Hello again! Good gracious! Thank you all soooooooo much for reviews, favorites, and follows. You all are grand. And, since you're so fantastic, here's another chapter! It's disappointingly short, but I wanted the next part to be a separate chapter, so it ought to be coming later tonight. You're all so amazing :) Love you already 3

Chapter 2

I sat on my bed and fidgeted nervously as Lydia tackled my unruly hair, trying to contain it in a braid much like her own.

"You know," she said thoughtfully, "I don't think you'll turn out all that bad." She yanked my tiny Jedi braid id had in my hair for a month as she wove it into the larger braid. "You've got good eyes, after all, and your skin isn't hopeless." I shifted uncomfortably. Lydia, knowing she was perfect, always gave off a distinct aura of disdain to everyone, and her compliments weren't thrown freely. She fastened the braid with an elastic, and pulled it teasingly. "I'm excited to see what your parents look like." She smiled.

"Yeah," I agreed nervously, pulling the long braid over my shoulder and messing with the ends. "Me too." Lydia wrinkled her nose at my gym shorts hastily thrown over my one piece bathing suit.

"You'll definitely have to change. Grab some real shorts and a t-shirt." I headed for my closet, and she called after me, "And NOT one of the boy's old ones!" I rolled my eyes and grabbed my favorite one – sea green that really accented my eyes and white shorts. Lydia surveyed me with her cold stair, then gave an approving nod. "Look, 'Phia," she said in a gentler tone than I'd heard before, "don't worry. They'll love you. You have a knack for making friends wherever you go."

"Thanks Lydia," I said in amazement, "that's, that's really nice of you." She rolled her eyes and tossed her braid over her shoulder.

"Don't get used to it." We walked through the living room and kitchen onto the porch, where the rest of our family was sitting, watching the sea gulls swoop, and our dog, Leo, gazed after them, his eyes thoughtful, as if remembering the days when he was young enough to chase those birds. Then, our ancient, tinkling doorbell sounded. Everyone tensed. Mom rose, and went towards the door, followed by my dad. I gripped George's hand tightly, and Jacob slapped me good-naturedly on the back.

"Aw, loosen up dude. It's gonna be cool!" He grinned. Aiden came forward and sat on my lap and busied himself in undoing my braid Lydia had slaved over.

"Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, how nice to meet you!" I heard my mother chirrup.

"The pleasure is all ours!" I heard an unfamiliar woman's voice protested. My throat tightened. That woman was my mother. I panicked.

"I can't do this," I muttered, my eyes widening.

"'Phia," Elijah warned, but it was too late. Aiden was quite suddenly on the hard porch instead of his sister's lap, and said sister was down the beach. I ran as fast as I could through the thick sand, I ran and ran, until I was out of breath. I plopped down in the warm sand and panted. I buried my face in my hands. What had I done?

"They're going to think I'm an idiot, and coward. They're going to think Mom and Dad raised me wrong, and it's all my fault," I berated myself. A gentle hand touched my back.

"Hey, what just happened?" Elijah was sitting next to me, his arm comfortingly wrapped around my shoulders. "'Phia, you don't need to be afraid. They just want to meet you."

"But," I whispered into his arm, "what if I'm not good enough for them? Or what if I'm a disappointment?" Elijah stroked my hair. "But I think what I'm most afraid of," I admitted slowly, "is that I'll like them."

"Oh, 'Phia, don't worry," Elijah squeezed me tightly and pressed his chin against the top of my head. "It's gonna work out. We aren't going to let anything bad happen. You have to let go. Breathe. Think about the ocean. You've got this!" I hugged him back, as tightly as I could.

"Thanks, bro," I smiled a bit. "I'm ready." I put my chin up, and we walked back toward the house. I was ready to meet my parents.