Chapter Three
Jamie's POV
When I heard Emily's news, I was excited beyond all telling. I felt some kind of connection with these girls and I wanted to hang out more. Getting to live with them and Micky? That would be some kind of combination worth seeing!
The bus slowly emptied out as we traveled through Hollywood. With each stop, the girls and I started believing even more fervently that we were going to the same place. After all, none of these other bus stops were the right ones for us. Finally, we were the only four on the bus besides the driver.
"Next stop is the end of the line, girls," he called. "North Beachwood Street, next."
"Thanks," Jemima called back. I could tell that of the four of us, she was the natural leader.
The bus slowly came to a halt and the doors swung open. Kaylee and I collected our luggage from the rack as Jemima collected both Emily's and her own. Jemima took the lead, walking down the aisle calmly. I followed her next. I was followed by Emily and then Kaylee, who wanted to put off being judged as much as possible. I didn't see why. I was always taught that it doesn't matter what people think of you as long as you respect yourself.
As I hopped out of the bus, I pulled out a slip of paper from my skirt pocket. Unfolding it, I read it to myself before relaying the message to the other girls.
"The address is 1428 North Beachwood. Everybody got the same thing?" There was a rustle as Kaylee, Emily, and Jemima took slips of paper out of various places on their person.
"Same for me," Jemima shrugged.
"And me," Kaylee smiled.
"Me too," Emily grinned.
"Looks like we're living together!" I shouted. There was a squeal of girl happiness as the four of us hugged right there in the middle of the sidewalk. "C'mon! Let's go find the house!"
Jemima's POV
We walked for a while until we found the correct address. The house was on the beach, which excited Emily a lot. Apparently, she loved to walk on the beach. It was just too cold in England to do that very often.
"Davy and I used to walk on the beach all the time," she boasted. "We'd bundle up, nice and warm, and watch the waves. They were still pretty, even if they were gray. I missed that when he came here to America."
"What are we doing standing outside?" Jamie asked. "Let's go in!"
"Wait!" Kaylee shivered. "Can't we just wait a little bit longer?"
"It'll be fine, Kay," I smiled. I put my arm around her and gave her a sideways hug. "He's your brother. He's not going to judge you. You said yourself that you two love each other more than anything. And if Emily, Jamie, and I are any indication, you'll love our brothers too."
"I guess," Kaylee whimpered. She gripped my arm and gave me a pleading look. "Don't make me go first."
"You don't have to go first, Kaylee," I assured her.
"Here goes!" Jamie called over her shoulder as she slammed her fist against the door. There was a small silence before the door swung open.
"SQUIRT!" exclaimed the guy who opened the door.
"MICKY!" Jamie shouted right back, taking a flying leap into his arms. They hugged for a while, laughing hardily.
"I missed you like crazy!" Micky cried, putting Jamie back on the ground. So being loud was a family thing, apparently.
"Me too!" Jamie squealed. "Rather, I missed you, not me." The brother and sister shared another laugh.
Suddenly, another guy appeared at the door. Considering how short he was, I assumed he was Emily's brother, Davy. I was right.
"Emmy?" he asked. "That can't be my big sister!"
"Hi, Davy!" Emily chirped. "You've grown."
"How short was he the last time you saw him?" Micky joked, nudging Davy with his elbow.
"Jemima?" I heard a Southern accent call. I turned my head.
Kaylee's POV
Jemima looked over and saw the tall man in the doorway. She flushed and walked over to him. The man took her shoulders in his hands and looked at her.
"You look nice," he said.
"Thanks, Mike," Jemima mumbled. "You do too."
"Did you get a haircut?" Mike asked.
Jemima nodded. Mike felt the ends of her short hair with his fingertips.
"They did a good job," he smiled. Jemima's face brightened and she threw her arms around Mike's neck. Mike's arms snaked around her waist as they hugged. I could see a tiny tear slip out of Mike's closed eyes. It was really sweet.
"Well, there's only one of you left," Micky pointed out. "You must be Peter's big sister."
I felt frozen. I couldn't move my arms, legs, mouth, or brain. I just stood there, petrified. He was judging me! I could feel it!
"Yeah," Jamie nodded. "She's Peter's sister."
"And she's a bit shy," Emily added.
Silently, I thanked my lucky stars that Emily and Jamie were looking out for me. I would have just stood there like a statue if they hadn't cut in.
"Aw," Micky smiled kindly, "don't worry. We're nice guys. We don't bite." He turned to Jamie. "Except that one time that this crazy chick wouldn't let go of my leg."
I must have looked panic-stricken, because Jamie cut in.
"He was five," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Oh," I sighed in relief, letting my shoulders drop.
"The family resemblance is incredible," Micky muttered to Jamie. "Peter does that all the time. And she's got a dimple just like her brother too."
"Well, they are related," Jamie huffed. "Family members do tend to look alike. Although I wouldn't look like you even if someone paid me ten dollars an hour."
"Why you littleā¦" Micky trailed off as he chased Jamie into the house. Jamie squealed all the way.
They were such cute siblings. You couldn't watch them horse around and not break into a smile.
"Are our sisters here?" asked a low voice. My heart ramped up the pace, partly out of excitement and partly out of horror. Peter's face came to the door. He looked much older and grown up since the last time I saw him.
"Hi, Peter," I said softly, wiggling my fingers in a sorry attempt of a wave. In my mind, I was yelling at myself for being nervous when A. he was my brother and B. I was the older sibling.
I didn't have much time to think about it before Peter came running forward and gave me a tight hug. Not expecting it, I lost my balance a little, but I kept myself steady, hugging him back. My hand instinctively started stroking his hair like I always had done when I hugged him.
"I missed you so much," Peter whimpered.
"I missed you too, Petey," I sighed. "I was so lonely."
Emily's POV
"Let's get you girls settled," Davy grinned, grabbing my upper arm. He hauled me inside to the living room.
"These stairs are groovy!" Jamie exclaimed, climbing up the outside of the stairs like a squirrel.
"I know!" Micky agreed, following her up the same way.
Davy pulled me up the stairs and into a room. The room was very neat and tidy and had two of everything: two beds, two closets, two dressers, two nightstands, and two mirrors. White, lacy curtains hung over the windows on wooden rods.
"You don't mind sharing your room with Kaylee, do you?" Davy asked.
"Not at all," I shrugged. "She's a nice girl."
"Good," Davy smiled. "Well, I'll bring up your bags and you can get all settled in." He turned to leave, turned again, and smiled at me. "I'm really glad you came, Emmy."
"Me too," I smiled.
