The Runaway Magicians

Chapter 3

The first thing Sapphire noticed was the little boy sitting on the stair's steps. He was probably 8, somewhere around that. His hair was a dark shade of brown, almost black. When their eyes met, the boy panicked and rushed off somewhere upstairs. What the hell? Sapphire thought. Is that Delia's son?

Although, Aunt Delia didn't seem to notice because she was arranging the shoes near the front door. She turned to Sapphire.

"Alright," Delia said. "I'll show you your room so you can unpack your luggage."

She nodded. Sapphire followed her upstairs and into the hall. As they walked, she observed the picture frames on the wall. In one picture, the whole family was in it. There was Aunt Delia and her husband, who seemed like a scrawny man. He had black hair that was combed over and innocent blue eyes. Sapphire recognized the little boy from earlier. He had a mischievous grin on his face. He looks like an annoying brat, she thought. Next to the kid, there was a guy who seemed like he was around Sapphire's age. He looked similar to the kid, who's probably his brother, except a lot more mature.

Before Sapphire could take a good look at him, she realized that Delia was already several steps ahead of her. She abandoned the picture and rushed to catch up. Soon, they stopped at the end of the hall at a door.

"Here's your room, dear," Aunt Delia said with one hand on her hip. "Sorry it's kind of lonely at the end of the hall but I guess Nathan can keep you company." She pointed her thumb at the neighboring door.

Who's Nathan? Sapphire asked in her head. The younger or the older brother?

Delia opened the door which revealed a small room with a bed in the corner. The tall arched window on the back wall invited sunlight into the room. She could see the dust particles floating in the air in the light. Near the entrance, there was a wooden desk and a small stool. There were broken pencils on it. Aunt Delia noticed them too.

"Don't mind those," she said. "Nathan used to use this room for homework."

Sapphire turned to look at her. "Oh, where do they go to school?"

Delia gave a small laugh. "No, I homeschool both of my sons."

Sapphire's face heated up. "Oh. Uh, cool." Crap, this is awkward, she thought.

Delia walked over to a door in the room.

"This is the closet. It's a bit small, I hope you don't mind."

"Sure, no problem."

It's not like she had that much clothes anyway. Sapphire always spent her allowance on books or bubblegum.

After a tense and awkward silence, Aunt Delia started to exit the room. Before she entered the halls, she looked at Sapphire.

"I'm going to cook dinner now. You can start unpacking," Delia said cheerfully. "We'll eat at 7:00. Bye for now!"

She looked like she was going to say something else, but she decided not to because she started walking away.

Sapphire closed the door and sprawled on the bed. She sighed. She glanced at her black suitcase, sitting at the door. Her eyes turned away. I'll just unpack later, Sapphire thought gloomily. She groaned quietly to herself. I don't wanna be here. I'm stuck here for my whole summer with a family I barely even know. She tried to imagine what it would be like if she stayed at home instead of at Aunt Delia's. Sapphire would be at home, reading her book or hanging out with her friend, Macy, at the ice-cream parlor. Or she would take a walk out on the streets, admiring the tall skyscrapers. Or maybe she would be dying her hair another color after her magenta dye washes out.

Sapphire's thoughts were interrupted when the door next to her's was opened. Is that Nathan? She heard a voice that belonged to a child. It's the younger brother. I wonder what they're talking about, she thought curiously. Sapphire got up from the bed and approached the wall next to Nathan's. She pressed her ear against it, searching for voices.

"...I don't know," Sapphire recognized the voice. It was the youngest brother.

"...ask her." the voice was deeper. So which one is Nathan? Sapphire asked herself.

"No! I don't want to." the younger brother exclaimed.

"Why? Too shy?"

There was a pause. Finally, the younger sibling decided to say something.

"All I know is that she has pink hair."

Sapphire's eyes widened a little. Shit, they're talking about me. She decided that she didn't want to hear anymore of their gossip. She walked over to the bed and sat down. Just great. I'm stuck with a family I barely know and boys who like to gossip about me. This is sure a warm welcome, she thought angrily.