Stories To Be Told

chapter four

Dinner was so normal. There weren't any prolonged silences, no blank gazes at the food. This was something I was not used to. To say I felt out of place was an understatement.

I managed to snag a seat next to Lillian- I wasn't completely over the whole staring-at-you-then-walking-almost-right-up-against-your-back thing that happened with Dan. The two of us managed to not look at each other the whole meal. He talked about his upcoming exams that he was freaking out about. Kat told some stories about her time in South America. Then, Lillian put down her chopsticks and began to tell us her "summer plan".

"So I was talking to Marcia at the library last Sunday," she said, "And she had this really great idea of bringing a disposable camera wherever we go this holiday so we can remember it! I figured that since we have Eleanor with us this year, it would be lovely to have a sort of visual documentation so we can look back on it some day. We can start tonight!"

Kat looked at me. "You're okay with this?"

I nodded.

"I don't get a say in this...?" asked Dan.

"No, because I'm your older sister and I know what's best for you."

Dan rolled his eyes. I laughed. Our eyes met for the first time since his room. The moment passed.

After finishing our delicious food, Lillian payed and we left, but not before taking a picture outside the restaurant. It was a cool night, that in between time of spring and summer. This was my favorite weather; it always managed to lift my spirits. I was also beginning to become a bit more comfortable around the Smiths. They were easygoing people.

But I hadn't forgotten my brother, whom I missed very much still. As soon as we got back to the house, Dan went upstairs to keep studying and Lillian turned on the TV to watch the news. I was about to go up and read when Kat pulled my arm back.

"Let's have tea, yeah?" she asked suggestively. I could tell this wasn't going be just tea, but a talk.

"Yeah sure," I said. I no longer felt myself beginning to get comfortable.

She pulled up some stools to the counter, putting one on one side and one on the other. She put some water on the stove and said, "Let's talk."

I shifted in my seat a little bit. She sat down.

"Look, Dan is very protective. He cares a lot about the people around him. Sometimes he gets too invested and it ends up driving people away, but other times it creates an extremely deep bond. I saw you guys leave his room today-"

"No, it-"

"Don't even try to deny it," she smirked. The kettle started making this terrible screeching noise, one I assumed meant that the water was ready. Kat got up and poured it into two mugs. She put a teabag in each, then sat down with both. The purple mug with green stripes was slid over to me.

I took a chance at speaking. "I've been pretty independent since, y'know, my mom died." I furrowed my brow. "I don't want him to feel responsible for me, if that's what you're saying is going to happen."

"Oh, don't worry too much. You still don't know each other very well, and he's also very shy, so he'll keep his distance for a while."

We sipped our tea in silence for a while, until I said something.

"I think I might just go shower and go to bed, if that's okay?" It was only seven thirty, but the time zones had mixed me up.

"Sure, I'll show you the bathroom."

"Thanks."

We made our way up the stairs. I got some pajamas while Kat grabbed me a towel. She pointed to a door and said, "there".