out of the bathroom. Before changing I had to pee so I just changed while in there. Phillipa was wearing high waisted jeans along with a creamish colored crop top.

“You do too,” I said winking at her before going into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, only to be reminded that none of us has gone food shopping yet, “We should really go food shopping tomorrow after my parents and siblings leave,” I said to her and she nodded her head in agreement. Soon Polly came out to join us and she was wearing ripped black shorts along with a bralet and a black zip hoodie on. She had her black baseball cap on backwards and her makeup was FLAWLESS!

“Okay so please teach me your makeup ways!” I said to her and she laughed.

“I’d be glad to,” Polly said plopping down onto the couch. A couple seconds later Poppy came out wearing distressed light wash jeans with a gray slouchy shirt and a purse.

“Ready to go?” She asked looking between the three of us and we all nodded our heads and began to head out the door. It took us five minutes to get to the frat house and as soon as we walked in the smell of sweaty bodies and alcohol hit me.

“So what’s the plan? Do we stay together as a group or split up?” I asked practically yelling to be heard above the music.

“I want to go find Cal really quick so I’ll catch up with you guys later,” Pippa said leaving us in search of her cousin.

“Well we can either find my cousins, find my brothers, or go and find the drinks,” I said to them. We looked at each other and said drinks at the same time. On our search for the drinks we all got seperated, but when I finally got to the punch bowl I found a guy standing next to it just sipping away.

“Having a good time?” He asked me in his English accent.

“I just got here so the verdict is still out on that one,” I replied as I put some of the punch into the cup I was currently holding.

“Ahh. Well consider me your guide to the fun. I’m Harry by the way,” He said smiling at me.

“I’m Mariposa,”

“Well it’s nice to meet you Mariposa. I’m assuming you’re a freshman,”

“What gave it away?”

“Nothing. I just don’t remember seeing you at all last year. I’m pretty good at remembering faces,” He said as we walked further into the crowd of bodies grinding on each other. If I said this wasn’t excited about an older boy noticing me, that would be a total lie. Something about being noticed by someone older than me makes this all real to me.

“Gotcha. So…”I said trailing off no longer knowing where to take this conversation. Thankfully I saw Pippa waving at me from across the room and so was here cousin, which was odd.

“My roommate is over there,” I said pointing at Pippa before heading towards her and Calum. I expected Harry to either walk away or just stay where he was, but he ended up following me. As I approached the pair Pippa gave me questioning eyes and I just shrugged as to non-verbally tell her I have no idea what’s going on.

“Hey, enjoying the party?” Harry asked giving Cal the “bro” hug that every guy gives to another.

“Yeah, Pips this is Harry. Harry this is my cousin Pippa,” Calum said introducing the pair together.

“Nice to meet you,” Pippa said before Calum whispered something in Harry’s ear causing him to look at me.

“You’re Louis’ and Niall’s cousin?” Harry asked me shocked and I just nodded my head slowly since I wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad thing. Knowing my cousins it’s most likely a bad thing.

“Is that a problem?” I asked him nervously. Before he could answer Kellan came up and put his arms around my shoulder.

“There’s my baby sis!” He shouted clearly drunk already. I rolled my eyes and tried to get out of his grasp, but he wouldn’t budge.

“What do you want Kell? I thought we agreed that you would do your thing and I’d do mine,” I said looking up at him.

“That was the plan sis, but then I saw you talking to these two and had to make sure you were safe,” He said glaring at both Calum and Harry. If I could’ve shrank from embrasement I would be the size of a grain of salt. Harry’s and Calum’s eyes widened as Pippa was struggling to stifle her laughs.

“I’m fine Kell. Now go find Niall, Louis, or Brody,” I said ducking a little to exit his grip. He kissed the top of my head and then went off to do whatever he wanted to. I closed my eyes and sighed before looking at Calum and Harry.

“I’m so sorry about him. He’s drunk and protective. Again I’m super sorry,”

“Don’t sweat it. I’m still your tour guide to fun. There’s a fire pit outback if you want to go sit by it or somthing,” Harry said smiling at me. I nodded my head and we headed out back, just the two of us.When we got to the pit we were the only two outside, which makes sense since it was a chilly night. I sat down a bench with my cup and Harry sat down next to me.

“Again I’m really sorry about Kellan,” I said turning so I was facing him.

“Again it’s fine. I get where he’s coming from on a brother’s standpoint,” He said.

“You have a younger sister?”

“Nope, she’s older but I’m still the protective brother. It’s our job,” He replied laughing.

“I guess it is. So are you apart of this frat or just a rando party goer like myself?”

“I’m the co-president,”

“Oh…” was all I said before taking a sip out of my cup. We sat there in silence for a bit neither of us knowing what to say.

“So are Kellan and Brody your only siblings?” Harry finally asked breaking the silence after an unbearable amount of time.

“No, we have five other sisters and an older brother,” I explained.

“Wow eight kids in one house. I bet growing up was crazy,”

“Well technically in either house there’s only ever six at a time. I have two younger sisters from my dads and two from my mom so the family situation is complicated,” I felt the need to explain to him. We sat out there for another hour talking before Polly came stumbling out with the other two girls and a boy who I haven’t met with her.

“Picture time!” She exclaimed handing Harry her phone. He took a picture of us and I thanked him.

“Posa this is Paxton. Paxton this is Posa my other roommate,” Polly said introducing us.

“Hey,” I said lamely. Polly launched into a long story about how she met Paxton and about how he’s also a theatre major.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
An hour has past and Harry’s left me alone after taking the picture of the five of us. Right now I’m standing by the door because I really want to leave. Party’s really aren’t my thing just because I’m insanely awkward and never know what to say. As I was opening the door Niall came up to me.

“Leaving already? Comeon Cinders, the party’s just getting started,” He said in the Irish accent that I’ve envied since I was five.

“I’m okay Ni. I’m really tired and I had quite a bit to drink. I’m going to head back, but thanks for inviting me,” I said hugging him.

“No problem cousin. Let me find someone sober enough to walk you back though,” He said with a slight slur of his words and I laughed. As he went off I took my phone out of my purse seeing a text from my mom asking if it would be okay for her to bring the girls down next weekend to see me. My relationship with my mom isn’t the best since she left me and my siblings when I was one. The only reason why I attempt to have a relationship with her is because of Josie and Evie.

“Harry’s going to walk you back. Text me when you get in,” Niall said causing me to look up from my phone. I nodded my head and then opened the door and was followed outside by Harry.

Harry’s P.O.V

“Harry’s going to walk you back. Text me when you get in,” Niall said causing Mariposa to look up from her phone. Once she got the door opened I followed her outside. I don’t know why, but ever since we met at the punch bowl I’ve felt somewhat drawn to her. I have no clue if it’s the alcohol or if we just vibe well. I honestly think it might have to do with drinking because we’re both pretty tipsy right now.

“So are you a friend of Niall and Louis?” She asked looking up at me as we walked.

“Yeah. We rushed together our freshmen year. We’ve been best friends since,” I explained. Yesterday the pair sat down me and about half of the frat to let us know their cousin was coming and that we should not try anything with her unless we were serious about it. Of course no one took them seriously at first, but as soon as she walked into the door many of our brothers tried to approach her, but between her brothers, Louis, and Niall they were all blocked off. That’s when I decided that if I wanted to talk to her she would have to come near me. I knew that she would want something to drink soon enough so I perched myself near the drinks table.

Notes