Part II-Chapter 2: Finally Average

Disclaimer. I own none of the original Twilight characters. Ownership belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

CandyMan-Christina Aguilera

Sexy Can I?-Ray J

Everyday Normal Guy-John Logoie

Day 2 Cont.

When I walked back inside the room my mother, father, and uncle were there. I walked around to the dining room table and sat at the very end away from my family where they were discussing business.

"Vanessa, come sit by me," my uncle offered, smiling as he held a hand out to the seat next to him.

I smiled back politely and got up to walk over to the empty place beside him and sat nearly on the edge of my seat.

"I don't bite, darling." He laughed, his eyes crinkling the littlest bit around the corners.

"I know," I answered, scooting over until I was seated fully on the chair.

"Good. I bet your dad has told me nothing about me. Isn't that right, John?" he asked, looking to the head of the table where my parents were looking over a business folder and making comments every few minutes. I looked to my dad's tired face and saw him smile.

"Sorry, Heath," he apologized, offering a smile and going back to his work.

"Heath? Like the candy?" I asked, tilting my head to Heath.

"Jeesh, you haven't even told her my name!" he exclaimed, throwing his hand dramatically in the air and feigning hurt.

After my dad laughed and told him to quit being such a girl he turned back to me and offered a cricked grin.

"My name is not Heath. It's my middle name which I hate so of course your father will insist to call me that. My name is Darius. Most people call me Dare." He winked at me for the second time and I gave a small smile in return.

"Or Dari," I joked and smiled.

My mother instantly snapped her head up at my comment and I widened my eyes. I certainly wasn't one to pull jokes in front of my mother, the most serious person in the world. My mother opened her mouth to reprimand me but was stopped short by raucous laughter from Darius.

"Dari! I don't think I've ever heard that one before. Better watch out John, this one will give you a run for your money!" he shouted, holding his stomach as he bellowed more laughter. You'd think he was a 17 year old boy.

"She most certainly will. She takes after her mother, a sharp tongue and quick wit," Dad commented, looking at Mom with utter adoration and I saw her do the same for the first time in years.

"She's incredibly smart, Dare. She is certainly a Skye," my mother said proudly, looking back at me.

"I'm not that smart." I blushed under the intense gaze of my family members.

"Not that smart?" my dad asked, astonished. "You finish books like children finish candy!"

"I like to read," I explained sheepishly, shrugging.

"I wish all my kids were like her," Dad commented, grumbling under his breath.

"Beautiful, too," Darius commented. "Exactly like your mother and Laura. You must be proud, Linda."

"She's the prettiest model in my industry," she appraised. Hardly, everyone was more talented than me.

"You don't say," Darius appraised. "Very beautiful indeed," he mumbled under his breath.

I looked at him but he didn't seem to notice I heard. I dismissed the words from my head and we continued to chatter until Dad's phone rang. He talked with the other person briefly before hanging up and looking at the time.

"It's almost noon, I hadn't realized how much time has passed. We should probably be getting ready to go out. The pier is a great place to visit, Ness, you're gonna love it," Dad said, standing up with Mom before pushing his chair in and hers. I quickly followed suit and Darius stood as well.

"That sounds fun, I'll go change."

I dismissed myself from the room and went into my bedroom. I fumbled around in my drawers for a couple minutes before I pulled out a baby blue bikini with a white pull over and dark wash jean shorts. I pulled off my clothes and changed into the other ones before sliding my phone in my back pocket and slipping my feet into a pair of white sandals.

I walked out of the room and met my parents by their door. We all walked down the stairs and to the garage where we climbed in the rental car. Dad drove while Mom sat in the front and Uncle Darius sat next to me in the back. Laura decided not to come, claiming she had a job interview at TheBalm Cosmetics Company. We arrived on the boardwalk shortly and I saw all kinds of different people walking their dogs or riding some weird looking vehicle. It was a mix between a bicycle and a side car. After parking in the crowded boardwalk we exited the car and walked across the small street to a sea side restaurant. It was somewhat crowded and they put us outside on the deck.

"Nice place," my mother commented grotesquely, wiping a baby wipe over the table and chair she sat on before sitting gently down on it.

"Great food, though," Darius commented, flipping through the menu casually.

"You've been here before?" I asked, looking up from the menu to see him smiling down at me.

"Lots of times, the owner's son is my best friend. That's why this is on me," he said pointedly at my dad.

"We made a deal, you show us the sights and we'll pay for the food," said Dad as he put his menu down.

"If the man wants to pay let him, John," Mom said as she used hand sanitizer after putting down here menu.

"I'm not paying," he said with finality. My dad opened his mouth proudly but was quieted by another voice.

"Like hell you are, Dare! This one's on us," a boisterous voice said behind me.

I turned around and saw an attractive guy with a brotherly smile coming toward us. He was around 6'2 with black hair and piercing blue eyes that made mine feel average. He had a very strong build that reminded me of one of the sons Dr. Cullen has. For once in my life I felt average and it felt amazing.

Darius stood up quickly and met this man in a tight hug before he clapped him on the back and introduced him.

"This is Ryan," he said proudly, wrapping his arm around his buddy. "Ryan, this is my brother John, his lovely wife Linda and beautiful daughter Vanessa." Ryan smiled at all us and his gaze lingered on my mother for a minute too long, thankfully Dad didn't notice.

"Nice to meet you."

He smiled as he took a seat next to me and Mom. He leaned closer to her and I think she could tell because she leaned in toward my father. One of the things my mother keeps true to herself is her marriage. She and Dad might fight a lot, or all the time, but she never looks at another man the way she looks at Dad. I didn't blame any of the men who took an interest in her, she is amazingly beautiful.

"Have you guys ordered yet?" Ryan asked after noticing Mom keeping her conversation only to Dad.

"Not yet, where's that Dad of yours?" Darius asked, scooting in closer toward me, smiling when I glanced over at him.

"Hey! OLD MAN!" Ryan bellowed.

A second later an older man with graying black hair and kind brown eyes popped out of the kitchen. He rolled his eyes with a grin and came around to our table.

"What can I get you O Lazy One?" he remarked, flipping his notepad open and his pen at attention. "Hey, Dare, what you doing in town. Thought you weren't due for another month?"

"Hey, Sal. Family's just moved down here. I'm showing them around," he replied, piling up all our menus on the side of the table.

"Sounds good, all of you ready to order?" Everyone nodded before ordering drinks and main courses. I ordered scallops and clams with a sprite to settle my stomach if they upset my organs.

"Alright, should be done in 15 minutes, would be 10 but since my lazy ass son is slacking off having lunch it'll take more time," he said pointedly.

"Yea, yea, yea." Ryan waved him off, grinning. Sal rolled his eyes and went back to the kitchen. "How you guys liking Pismo?"

"It's definitely not like La Push. The beach looks like you could actually walk on it without shoes." Dad chuckled.

"You liking, Ness?" Darius asked. I turned to him in surprise at the mention of my nickname.

"Um, I haven't been around anywhere just yet. I want to look in some of the gift shops before the day is over, though."

"Definitely, if your parents don't mind I can take you after we're done eating. Ryan and I know all the owners around here. We could get you some really good deals."

"Sounds fine to me," Dad cut in. "Linda and I want to shop for more room décor."

"Great! We'll go right after this."

I nodded my head meekly. Our food came out and we all dug in while Ryan told us stories about his college years with Darius while we laughed over them all. After we finished our food my dad slipped a hundred in my pocket and smiled. Mom shook her head with a small smile and waved goodbye. Ryan and Darius flanked both of my sides and as we walked to a glass shop I overheard two girls as we passed.

"Oh my God, she's so lucky! That's Ryan Jacobs, the hottest guy in town and his friend is equally as yummy. She's super gorgeous no wonder they're with her." She sighed. The girl didn't sound spiteful, she said it as if stating facts.

"I wonder if she's a tourist, hopefully. I've never seen her around here," the other girl said, pulling her red hair away from her eyes. "If she goes to school with us this year then we have another person to feel like shit from. She looks like one of the popular kids. Joy, what fun will this year be."

"Prediction!" the brunette said enthusiastically. "She's not one of them, she's cool. I think she'll be nice, she looks like she's nice. Def not a bitch." The brunette shook her head.

I smiled to myself and walked with more pride. People here are different, I thought.