It All Started From the Stop(Sign)

Chapter Six-Fun Times With The Fam

The door slams shut behind me and as soon as I hear the giggles I know I'm done for. I take a deep breath. The sound of the old bus leaving to go to the next stop shares the air with my sisters' laughter. I shrug my backpack off my shoulders and slip my coat off. I take my time hanging my coat on the wooden coat hanger, stalling for as long as I can. But as I hear their shrieking coming closer and closer, there's not a whole lot I can do.

"Saphira! Oh my gosh I've missed you so much! It's been so long," Echo yells, wrapping me in a tight hug. When she finally lets go, I take her in. She's wearing a short purple dress and some black wedges. Her make up is flawless, as usual, and her short brown hair shapes her face perfectly. She's pretty tall, 5'7, and is in amazing shape. She's a health nut. She's in a college in New Jersey, studying to be a nurse. Her dark brown eyes stare intently into mine.

"It's sad to say, though not surprising, that your fashion sense hasn't changed much. I don't understand your thing with shawls," I hear an almost identical voice comment.

I turn to Pyra. And not much has changed about her either. She and Echo go to the same college. They're rarely ever separated. Pyra is a bit quieter than Echo, though. She dyed her hair black. She the same height and probably weight as Echo, but with longer hair and bangs. She's studying to be a fashion designer. She's wearing a white ruffled shirt tucked into a short grey skirt. She has her black hair in a stylish french braid, and has on some tall black heels.

"I've missed you too, Pyralis," I reply dryly. She gives me a warm smile-her way of saying that she missed me also.

Just as I head upstairs to do my homework, Echo takes my backpack from my hand and throws it back onto the ground. I watch it skid across the floor and stop in front of the door. I look back at Echo.

"Oh no you don't. First we are going to go upstairs and do something about those filthy nails. I bought some make up that I think would go really nice with your pale skin tone, so we'll try that also. Another thing: like I looked in the fridge, and we really need to work on your diet. I can't believe you are putting those nasty foods into your body. It's disgusting, really," she concludes, walking over to the stairway and throwing me a dirty look.

I'm a bit shocked because it's been a while since I've been insulted like this. My sisters haven't visited in such a long time that I've got used to the peace in the house. I'm too tired to argue so I just follow Echo and Pyra.

"And we have a gymnastics meet tomorrow, so we won't be home, but on Thursday we're going shopping. You need more of a clothing variety," Pyra adds, running her brown eyes over my outfit again. I groan. I hate shopping with them so much. I'll have to find a way to get out of it. Besides, I have school on Thursday.

"Do you even have your gown for the masquerade ball?" Pyra asks.

I don't respond. Echo turns around to face us, walking backwards down the hallway. She rolls her eyes at my silent reply. I stare back at her defiantly. After a shake of her head, she goes back to walking down the hallway.

"Of course you don't. Don't worry, Saphira, we'll help you," Pyra mutters. Great. Just what I was hoping for.

We finally make it to their room and they usher me inside. They're room is pink, and even though they don't have to share a room, they do. Posters of attractive Hollywood males line their wall. I shudder, feeling creeped out. I can't sleep in a room with a poster of a face. On occasion when I was younger I would sleep in their room, but that didn't last for long. I felt like the faces on the posters were straight at me, making me very uncomfortable. Although now that I think about it, Jackson or Major or whatever he wants to be called, looks like he belongs on this wall next to all the hot men. But that's beside the point.

Echo guides me over to a chair and they set to work, the sharp smell of nail polish filling the air.

----------------

I glare at mother, and cross my arms over my chest. It's Thursday evening, and after a quiet and peaceful Wednesday with the girls being gone, I was not ready for this. Mother gives me a look, not budging either.

"Saphira, you have to go with them. You need a gown for the ball. You know how important this masquerade ball is for the family. It's a tradition. And your Grandpa Thomas has been itching to see you guys. Five years is a long time. Besides, it's a great time for you and your sisters to bond. It's the least you can do especially because you refuse to take the dance lessons anymore," mother says, clasping her hands together.

I sigh. I know in the end that I'll end up going shopping. But the masquerade ball just brings up so many painful memories. My family goes every five years. My Grandpa Thomas used to be a pilot, so very fifth year, he flies over from England, picks up my family, and brings us back to England for the ball.

This originally started back when father was a teenager. Until he was fifteen, father lived in England with Grandpa Thomas and Grandma Rachel. But then Grandpa and Grandma got divorced-they had an arranged marriage in the first place. So Grandma Rachel moved to the U.S. and brought father with her. Grandpa Thomas ended up remarrying a widowed Grandma Alice, who had a son of her own already, Lathan. So Lathan is technically father's step-brother, but they never really saw each other much, living in different countries and all.

But even before father left England, it was tradition that every year they went to the masquerade ball. And when father and Grandma Rachel moved here, they still went every five years. We've never missed a masquerade ball, we know how important these were for father. I can still remember a little bit from the last ball that father was at. I was six- it was the same year that he died.

Mother is right, though, ever since that year, I've refused dance lessons. I've only ever wanted to learn to dance from one man- and he's dead.

"Grandpa Thomas will be here this weekend, and you still don't have your gown. Leave, Saphira. This is not up for debate," mother says shortly, leaving me alone in the kitchen. I sigh. I walk out to the garage to meet my sisters and all the fun shopping times ahead.