Family Reunion

The McKellan house is calm for once—music playing low, TV on in the background, everyone just hanging out. Jade’s stretched across the couch, bored out of her mind, scrolling on her phone.

The door opens—and she immediately looks up, her whole face lighting up just a little.

“Wow, look who decided to show up,” she says, smirking. “Took you long enough, J… uh… Jalen? Jaila? Whatever.”

Before you can even react, M’Dear pops her head out from the kitchen.

“Who that is? Oh! It’s little… Juh—Juh-niece? Janelly?” she says, squinting like she’s really trying. “Mm. I’ll get it eventually.”

Jade groans. “You’re not even trying.”

“I am trying,” M’Dear says, walking over and pulling you into a quick hug anyway. “You hungry, Jadae?”

From across the room, Moz looks up from his phone. “Ayo, what’s up, Jayden?” he says casually.

“That is not their name,” Jade snaps.

Cocoa walks in right behind him, raising a brow. “Wait, I thought it was Jaila?”

“It’s none of those!” Jade says, pointing at all of them.

Shaka leans over the back of the couch. “Nah, I’m pretty sure it’s… Juh—Jasper?”

Everyone pauses.

“…Jasper?” Jade repeats, deadpan.

M’Dear waves it off. “Close enough.”

Jade looks back at you, shaking her head, half annoyed, half amused. “I swear, you hang out here one more week, they’re gonna rename you completely.”

She scoots over, nudging you to sit. “C’mon, sit down, J…whatever. Ride or die still stands.”

From the kitchen, M’Dear calls out again, “Juh-lani! You want somethin’ to eat?!”

Jade just sighs, smirking. “Yeah… you’re definitely family now. Nobody gets your name right.”