Who We Become

CHAPTER THREE

OSCAR

"When do you think they're going to get here?" I asked nervously as I paced around the room. There were pieces of art everywhere, and most of them were paintings.

"You don't need to be so nervous, Ossy. They always love what you make. Especially when you make it for them. You just need to calm down and breathe."

I nodded and took a deep breath. "You're right Sammy. I just need to wait and see what they say about it. Besides Bryan always says something along the lines of-" I jumped as I was cut off.

"I'm so proud of you little bro," Bryan said with pride as he stepped up next to me as I tried to calm my breathing from the scare. Bryan draped his arm over my shoulder.

"Thank you, Bryan. Where's the family?" I asked with a smile at the thought of my niece and nephew.

"Right here!" A young voice said from behind me, I turned around and gasped when a small body jumped onto me.

I looked down to see Lizzy, my niece, looking back at me with a big grin, both of her front teeth were missing. I gasped and picked her up. "Did you lose teeth?!"

She giggled loudly as I twirled her around. "Yup! I'm all grown up now!"

I smiled and bumped our noses together, "Not quite, kiddo." I set her down and turned to Jessica, my sister-in-law.

"Oscar, Sam, it's so nice to see you again." She said while walking toward us to hug. We both wrapped our arms around her and smiled when she pulled away.

"I've been so busy with everything, Jess, you have no idea. Again I'm so sorry I couldn't make it to our bi-weekly lunch." I said giving her an apologetic look.

The three of us met up every two weeks for lunch, either to catch up or to get away from our houses. It was nice, being close to our sister-in-law.

"Oh shush. I know you were busy with the group and painting. It's no problem at all. Not to mention that Theo wasn't feeling the greatest that day." I smiled and looked down at my nephew.

"You all better now little man?" I asked while crouching down to his level. He nodded his head quickly while holding his hands out to me. I picked him up but before I could walk away with him, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Hey man, I'm gonna head out. I have a really big assignment due tonight and I've barely started." Sam said sheepishly.

"If you have an assignment why did you come in the first place?" I scolded.

"Someone had to make sure you didn't exhale a lung while panicking. I'll be fine, you know I work best under pressure." He winked at me before walking away.

I shook my head and brought Theo to another painting of mine. "What do you think little man?" I asked with a smirk.

"That... Me?!" he gasped while pointing at the painting. The painting was of Theo looking straight, with a big smile. I had painted it for Jessica for her birthday but when Bryan had seen it he begged me to put it in the show so he could surprise her.

"Oh my goodness. Oscar..." Jess said as she walked up next to me with one hand on her heart and the other over her mouth. She had tears beginning to grow in her eyes.

"Now, now. Don't start crying like last time." I joked, the last time I had made her something she broke down crying and needed to leave the show early.

Bryan stepped in front of her with a big smile. "Do you like it?" He asked, she said nothing but nodded slowly with tears in her eyes. "Happy Birthday love." He smiled bigger while pulling her into a hug and kiss. My eyes widened as the kiss escalated, I turned away and walked with the kids to a different art piece done by another artist.

I open my mouth to talk to the kids, but Lizzy said something instead. "Uncle Ocar! Why is dat man staring at you?" She pulled at my hand while pointing at a man that was across the room. The man had short light brown hair, a light beard, and hazel eyes. He looked to be taller than me by half a foot, so he was roughly 6'3".

"I'm not sure sweetpea. But it's best to just ignore him." Lizzy frowned before ripping her hand away and running to the man. I quickly ran after her with Theo still in my arms.

"Mister! It's not nice to stare and you shouldn't stare at my Uncle Ocar. He don't like it! It makes him feel like a girl again and I don't want an Auntie! I like my Uncle Ocar!" She yelled at the man, who had a shocked look on his face.

I sighed and grabbed Lizzy's hand, "I'm so sorry sir. Please forgive her." I said with a slight bow of my head and walked away while pulling a still-glaring Lizzy along with me. I pulled us away from the crowd and got down to her level. "Lizzy. You know you're not allowed to talk to strangers and you're not allowed to talk about that. When I told you about me, I told you because I wanted you to know that I'll understand things you go through."

"Sorry Uncle Ocar... I just don't want you um-com-for-table" She said struggling to say the word while looking down sadly.

"Listen, Sweetpea, I know you were just trying to help but you know that I don't like strangers knowing that. Just don't do it again." I smiled and kissed her cheek.  "Now. what art did you want to look at?"

She grinned at the question and started rambling on about a piece that caught her eye as she dragged me around the floor.

I hated being angry with her. Lizzy and Theo may not have been my children but they're my world and I would've died for them.

I nodded along to what Lizzy was saying without paying attention.

"Go." I heard from behind me. I turned slightly to see the man from earlier being pushed toward me. A small smile tugged at my lips as the other man forced him toward me. "Go on. Say it."