10
Mr. Douglas loved my Plague project. The other teachers were happy that I finished my work from the past week, and my science teachers had already gotten the emails from Kevin that I was staying home Thursday and Friday for wedding things.
"It's must be so nice for you to live in a full house again." Said one teacher. I felt like I'd been stabbed in the chest.
Kelso took me out to lunch, which was yummy but quiet. I told him things were ok, but he didn't believe me. Luckily he knew I had to work that stuff out on my own, and he didn't pry.
I happily worked my shift until 8, and then insisted on walking home from the studio, which took an hour and a half.
"Braylynn, there you are! We were getting worried!" Esme said as I reached the door.
"Why? I had work."
"Well if we had known no one was going to drive you home we would have picked you up!" She said, taking my jacket from my arms and hanging it up. Carlisle loomed behind her, looking concerned, as always.
"I wanted to walk." I said, taking off my shoes and putting them in the closet before walking around them to the kitchen.
"Braylynn," Sam stood up and Emily raised her eyes to meet mine. Seth told them everything. He probably told everyone everything.
"It's hard to hide things in this family, Braylynn. We don't keep secrets," said Edward, who snuck up behind me. I jumped and then glared at him before I yanked open the fridge and grabbed an apple and a can of Pepsi. Carlisle visibly winced at my dietary choices.
"Why don't you let Esme fix you a real dinner?" He suggested. I bit my apple and walked around him, heading for my room.
"Braylynn, stop ignoring us and come down here! You're being very rude." Carlisle said as I made my way up the stairs.
"You're not my parents, and you're not in charge of me. Go parent someone else." I suggested. He frowned in sync with Esme.
"We're not talking about your lack of parental figures right now, Braylynn. We understand you're afraid, but you need to understand that all of those things were accidents our family has endured, and we have learned how to prevent them now. We don't want you to be afraid, Braylynn."
"You. Are. All. Monsters." I enunciated, "And you're telling me not to be afraid? What is it exactly that I shouldn't be afraid of? What, should I pretend that your speed and strength are quirky instead of threatening? The whole blood drinking thing is a minor setback? Everyone has flaws?"
"Braylynn!" A half dozen disapproving voices yelled at me from different points in the house. I bit my apple again and walked to my room, firmly closing it and locking the door before I pushed a small bookcase in front of the door.
"Braylynn, this is getting silly." I heard Carlisle from outside the door. I didn't want more of a fight before bed, so I ignored him as I brushed my teeth and put on my pajamas. I heard them unlock my door before they gentle pushed it open, sliding the bookcase across the floor.
"Braylynn, we're having a family discussion. Right now." Said Carlisle. I grabbed my phone off my bedside table and slowly followed him downstairs, quickly texting Kevin SOS.
Most of the pack, their imprints, and the Cullens sat or loomed ominously around the dining room table, except for Sue, Charlie, Kevin and Leah.
"Whatever kind of group intervention this is, it isn't going to work. And I have school tomorrow, so I actually need sleep." I said, pretending that I wasn't afraid, and that Seth wasn't looking at me sadly from across the room.
"BRAY!" I heard Kevin burst through the front door, and approaching footfalls. The door was flung open, and Kevin paused to breathe and look around. I felt my throat tighten and tears prick at my eyes before I ran over to him and buried my head in his chest.
"Shh, you're ok." He said, wrapping his arms around me. I was mad for crying in front of everyone, but I was so, so tired. Of everything.
I'm not sure how long I stood in Kevin's arms before he broke the silence.
"So what is this supposed to be? Some kind of group intervention against my sister?"
I shivered at his tone of voice. It was the same voice he had used to make child services leave us alone when our parents had just died.
"Well if she would quit being such a whiny little-" Paul began.
"I suggest you reconsider finishing that sentence."
I could feel the tense atmosphere surrounding me and crushing me, and I heard someone else approaching.
"What's going on? What's wrong with Bray?" I heard Leah ask, and then someone was ruffling my hair.
It was silent for another few seconds, and then Kevin gave me a squeeze.
"Well, if we're all done harassing my little sister, she has school tomorrow, where no one likes her. Maybe you can all get together and give it another shot tomorrow when she comes home from work and just wants to be by herself." said Kevin.
"That's not what we're trying to do," Said Rachel.
"Well, that's certainly what it's coming out as. Why don't we all give leaving Braylynn alone a try?"
"She needs to realize that we're not going to hurt her." Said Quil, who is actually not that bad.
"And you've decided that the best way to convey that message would be to scare her instead?" Kevin asked, his anger fading into mild annoyance and fatigue.
"Can I go to bed now, please?" I mumbled. He released me and I ran out of the room, up the stairs, and into my bedroom.
I locked my door and stuck a chair under the knob before I grabbed a sleeping pill from the bathroom.
I woke up at 4AM covered in sweat. My muscles all hurt, and I realized I must've had a really bad nightmare. I turned on my light and laid back down for another ten minutes before I went and had a shower.
I dried my hair and curled it, actually doing my makeup. I clipped back the front strands of my hair with a bow clip.
I found my long-sleeved black dress and pulled on my red tights and looked in the mirror. I look good.
I worked ahead in my schoolwork until 7AM, when my tummy rumbles were too loud to ignore.
"Morning Bray." Paul said, and edge to his voice. Rachel gave me a creepy smile and I shouldered my bag before going downstairs. Merlin padded over to me with his leash, and I decided that I'd rather walk him than eat.
It was a frigid morning, so I shivered all the way up and down the country road. When we got back to the house I released Merlin before I went to grab my red cardigan.
"Someone looks cute today," said Alice, giving me a shy smile.
"Can you all please collectively decide if you like me or not? All of this back-and-forth is giving me whiplash." I tell her, knowing the rest of the house is listening.
"I just like your tights, that's all." She replied innocently.
"Sure. Thanks." I spit out the words as I make my way to the kitchen.
"Good morning Braylynn." Emily said as I entered the kitchen. Sam and Carlisle are in deep conversation, but Esme smiles at me when I walk in.
"Is there some kind of special occasion?" Esme asks, and I'm about to mutter something about not needing an occasion when I realize the date.
"Yeah, it's my birthday."
My statement has even Carlisle and Sam turning to look at me.
"Really?" Esme asks, smiling thoughtfully. Hm. I don't like that look.
"Yup." I reply, opening the fridge and rummaging around for a yogurt.
"Why don't you let me make you some pancakes, since it's your birthday?" Emily says, smiling and motioning to the bowl of pancake batter at her side.
"I don't really like pancakes," I lie, "but thanks anyways."
I rummage through the cupboards until I produce a granola bar, a package of cookies, a bottle of flavored water and a tube of crackers. I throw the contents into a brown bag and toss a clementine on top for good measure, and so that Carlisle wouldn't have a brain aneurysm.
"Have a nice day at school! And happy birthday!" Emily calls after me as I rush to grab my shoes and bag.
"Birthday? It's your birthday?" I hear Paul ask from the stairs. I ignore him as I slip on black flats.
"It's your birthday?" I jump when the voice is quieter and in my ear.
"Holy crap Seth, don't do that!" I hiss, throwing my bag over my shoulder and turning to leave when he grabs my wrist.
"Is it?"
"Yes! Happy now?" I hiss, pulling my hand from his grasp before I rush out the door and down the steps.
"Bray?"
I look up from my English book to find Sammie standing in front of me, turning a small package in her hands.
"What?"
"I just," She said, and then turned away from a second while she breathed. "Drew was sleeping with Katie. I'm sorry, I'm a terrible friend and person and you don't have to forgive me. I just want you to know that I think I've made the biggest mistake of my entire life."
She bent down to leave the package at my feet.
"Happy birthday, Bray."
I began to cry as soon as I got off the bus, and all the way down my driveway as I twisted Sammie's present in my hands.
I stepped into the house, taking off my shoes before making my way towards the stairs.
"Braylynn! Come here for a second!" Sue called, her head popping out of the kitchen.
"I'm sorry. I'm not in the mood right now." I said shakily, and then broke into sobs.
"Oh sweetie, what happened? Was it the kids at school?" Sue asked, walking over to sweep me into a tight hug.
I clutched the half unwrapped package in my arms, and I'm sure the corners dug into her soft body when she pulled away.
"Is it this?" She asked, gently taking it from my hands. She unwrapped it and just starred for a minute before she looked back at me.
"Let's go upstairs for a minute, ok?" She led me to my room and placed the unwrapped gift beside me while she went into my bathroom. When she turned away I nervously took the picture frame into my hands and stared at the picture of me and my mother. It was a camping trip that she'd taken Sammie and I on when Sammie had wanted to be a girl scout. I was covered in dirt and scratches, struggling to help Sammie hold onto the fish we'd caught. My mom stood behind us, laughing at my disgusted face.
The picture frame was faded wood with a lot of dents, and teeth marks in one spot. I carefully pulled out the picture and flipped it over.
Braylynn and Samantha catch a fish. Highland Conservation Area, 2005.
My finger moved over my mother's terrible cursive. My dad had always joked that she wrote in code because no one could decipher her writing.
"That's a nice picture." Sue says quietly. I look over to her and slide the picture back in the frame.
"She didn't really like outdoorsy stuff. Dad had bet her that she couldn't make it through a weekend, and she'd bet dad that he couldn't make it through a weekend without ordering take-out. Kevin had cooked every meal."
Sue smiled and sat down beside me, taking the clip out ok my hair and trying to make my curls behave.
"Did Samantha give that to you?"
"Yeah."
"Did she apologize?"
"Mhm."
"Did you accept?"
I paused for a minute, turning the picture around in my hands.
"No. I didn't say anything."
Whew! We're approaching the wedding now. Please review, it motivates me to write even when I have A LOT on my plate. Hope you enjoyed :)