Just Enemies (Original Story)

I want to go home.

Lena got the window seat with her mom beside her and her dad and Kat in the seats in front. Looking out of her window she saw the ocean and then farm lands with clouds and geese below them. Her excitement was palpable. Her mom had made them matching t-shirts with Croatia and the flags on the shirts. They were jersey styled and the family matched with her dads being blue,Kats was purple and Lena was pink with her moms being red.

Lena felt nervous because she was a skinny kid and even though she was eating and working out. The changes were small for now. Lena didn't know how people would react to her bigger frame and was hoping at least to not be bullied by her own extended family.

At the airport her aunt Antica was waiting with her daughter Anastasia. They took a group photograph and hugged but his fathers sister wasn't much of a hugger so it was short. Ana just kind of side hugged both Kat and Lena then took their suitcases as they headed to the Zagreb exit toward the parking lot outside. 

There were two small Volvo styled buggy's for them all. Ana and Antica loaded the suitcases on top with bungee cables. Both asked how the plane ride was and Lena felt so sore from the uncomfortable neck position of her seat and should've bought that neck pillow. She deeply regretted not listening to her mom to get it for the flight. Arriving at her aunts house was nice and it is a two story,brick house with a lovely balcony. Her dads sister had seven kids, two boys and five girls. But Lena was excited to see her cousins as she was told how much she played with Maria and Brena as a little girl.

Kat was exhausted and went to sleep on the couch but her parents told her she had to stay away because of the time difference. Kat groaned but got back up and went to the bathroom. Her parents sat down with Antica getting coffee ready. Lena saw Maria and Brena who raced down to see her. They hugged her but it was awkward but that's to be expected since it's been years. Lena wanted to break the tension so they all went outside to play on the slide and swing sets. Lena went down the slide even though she got virtgo but she wanted to be fun.

Her cousins were giggling and went on the seesaw. Lena followed and asked if she could go on it and Maria got off for her. Brena smiled while talking to her and Lena knew everything she said but her Croatian was choppy and incomplete. So she tried to gesture to her but it only made it more awkward and silent. After they finished on the seesaw and went over to the swings. Lena asked Maria if she could have a turn. Maria looked her up and down. Looked over to Brena and told Lena.

"ne želim da ti slomiš."

Which meant she didn't want Lena to break the swing set. Then she laughed with Brena with them both running off to play together. Lena felt sick to her stomach at how her cousins could treat her like that. This wasn't about the swings. This was about just being mean. Lena wanted to be strong but the minute she saw her mom she went over to her and began to cry. Her mom asked her what was wrong and she said she wanted to go home. Her aunt was confused and asked her dad why she was so emotional. He told her and her aunt still didn't understand. In English her mom asked her why?.
Lena was too embarrassed to admit the real reason so she lied a little bit. It was partially true.

"I miss Nacho."

Both her parents smiled and told her that Nacho was fine with the elderly woman on the next floor. She was updating them daily on his feedings and he was friends with her female cat. But Lena cried into her moms shirt with her cousins now back inside snickering at the whole situation. Kat was suspicious and glared at the evil twevils and they stopped and just left to go upstairs. Once the dramatic scene ended and her parents went to get a few things at the store with her aunt. Kat came and sat beside Lena.

"That wasn't just about Nacho? Was it?."

"No...not completely."

"Something happened outside. I saw how they kind of left you by the swings. Wanna tell me what happened little sis."

"Promise you won't make a big deal about it..."

"Why?."

"Because I just want to survive these three days then make it to uncle Lukas..."

"Okay I promise."

Lena explained what Maria said and how they both laughed at her and left her there to go play by themselves. Kat was angry and you could see it on her face with her brows furrowed and her shallow breathing. But she was trying not to show it as both cousins were in the kitchen observing them. They didn't know English but they had a feeling it was about them. Once Lena was finished Kat almost bolted up to go slap her cousins clear across the face but Lena stopped her.

"We have only two days here then we are home free with mom's brother Luka."

"They shouldn't get away with this."

"It'll only cause problems and what if our aunt kicks us out..."

"Then we go stay with Luka early."

"You promised..."

"Fine."

Kat smiled at her little sister and hugged her. Telling her how she wouldn't leave her alone in this lions den they call relatives. Maybe their other cousins would be nicer but Lena didn't hold out hope since the icy reception should've been an indicator of what was to come. She was only hoping that her mom's side was at least more excited to see them.