//Confession Time//
Claire sat upright on the couch with a folder resting on her lap, already looking like she had taken charge of the situation. Beside her, Phil leaned back comfortably, relaxed but clearly entertained.
"So, Haley got her first real assignment as an intern," Claire said, nodding as she tried to keep her tone neutral. The interest still showed.
"It's not just filing papers or getting coffee anymore. This is actual responsibility."
Phil immediately leaned forward, eyes lighting up. "Oh yeah. This is big." He gestured like he was narrating a movie trailer. "She has to find two male and two female models, dress them in clothes provided by her boss, who, by the way, is Jack's mom," he added, pointing for emphasis, "and then organize a full photoshoot."
Claire nodded, tapping the folder lightly against her knee.
"And not just any photoshoot. This is a competition. There are twenty interns."
She raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Twenty."
"Cutthroat," Phil said instantly, leaning in closer and lowering his voice for dramatic effect. "Absolutely cutthroat."
Then he broke into a grin.
"So her models have to be top-tier, attractive, stylish, charismatic, photogenic..."
He casually gestured toward himself.
"...like a certain someone."
Claire slowly turned her head to look at him. "You're not modeling for your daughter."
Phil shrugged, unfazed. "I'm just saying, the option exists."
Claire ignored that completely.
"And that's not all," she continued, lifting a finger in a matter-of-fact way. "The winner gets a five-thousand-dollar cash prize, which by the way is a lot of money and a couple's vacation to Miami."
Phil nodded.
"Miami."
He leaned back.
"That's not a small prize. That's beach, sun, questionable decisions territory."
Claire's expression sharpened, more focused now. "Exactly."
She paused briefly.
"And knowing Haley…"
"She's already picturing herself on a beach with Jack," Phil finished.
Claire gave him a look.
"Which is not happening," she said firmly. "They are still minors. There is no scenario where I sign off on my daughter going to Miami alone with her boyfriend."
Phil nodded slowly, then glanced at her.
"However."
Claire exhaled, already anticipating it.
"However."
Phil leaned in slightly, hopeful.
"If Haley wins those tickets… someone has to use them."
He smiled.
Claire tried to stay serious, but it slipped just a little.
"We have been working nonstop," she said, gesturing vaguely to everything around them. "Between jobs, the house, raising three children who actively try to destroy our sanity—"
"Emotionally, physically, and financially," Phil added quickly, nodding.
"—we deserve a break," Claire finished. "A real uninterrupted break."
Phil looked at her, his expression softening.
"It has been a while since we went on a romantic date." Claire nodded, her tone calmer now. She grabbed Phil's hand. "So yes, I want Haley to win," she admitted.
Then she added clearly, "But not for the reasons she thinks."
Phil's smile spread slowly. "So we're secretly rooting for our daughter's success for personal vacation gain."
"Yes," Claire said without hesitation.
There was a brief pause.
Then Phil grinned.
"I love when we're a team."
//Confession End//
...
[Morning] [Dunphy House]
Morning came a lot earlier than usual in the Dunphy house, but for once, it was not because of Luke getting his head stuck in the railings or Phil attempting a "quick idea" that turned into chaos.
At exactly eight in the morning, Haley was already awake.
Which, by itself, felt unnatural.
She stepped out of her room freshly showered, hair still slightly damp, dressed in a simple shirt and jeans. As she walked down the stairs, she hummed quietly to herself while smiling.
In her head, she was already on a beach in Miami.
Sun, sand, waves, no responsibilities, and very importantly, no parents telling her what she could or could not do. Jack was there too, obviously, because in her version of reality, that part was already decided. And both of them were just having fun... and kissing every now and then.
That thought alone had her smiling before she even reached the bottom step.
She turned into the kitchen, still humming, and reached for a glass like everything was completely normal.
It wasn't.
Four pairs of eyes were staring at her.
Phil sat at the table with his coffee halfway to his mouth, frozen mid-sip. Claire stood near the counter, holding a plate she had clearly forgotten about. Alex looked up from her book slowly, her expression shifting into something between confusion and suspicion. Luke leaned back in his chair, squinting like he was trying to figure out if this was real.
Haley blinked once, looking between all of them. Her smile faded slightly.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?" she asked while quickly touching her face, checking her cheeks and forehead. "Wait. Is there something on my face?"
Phil leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowed in fascination. "No," he said slowly. "That's the thing."
Claire crossed her arms, studying her. "You're awake," she said.
Haley frowned a little. "Yeah…?" She said slowly.
Claire tilted her head. "It's eight in the morning."
Haley glanced at the wall clock like she needed to confirm it herself, then looked back at them. "Okay, and?"
Alex let out a quiet scoff from her seat. "You don't wake up at eight," she said flatly. "You barely acknowledge the existence of mornings."
Luke nodded quickly. "Last Sunday, I tried to wake you up at ten, and you locked me in the closet and went to sleep."
"Haley!" Claire gave her that look.
Haley pointed at him. "I was having a nice dream, and he ruined it. I can't even remember it now, other than the fact that it was a nice dream."
"It's alright, thanks to that, I found that Skittles pack I hid last Halloween," Luke said with a quick nod.
Phil stood up slowly, walking around her in a small circle like he was inspecting something rare. "No bed hair. Coordinated outfit and actual energy," he listed, counting on his fingers. "Claire, I think we're witnessing a supernatural phenomenon."
Claire narrowed her eyes slightly, still not convinced. "Okay, what's going on?"
Haley rolled her eyes, dropping her hand from her face. "Nothing is going on. I just woke up early."
Alex leaned back, completely unconvinced. "You're smiling," she added. "At eight in the morning."
That made Haley pause for half a second before she quickly shrugged it off. "So? I can smile in the morning."
Phil gasped softly. "She admits it."
Haley shot him a look. "Oh my God, can you all relax? I just have stuff to do."
The image came back again.
Miami.
Jack walking down the beach at sunset while carrying her in his arms...
Haley cleared her throat and tried to keep her voice normal. "Anyway," she said. "I have a week to finish it, so I figured I'd start early."
Claire watched her carefully, picking up on the energy more than the words. "So, have you decided who will be your... you know... models?"
Haley nodded, "Uh-huh. I know who will be the first girl model. The rest, I'll figure it out later."
Phil's expression slowly shifted into excitement. He really wanted to be one of the models for Haley. Claire also began to fidget with her fingers. She doesn't show it, but she was hoping that Haley would choose her. And maybe through this photoshoot, she'll finally gain some attention. Who knows, if things go well, her photos might be used at the Preston Boutiques as a model.
So, all in all, both of them were really excited.
Luke looked between them. "What models?"
Alex didn't even look at him. "It's a competition where she wins money and a trip if she somehow wins against twenty interns."
Luke's eyes widened. "There's money involved?"
Haley pointed at him. "Yes, and none of it is going to you, so calm down."
Phil stepped closer, lowering his voice slightly like he was letting her in on a secret. "Five thousand dollars," he said. "And a couple's trip to Miami."
Luke's jaw dropped. "Miami?!"
Haley tried to stay casual, but the smile slipped through again. "Yeah. Miami."
"Cool," Luke said.
Alex was about to say something, but Claire gave her a death glare, which made her stop instantly.
Claire wanted to make it clear that Haley was not going to Miami with Jack. But she knew saying it now would only upset her and ruin her focus on the project. So she chose to wait. If Haley won, Claire would take the tickets and the money would go into savings. Haley would be hurt and probably angry at both her and Phil. If Haley lost, Claire would comfort her. Haley would still be sad, but she won't resent them.
All in all, it's a lose-lose situation for Haley.
The only thing is that Haley has no idea what her parents are plotting.
After breakfast...
Haley dressed up again, took her side bag, and walked down the stairs. Phil was already at the door, ready to meet his client downtown.
"Hey, Dad," Haley said as she reached the last step. "Can you drop me at grandpa's?"
Claire heard that and knew who Haley's first choice was.
...
//Claire's confession//
Claire sat alone on the couch, arms crossed, and she looked slightly disappointed and jealous.
"It's Gloria," she said simply.
She nodded once, completely certain.
"Of course it's Gloria."
She let out a small sigh, though she did not seem entirely annoyed.
"I mean, if you're Haley and you need a female model who's confident, beautiful, knows how to carry herself, and can sell literally anything just by walking into a room…"
Claire lifted her hands slightly.
"You pick Gloria."
She paused, and her expression tightened just a little.
"And yes, she is all of those things," she added quickly.
"That's not the point."
She shifted in her seat, already thinking a few steps ahead.
"The point is, Gloria doesn't just model. Gloria performs. She turns everything into a full production. There will be dramatic poses, wind that does not exist, at least one moment where she flips her hair like she's in a shampoo commercial…"
Claire stopped herself, pressing her lips together.
"…and it will probably look amazing. And not to forget, she used to be a model."
That part lingered, clearly bothering her more than she wanted to admit.
She exhaled, then straightened slightly.
"I just think it's interesting that Haley didn't consider…"
Claire gestured vaguely toward herself.
"…other options."
//Claire's confession End//
---[AN: I think I'll take a small break to stock up.]---
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