I sat at the bus station, my fingers on my knees twiddling. They were picking me up in Colorado, and then we'd head out tomorrow. I'd picked out a whole new wardrobe from the new Delia's catalog. I'd done it with the advance from Molly for my interning. I finally looked how I'd always wanted to, edgy, cool, a little skater, but definitely feminine. I'd save the skirts and dresses for gigs. Today, it was a spaghetti strap tank with a butterfly on the front, some slightly baggy parachute pants that hugged my hips, and some chunky sandals. A ball necklace with a tiny roller skate charm was around my neck. I let my hair free, the tight curls long down my back. Casual. Just me. Very senior girl.
A car pulled up in front, and I saw Fi jump out and race to the door of station throwing it wide. We both ran and threw our arms around each other, laughing. It had been a really long time. Fi was still a shorty, but so pretty, just how I remembered her.
"Hey Cuz," said Jack, suddenly next to us. I gave him a huge hug too.
"So Jack," said Fi getting mischievous. "You still have a crush on Erika?"
I put my hand over my mouth, stifling a giggle.
Jack turned bright pink. "Will you let that go?" he said, the blush reaching his ears. "I was six."
"It was very cute, baby cousin," I said.
He rolled his eyes. "Nice. Is this all your stuff?" he asked, grabbing my bag.
"Yep, this… is… it…" I trailed off. I'd lost my words. There was a boy standing next to Jack. Possibly the most attractive boy I'd ever seen in my life. His product filled hair dangled over his face, and his blue jacket matched his eyes. He stared down at me. My hand went absent mindedly to my hair.
"Oh! Erika, this is Clu. This is Irene's son. He drove," said Fi.
"Nice… nice to meet you." I said. I held out my hand.
"Yeah, likewise," he said. He ignored the gesture. "Let's get going, I'm starved."
Fi linked her arm through mine, as Jack wheeled my suitcase and Clu threw my duffel over his shoulder like it was nothing. He grabbed my pillow, and my portfolio in one hand.
Great first impression, O'Sainhan.
We loaded my stuff into the car trunk and I scooted in the back next to Fi. Fi prattled on about dinner plans, (BBQ before we headed out), her latest findings on ghosts, (Jack rolling his eyes) and how we were related, explaining to Clu, (who hadn't asked).
"Erika's mom is my mom's cousin, so we don't get to see each other very much. What would that make you, once removed? Twice removed? I forget…"
"I don't remember," I said quietly. I glanced up into the rearview mirror and met Clu's eyes. They were glaring at me. I looked away and focused on Fi's words. She'd worked back to ghosts.
"Sis, give it a rest, we're here," said Jack.
We pulled up to the Phillips's log cabin. I'd only been here once, but it was as beautiful as I'd remembered. I got out and the fresh pine and sage scent hit me hard. It was almost too bad we were leaving tomorrow.
"Hi sweetie!" I heard behind me. I turned around, and Molly pulled me into a tight hug.
"Oh Molly, thank you for asking me!"
"No problem. Let me introduce you to Irene. She'll be the one you'll work with the most. Guys? Can you take her bags inside?"
I flicked my eyes at Clu again, and he was most definitely scowling in my direction. Now I was starting to get pissed off. Cute guy or no, what had I done to anger this boy?
"It's Ok, Molly, I can run them in first."
"Nonsense. Jack?"
"Sure mom," he said. He, Fi and Clu grabbed my stuff and started hauling it up the outside stairs.
Molly put her arm around me and walked me over to a huge, bearded guy at the grill, and a pretty blonde woman about Molly's age.
"Irene! This is Erika, my cousin's daughter, and your new intern."
"Hi!" she said. She shook my hand. Her palm was cool against my hot skin, flushed from Clu's coldness. I liked her right away. She was a woman who you wouldn't want to mess with, but I could tell she'd fight hard for the people she loved.
"Thank you so much for this opportunity, I'm really excited," I said. I thought I sounded very adult.
"Hey, thanks for saying yes. This is my husband Ned."
The big guy enveloped my hand in his huge bear paws, and I felt instantly at home. This was going to be amazing.
As we chatted, the others came down the stairs and started pestering Ned for burgers. Irene put her arm around Clu, and I avoided his eyes like the plague. I'd have to figure out what to do later, but for now, I just wanted to keep talking to the adult women. Like an adult. An adult that didn't give stuck up boys the time of day. But I still looked. His eyes were narrowed, and he was staring straight at me. I swallowed annoyed.
Worse yet, Irene, who I'd just decided I was going to love working with, was now looking back and forth between both Clu and I, and she was regarding me with absolute contempt. My heart dropped. He'd ruined everything. I suddenly got very homesick for my mother. If this was what the whole year was going to be like, I might as well muscle through my senior year back home.
"Erika! I grabbed you a plate, come sit," said Fi.
I promptly left the circle and sat down next to Fi at the picnic table. I pushed at the potato salad around with my fork.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Can I ask you something? Clu… He doesn't like me very much does he?" I whispered.
"Clu?" she asked. She looked at him over my shoulder and back at me. "Clu likes everyone."
"He hasn't stopped glaring at me since you picked me up," I said. I wanted to stop talking about it. Ask Fi questions about living on the bus, homework, traveling. But I couldn't help myself.
"I hadn't noticed. I don't think I've ever seen him glare before. He doesn't have a glare. I guess he is a little intense today…"
"I'm not sure what I did."
"Give him a chance. I'm sure it's nothing. He seriously likes everyone. I'm sure you guys will be hanging out all the time. You're the same age, so you'll give Jack a run for his money."
I leaned on my hand and ate a bite of baked beans. Pretty soon everyone had sat down and there was a lot of joking and laughing and stories. This was a tight knit family, and I would get to be a part of it. Everything would be ok.
I glanced up at Clu. He whipped his eyes away from me back to Jack. He'd been staring at me. I sighed. I wasn't sure Fi was right.