A Drop in the Ocean

Chapter 14

"Alright boys," I said, standing in front of the television that had been occupying my bandmates attention for hours.  They were lounged out on my couch with their feet on the coffee table eating God knows what.

"Yes, Gingy," Ash said in a smart ass tone.  I narrowed my eyes in hostility.  Then, I directed my glare at Luke who cowered in confusion and terror.

"You told them, you asshole?" I questioned, not bothering to hide the sarcastic rage in my voice.  Sometimes, it made me happy that they were just a little intimidated by me.

"Yes," he squeaked, curling himself into Calum's side.  Calum chuckled causing me to lose my composure.  I instantly started cracking up with the rest of the boys following.

"Damn you, Calum," I laughed, as I leaned over in laughter.  I couldn't help but laugh at Ashton's laugh, and it just created a cycle of laughter that would probably never end.  Finally, the laugh fest was over, and I stood up with a content face and my hands on my hips.  "I have an announcement," I told them.  They looked at me intently, but I couldn't focus with sound of Claire Holt's voice behind me.  "What the fuck are you watching?" I questioned, spinning on my heels to view the screen.

"The Vampire Diaries," Michael replied.  I spun back around and gave them a confused and worried look.

"Why?" I asked worriedly.  

"Because it was on," Calum replied.  I nodded as though I understood.  I've never been a fan of this show, but my friend Aimie loved it.  I walked the half a foot to the television and switched it off, earning a groan from the boys.  I mimicked their groans while turning back around to face them.

"Alright.  So, two things," I began, putting up the index and middle finger of my right hand for effect.  "One, my cousin Lindsey is coming over in a few minutes.  She's excited to meet you guys, so don't be asshats."

"Asshats?" Luke chuckled.  I nodded seriously.  He gave me a look and slumped back down into the couch.

"She's nervous, so be nice," I told them, pointing at them accusingly.  They gave me puzzled looks.  "I have no idea why I said that.  Anyways, the second, more important announcement is that I will be gone for the rest of December."  This caught their attention.  Michael looked up from his phone, which I hadn't even realized he'd been playing with.  Calum pursed his lips, Ashton gave me wide eyes, but Luke sat up quickly, resting his hands on the coffee table in front of him.

"Why?" he asked in both a worried and perplexed tone.  I sighed.

"Well, I will be going on a trek with my Grams, Brian, and Rosie to visit my Mammy Connelly in Vail, Colorado.  I will be spending pre-Christmas with them, and then I'll come back after the first.  Since we don't have school down here during Christmas, I'm going early.  By the way, this Christmas in summer shit is terrible," I replied.  Ashton chuckled, and Luke leaned back into the couch, satisfied with my explanation.

"When do you leave?" Calum inquired.  I looked down at my phone to see what the date was.  December 4.  

"I will be leaving on the seventh," I replied.  They nodded in acceptance.

"Well, I think I may add 'Unpredictable' to the channel tomorrow," Luke announced.  

"Cool beans," I said.  The doorbell rang, and I bolted to the front door.  Before I could get there, Lindsey swung open the door.  For dramatic effect, I slid on the hardwood floor to the door in my socks with a rocker face while strumming an air guitar.  Lindsey looked at me with wide eyes.  

"I can't believe we're related," she said, shaking her head in embarrassment.  I laughed and swung my arm across her shoulder, pulling her inside and swinging the door shut with my foot.

"You know you love me," I sing-songed.  

"Are you playing those love games with me?" she sang back.  I let go of her and danced around the kitchen, singing a song from "Old Gregg".  The boys came in with bemused looks upon their faces as Maddi stood on a bar stool, and I was kneeling on the ground.  I dramatically pulled a Vanna-White and pointed to Lindsey.

"Boys, this is my beautifully Australian best cousin whose name is Lindsey Elizabeth Blake.  Lindsey, this is Calum Thomas Hood, Ashton Fletcher Irwin, Michael Gordon Clifford, and Luke Robert Hemmings," I dramatically announced.  Lindsey gained composure and stepped down from the stool, grabbing her shirt and made sure it wasn't riding up.  She stuck her hand out.  

"It's very lovely to finally meet you," she said.  I could see Ashton and Calum smiling like idiots.  I gave them a look.  They all shook her hand.

"What is it, Jordan?" Ashton questioned.  I narrowed my eyes.

"Why are you smiling like that?" I interrogated.  Their smiles grew.  

"She has a cool accent," Calum whispered.  I rolled my eyes.  One of these days, I will roll my eyes so far back that I won't be able to pull them back down.

"It sounds almost exactly like yours!" I exclaimed.  Instead of answering, they bolted to the living room.  

"Charming," she said to me.  I shrugged.  

"They're boys.  What do you expect?" I replied.  I had forgotten that Luke and Michael were still here until I heard a gasp from behind me.  I turned to see Michael's jaw dropped in surprised and Luke's hand over his heart in sarcastic hurt.  I shook my head and rolled my eyes before grabbing their hands and pulling them into the living room where we were going to watch The Grey with Liam Neeson.  

Michael curled up on the chair by himself while playing on his phone.  That kid never stops.  I finally took it away from him and hid it under one of the steps in the staircase and threatened to break it and bury the pieces all around Sydney if he didn't participate in movie watching.  He sat sulking through the entire thing.

Calum sat on the end of the couch farthest from Michael.  Luke sat next to him and I sat next to him with Maddi sitting next to me.  I looked at my phone.  7:32 PM.  As I set it back in my pants pocket as Ash sat down next to Lindsey on the end.  Not long after the movie started, I saw Ashton's arm going up out of the corner of my eye, knowing that he was trying to pull the "yawn-and-not-so-inconspicuously-put-my-arm-around-her" move.

"I'm engaged," Lindsey said without taking her eyes off the television before he could even set it down.  He quickly snatched it back and scratched the back of his neck.

"Oh, what's his name?" he asked innocently.  I couldn't help but chuckle.

"He's a civil engineer named Paul Tate," she replied, eyes still facing the screen.  

"I don't know him," Ashton continued.  I rolled my eyes.  Will this boy quit while he's ahead?

"I wouldn't expect you to," she said flatly, curling her legs up onto the couch.  Ashton was finally silent, and we continued our movie watching.  Not long after the plane crashed, I felt Luke's arm around me.  I felt a small smile creep onto my face.  I could see Lindsey looking at me out of the corner of her eye with a smug grin.  I curled up my feet and snuggled into Luke's side before falling into a light sleep with the sound of Liam Neeson's voice, the warmth of Luke's body around me, and the smell of the ocean and sunshine.