Okay so I know I took a while to update. Saaaawwyyyyy! Alright so here's Aline. Read and Review!

Aline:

I run to the front door and quickly smooth my dress' skirt, standing up straight with my hands on my lap. A smile is painted on my face- the small sophisticated Mona Lisa smile my mother taught me how to do. Gabriel, our butler, opens the door for our visitors. The first one I noticed was a tall boy with brown hair. His face is a square according to my makeup book-or is it a diamond…? I always get those two mixed up. I will admit, his brown eyes are pretty. The next one is a girl; same brown hair, same brown eyes. She looks nice, but she's wearing a lot of makeup. The next boy I do recognize, sort of. He's short (but still taller than me) with the same brown hair as his siblings, but his eyes are different. They're green. The perfect match with his freckled face, the same ones that make me smile every time I see him. I've only talked to him once but I've definitely noticed him a lot. Cute, nerdy, shy boy who's dorky and spontaneous; way better than somewhat-attractive jocks that are dumb as glue and so obnoxious it's revolting. I think the worst part would be how they're so predictable. I never got his name, though, he smiles slightly. I blush a little, hoping he doesn't notice, and return his smile. Behind him, of course, is the legendary Donald Davenport, or at least I've heard he's legendary by my somewhat biased father. Behind him is his wife Tasha- big family, I think- and then…Leo? I didn't know he was a Davenport, surely enough his short brown figure pops up at my doorstep. I think that's it.

My mother comes out of the living room; a warm hostess grin graces her face.

"Donald. Tasha. How are you?" She says, her British accent is extremely audible. It goes in and out mostly, but not now. It's as clear as if we were actually in England.

"Hello Ella. We're fine, thank you." Mr. Davenport stretches out his hand, which my mother takes gracefully.

"It's so nice to finally meet you. This is my daughter Aline." Wait, if he wasn't here, who was downstairs before? I guess it was just Erin being wrong. Speaking of Erin, where is she? She's taking forever to get ready.

"Nice to meet you, this is Adam, Bree and Chase." Mr. Davenport offers me his hand, a place my tiny hands into his palm. They're warm and sweaty, much paler than my tan ones.

"Um, hellooo. What about me?" Leo sounds angry and forgotten. I smile.

"Oh yea, this is my step-son, Leo."

"Hi Leo." I don't need to shake his hand. We're lab partners in chemistry and he's my bad minton buddy for free time in gym.

Adam steps forward. "You like my coat?"

Ummm…okay?

"I do. Excellent fabrics, is it Armani?" I try to sound interested and not odd. He shrugs.

"Heck if I know. Here, you take it." He hangs the coat over my head like I'm a coat rack.

"Adam!" Bree scolds. "That is so rude!" she takes the coat off my hands. "I'm sorry, I wish I could say he's not always like this."

"It's okay. I've been treated worse."

Not really. I think, this would be a first.

"I'm Chase." Chase sticks his hand out for me to grab, I meet him half way.

"I know. We kind of just went through this." I say, not sarcastically, just as it's a fact. Like pennies are copper.

"Oh, I know. I like to introduce myself."

"Huh. Well, in that case. I'm Aline."

"I know." He grins playfully, the way my brother does when he's messing with me. Something stirs inside of me, a feeling I push down into the file cabinets of my brain. Something I can sort through later.

"Well," my mother claps, "I assume you didn't come to stare at our grand foyer all night. Aline, will you show our guests to the dining room, please?"

I nod, and lead the group down the hallway past the grand foyer and into the elegant, 17th century French dining room. I sneak a glance at Chase next to me, he looks around the room with a mix of emotions. Intrigue for one, it looks like he's recalling items of information from his textbooks. Recognition and he also looks impressed.

"This place is amazing." Bree breathes.

"Thank you. It's been in my family for years."

"Really?"

"Chateau Magdalena-this house- was built in the early 1500's. Its tenants, the Merricks, were some of the earliest settlers in California-"

"That's not true." Chase cuts in. "The book says Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo was the first European to explore the California coast." my cheeks burn. Maybe he's smart but he's also a smart ass, and I'm not gonna be out-witted in my own home. Not by anyone.

"What book says that? Wikipedia?" I retort, everyone laughs. "I'm sorry to tell you this but your books are wrong. I know it's shocking but don't worry it's not the end of the world. You can always use urban dictionary to clear things up if you're confused." Everyone bursts out in laughter, Chase turns red as a strawberry without responding. I know I got him and I feel a certain pride in that.

"No, but seriously, it's not in many textbooks- I'd say the last book with our names in it would have been '81."

"How would you know?" Chase asks, not bitter or cracked, just skeptical. I smile calmly.

"My father has a few copies left in the library. There used to be a school here."

"Why'd they take you guys out?" Leo asks. That's a good question, I never thought about it.

"I don't know." I say honestly, "I guess they ran out of ink." I step towards the table and spread my arms out towards it like a showgirl at an auto show. "Come, sit down."

Everyone takes a seat like I instructed, Gabriel pulls out my chair. I sit next to Bree and Leo and across from Chase and the big mural of my great-great-great grandfather, Giles Merrick, on the day he drove the Indians off this land. His horse, a white Arabian, stands on its hind legs, preparing to trample the Indians below it. They hold their arms over their heads as if it would cushion the impact. And Giles is above them, his arm thrown back, whip in hand, his mouth is open as if he were yelling at someone. Whether it's the horse or the Indians, I'll never know. I don't think I want to. The picture is sickening enough with what I know about it. Erin and Ethan don't seem to care about. It always disturbs me, it makes me feel guilty about living here. The lives ended for our life today, it's hard to stomach during a meal. Usually I sit on the other side so I don't have to look at it, then I avoid this room altogether. I wish my father would remove the picture and the message it depicts but I know he would never do that so I decided I won't even ask. The house goes to Ethan in the will, but maybe I can convince him to put it away somewhere when the manor is his. Hoping, wishful thinking. We'll see then.

I'm sorry it had to end this way it's just late and I'm really tired- BUT!- fear not for I will update as soon as I can. Maybe if I get a few reviews I'll feel more motivated to continue. Just a thought…