I am just different

What is bothering you?

>Lynne's POV<

I think something is up with Emily. When I came home yesterday, she had locked herself in her room. Christina said she is just a little upset because she can't join the band. I know my kids to well, I think there is more going on. 

Michael made pancakes for breakfast. I looked around the table, I immediately saw that one face was missing.

"Has someone seen Emily this morning?" Everybody shook their head. I walked upstairs, she needs to wake up now. She needs to start school.

"Emily?" I opened her flower printed curtains. She was lying in her bed, completely covered in her blanket. "Emily honey, wake up. We need to start school."

"I don't feel very good, I think I am ill."

"No, you are not sweety. What is wrong? You have been acting pretty weird since I came home last night."

"Nothing is wrong mom, nothing."

"Are you sure? If there is anything I can do for you, I am always there." Emily nodded. "Okay, come out of your bed, you really have to start your work. Otherwise you can't go to the beach this afternoon."

She loves the beach, I thought she would immediately jump out of her bed. But Emily just stayed where she was. I slowly walked away and closed the door. 

>Emily's POV<

I, again refused to eat.

"Emily, are you okay?" Amy asked.

"AH! I AM REALLY GOING TO SLAP THE NEXT PERSON WHO ASKS ME THAT!" I couldn't concentrate on my schoolwork, I looked around at my siblings. They were really fast, I think that they are also smarter than I am. 

After they had all finished they were fixing to go to the beach. I didn't really feel like going but Dani insisted. So packed up my stuff, even though I wasn't finished yet, and grabbed my bathing suite. 

>Lauren's POV<

I think Emily is the most like Dani. I mean was the most like Dani. She used to be so hyper and outgoing. The last few days she just sat there and said nothing. I had laid my towel next to hers on the beach. 

"So, eh, Emily? Do you want to come with me in the sea?" She shook her head. "Do you want to get an icecream?" She shook her head again. "Okay, I am going to swim with Lisa. Bye!" 

I ran away very fast. I am so mean, I just can't seeing her like that. I needed to get away. Katherine however, the motherly sister, sat down next to her to start a conversation. 

>Katherine's POV<

"You know Kath," Emily started when I finally got her to talk to me. "You are all so beautifull and smart."

"Aw, thank you, Emmi. But you are too!"

"That isn't the point. And no, I am not."

"Yes you are, you look a lot like Dani. When Dani was the same age as you, she was very hyper, just like you."

"I am not hyper." 

She kind of right. These days she isn't hyper anymore. She more shy and introverted, like Lisa. Something is bothering her, but she refuses to tell us or even to admit. I know her better than that.

"Emily, will you please tell what is going on?" Just as she promised, she slapped me. Really hard. She must have a lot of anger in her little body. "Look Emmi, I know something is wrong. If you don't want to tell us or mom and dad you might want to go talk to a counselor or something?"

"Why would I do that? There is nothing wrong with me." She turned around on her towel and muttered something I couldn't hear. 

>Emily's POV<

"Hey!" I looked around. Behind me I saw the boy from the park. I quickly glanced at my sister they were all swimming in the sea, luckily they didn't pay any attention to me.

"Hey" I said shy.

"Emily wasn't it? I am Jaimy."

"Oh, hi Jaimy." I didn't dare to look in his face. I was so scared, why actually? He didn't to anything to me, did he?

"Listen Emily, I have been watching you and your sisters for a long time. I can see you aren't happy. But you remember what I told you last time? That you are ugly and silly. You shouldn't blame yourself for it, you should blame your sisters. You see, they are the ones that make you look ugly."

I thought about it for a moment. There is nothing untrue about that, it didn't seem really fair, though. They can't help it that I am stupid. 

"You know what Emily? I will comfort you, I can see you need it. How about meeting me in the park every afternoon?"

I didn't want to meet him. My sisters always told me never go with strangers. I looked at him. He didn't look really scary, he even became a bit nicer to me.

"Eh, yeah, Okay." I said. He had a big, in some way nasty, grin on his face. 

>Mike's POV<

Lynne told me she is worried about Emily. I totally agree with her. She acts pretty weird. Unfortunately I don't have any time to pay attention right now. I have been busy with planning a trip to northern California. I need to be there for a month, because of my work, and I thought I should be bring the whole family so they have the chance to see their friends and family again. 

Probably only the boys and Emily will join me and my wife to northern California. The girls really can't afford it to not be here. They have important band stuff coming up.

"Okay kids, listen up." Every head at the table turned to me. We were having dinner and I thought this would be the right moment to announce our leaving. "Michael, Alex, Emily, Christian, Nick and Joey, you will be going with us to northern California. You girls, you will have to stay home. You can't miss your band appointments." 

The girls sighed, they were disappointed that they couldn't see their friends. The boys were really excited. The only one who wasn't showing any emotion, was little Emily. 

>Emily's POV<

"Dad, I don't want to go to northern California. I want to stay home." Everybody looked at me with a questioning expression.

"Emmi," Amy started, "If I had the chance to go to my friends I would take it." She doesn't understand. Of course I want to see my friends again, but I promised Jaimy to meet him. 

"No, I don't want to go. Christina, Katherine, and Lisa can take care of me. Right?" Christina nodded.

"If she really wants to stay, than we will be ready to take care of her." Mom opened her mouth to say something about I interrupted her.

"All right, that is settled then."