Chapter Seven

Step Three: Assimilating and Blending

"How far do you think I can jump?" Daniel asked looking over the edge of the barn. I looked up at him then over the barn roof with a frown, thinking.

"Meh...Two feet," I replied and Daniel frowned.

"I can jump further than that."

"Psh, no you can't," I replied and Daniel got into a jump stance and I grinned.

"Watch me," he replied and I sat back on my feet to watch him.

"I swear on your grandmother's grave that if you jump off that roof son I bring down a punishment on you so hard that it will make Elise cringe!" A voice exclaimed and both Daniel and myself tucked our heads into our shoulders cringing. Fun was officially over, Dad was here. I peeked over the side of the barn, and there standing in all his glorious rage was our father. Tall, broad-shouldered, fiery orange eyes, short white hair, jaw so sharp you could cut your hand on. I gave him a sheepish grin.

"H-hi Dad," I replied, Dad's frown never faltered, he crossed his arms over his broad chest, his foot tapping impatiently. Daniel turned to me slowly.

"I think Dad's mad," he replied. I nodded my head.

"I think so too."

"Daniel, get down here now," Dad replied furiously, and Daniel climbed down the ladder slowly. I pursed my lips and Dad frowned at me.

"You too," he demanded, and I shrunk back a bit debating on whether I wanted to go down or not. I decided that I better not piss my father off any more then he already was. I took a deep breath and launched myself off the roof of my barn landing just beyond my father. Daniel frowned.

"How come I couldn't jump off the roof but she could?" He whined and my father glared at both of us.

"Because you're a skinny little shithead and your sister is a conniving shithead that's why. Did you break something?" My father demanded turning to me. I was still in a squat form from my land not sure as to whether or not I should move considering I couldn't feel my legs at the moment. That was a mistake.

"Uhh," was all I could respond.

"Son of a shit," my father muttered before pulling me up by my arm. Nope, my legs still worked. I was all good. I gave him another sheepish grin.

"You two. I swear. Do you understand the consequences of what you did young man?" My father demanded hands on his hips, foot tapping against the ground angrily. Daniel looked down at the ground.

"Um well I~"

"No you didn't!" My father exploded causing the both of us to flinch. "Because if you had you would have never done any of it! You could have gotten kidnapped! You could have fallen to your death! You could have gotten run over and a dozen other things could have happened to a ten year old such as yourself! What the hell were you thinking?!"

"I-I"

"I wanted to see Daniel again, and I told him to meet me. I know I should have told you and Mom about it...I just~"

"Save it! I let your mom believe that, but I don't buy it! The only reason I don't is because I was the same person when I was your age. And you!" My dad fumed pointing an accusing finger at me. "Would it KILL you to at least send one letter once in a while? Your mother panics enough about you already, I don't need her thinking every day that you're dead!"

"Sorry Dad," I said quietly. Dad let out a slow frustrated sigh before running his hands through his hair, his expression softening a bit.

"I'm just glad that you're ok," Dad replied pulling Daniel into a hug.

"I'm sorry Dad," Daniel replied.

"How are things going on this old farm Elise?" Dad asked looking around seeming to be impressed at the work I did to repair the farm. I shrugged.

"It's progress," I replied and Dad gave me a warm smile.

"It's amazing," he replied and turned back to Daniel. "It's time to go back home. Tell Elise bye." Daniel nodded his head and gave me a big hug.

"Please let me come back to the farm someday," Daniel whispered and I nodded my head.

"Don't worry Danny, you'll be able to come back any time...But correctly next time ok?" I replied catching a glare from my father. Daniel broke away and nodded. Dad wrapped his arms around me.

"I expect a letter from you at least once a week understood little lady?" My father demanded and I nodded my head.

"Yes Sir. Every day it is," I replied and my father's grin grew bigger.

"Good. Now, Danny and I will get out of your way so you can finish your work," my father replied grabbing Daniel's hand and heading off my farm. I let out a sigh. Dad was scary, but then again he was a drill Sergeant. I shook my head, grabbing some paint from my studio and making my way back to my barn. You were wrong Neil. You were soooo wrong, that it's not funny. You said my barn survived the storm, and lo and behold, I had to fix the barn! Try explaining that one asshole! I thought furiously plugging headphones into my ears and beginning to paint, drifting off into my own world.

I looked at my empty can of paint miserably. Damn I ran out of that shit fast. I stood up slowly trying to unfold myself my back cracking, and pulling my headphones out of my ears.

"Mm that felt good," I mumbled making my way back to my house.

"Really? Because it sounded painful actually," a smooth voice replied and I jumped turning to see who was talking. Allen stood behind me pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. I let out a sigh.

"What do you want Allen?..And how long were you standing there?" I asked realizing that he may have been there for a while. He smiled.

"Long enough to know you have a beautiful, and sad voice my little princess," he replied walking towards me. I felt my cheeks flush a light shade of pink.

"Y-you were watching me? You creep!" I exclaimed and his smile grew bigger as he slunk in front of me. I took a step back falling backwards onto my porch, my heart racing. Allen straddled my lap, his hands in his pockets casually, a sly smile on his face, he bent forward his nose almost touching mine.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?" He asked.

"No," I said bluntly. He did. He made me uncomfortable, a bit frightened actually, and I wasn't entirely sure why. I was in combat, I fought guerrillas, I even shot people! Why does this man make me so uncomfortable?! Maybe it was his glasses. No, Benny wore glasses and he didn't bother me...Of course...He also was never trying to get in my pants...But then again he was my brother. Maybe it was because all the younger people here were trying to make a life, or...start one? And I wasn't sure what I was ready for, or if I was ready for anything. For all I knew I was too broken to be able to communicate with anyone. I let out a frustrated sigh, a hand cupping my cheek. I jumped. I had already forgotten that Allen was there.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," I replied and Allen shook his head.

"I know better than that," he said his hand wrapping around the backside of my neck his thumb stroking my cheek. "Why are you so distant from everybody?"

"Why do you ask questions that you know you won't get an answer to?" I demanded swatting his hand away. He rested both his hands on the porch on either side of me.

"You can't live in isolation forever Elise. You have to let someone in, otherwise you live a long lonely life. And no one wants that."

"You don't know what I want," I said squirming underneath the weight of him sitting on my lap. He stood up with a frown.

"Elise, you realize that everyone here has a secret, no one is impossible to read." I stood up slowly glaring up at him.

"So you have it all figured out then? You know exactly every detail about me?"

"No," he said finally crossing his arms.

"So then why are you wasting your time with any of these analogies?"

"All I'm pointing out is that you aren't the only one with secrets."

"I hate to be the wet blanket in this conversation, but no shit. That's why it's called secrets and baggage."

"I'm good with reading people Elise, if confronting people is hard for you I can help you navigate the minefield that is friendship."

"I don't have a problem confronting people Allen. And I don't need you to help me with people." Allen smiled once more.

"Well, you don't really talk much to the people here. I can give you insights about them so when you do talk to them you don't insult them." My jaw tightened.

"The hell is that suppose to mean?" I demanded and Allen motioned with his hands for me to calm down.

"All I'm saying is you don't exactly have the tact to talk to people. For instance, did you know that Emma divorced her husband because of an affair he had. How would you approach the topic of relationships with her, knowing her past?" Allen tested and I narrowed my eyes at him and crossed my arms shaking my head.

"First of all, don't go talking about things you know nothing about. Second of all, Emma was the one who had the affair, and has been living in guilt with it ever since. Her husband left after she said she wanted to work past it. Her daughter Yuri doesn't know."

"Really?" Allen asked tilting his head to the side. "And who told you that?"

"Emma, after I observed how on certain days she was more depressed then the rest of the week. Don't kid someone who's use to observing people."

"You got all of that just from an observation? I find that hard to believe."

"Allen," I began and he looked back at me. "Twenty-four, you and Neil attended the same elementary and high school. Your high school sweetheart was killed in a bombing raid at the beginning of the war, since then you could never hold onto a long term relationship, in fact you much prefer one night stands and short term flings to a real relationship," I replied and Allen's face went pale. "You hide all your pain behind quick flirts and advances...But that doesn't work for me, and you know it, and it bothers you."

"Heh...I never told anyone that. Let me guess, Neil told you."

"No."

"I have a hard time believing you got all of that from one observation about me!" Allen replied angrily.

"It was a few observations, and from the sound of your voice I hit the nail on the head."

"But, you~"

"Allen, you can't make advances on someone broken when you can't admit your own broken past," I said softly and rested my hand against his cheek, he frowned. "Come talk to me when you aren't trying to get inside my pants ok?" I finished walking inside of my farm house, Allen walking away, head down almost as though he were defeated. I leaned against my door and let out a heavy sigh. Yes, observations was my skill, I was a tactical analyst, and in all honesty I didn't learn his background from a few observations, but I wasn't going to tell him that before I moved into the town I had done background checks on everyone. What?! It's not prying! Or anything invasive! I'm use to knowing what I was going into! And! I didn't do it on everyone! Neil for instance! And Emma and Hana...Just saying. I know how to talk to people and analyze the situation to avoid awkward confrontations! Don't judge me!