It Takes a Family Reunion

Chapter 7

Erik

They ran. They really ran. I watched Eira and Amira take off down an alleyway. The man that the girls had been speaking to looked from them to us in confusion. Once the light turned green, we sprinted across the street. "Should I be worried?" The man asked us. Matthew waved him off with one of his trademark smiles. "Nah, it's just a game they like to play. All fun and games." Matthew reassured the man. The man didn't look convinced, but I didn't stick around long enough to care. I would let Luke and Matthew handle that conservation. I needed to find the girls and ensure they didn't get into trouble. Once they were ready to talk, we would speak of them running from us and lying. I caught a glimpse of Amira's reddish hair, turned a corner, and followed. I kept a steady pace, keeping a safe distance from the girls. If they needed to run to explore their emotions, I was willing to let them do so. I just needed them to be within a safe distance from me.It didn't take long for both the girls to stop running. Amira, I figured, would be able to go a longer distance. Still, since Eira didn't work out, she would eventually slow her sister down. The sisters stopped in an alleyway in front of a fence. There were no other exits besides turning back the way they came. If I were someone who actually wanted to chase them, I would be elated with how easy it was to catch up and trap them. I would need to teach them a better getaway plan because this would not keep them safe. "Did we manage to get away?" Eira asked Amria softly. I could hear their panting from where I was hiding behind the corner. "I think so." Amira breathed out. "You know we have to go back soon, right? We are living in their house right now, " Eira pointed out. My mouth formed into a slight smile. She would be the one to point out the facts in situations like this. I heard Amira groan loudly. "We'll just get a taxi back to their house," Amira explained. I had a feeling she was making up a plan as she went. "And then what? We'll have to see them eventually." Eira continued. I heard footsteps and gathered they were probably sitting on the ground now."I don't know? Barricade the door." Amira huffed out. "I don't think Luke's mom would be happy if you did that," I stated, stepping out of my hiding place. Amira made a squeaking noise and bolted into a standing position. Eira's eyes widened, but she didn't say anything as she watched me. "How'd you find us this quickly?" Amira exclaimed. "You scared the blue out of my blue jeans." I raised one of my eyebrows at her figure of speech. Eira cringed. "You didn't get very far. It was pretty easy to find you. Which reminds me, we need to talk about your running skills later." I pondered, looking both the girls up and down. "We also really need to work on your stamina." "Don't you dare," Eira said before Amira opened her mouth. A cheeky grin was on her face, but Amira didn't try to finish her thoughts. "Let's get you two back. Matthew and Luke are probably worried." I said before beckoning them to follow me. The sisters looked at each other hesitantly. "Do you think they'll be mad?" Eira asked. I approached her and patted her head. She seemed to relax at my touch. "Luke definitely, but they'll both be relieved to see that you two are all right," I said simply. Eira pursed her lips but didn't say anything. The girls didn't say anything as we walked back to the street. I left Matthew and Luke. Amira and Eira held hands the entire way back, but I was glad they didn't try to run away again. When we got into viewing distance of Matthew and Luke, Matthew's entire body perked up at noticing our bodies, and he ran towards us. He grabbed both the girls around their necks and hugged them to him."I'm so glad you two are alright, " he declared. There was a deep relief coming from him, and I knew he was probably being reminded of his sister. My heart felt for him because I didn't want him to ever feel that type of loss again. Amira and Eira looked at each other and returned Matthew's hug. "We're sorry for running off," Amira admitted. The girl's hands came up and around Matthew's back, rubbing it. "I hope you two have the sense to not do this again. If you don't want to talk about something, just tell us. No need to run from us." Luke said as he stepped up to the girls. He gave both of them a hard stare. Amira did her best to stare back, but I could see the guilt in her eyes while Eira looked away from Luke's intensity. Luke checked them over, ensuring they were okay, while Matthew continued hanging on to the girls for dear life. "You two look like you've had a long day. Let's get back so you can rest, and we can talk." Luke decided, "And we will talk." Luke turned and went to get the car while we waited by the street."Where's Gavin?" Amira asked after a few seconds of quiet. Matthew had finally let them go, but he remained close to them. I figured that the man we saw the girls talking to was Gavin. I looked around, wondering the same thing. "After I explained the situation, he went off to talk to a group of people," Matthew explained. Amira didn't ask any more questions. It didn't take long before Luke had come back with the car. We all piled into the car once Luke stopped by the sidewalk. Eira and Amira returned to the backseat with Matthew while I was seated in the passenger seat. The ride home was tense and quiet. I glanced behind to see Matthew holding the girls' hands and leaning against Amira with his eyes closed. My heart warmed to see the soft expression Amira had on her face as she watched Matthew sleep. Eira had done the same thing as Matthew and leaned against Matthew with her eyes closed. There wasn't a lot of traffic on the way home. We managed to get back within a decent time. "We're here," Luke announced as he turned off the car. Matthew and Eira awoke at the sound of Luke's voice. Both of them stretched and yawned before following Amira out of the vehicle. "Let's head to the gazebo, " Luke ordered. No one argued, and we followed him. He stopped once to ask one of the workers to bring two blankets before continuing on his mission. The gazebo was extensive and would comfortably fit five people. String lights surrounded the structure. They weren't on at the moment since the sun was setting, and light was still coming from the sky. We all took our seats around the gazebo. Amira, Eir, and Matthew sat next to each other while Luke and I sat across from them. We waited for the worker to come back with the blankets. Luke asked her to hand them to Amira and Eira before dismissing the woman back to the house. "What to start with? Why did you lie about going to a family reunion?" Luke asked. His tone was hard and cold. I had known him long enough to know he was trying to control his emotions. I'm sure he wanted to lecture them about the danger they put themselves through, but he also wanted to hear why they did it as well. I had similar feelings regarding the danger they put themselves through. Amira flinched at his tone. "We didn't want to, but we had no idea how to talk about what we planned to do," Amira explained. "A simple 'hey, we're going to an event' wasn't good enough?" Luke retorted. He folded his arms. A spark of anger formed in Amira's eyes. "It wasn't about the event. It was the questions that would come after we talked about it." She said." If you don't want to talk about something, just say so. We won't force you to discuss something you don't want to," Matthew reassured her. Amira's eyes softened a little. "Even if we didn't talk about it. The question would remain in the air. I didn't want that kind of thing hanging over us." She continued. "So you would rather risk your safety and your sisters just because you didn't want to talk about something?" Luke accused. Amira's anger had returned to full force. She stood up, pulling away from Matthew and Eira. "Yes, because we were scared. Scared that the thing we could have to talk about would be the thing that forces us and whatever that's going on between us to be over. I mean, how the hell do you tell the three guys you are interested in dating, 'Hey, I don't want to ever have sex with you, and if you plan on cheating, we are out' People should be able to love their partners even if they're asexual." She fluttered her arms and paced across the gazebo. All three of us stayed quiet at her angry statement. "So yes, we felt like we needed to run because we thought we would lose you three and still might either way." Her voice had turned angry to sad. I felt she was doing her best to keep from crying in front of us. "Let's go, Eira. I think we're done here." Eira looked at us and then at Amira. She stayed where she was for a moment before nodding. I watched Eira get up and leave Matthew alone on the bench where all three were sitting. I wanted to stop her and tell them we wouldn't leave them over something that was a part of them. However, this wasn't just something I needed to decide on; it was something the three of us needed to discuss. Luke groaned at the sign before leaning back against the gazebo. Matthew stared at the empty path the girls had taken when they had left. His eyes had a longing look, but he remained where he was."Do any of us actually care about the fact they are asexual? I want those two in our lives. I want to live with them, kiss them if they let me, and care for them till we grow old and grey." Matthew asked, finally looking at us. I shook my head."I feel the same," I said simply. I was a man of few words, but I would make sure that the girls would feel the depth of my feelings for them through what little words I had and my actions. Luke picked himself back up to look at us. "I want to research the topic, but I couldn't care less," Luke stated. He was always the type to research something he didn't understand till he did. "I suppose it's time we start courting," Matthew exclaimed excitedly. "Courting? Are we in 17th-century Europe now?" Luke asked. "It's more like the 19th century, but we are now. We need to show them that being asexual isn't a downside, but a positive." Matthew explained. Luke rolled his eyes but didn't veto the idea. "What does 'this' courting consist of?" I asked. Matthew practically jumped up in excitement. "Well, we'll take them on dates, flirt with them, give them gifts. Anything to get them to see we are serious." Matthew explained. Luke and I looked at each other and pondered the idea. The 'courting' was foreign to me since I'd never dated someone before. There was a one-night stand here and there when I was drunk and lonely, but I never dated. Matthew was the most experienced of us. Luke and I rarely had the time to go out and find someone we wanted to get close to outside Amira and Eira.I would try to do it, though. If showing the girls affection and that I was committed was the way to go, then I would do it despite how uncomfortable it may be for me.