FYI:
~Personal Thoughts~
ESP
%The Written Word%
[Flashback]
"Normal Conversation (Duh)"
* Com Link or Telephone *
*Sound Effects (usually just Kurt's bamfing)
{Background noise--music, crowds, etc.}
HYDRA
* What do you mean you won't be home over Christmas! *
* Sweetie, I've already told you, I have a very important business conference I need to go to in Harrisburg. I'll be back the twenty-seventh and we'll spend the rest of the break together. * ~How could she do this to me?~
* But it's Christmas! *
* And I'll see that you get your presents at the institute. *
* Mom…this isn't about gifts. It's about how we're a family and we're supposed to spend the holiday together. *
* I know sweetie, and I'd like nothing more than to spend Christmas with you but I need you to stay at the institute where it's safe. *
* What's that supposed to mean? * I suddenly had a feeling that this conversation had taken a very sudden twist into the twilight zone.
* I don't want you staying here by yourself. That's why I'm asking you to stay at the institute until after Christmas. It'll only be for a few days. *
* Is this about my father?!?! I can take care of myself. Besides there's a restraining order… *
* You weren't able to take care of yourself before. * Her voice had taken on a steely edge suddenly.
* I'll be fine! Please don't make me stay here for Christmas. There's not going to be anybody here but a couple of the adults and that'll be really boring. *
* I'm sorry sweetie. Maybe one of your friends'll let you stay with them for a few days. *
* Yeah, maybe. *
* We'll talk later, okay? *
* Yeah sure. Bye. *
* Love you. *
* Uh huh. * I hung up the phone without returning the sentiment and walked down the hall dejectedly. ~This bites.~
"Why so glum?" I looked up half-surprised to see Sam standing there and gave him a weak smile.
"My mom wants me to stay here over part of Christmas break. She says I can come down the twenty-seventh, but until then I'm stuck here."
"Oh."
"Hey no need for you to get down about it too." I put a hand on his shoulder and he looked up grinning.
"I know, you can come stay with my family."
"What? I dunno. That doesn't seem quite fair to your folks." He'd never talked about his family before and I wasn't quite sure I wanted a total shock for Christmas. We walked side by side down the rest of the hall.
"My mom probably won't mind. I'm one of nine brothers and sisters, so what's one more person."
"Nine! Sam she's not gonna want a tenth person running around."
"What's the big difference between nine and ten?" He didn't seem to see a problem there.
"I dunno. The fact that it's one extra body that'll need fed, a bed, and all that."
"I honestly don't think she'll mind. She's really nice and she's constantly bugging me as to why I don't bring Bobby or Ray down."
"That's a li'l different, hon."
"How?"
"They're guys--I'm a girl. A girlfriend."
"You're still my friend." I sighed at his logic.
"I'd really like to spend time with my family too."
"So we'll go visit yours once your mom gets back. Unless you don't want your mother to see me again for some reason."
"Trust me, it's your ribs that'll break, not mine." I grinned remembering the series of bone crunching hugs that she'd given Sam as she proclaimed him a hero. "Eight siblings, huh?" I was still kinda in shock. In the Cove, families were normally big with three or four siblings, but eight!
"Yeah, there's Joshua, Paige, Joelle, Elisabeth, Jeb, Annabelle, and the twins Lewis and Lori." He counted 'em off on his fingers making sure he got 'em all.
"And where do you fall in the line up?"
"I'm the oldest." I nodded trying to let all those names sink in.
"So what are they like?" ~Guess I should find out something about 'em so I can get gifts.~
"Josh is a year younger than me and into music, plays guitar. Um, Paige if fourteen and I dunno is your average teenage girl. Joelle is 12 and pretty popular. Elisabeth is 11 and really outgoing. Jeb is 9 and your regular geek with glasses. Annabelle is kinda quiet too and eight. The twins are double trouble and six."
We stopped walking as we reached the end. "That's a lotta brothers and sisters."
"You get used to 'em all running around after a while."
"I guess I will." I smiled at him for a brief moment before I forced myself to knock it off. ~I can't. I can't kiss him. At least not at this moment, while we're inside.~ "I promised I'd meet Sara at the mall. See you later." I waved as I turned and went down another hall.
CANNONBALL
Hearing her say it seemed to make it official. ~We're a couple.~ It hit me almost like a ton of bricks and I couldn't help but smile as she left and decided to really make sure it was okay to bring a friend home for Christmas. Lord only knew how Mom would react. She could go from ecstatic to upset.
* Hello? *
* Hey Momma. *
* Sammy! Are you coming home for Christmas dear? *
* Of course. I was wondering if I could bring a friend, Al. *
* I don't see why not. *
* Thanks, Momma. *
* When are you getting home? *
* We'll be there the twenty-third. But we're gonna go to Al's place then on the twenty-seventh. *
* Your brothers and sisters'll be glad to see you. *
* I'll be glad to see everyone too. *
* I love you, dear. *
* Love you too, Momma. * I hung up the phone and would have jumped for joy if Ray and Roberto wouldn't have been there watching.
"Love you too, momma." Ray snickered at his falsetto impression. "What a momma's boy."
"Knock it off, Ray." I walked over to the couch and sat down near 'em on the floor to watch 'em play PS2.
"You're taking Al with you?"
"She needed a place to go."
"It's called her home, you dip."
"Her mom's outta town. She needed a place to crash."
"That and she's your girlfriend."
"At least I've got one." That seemed to shut the two of 'em up good as they went back to their game. "I play winner."
"That'll be me," Ray said smugly as Roberto spared a hand to punch him.
"Get over yourself."
HYDRA
"Hey Spanky!" I looked around quickly and saw Sara coming down the mall towards me. She already had a shopping bag in hand.
"You started without me." I gave her a pout and she laughed.
"Sorry these shoes were just screaming out to me. And I also had to get your gift…"
"Oh, lemme see!"
"Yeah right, you can wait. So where to first?"
"I haven't a clue! I'm going to see Sam's family over Christmas and I should prolly take gifts but I dunno what to get."
"Well how big's his family?"
"He's got his mom, three brothers and five sisters."
"What?!?!"
"That's what I thought." We started walking down the mall and I looked into the different store windows. We passed the music store and I stopped. "His one brother plays guitar."
"So?" I grabbed her arm and dragged her inside as I looked through all the accessories. I decided to get some different picks including a steel one, a set of strings, and a music book.
Several hours later we finished shopping and I'd gotten matching hoodies for the twins, make up for Paige, Joelle, and Elisabeth, and books for Jeb and Annabelle. I'd also gotten a lot of other stuff for the students at the institute. Somehow I'd sneaked in buying a gift for Sara and had gotten her a CD from Linkin Park, her favorite band.
Needless to say I was excited about the idea of meeting Sam's family. I'd prolly find the idea nerve racking the entire drive up there but it would prove interesting.
CANNONBALL
"Al, do you really need all this stuff? We're talking about a li'l over a week total!" She ignored me as she continued filling up the bed of her truck with packages and other items.
"I'm sorry if I want to make a good impression with your family. I feel like I'm an intruder or something." She looked at me and frowned. "Feel free to disagree."
"We've got a ten hour drive, I'll think of something." (A/N: that's from Footloose)
"Gee thanks. You've got nearly twice the stuff I do."
"Yeah, but it's my family." She stuck her tongue out at me as she pulled the tarp across and crossed to the driver's side. Everyone else had left an hour earlier for the airport for destinations known.
She started the truck which was now a ocean blue color and just to irritate her further I decided to sing along with the radio. "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know…"
"It's a long walk to Kentucky, hon."
"It's pretty boring hanging with the adults for a week."
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
"Keep trying me."
Ten hours later and late in the afternoon I directed her up the drive to park in front of a modest ranch house. She stepped out and looked around in awe at the fields and barn that sat around the house. "It's beautiful up here. It's even more out there than where I live."
"Is that a good thing?" I raised an eyebrow curiously as she pulled back the tarp to get her duffel bag.
"Uh huh. Back home, it's spread out but there's still enough people crammed together that ev'ryone knows ev'ryone else's business."
"You'll find that here too." She laughed nervously as she slung her bag over her shoulder and continued to look around. The ground was covered with patches of snow that was slowly melting away. "So much for a white Christmas."
"So where is ev'ryone? It's hard to believe there's nine people here and not a sign of life." I led her up the front steps and cautiously opened the front door.
"Anyone home?" Kids came flying from all directions at once.
"Sammy!"
"Sam!"
"Did y' bring presents?"
"How long y' stayin'?"
Al stood back in the doorway gaping slightly at the scene as most of my younger siblings came flying at me in a group hug. I laughed as I tried answering their questions. "Yes, a while, and you guys need to let me breathe." I looked up to see Paige laughing from the stairs as she came down and gave me a hug too.
"I'm glad you're home Sam."
"Me too. Where's Momma?"
HYDRA
I leaned against the doorframe in wonderment as I watched the family reunion. It didn't seem quite right to interrupt. I watched as a pretty blonde girl took Sam into a fierce hug and figured she must be Paige. The younger siblings were still watching Sam with wonderment as if expecting gifts to come pouring outta his pockets. I quickly picked out Jeb who was geeky looking and had reddish brown hair. I spotted the twins next who were definitely the youngest and had blonde hair like Sam. The next to youngest had long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and musta been Annabelle. I took a guess that Elisabeth was the other blonde girl and that Joelle was the last brunette. However I saw no hide nor hair of Josh.
"Momma!" I watched as Sam rushed over to a woman who was close to my mom's age and had long brown hair and wore a flannel shirt. She pulled Sam into a hug and kissed each of his cheeks lovingly and the other siblings turned their attention to me.
"Who are you?"
"Hi, I'm Joelle."
"Where are you from?"
"You're pretty." I felt my cheeks flush at the youngest boy's comment.
"Are you Sam's girlfriend?" I definitely blushed at Paige's question and could only nod.
"I'm Allison…I go to school with Sam." There was a slight frown from Joelle and I just barely caught it.
"Hi Ally!" The littlest girl, Lori, ran over and hugged me around the waist being that's as far up as she could reach. I picked her up and squeezed her back.
"Hello Lori." She giggled as I set her back down amongst her siblings. She started whispering with Annabelle and they both started giggling.
I nervously tucked my blue streak back behind my ear as I stood amongst all of 'em and Sam brought his mother over. "Momma, this is Al. Al, this is my mom." I held my hand to shake hers and she dragged me into a hug.
"Regular city girl. There ain't any shakin' in this house." I could feel my cheeks burning at all this attention. "It's nice t' meet y', dear." I stepped back biting my bottom lip, slightly embarrassed still of all the attention. "Paige, show her up t' yo' room."
Paige gently took me by the arm and led me up the stairs excitedly. Once outta ear shot of the others and in her room she started talking. "Yo' special like Sam, right?"
"Um, well…"
"Oh this is so cool…tell meh ev'rythin'!"
"There isn't much to tell." I set my stuff down on the floor and she was watching me expectantly as if expecting me to burst into flames or something.
"Sure there is. What are yo' powers?"
"Well, I um…can control water." Her eyes got wide as I stood there nervously shuffling my feet.
"Wow! that's really neat. What's it like livin' there?"
"Crowded. You're constantly bumping into somebody."
"Sounds like here. I wish I could go to school there too." I looked at her surprised.
"No you don't, it's dangerous. I mean we do some good stuff, but it's really dangerous."
"I don't care, I just wish I could do cool things too." ~If she only knew how big of a pain in the ass it really is, she wouldn't feel that way anymore.~
CANNONBALL
I found Josh outside in the barn feeding the horses. "Hey man."
"Hey yo'self." I groaned inwardly. Josh had never acted like this before I'd gone to the institute.
"How's the family been doing?"
"You'd know if y' were here an' not hangin' with yo' freak friends." There was a hint of an edge to his voice and I came to a stop standing next to him as he poured the feed out into the bins.
"I'd like to be, Josh."
"Sure, that's why y' left f' N' York."
"I can't help it if that's how far away the school is."
"Y' could try an' act normal an' stay here with us." He dropped the pail and was standing facing me. I gritted my teeth to keep from getting angry with him.
"I can't act like something I'm not."
"Yeah, right. Y' sound like a city slicker. Y' prolly go back there an' talk about how shitty farm life is."
"No, I don't."
"Just get outta my face." He stormed away from me as I slumped back against the gate to the stable.
Thunder, the farm's workhorse, stuck his head out and bumped it up against the back of mine. "Bet he's nicer to you." There was a snort of agreement as I sighed.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Sorry, it's been like forever. Well, at least over a month…the only reason I know that is because last week was my boyfriend and I's one month anniversary and I haven't posted since before we started dating. Okay, that was tons of useless information…yeah…that and now the musical I was in is over and I have more time to write. My writer's block also ended, so yeah!