The Gift of Dancing (Book 5 of the Ava and Mia Series)

Chapter 6

Me and Mia and Sadie all climb into the back seat of the mini van and mom puts Erin and Logan into their seats in the middle row. Aunt Tina and Uncle David are following us in their car because there wasn't enough room for everyone in our car.

This is the first time we're gonna be seeing all of our cousins in a while! We saw our grandparents when we first got here and the last time we were all together was like Christmas in 2012 and I was only 5... The car ride is only 2 hours so I just play on my phone and listen to music. We're 45 minutes into the trip when my phone buzzes with a text from an unknown number

Unknown: Hey Ava! How's your winter break going?
Me: um who is this...
Unknown: Oh god sorry... It's Jackson from school... Zoë gave me your number!

Ohhhh Jackson... The only person ever to knock me out of my spot in four square... I put him into my contacts so i won't get confused if he texts again.

Me: oh hey Jackson! And it's been good how about yours?
Jackson🐢: it's been okay... My older brothers are back from college so I have to share a room with my other brother who's still here...
Me: that stinks...
Jackson🐢: yeah...
Jackson🐢: I hope you're prepared to loose at 4-square when we get back😌
Me: we both know I can beat anybody in my sleep😂
Jackson🐢: except for when I beat you...
Me: IT WAS ONE TIME...
Jackson🐢: wow feisty much... You sure you're not actually a ginger...
Me: yeah no... Brunette all the way👸🏽
Jackson🐢: we all know blondes have more fun...👸🏼
Me: oh so you're a princess too?
Jackson🐢: yup 💁🏼👑
Me: well then I'm a queen😌👸🏽
Jackson🐢: girl you wish...
Me: 😐😝
Jackson🐢: 😏😂

We ended up talking for the rest of the car ride and I changed the turtle to the queen because apparently he is one... We finally pull up to their house and it's so amazing! I'm in awe everytime! We all climb out of the car and mom and dad grab the babies car seats to carry them in and some people are already there!

We walk in and follow the sound of laughter into the kitchen and about 20 people are here. Uncle Harry sees us first, he's moms older brother, and pulls me and Mia in for a hug. "Here's my little models!" He's a photographer and he usually uses kids but his kids are 17 and 14 so they aren't so little anymore. The truth is he should use Sadie but she has no interest in being a model. If he used her, everyone would want to use her... We go into the living room to put down the babies stuff and my favvvooorriitteeee cousin is in there... Ashley... When I favorite I mean least favorite... I would rather do stamina for an hour than be in a room with her for more than 5 minutes. She thinks she's all that but she's really actually not. Her mom thinks she's always a perfect little sweet angel but she's mean if they aren't there... I'm just gonna stay with the parents the entire time so I can avoid her... Mia doesn't like her either so we give each other a look then head back into the kitchen. We go stand next to mom but she tells us to go into the basement with the other kids. None of us are really close because we don't see each other too often. I've met Ashley 5 times and everyone else 2 or 3 times. We both just kinda find a spot on a couch and go on our phones. Sadie gets along with everyone and all the older kids adore her. We just all watch tv and play on our phones or iPods until we're called up for dinner...