As the 3 of us ran back to the house, I couldn't help but look around, using my new senses the way. When we got back to the house, the sky was starting to get a bit lighter as the sun started to come up. We all ran inside and went to find James and Angela who were sitting in the family room talking.
"Hello children." James said as we walked in.
"Hello." we all greeted back.
"Did you all have fun?" Angela asked.
"Yes mother." Jacob said as he sat down on the couch next to his mother.
"We are going to sleep before we have to leave." Angela said as her and James stood up.
"Wait? You're leaving?" Erica asked.
"Yes but, we will be back in 2 weeks." James said.
"Alright." Erica said before they ran up stairs.
This would be the first trip they've taken together since I joined the family, One person always stayed behind so they could watch over me and make sure I was in control of myself before they would leave again. Thankfully I was in control most of the time. Once I did have a slip but, it wasn't that bad. I didn't attack anyone.
Erica and I decided we would go upstairs as well. We left Jacob watching some TV show and raced each other to our room. Erica won, like always because she was a lot faster than I am. We changed our clothes and cuddled up in bed.
"So when do you think I should get you a ring?" I asked Erica taking her by surprise.
"Is that your way of asking me to marry you?" She said while raising her eyebrow.
"No, I was just asking when you think it would be a good time to get engaged." I clarified.
"I see, and I don't know, Maybe after all this stuff with Caroline is over." She said.
"Alright, you know, I never thought I would be talking about getting married at 18." I said laughing a little.
"Well, I'm 154, So it about time for me to settle down." she laughed.
"True." I said laughing.
"I'll this talking about age, makes me think of April, I missed her 16th birthday." I said a little sad.
"I'm sorry, I wish you could still be with your family." Erica said looking at me with sad eyes.
"You are my family now." I said comforting her.
"I guess so." she said.
We didn't talk after that, so I went to sleep, hoping I would sleep all day so I wouldn't have to wait forever until I could go back outside. I got used to sleeping during the day pretty fast, which was great but, it's not like we actually need to sleep it was just something to do.
I slept for a little while but, when I woke up it was still daylight and I noticed Erica wasn't beside me. So I got up and accidentally walked into a spot where sun shone thought the window on my arm, I didn't realize until I felt the burning. I hissed and darted into the shadows of the bedroom and slowly my arm started to heal. What a great way to wake up. I left the room still staring at my arm when I caught Erica's scent and followed it down stairs.
I smelt fresh paint as I walked downstairs, so I knew Erica must be in her art room. I could hear Jacob playing on the Xbox in the family room as I walked by the door, he must have died or something cause he swore over and over again. I laughed and took off to see Erica, in less than 2 minutes I was standing in the open door way watching Erica paint. I noticed she was wearing a just above the knee black silk and lace sleep dress with her hair in a French braid that was draped around her left shoulder with not a single hair out-of-place.
"You can come in you know." she said not turning around
"I know." I said walking into the room.
"I couldn't sleep, if you were wondering." she said looking at me as I pulled a chair up beside her.
"That's alright but, you could have woken me up." I said.
"I wanted you to sleep, you looked drained." she said putting a hand on my cheek.
"I guess you're right." I said smiling.
"So what was with the hissing?" she asked raising her eyebrow.
"Sunburn." I said laughing.
"That's 3 times this month." she laughed.
"I know." I said rubbing my arm.
Erica went back to her painting and I picked up a book I left the last time we were in here. An hour went by and Erica was now down with her paint, of a sunset, that had colours of pink and orange. Another beautiful painting done by Erica. Jacob came in and hung out with us for a while when we all heard James and Angela waking up. All of us headed to the family room to meet them.
"Good morning children." Angela said stepping into the room.
"Good morning." we all replied.
"So you know we are leaving tonight, so if anything happens with Caroline, call us alright?" Angela asked.
"Yes, mother." Erica said while nodding.
"I'm going to miss all of you." she said as she sat down on the couch we were sitting on, pulling us all in for a hug.
"Now Angela, everything will be fine here. They know the rules." James said entering the room.
""Exactly mother." Jacob said pulling away from her.
"Erica, will you come help me pack?" Angela said looking at Erica, like it wasn't up for her to decline.
"Alright." she said as they both got up and walked out the door.
"Elijah, do you mind if we have a little talk?" James said turning his attention to me.
"Sure." I said.
"Jacob, go do something in your room please." he said just before Jacob nodded and left.
Everything was silent for a while and it started to scare me. James looked me up and down with an expressionless face. Feeling very uncomfortable, I decided I would speak first.
"So what did you want to talk about?" I asked.
" It's about this morning, when you asked Erica, when the right time was to get her a ring." he said showing no emotion.
"Is that a problem?" I asked.
"Not at all, Angela and I knew you would get engaged and married one day, I just didn't think you had already talked about it." he said.
"We haven't really talked about it much but, I do want to marry her someday." I said.
"I see, well, that is all." he said before rushing up stairs.
I sat there for a little while, confused for the most part. I didn't know they would be listening to our conversation. I wondered what Angela was saying to Erica and if it was about the ring thing as well. Later I would find out, after they left for the trip they were going on. With a sigh I stood up and went to our room hoping she would be there. Sure enough she was sitting on our bed with her laptop on her laptop typing when she looked up and smiled.
"Hello there." I said.
"Hey." she said turning off her laptop.
She put the laptop on the table side the bed and patted the space beside her for me to come sit with her. I walked over and sat down. Throwing the blanket over my legs and pulling Erica into my arms. Not long after that she started to drift to sleep and so did I.
