As I Am

Chapter 10: Our

Mischa gently opened the door and closed it with a click. She winced at the sound and quietly slipped the sandals off her feet, she gently lifted them off the floor and quietly hurried up the stairs. She prayed to whoever would listen that she wouldn't run into her father or mother. She looked a mess, and she hadn't come up with an excuse to why.

"Liliya." she winced and turned around.

"Hello, Mother."

"Why is there a twig in your hair?"

"I fell on the way back." she quickly lied, reaching up to pull the twig out.

"Uh huh. You might want to go take a shower and change before your father gets home."

"Why?"

"Because he's going to kill whoever you've been with all afternoon, now go before I decide to do the same thing."

Her eyes were wide, but she nodded and ran up the stairs to her room. Shutting the door and locking it, quickly jumping into the shower. When she was done she exited her room and glanced cautiously around the corners, before walking down the hallway and down the stairs. She walked towards the kitchen but quickly turned around to walk the other way when she saw her father through the crack in the doorway.

"Liliya."

She spun back around and walked through the door, "Hi Daddy." she said happily as she jumped onto the counter, "So, what's for dinner?" He glanced over at her, "You know better than to ask." She rolled her eyes when he looked away. "Now get off the counter."

"Spoil Sport." she said as she slid off the counter and walked over to the table, kissing her brother on the top of his head, "Whatcha working on?"

"Math."

"I'll be outside." she said as her mother laughed, watching her make her escape out the kitchen door and onto the porch that encircled the house.

She sat down on the steps and stayed there, staring up at the sky until it had darkened and the fireflies had begun to dance across the yard. She heard the door open and little feet hurry over to her, her brother sat down next to her, staring at her intently.

"Yes?"

"There's a man here."

She looked over at him.

"He looks like you."

She took a deep breath and stood up, "Come on, Viktor." she said taking his hand and standing up.

She walked inside, still holding her brothers hand and into the foyer. She took a deep breath when she saw Hamal standing in the door way, talking calmly to their, her, father. She walked forward, "Daddy?" she asked, making sure her voice had the Russian accent.

"Come here Liliya, I would like you to meet our new neighbors."

She took the remaining steps and shook her brothers hand with a smile, "Hello."

"Your English is incredible."

"Thank you. I went to an American boarding school as a child." she said smiling at him, "I'm sorry I didn't catch your name."

"Hamal Starling."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Starling." she said happily, she turned towards Anthony, "And you are?"
"Anthony Tucker." Anthony said holding out his hand.

She shook it, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Would you like to come in, we were about to start dinner."

"Sure why not?"

"Liliya, go set the table please."

"Yes, sir." she said as she turned and nodded at her mother who was carrying Viktor up the stairs to get him ready for dinner.

She set the table quickly and walked over to the stairs to take her brother. She knelt in front of him and straightened the white button up shirt he wore tucked into his black pants. "You look pretty sissy." he said pushing a piece of loose hair behind her ear. She smiled and kissed his nose, "Thank you, you don't look too bad yourself." she said as she quickly tied his black dress shoes and shooed him towards the dining room. She glanced herself over in the mirror, she quickly tightened her ponytail and made sure all her hair was straight. Then looked down at the purple dress she wore over her frame. It was a lovely shade that went perfectly with her skin tone. It had thick straps over her shoulder, and a modest neck line, though was low enough to show a little cleavage. It fell to her knees and had a high waist, where a silver sash was tied around, matching the silver heels she wore.

She walked into the kitchen and helped her father bring the food into the dining room. She took her seat next to her brother, and her mother who would sit at the end of the table across from her father. Anthony sat down across from her, and Hamal sat across from Viktor.

It was a simple dinner, with pleasant stories and gentle conversations. They laughed and smiled, though Mischa caught the glances Hamal was giving her, which she sent right back. She heard the ice in his words, that her parents seemed to miss. After dinner they all retired to the back porch for wine and to watch Viktor run around the yard trying to catch the fireflies.

At one point Hamal sat down on the steps next to Mischa, they were silent until he spoke. "What happened to the scar on your hand?" he asked quietly. She wasn't sure anyone else had heard. She glanced at him, "What scar?" she asked taking a sip from her glass.

"The one that matches mine. Don't play dumb, I know it's you Hannah."

"I don't know what your talking about."

"So what's his real name?" Hamal asked nodding towards her little brother.

She took a deep breath, "Matthew." she whispered, "Please, if you're going to arrest me don't do it in front of him."

"You think I'm going to arrest you? My dear sister, that's the last thing I want to do."

She looked over at him, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm much rather kill you." he hissed, his facial expression happy and true, "And our family."

She suddenly felt sick to her stomach.