I flopped onto the bed, tired. I wanted to sleep for an eternity. I can't believe Dad could run for 15 kilometres and didn't get tired. Me, I've probably made it as far as 5 kilometres. Running with Dad sucks. But at least I got to listen to Fall Out Boy and watch the sunrise. I've always loved watching the sunrise, or the sunset. It makes everything look beautiful. The sunrise makes the trees glow, like in autumn, where the leaves are orange. And the sunset makes the ocean look even more spectacular, the rays of orange and red, reflecting on the sea, and also making the sky a wonderful orange and red sight. Dad loves seeing the sunset, and he'd usually take me to Clevedon Pier to see it. Dad also said that he almost died there, but I didn't really believe him. How would he have almost died at a pier?
Mum was at the hospital, working. I loved the fact that she worked with dead bodies, where it would be quiet and no one talks, just a comfortable silence. Well, that and also because Uncle Sherlock would sometimes work in the lab, experimenting on new species of plants, finding what type of poison, and whatever. Uncle Sherlock is a detective, and I love detective work! I always asked Uncle Sherlock if I could go and help him and Uncle John, and he usually said yes, but then Dad would say no, because apparently, I would get hurt. I'm not a 6 year old, I think I know how to take care of myself, thank you very much. I never got to go with Uncle Sherlock. Maybe when I'm 16.
Just then, I heard the front door open and close, and a rush of footsteps. I knew well enough who it was, what with my room being the ultimate place for hanging out. My door was yanked open, and in tumbled William and Hamish, my cousins. Well, kind of. William was adopted, because Uncle Mycroft and Uncle Greg are married, and guys can't have kids. Uncle Sherlock and Uncle John were the same. I have two gay uncles, both married, and with children. "Sherry!" Hamish jumped on me, knocking the air out of me.
"Oof!"
William stood at the side, a smirk formed on his lips. "Hamish missed you." He said. William was 14 like me, and Hamish was 13, a year younger than me. I admit, Hamish and I were more like siblings than cousins. We act like we were siblings. I bet no one could tell that Hamish was my cousin.
I ruffled Hamish's long, black curls. He took after Uncle Sherlock, but his personality was more of Uncle John's. "I missed you too, Hamish." I said. We haven't seen each other in two weeks, as Uncle Sherlock and Uncle John had to go to America for some case. It must be fun, going to America, seeing New York.
"Where's Uncle Sherrinford?" William asked me. He and Dad were like best friends. They both love desserts. Well, Uncle Mycroft's strange obsession with cake had latched onto William, and then William started to like all types of desserts, especially pudding, Dad's specialty. I remembered catching them binge-watching The Great British Bake-Off at 3 am. I suppose they were both sweet toothed.
"He's in the shower." I answered.
"Running again?" William gave me a sympathetic look. He knew Dad was forcing me to go running with him. Uncle Mycroft forced William to get on a treadmill daily. So, we both knew the pain of using our legs to the maximum. I nodded.
Hamish had wandered into my closet. "Hey, girls only!" I shouted. Hamish answered something in return. I opened the door to reveal Hamish wearing one of my pink skirts that Mum bought for me, when I was like, 6. Back when I actually liked the colour pink. I'm more of a black-wearing person. That kind of explains my music taste.
Hamish twirled on the spot, trying to stop himself from bursting into laughter. William had ungraciously snorted at the sight of Hamish. "I'm a pwincess, Sherry!" Hamish said in a sickeningly girly voice. I couldn't handle it. I burst into laughter. Within seconds, all three of us were on the floor, laughing until we had stitches.
"Take it off, Hamish! You look so funny!" I said, in between giggles.
"Never! I am a pwincess and I can never be controlled!" Then, Hamish skipped out of my room. William and I exchanged glances. "We've got a princess to catch." I said, trying to keep a straight face. William nodded.
I grabbed two Nerf guns from under my bed. Hey, when you have two male cousins that come around your house often enough, you tend to have their behaviour rubbed on you! I loaded mine. Then, like actually spies, we crouched and exited the room. Hamish was nowhere to be seen. Where is that little princess? William checked the bathroom. Not there. We went down the stairs like ninjas, barely making a sound. William went to the living room. I went around the back to the kitchen. Where is Hamish?
Then, I heard the familiar holler of that Hamish yells whenever he was trying to sneak up on someone. I turned around and shot Hamish. I heard the satisfactory yelp from Hamish, and William came rushing in. We shared a fist bump. "Princess has been found." He said.
"Mission accomplished." I replied. William lifted Hamish onto his shoulder, like a sack of potatoes, much to Hamish's protests. I grinned and stuck my tongue at Hamish.
Dad entered to kitchen, his hair still wet from his shower. "Thought I heard you guys here." He said. Hamish wriggled free from William and rushed to Dad.
"Uncle Sherrinford!" Both William and Hamish greeted him.
"Hey boys!" Dad ruffled Hamish's hair. We all like ruffling Hamish's hair. His hair was fluffy, and really nice to run your fingers through. William's hair was like a golden retriever, but he would squirm if anyone touches his hair.
"Sherry, have you had breakfast yet?" Dad asked me. I shook my head no. "What about you, boys?" They also said no. "Okay, here's the deal. We're going out to this new cafe that just opened last week for breakfast. Sound good?"
We all nodded enthusiastically. "Good, we'll be gone in fifteen minutes. And Hamish, I hope you're not going to wear that hideous skirt out." We all burst into giggles.
We were walking to the cafe, which was just less than five minutes away from home. Hamish and I were walking together, listening to Fall Out Boy. We shared my earphones, and no, it's not unhygenic. I was responsible for Hamish knowing all the words to Thnks fr th Mmrs and he liked it. Dance, Dance was blaring in our ears, as I watched the people walk to their destinations.
William was walking in front of us, with Dad. Probably talking about desserts or something. I saw a couple, holding hands. I wish someone would love me like I was their only love. The way the guy looks at her was the way a guy would look at his most precious ting in the universe. Like how Dad looks at Mum. Dad and Mum are very much in love. I want a relationship like theirs.
A strange boy caught my eye. He was sitting on a bench, staring at me. He wore sunglasses, a black t-shirt and jeans. Very handsome, in my opinion. But why is he staring at me? His eyes didn't leave me once, even after I turned away. I could feel his gaze burning in my back as we entered the cafe.
"William, Hamish, you go get us a table, okay?" Dad told the two. They both nodded. William wanted latte and a chocolate eclair, while Hamish wanted hot chocolate and extra marshmallows. Dad got Earl Grey. Dad is such a tea person. He thinks tea is the answer to EVERYTHING. Happy, drink tea! Sad, drink tea! Celebration, drink tea! Everything is tea to him. It's actually kind of logical. I got myself a mocha and a brownie piece.
We sat together, drinking and eating. We looked like an actual family. Well, we are. "Sherry, can I listen to Fall Out Boy, pleeeease?" Hamish begged.
I was about to answer when Dad said no. Hamish pouted. "Aw, c'mon Dad! Just one song?" I pleaded. Any reason to hear Fall Out Boy is a good reason to me.
"Alright, fine. I don't get you two and your obsession with this emo band anyway." Dad rolled his eyes at us.
"Said the man with a highly worrying sweet tooth." I shot back, Hamish giggling. I handed him my iPod and he scrolled through the songs. He chose one and was happily bobbing his head up and down in the beat of the song.
"What's so special about the band anyway?" William asked.
"Ouch, tag-teams huh? I don't know, what's so good about oldies?" I asked him. William was a Beatles fan. I think it was Uncle Greg's influence over the music played in the car that made him like the Beatles. Personally I have no clue on any songs by the Beatles. Yes, I call myself British. Ha ha.
"Hey, hey, play nice!" William warned.
"I'm not nice." I stuck my tongue at him.
"Are you really 14, Sherry, William?" Dad shook his head at us, in mock disapproval. William and I glanced at each other and stuck our tongues at Dad. Dad put both his hands up in defeat. "I come in peace!"
Then Dad and William engaged on a conversation on football. Not my type of thing. Dad supports Chelsea, and William is a Manchester United fan. Well, Uncle Greg and William are Manchester United fans. Dad and Uncle Greg usually would poke fun at each other for liking the other's enemy team. A squabble about two football teams. I'm pretty sure it's some instinct dads get whenever meeting other dads.
Hamish was playing some game on my iPod. I sat there, not really knowing what to do. I played with the stirrer in my mocha. I looked outside and almost fell over. I saw that boy again. He was sitting in the bench opposite the cafe. He is definitely stalking me. And not even bothering to be discreet, either. Trust me, I'm a pro at stalking. I had my moments, particularly that one time when my best friend, Ally, dragged me along to stalk One Direction. They were staying in a hotel near my house. Ally, was unfortunately, infected with the 'One Direction Fever'. I was forced to listen to Ally's ramblings about them. I personally am not exactly a hater. In fact, I rather enjoyed listening to them, but don't tell Ally!
What is the boy's problem, anyway? Stalking someone in broad daylight? I didn't properly look at him before, but now...He had dark, wavy hair, high cheekbones, and a smirk. But what fascinates me is his eyes. They were a brilliant blue, the kind of piercing blue that could melt a girl. Ally calls them the Niall Horan eyes.
Whoa, whoa Sherry. You're not crushing over your stalker, are you? I furrowed my eyebrows and turned my attention back to Dad, William and Hamish. The stalker disappeared from my eyes, but not from my mind. I couldn't forget the piercing blue eyes, even when I closed my eyes as I slept that night.