The Boys

novocaine

After school, Luke invites me out to town to help get Marcus and Tom their birthday presents for Thursday. It had slipped my mind that they were going to be 16 so soon. I don't know when the birthdays for the others are so it would be best to find that out. For all I know, someone could have a birthday a few days after.

"Birthdays are a massive thing in the family. Even if you're turning 34, there will be a massive celebration for it. 16 is a big number anyway so expect something out of this world." Luke says while we walk along. I changed when I got home into layers and layers of clothing. I have two pairs of tights on, leggings and then jeans. For shirts, I have two vests, two shirts, a button up shirt and then a jumper followed by a coat. I wasn't as cold anymore but it was still pretty chilly.

"Am I going to meet your family?" I was a little scared about that. I don't fancy meeting a tornado of people all at once. I don't think I can handle it.

"Yeah. They're not that bad. There's just a lot of them. Want me to go through the list so you have an idea?" Luke sensed my distress.

"Yes please." I squeaked.

"There are the grandparents. Granddad Joseph and Granny May are Mum's parents. They're rich as anything but lovely people. They won't ever pressure you or anything and if they do, just tell them and they will stop. Granddad Henry and Nannie Patty are Dad's parents. They're loud, too energetic for old people and act like they're 25 again. There are 6 aunts and 7 uncles. Sarah, Grace, Leah, Anna, Jenna, Megan, Michael, Patrick, Christopher, Oliver, Sam, James and Kyle. I really don't expect you to even learn those names by this time next year. They're all good people. Well, Anna has a drinking problem and shows up to the parties intoxicated almost always. There are even more cousins than you think. I don't even know how many cousins there are. You kind of hit or miss with the cousins. I'm pretty sure Michael and Grace just had their 5th child. And then Leah and Patrick may have had a kid go to university this September? I don't know. There are quite a few family friends that everyone calls their aunts and uncles. You'll get the hang of everyone eventually. I'll keep you close to me always." He takes my hand as he says the last part, giving me butterflies in my belly. We haven't held hands yet and his are the warmest I've ever touched.

"Is there the option of hiding away the whole evening while you do your family stuff?" I groaned. I didn't feel comfortable with all those people. I didn't have anyone but Mum and Dad. Phoebe's parents always said I was part of their family and I did go on family holidays with them but I was never completely convinced I belonged there.

"As much as Mum wants you to be comfortable, she would really like it if you showed up. It won't have to be the whole evening. She knows you aren't ready for it yet." His hand squeezes mine reassuringly.

"I want to try. It is just that is a lot of people and I don't have a big family."

"You do now. As soon as my mum and dad fostered you, you became part of the family. Even if you were only staying for a few months, you would be part of the family. There's no escaping that which sounds really weird now that I'm saying it." Luke laughed a little and I did too.

"The Andrews are stalkers." I announced.

"No, we are not!" Luke protested, laughing.

"The Andrews are stalkers!" I yelled out to the empty street. Luke took me into his arms and started tickling me. I scream out with laughter and attempt to fight him back. I have always been a weak child so I didn't achieve very much.