Sinbound

(22) Christmas Time

"Finally," Lewis groans as Alex walks into his house, people moving out of her way out of instinct.

"You ready to get into the festive spirit?" Lewis grins, handing her a bottle of whiskey.

"It looks like you ate too many sweets and threw up all over the place." Alex states, gesturing to his Christmas decorations.

"Well I quite happen to like them," Lewis remarks.

"Yes, I imagine you would," Alex responds.

"Your brothers are in the living room, Ben is somewhere around, Melanie and Sammy are somewhere with Amari too," Lewis tells her, "think some of her friends are here too, I just told people to invite whoever they wanted."

"Your house is going to get wrecked at some point with that attitude," Alex replies.

"Why do you think you're here? Would anyone do anything unjust to my house whilst my big, strong protector is around?" Lewis teases, winking at her, "have a drink, and then you'll find it funny."

"Lewis, I've been looking for you all over- who is this?"

A man with a strong Welsh accent appears beside Lewis, clapping his hand on his shoulder.

"This is Alex," Lewis says, "Alex, this is my cousin "Elis."

"It's a pleasure," Elis smirks.

"Probably," Alex replies.

"Why is it that you were looking for me?" Lewis asks his cousin.

"Oh - it doesn't matter anymore," Elis smiles.

He had the same toothy grin as his cousin. Semi-charming, semi-cheeky. His hair was dirty blonde, and had a wave to it at the longer strands at the top of his head. His slight beard matched the colour of his hair.

"How do you know my little cousin?" Elis says, emphasising their height difference by placing his arm on Lewis' shoulder, using him as an arm rest.

"We work together," Alex states.

"You have a job?" Elis asks, his cousin, seemingly surprised, "what do you do?"

"This seems like my cue to leave," Alex says, walking away from the cousins, and into the dining room where Amari was sat with her sister and Melanie.

There was a younger man sat with them aswell. He seemed to be a mini-version of Elis, just without the beard.

"Alex," Melanie smiles, noticing the woman's presence, "this is Aidan, Lewis' cousin."

"Nice to meet you, Alex, ma'am," Aidan says.

"Just Alex," she responds.

"We were talking about you," Amari tells her.

"That can't mean anything good," Alex says.

"We were discussing your extensive book collection," Melanie prompts, "Aidan is a big reader too."

"Which is your favourite?" Alex asks, taking a sip from the bottle.

"That's a difficult question, ma'am- Alex... but if I had to choose I would say Kilmeny of the Orchard. Which is your favourite?"

"The secret garden, Frances Hodgson-"

"Bennett, yes, I love that book, the story of the children healing is inspiring," Aidan nods.

"How are you related to Lewis?" Alex responds.

"He appreciates a different kind of nature, subjective art if you will," Aidan states.