Hope Chapter 2

The knock stopped Paul as he was about to make another comment on the sudden change within his home.

"Well we shouldn't keep her waiting why don't I get the door." His mother began to walk towards the front door when she turned towards Paul again. "Be nice, Paul remember she is your sister"

Paul rolled his eyes and waited for his mother to bring in the girl that supposedly was his sister.

Almost 10 minutes after his mother walked out she still hadn't come back inside. "Why don't I go check on them" and, so his father left the room to.

Another 10 minutes went by until his parents walked back in. "She is getting the rest of her things from the cab she took from the airport." Paul noticed the teartracks on his mothers face. His father's eyes were also watering from the idea that his little girl was back in his life.

The soft closing of the front door told Paul that the so-called May had finally come inside. 'Well, looks like I'm about to have my life changed, I should have brought popcorn.' The thought wasn't meant to be sarcastic but, instead meant to be an untold joke.

He heard the light drop of what sounded like suitcases coming from the hallway when he heard a soft voice carry through the room like a whisper. "I don't exactly know where I'm supposed to go? Maybe I should have some help"

A forced laugh came from his mother as she went to bring the girl into their living room. Paul stood up not yet paying attention when he heard footsteps coming into the room.

"Hi its nice to meet yo-" he stopped talking the second he looked up to take an actual look at the girl.

She was average height maybe a little short, Paul sized her to be about 5'4. She had long straight hair tumbling down her back that just barely right above her behind. Her hair was a light brown and she seemed to have bangs that slightly went into her eyes. But, her eyes were what really caught his attention, they were a sapphire blue. Usually Paul thought any blue eyes sparkled but hers looked dull almost lifeless.

Paul seemed to recover and finished his sentence "Its nice to meet you, I'm Paul your brother"

He opened his arms to give her a rare hug. When she didn't seem to have any intrest in hugging him he simply stuck his hand out.

This gesture seemed to convince her to show him some sort of greating when she stuck out her hand and grabbed his shaking it stiffly.

Her voice though soft, carried through the room like wind through a forest, slow and clear.

"It's nice to meet you too, Paul."

'Definatly not a talker' he thought to himself 'But, something seems off about her, I'll figure it out soon enough'

Paul's thoughts were interrupted when his mother began to speak again.

"Well, May now that you have met us all why don't we move your things to your room, oh! That reminds me. I asked around and I found out that your favorite color is purple correct?"

A single nod.

"Well good! Your father and I spent the day creating your room for you. We truly hope you like it and if not we could always redo it at some point."

Another single nod.

"Good, Paul could you help May bring her things to her room, it's the old guest room, well not old anymore after we refurbished it and all"

Paul nodded and motioned for May to follow him into the hallway. When he looked to see only two suitcases and two guitar cases he looked confused.

"I know not all girls are obsessed with clothes but isn't only two pushing it.?"

"Your father brought the others up stairs already"

"Oh"

May grabbed the guitar cases and one suitcase and began to make her way up the stairs when Paul stopped her. "Do you want me to grab one of those I mean they look heavy?"

"No thank-you I got it just grab the other one if you don't mind."

He picked up the remaining suitcase and made his way up the stairs behind May. When they both reached the top he began to direct her to her new room

They stood outside it when Paul opened the door with his free hand "well, would you like to go in first?"

May walked past without a word.

When inside Paul could easily tell that his parents worked incredibly hard on this room.

He followed her into the room when he heard no protests he really took the room in. He saw that on the bed were two other suitcases. 'Makes sense now why she only had two downstairs'

As she began to put stiff away he decided to try and make conversation.

"What do you like to do?"

May turned around in surprise at his voice. Eyes bugged out and hand on chest May took in that her brother was with her. She finally composed herself and regained the indifferent demeanor from before and answered cooly

"Why are you still in here?"

"I'm trying to make conversation, your apparently my sister I'd appreciate getting to know you"

May sighed and spoke "Okay I play guitar and I like to write good enough leave now" she said cooly

Paul almost felt hurt at her cold words. He got up silently and walked out the door.

He heard nothing and guessed she resumed unpacking. 'I should call the others and tell them the news' he thought

When he go to his room the first thing he did was open his laptop and see if anyone was on skype. He noticed that everyone was already in a party and joined it

"Pau!"l they all chorused.

"what's wrong it seems like you just had a bomb dropped on you?" Drew asked

"yeah well apparently I have a sister and she moved in with us today and that's what I had to go home for!"

The shook covered their faces in a second at the sudden bews

"How"

"When"

"why"

"Who"

The questions were shot at him like bullets through the air and he rubbed his nose before answering

"How, what does that mean? She moved in it's not rocket science you guys" he answered

Misty told him to shut up.

"when, today didn't I say that already"

Ask sheepishly blushed

"Why, now here is a legitamite question. Well apparently my grandparents had been taking care of her for unknown reasons and they apparently died, R.I.P., and we were allowed to take her in."

Dawn nodded at the answer.

"Finally who, another pretty stupid question I told you shes my sister" Paul said rolling his eyes

Drew spat out, "I mean name, apperence, phone number, etc." he said smiling at the last part

Paul angerly spoke "Don't you dare try something on my sister Hayden so help me I'll rip your balls off""

Drew laughed and spoke "Wow you know her for an hour and are already playing big brother"

Paul rolled his eyes and spoke "A. I don't care if its been an hour shes sister I gotta look out for her, and B. name is May, C. she is average height, long straight brown hair and dull lifeless blue eyes"

Dawn cut him off before he could change the subject "wait dull, lifeless. What does that mean?"

"She looks and acts so lonely and secretive she basically bit my head off when I asked what she likes to do"

The conversation went on until they decided to meet at Paul's house the next morning at 11 so the others could meet May.

Right as Paul was about to turn his lights off to go to sleep a knock on his door stopped him in his tracks. Thinking it was his mom or dad he called for them to come in

Not thinking it would be May to come in lets just say it was not was he was expecting when her head popped in asking to speak with him.

"sure do you need help unpacking or something?" he asked

"No" she started, "I wanted to say I'm sorry for being so rude to you earlier. You were just trying to get to know me and I'm sorry." Paul was about to say something when he was cut off

"Give me sometime to adjust before I tell you stuff. Thanks, good night" and before Paul could say something she was out the door almost running back to her room.

That girl truly was a mystery to Paul. She would stay that way until she told him stuff or if he found out himself.

*The next day*

Paul awoke to see the doors to both his parents room and May's closed. 'I Guess she is still sleeping' thought to himself.

A walked from the bathroom to his room again he noticed for the first time that there was a note on his door.

Paul, you were really great last night with welcoming May. I know we already ask a lot with just bringing her in but, if you don't mind maybe you could introduce her to your friends. Yeah we know they are coming your father and I heard you talking to them last night. Please introduce her. Maybe offer for her to come. That one is up to you. You never know maybe they'll become friends God knows they would of if she had been with us from the start. But, besides that your father and I will be home at 10 tonight we both are working late for the next few days to make up for the time taken off. Theres dinner in the fridge warm it at 230 degrees for you and May.

Love,

Mom

Paul smiled softly and took the note off the door and put it in his drawer. He yawned slightly and made his way downstairs to make breakfast.

As he walked down the stairs he thought to himself 'Maybe I should make breakfast for May too. I'm sure she's hungry after the move yesterday.'

He decided that he would make pancakes for him, May and his friends that would be coming in, 45 minutes!

'Crap I'll never make enough in time God knows Ash will eat them all.' He rushed into the kitchen to see may sitting at the table reading a book with a pair of glasses on her face

Paul stood shocked seeing the girl he thought was still asleep. 'Oh, your awake' he said as calmly as he could muster.

May looked up for the first time seemingly oblivious to Paul's rushing in. "Yeah I woke up at 9 and saw that your parents already left so I made breakfast, as a thank-you"

"For what?"

"Well your family basically took me in when no one else would and you were really polite yesterday when you didn't invade my comfort"

Paul wanted to ask what she meant but let slide. For now. "Thanks but, I still have to make more for my friends they are coming in a little while to hang out I thought you could meet them maybe become friends." May smiled and spoke "Already two steps ahead of you I got a note from your mother saying that they left and that your friends were coming today. I made enough for them too."

"No you didn't" Paul said looking at the stack of pancakes left over. "what do you mean the note said 4 other people were coming so I made twenty for you and them."

"One of my friends Ash will eat about twice the normal person so I'll make a few more" May nodded and looked down to her book.

When Paul finished making more he noticed that he still had 15 minutes before his friends got there. When he was about to say something to May he noticed for the first time that she was wearing glasses. "You where glasses, you didn't have them on yesterday." May looked up and said simply

"I had my contacts on I couldn't find the cleaning solution this morning so I put these on. I already calld the pharmacy to get more solution." She said

Paul nodded and tried a different approach. "Why don't you tell me about yourself, I mean if you don't mind "

May laughed silently at the small joke to last night "Yeah sorry about that I wasn't in a good mood but what would you like to know?"

"favorite color?"

"Purple"

"Favorite book"

"Unearthly by Cynthia Hand"

"Favorite movie?"

"Pride and Prejudice, the 2005 version"

When Paul ran out of questions he decided to bring up his friends again. "So my friends should be here in a few minutes. They really want to meet you"

May tensed and her head shot down her eyes looking at the table, "I don't know maybe I should just stay in my room, I don't want to intrude."

"Nonsense they asked to meet you if you want after the introductions you can leave if you are uncomfortable" May considered the option and nodded "Alright after introductions"

"Keep your mind open maybe you will want to hang out with us, I'll make sure the guys don't hit on you" Paul said trying to make a joke. Truthfully though he was serious, if any of the guys hit on his sister there would be hell to pay.

May tensed again and said nothing. Paul spoke again trying to loosen her up "hey sorry if that made you uncomfortable I didn't know."

May shook her head and looked up with a smile "No its fine when are your friends gettinghere?"

As she said this the doorbell rang and Paul jumped up to get the door. "hey guys May's in the kitchen and so is breakfast" the excited looks on his friends face told him that he should warn them about May

"alright I can tell your excited but she isn't into contact that much"

Everyone nodded and Paul led them into the kitchen where he saw May reading her book again. His friends seemed to get into some sort of line waiting to be introduced.

"May my friends are here" Paul said softly not wanting to scare her.

May looked up slowly and when she saw the people in the room she gave a small smile. "Hi" she said.

"May this is Ash, I already told you about his, eating habits"

Ash walked over to May and remembered what Paul said about contact and simply stuck his hand out "Hi I'm Ash, its nice to meet you" he said animatedly. "To you the same" May said with a giggle.

As Ash went to get breakfast Paul introduced the next person "This is Misty the mother hen of our group but, you might want to run if you see her take out her mallet." Paul said with a smile

Misty walked over and with a soft smile held out her hand. May shook her head stood up and gave her a soft hug. "Hi I'm Paul's sister May" Paul was the only one truthfully surprised due to the fact only he knew about the night before

He shook it off and went on the Dawn "May this is Dawn she is what we call the one and only girly girl, but I guess she is cool" Dawn didn't bother waiting for May to regard her she went right ahead and gave her a big hug. "Oh, its so nice to meet you May! I hope we can be good friends." It took May a few moments to return the hug due to surprise at the outright attempt to hug her.

When Dawn finally decided to let go of May and get her own breakfast Paul decided to introduce the last friend of his. "May this is my last friend, meet Drew." Drew made his way over to May and held his arms open for her to give him a hug. When May flinched at the gesture Drew decided to just shake her hand.

"I'm Drew and this is for you." He said pulling a rose from his back pocket. He held it out for her until she took it. "Thank-you." She said softly the idea that it was a red rose not even fazing her.

When she turned to offer the rest of Paul's friends food she noticed the looks of confusion on their faces. "Paul," she started "I'm going to hang out in my room, okay?" she said not even waiting for an answer as she rushed out of the room.

"What was that about I understand not hugging Ash but she hugged me and Dawn what was wrong with Drew."

"She did the same thing last night when she first arrived" Paul mulled. "Maybe she has some sort of problem with guys?" Ash offered. "Maybe"

Thanks for reading the second chapter of Hope. If you read the author note in the first chapter you would have read that I wouldn't be updating for almost 2 weeks but I realized the tests I have been taking are jokes its not even funny they are so easy! But, besides that I hope you enjoyed the second chapter I'll update as soon as possible.