And Another One
Alexa Point of View
I smiled as I helped set the table for the group that was coming over. My older sister was too happy to put me to work on this fine Wednesday in July, but I didn't mind. It was a vacation of sorts. She was eight months pregnant and I was staying with her until August, but I may end up staying longer. My mother is a little too old to be raising another teenage girl so Emily offered to watch me. Although, I think mom said something about "making sure she doesn't fall" or that "Sam doesn't crush her" but I had lost track at that point anyway.
I am the youngest child in my family. Emily was the only sister I ever had in the household growing up, even though I had another sister as well. My mom had really hoped on a boy because she loved the name Alex, but I got Alexa instead. She was thrilled with me she says, but I know she really wanted a boy.
Either way, I'm more of a tom boy in the end. I even shortened my name to Alex, Alexa was always a little off sounding.
Oh, wait, what? I looked up as my sister clapped her hands.
"Were you saying something, Em?" I asked embarrassed.
"You were daydreaming again!" She sighed. "I said `we're done with the food` the guys will be here any minute."
"How many are there?" I counted the spots I had set.
"Well, today there are only seven, not including you, me, or Sam." She did the math in her head. "Then there is Claire, Leah, Nessie, Shea, Kim, and Rebecca."
"So, in human form, sixteen?"
"Yes." She smiled, "Sixteen. Wow, that's a relief; I didn't cook enough for everyone."
Somehow, that was hard to believe. I nodded and went along with it as I set another four places. The doorbell rang, it was only five! No one was supposed to come until six!
My sister had decided to throw this whole wacky "Welcome" party. It was terribly unnecessary, but I had learned much more than to disagree with Emily. Anyone who did was most likely dead.
I glanced again at her face, bear? Really? It didn't look like a bear. It looked more like Sarah's wounds…but…that was impossible…right? I laughed nervously. Emily frowned.
"They shouldn't be here." She went to get the door.
"I'll get it!" I jumped; she was doing way too much to herself. Then again, she was always that way. She downplayed everything to suit everyone else's convenience, quite the opposite of me, but okay.
Holy crap! GIANT PEOPLE! It made me happy to know none of them had dressed up either. I was wearing a very old sweatshirt and sweatpants that didn't fit. Fifteen people filed in. I tried to remember them, but I hadn't been to my sister's wedding because I had a few injuries that didn't allow me to go so I hadn't seen any of them since I was like two.
A whole fourteen years, imagine that.
One of them met my eyes and froze. I cocked my head to the side because he stared at me funny.
Emily had come in and I snapped out of my confusion…sort of. Something still didn't seem quite right. There must be some curse on my family with these guys here. I shook my head.
Emily looked at me like I was insane again.
I smiled.
"Hi, I'm Shea." Someone broke the silence. I turned to see a girl with short chocolate brown hair step forward and tug at one familiar face's hand.
Ah, right. The Clearwaters lived here!
"Alex." I nodded. "But shouldn't Seth be the one to introduce us? Didn't hear you had a girlfriend."
"You would know her if you visited." Seth smiled.
"I'm Claire." A younger girl spoke proudly.
"I know you, Claire." I laughed at my niece.
"I know." She smiled.
"And is this your Quil?" I asked her in mock surprise, I had seen so many pictures of the guy. She never shut up about him, it's almost like the five year-old had a boyfriend.
Maybe she did.
The boy nodded. "That's me."
"Nice to meet you." Stupid pedophile who is dating my niece.
"You know me, I hope." My other second cousin asked somewhat sarcastically.
"Do I?" I asked as a joke, "I'm sorry, I don't remember!"
"The girl who babysat you when Emily couldn't." She teased.
"Oh, that one!" I laughed. "Hey, Lee."
"This is Aiden." She smiled, she hadn't been so happy in years it seemed.
"Hi." The redhead guy next to her said.
I smiled.
"Kim." Another girl smiled shyly.
She seemed nice; at least I might have one friend here! And Shea seemed pretty cool too. Well, except for the fact she was with my cousin. That would be awkward.
"Jared." Her stalker presented.
"Aww, he went to Jared's!" I smiled quite randomly.
Emily sighed.
Kim let a small giggle escape.
"Nessie!" I little curly-top bounced.
"Jacob." Her, um, well…he might be a pedophile too. I may need to call the police today…
"That is Paul." An older girl poked her boyfriend in the chest. "And I'm Rachel."
I nodded.
"I'm Embry…"
Oh damn, staring boy stayed. I turned and smiled at him quickly before turning back to the group.
"I'm sorry my sister felt the need to bring you all here, please enjoy a dinner in honor of your community service for showing up."
Emily frowned at me.
"Hey, don't blame me; I'm the innocent victim in this." I shrugged.
We proceeded to the "Whatever" room to eat. I think Embry was staring at me again. I think Sam was glaring at him and I think Emily was smiling at him. I could have been imagining though…
We ate dinner like…well…not like normal humans would which really began to raise my earlier suspicions. But, really, it couldn't be true! I mean what would the odds be? And then Jerry would shoot me if I stayed!
Aw, who cares if he shoots me? I'm better use dead to him.
I began to clear the dishes when everyone had left to watch football. Emily hadn't wanted me too, but I did anyways. I was here to help her so really there was no point if I wasn't going to.
Embry had stayed to watch me.
Of course.
Maybe I will call the police.
I put a few dishes in the dishwasher.
"You're a lot like your sister." Embry spoke suddenly.
"Hmm?"
"Like your sister, Emily?"
"Not at all, where do you see a resemblance?" I laughed.
"You're working in the kitchen." He shrugged, "And you're kinda quiet."
"Not usually." I shrugged too, "And I don't work in the kitchen, I steal." I took a brownie off the dessert plate.
"But you're like Leah too…"
Did he mean to say this all out loud? I turned back around.
"You dress like her." He stated. "Not many girls dress like that. I wouldn't do it if I had the option."
"Oh, what, so now because I dress funny I'm a shape shifter?" I asked angrily, then I covered my mouth.
I didn't mean to say that out loud!
The knife I held clattered to the ground.
Oh, shit!