The Banner Siblings! (Re-Written)

Mom Friends

Ashlyn scrolled on her phone as her and her mom drove to the store. They needed to get some things for the barbecue. Emma asked if Ashlyn wanted to tag along, and against Ashlyn's better judgement, she did.
Emma wouldn't lie to herself, she had a reason for asking Ashlyn to come. She noticed things...off around the house. Aside from the obvious sightings of those things around the house, Ashlyn had been quieter recently.

It especially concerned Emma because she saw how happy Ashlyn had been nowadays, those friend of hers doing her daughter and her son wonders. But recently, Ashlyn had been quieter. Call it being a teenager all you want, but Emma thought something was up. Was she seeing things too? She knew Ashlyn heard things sometimes, the doctors had told her as such. Maybe it was starting to bother Ashlyn, now that she was seeing creatures too?
Or at least, Emma assumed that might've been what was bothering her.

They pulled into the store lot. Ashlyn hummed, getting out of the car. Emma hesitated as they walked in. But she bit it back. She was a solider god damnit! She could handle it.
"Ash?" Emma asked.

Ashlyn looked at Emma, eyebrow raised. Emma gulped. Fuck, she forgot her daughter inherited her resting bitch face. She cleared her throat and—

"Emma?"

Emma and Ashlyn both looked up. They were pleasantly surprised to see Taylor and her mother there. Emma raised an eyebrow at Taylor's mom. She was...well Emma didn't really know. Frail? She looked really frail and fragile. Her eyes had a distant look, like she was present but...not. Emma didn't know how to describe it. It wasn't off putting at all, just strange.

Taylor grinned, waving. "Hi Emma! Hi Ashlyn! How are you guys? What are you doing here?"

"Oh nothing," Emma said smoothly, silently dreading the social interaction. Not that she didn't love Taylor—between her and Mike, Taylor was their favorite of her children's friends. She was so sweet, and so smart. But she wanted to be able to talk to Ashlyn alone, at least a little bit. "We're just picking up more stuff for the barbecue."

"Oh yeah!" Taylor smiled. "I'm so excited!"

Ashlyn eyed Taylor's mom, the same thoughts going through her head that had been going through Emma's earlier. She shrugged it off though. "What about you?" She asked. "What are you doing here? Is that your mom?"

"Oh, yeah she is! I keep forgetting you guys haven't met yet," Taylor smiled. Emma and Ashlyn noticed that she seemed a little...tense. Nervous? Whatever it was, it had something to do with her mom. "Mom! Come say hi!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming," The twins mom smiled. She stuck out her hand. "I'm Mariana. It's lovely to meet you,"

Emma shook it. "Nice to meet you too."

"Mom," Ashlyn suddenly said, looking at Emma. "Taylor wants to look at the snacks. Can we?"

Emma sighed. Well there goes the serious conversation. "Yeah you can go."

"Make sure you get something for Tyler, Tay." Mariana said. "You know how he gets."

"Cranky? Moody? A bitch?" Taylor joked. "Yeah I know,"

"Taylor," Mariana scowled lightly. "Ahora mismo no, hija."

"Lo siento Mamí," Taylor quickly apologized, then pulled Ashlyn away to the snack aisle. Emma sighed as an awkward silence fell over them. She had never really interacted with the parents of her kids friends—actually scratch that, her kids didn't have friends. How was she supposed to know what to do here?

"You have a lovely daughter," Mariana suddenly said. "She looks just like you."
Emma smiled, a little taken aback by the sudden compliment. "Thank you. And Taylor is just a sweetheart,"
"I hope they aren't giving you too much trouble," Mariana smiled. "Taylor and Tyler have always been...well..."
"A handful?" Emma joked, easily falling into conversation with the woman. The twins were exactly that at self defense, but it just made Emma love them even more. They reminded her of Ashlyn and Logan at times.
Marian laughed as well. "They've been that way since they were little,"
"Have they?" Emma asked, suddenly remembering she had groceries to get. Ah well. They can wait, Mariana was nice.
"Yes, Tyler especially." Marian chuckled. "Me and my husband have had our hands full with that boy."
"Your husband, is he here with you?" Emma asked, curious to meet the man. The twins never really talked about their dad. It was always a bit of a weird subject to them, and they avoided it a lot. It made Emma suspicious. Was he..not the best dad? She wanted to judge that for herself.

Mariana shook her head. "Oh no, he's at work. But I'm sure he would love to meet you at the barbecue. That was so nice of you to throw for us parents by the way."
"I won't lie," Emma chuckled, trying to pry about her husband anymore. "Mike sort of roped me into it. Spontaneous idea, I guess."
Mariana laughed. "Well either way, it's sweet."

Emma chuckled. She noticed Mariana looking off, out into the distance. She looked behind her, nothing there. Huh. Odd.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
Mariana, seemingly snapped back to reality, nodded. "Ah yes, sorry. Just thought I saw something moving. Probably just my imagination."

Emma frowned. Seeing things? Then was she also...seeing that? Was it not just her and Mike? No don't be stupid Emma. It probably wasn't the same. Don't just assume, and the stuff she was seeing probably was just her imagination too. Nothing to be scared of.

Mariana hummed. "Anyways, I've probably kept you here long enough. I'll be on my way now."

"Ah yeah, I have stuff to get too. I'll see you Saturday then?" Emma smiled.
Mariana returned the smile. "You will. It was nice meeting you, Emma right?"
Emma nodded. "Yeah. It was nice meeting you too Mariana,"

They both walked off, going to get their things before hunting down their daughters. It made Emma a little bit more suspicious though.

What exactly was going on with the twins? Scratch that. What was happening to all of them?