Twisted Forever

Nico

"Sofia, Nico! They're here!" I heard my mom call out. Aunt Bridget, Uncle Rhys, and Camilla are visiting everyone on their yearly trip. I quickly get up from my bed and walk downstairs. I love and hate these reunions. While I want to see everyone, I'd rather be alone than with everyone. I walk down to see my whole family and am quickly hugged.

"Hi, Nico! Holy shit, you're getting tall, kid." I hear my aunt Bridget say and hug her back.

"Haha, yeah. I'm going to say hi to everyone else. It's good to see you." I say to her. She smiles and goes over to the kitchen and talks to my mom. I see my cousin Jaden talking to Sofia and walk over to them.

"Hey guys, what's up?" I ask them.

"Nothing," Jaden replies. He's such a shy person despite his parents being the exact opposite. I look around the room and spot her. Camilla. Her long, flowing, gold-like hair makes her easy to find in any crowd. She has her mother's hair but her father's eyes and other features. I approach her when one of those moments happens, and the room goes silent; everyone turns their attention to Rhys and Bridget, who seem to be having a heated argument; the other adults are all talking over each other, engaging in this as well.

"Guys, stop. The kids are listening now." Christian says. When he says this, all the adults go silent and look a little guilty for causing a scene. Rhys and Bridget signal to Camilla for her to go to the kitchen so they can all talk privately, and they go over there. I sit on the couch next to my uncle Josh, next to Aunt Jules.

"How've you been, kid?" He asks.

"I've been doing ok," I say.

"You're so stoic like your dad; it's crazy how similar you guys are sometimes." Aunt Jules says, and she lets out a chuckle. I tune out the rest of what they're saying. I look at the kitchen and see Bridget, Rhys, and Camilla conversing. Camilla is in tears and begins to walk away from her parents. I follow her to the back porch. She doesn't notice me at first, but then she does. She quickly wipes her tears when she sees me.

"What's wrong, Cami?" I ask. I haven't called her this since we were kids; we've grown apart since she's always busy in Eldorra.

"My parents are making me move here." She pauses before continuing. "They want me to finish high school here and try to be a normal teenager for a bit."

"What's so bad about that?" I ask.

"I'm going to miss my parents; I feel like they're trying to get rid of me. My mom says it's because the country Eldorra's next to is at war, and they want me safe, but I just.." She pauses and frowns. "I just want to be with my parents at home. My home. Eldorra." She says this, and I can hear the sadness in her voice.

"Cami, I'm so sorry, that's horrible. Who are you going to be staying with?" I ask.

"Stella, Christian, and Dahlia. That's what all the adults were arguing about. They all want the best for me, but I only want to stay in my country." She explains.

I walk over to her and hug her. I rub my hand up and down her back, and she sobs onto my shoulder. We've grown apart with age, but I can't lie; I'm excited she's going to be staying here for a while, but I also feel hurt because she's feeling so sad about the situation.