Disclaimer: I do not own the 39 Clues or any of it's characters.
*Ian's POV*
I guessed maybe things had changed around here in my time away. How much longer would I be able to stand meals like this? It was so taxing. Maybe I could convince Natalie to leave early with me. Just as the thought crossed my mind I dismissed it. I hadn't even been here a day and I was trying to leave again. How pathetic. It would be nice for Natalie and I to try to be a little family again.
No one could believe I was really there. Half of the family was looking at me like I am about to start throwing poisonous darts at them, while the other half was ignoring me entirely. Amy said these reunions were actually kind of fun these days, so I must have been making them extremely uncomfortable or Amy and I had gained completely different senses of humor since I was last around.
Finally, after an eternity of silence Amy made the decision of leading everyone back to the living room. I looked down at the clock. It was going on 9:30. A little early for bed, but I really didn't think I could handle the awkwardness any longer. I faked a yawn, "I'm beat. See you all in the morning. Wonderful dinner Nellie." I turned towards the staircases as the Cahills mumbled their goodnight's in response, but before I went up three steps I heard a set of footsteps following me. I glanced over my shoulder and saw it was Amy. I turned back around to face her, and leaned against the railing, yawning again as I said, "Yes, love?"
She looked determined as she said, "You can't go to bed yet. It's kickoff night. We always watch a movie together after Nellie's amazing dinner."
"Why didn't anyone else bother to mention that?" I asked knowing that no one else really wanted me around or cared that I was there.
She sighed. "They all just kind of know. Stay and watch the movie." She could see that I wasn't convinced on staying, and added "It's not going to get easier if you keep isolating yourself. They are only going to accept that you are around for good if you show them that. Please try to be one of us." I looked up the stairs, longingly to the peace I know I would find if I returned to my room, but I let Amy grab my arm and guide me back down the stairs into the living room.
As we rounded the corner everyone let out a collective groan. They were not thrilled that I would be joining them. I rolled my eyes, and surveyed the room for a place to sit. To my annoyance Natalie was sitting next to Dan on the couch happily chatting. There was an open space next to Dan, but there wouldn't be much room for me and Amy. I really just wanted to be around the one person that didn't completely hate my guts. I made a move towards the open space on the couch, but Hamilton must have anticipated this, and made himself comfortable. I felt everyone watching me as I changed direction and headed towards the recliner. That looked like a safe spot. When I sat down I looked around the room, and saw that the Starling triplets were in beanbags on the floor with Madison and Reagan, and Jonah occupied the only other recliner in the room.
Amy headed for the kitchen to make an extra-large batch of popcorn and told Dan to start the movie, saying she would be able to watch well enough from the kitchen. Everyone adjusted and settled into their seats as the movie began. Mysterious music and strange noises permeated the air through their surround sound system. Before too long Amy entered the room and placed three large buckets of popcorn in different places among them. I started to stand from the recliner, meaning to offer Amy my chair, like a gentleman, but Hamilton caught her attention first. To my horror he asked Natalie and Dan to move over a little bit (and closer together). He then slid closer to them, in the process creating a seat for Amy. Hamilton shot me a triumphant yet warning look as she sat down beside him and handed him the last bucket of popcorn.
Okay, I wanted to make friends with everyone, but that particular Holt was making it a point to get on my nerves. he obviously hadn't grown up or changed in the slightest. I still hated him. At least I didn't have to talk to any of them right now, maybe the movie wouldn't be such a terrible way to get used to being around them. I just had to try and relax and watch the movie.
Easier said than done. My attention was drawn back to the couch after only a few moments when Dan turned and reached his arm behind him. I let myself take a breath I didn't know I'd been holding when his hand returned holding a blanket. For a moment I had been worried that Dan was going to wrap his arm around Natalie. That really would've been too much for one evening. I turned back to the screen, but decided to keep an eye on the four on the couch using my peripheral vision.
I was absolutely furious when I watched Dan reach over Natalie, attempting to spread the small blanket over their laps. She snuggled in closer to him at the same time that he put his arm around her, and they settled back into the couch. He put his arm around Natalie, and she didn't hit him!?
As if things couldn't get any worse it looked like Amy was starting to fall asleep. It was just my luck that she fell asleep, resting her head on Hamilton's shoulder. I thought, Why do I care? I am not allowed to care after practically abandoning them all for years. I shook my head and focused on whatever movie they had chosen. It actually managed to hold my attention, without any more distractions.
After not nearly enough time, the credits began to roll across the screen and lights turned on dimly. The nerve of the two of them. If I didn't have enough reason to hate them before, I certainly do now. For some reason it seemed that they liked the only two people I still cared about. Being around Amy was beginning to bring back too many memories. I kept getting flashes of the kind redhead that had stolen my heart unexpectedly once long ago. Everyone began stretching and heading off to bed. It seemed that Amy wasn't the only one to fall asleep. Natalie was resting with her head against Dan, much the same way that Amy was against Hamilton.
I rose and walked toward the couch intending to carry Amy, then Natalie up the stairs to their rooms. Ham waved me away, stood, and gently (more gently than I'd known a Holt or Thomas could be) lifted Amy and the blanket she had cocooned herself in from the couch. I watched him carry her to the stairs, and then turned to get Natalie. Dan looked over at me and said, "Go to bed Kabra, I've got her." And then Dan carried Natalie away. I stood there completely dumbfounded.
I should have be exhausted. First, I conversed with Daniel for a meal attempting to be civil. Then, the whole movie experience left me feeling more repulsed than I had in years. I finally retired to my own room, knowing full well that I would not be able to sleep very well. As I laid down in bed I hoped that the rest of the trip would be better than today.
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