Waiting All Year

The Long 'Lost' Cousin Has a Point

Many years ago I found out that my mom has an older sister. I say found out because something happened when my mom and her sister were sixteen and they haven't talked for like twenty years or so. When I found out about my aunt she was in prison and her son had to stay at our house for one weekend while his grandparents found a place for him in their house. Apparently my aunts husband left after hiding drugs in an old backpack. Which was fine because no one knew it was there. It however became a problem when her son took it school the same day the police came to check for drugs in kids lockers. In other words the mom was blamed and sent to prison for a few years.  I had completely forgotten about that family until now. My cousin is currently sitting on our couch. He looks horrible, in a black hoodie with holes, dirty baggy pants, and bare muddy feet. I cringe for out carpet before sitting on the recliner across the room that my dad usually calls for himself. I send a questioning look to Julian and he just shrugs handing a pile of fresh clothes to our cousin, who's name I sadly cannot remember. He looks at him hands until Julian hands him the pile where he doesn't look up and heads to the downstairs bathroom to freshen up. Once I hear the door close I look at my mom.
"His grandparents kicked him out." My mom explains.
"Why?" Julian asks for me.
"We don't know, and we won't unless he tells us. He said he would only be here for a day."My dad warns. I nod before getting up and walking back to my room. Once in my room I turn on my Pandora station and start jamming out to some music. I grab my hairbrush and I preform in front of my full length mirror wearing a black floppy hat my mom got me for Christmas last year. I then throw on some shades. I am in the middle of a weird jump kick move thing when my door bursts open. I stop staring at the person. I can't really see them since I am wearing my sunglasses inside and I have no idea who it is. I stand my hidden eyes huge in embarrassment. The unknown person coughs and I still have no idea who it is. I decide it might be a good time to slowly pull off my shades. It is my long lost-ish cousin. 

"Erm, hi." I manage to mumble out. His eyebrow is raised and his arms are crossed while he stares at me, "Did you knock?" I add. 

"Yeah. Four times." He says in a not approving manner. 

"Oh. Sorry!" I say with a small laugh, "I do that sometimes." 

"Your mom sent me up here to see if you had room for me to stay in here tonight." He says getting right to the point. His arms are still crossed and he has a scowl permanently on his face. I decide not to question it since this kid has had one weird rough life already. I will give him the benefit of the doubt for now. Until proven otherwise that is. I look around my room. I have the second biggest room in my house. It isn't like mansion huge but I do have a big closet and it actually fits a queen sized bed. It was bigger when I was little but my dad had to separate it in half once John was born. I am actually moving into the furnished basement next year that has it's own little kitchen area that Marcus and Jacob kind of share for now whenever they come home. I don't have a lot of belongings or memorabilia I have a dresser with a necklace/earring tree, my bed, a bedside table with a lamp and an alarm clock, and my desk that has my laptop and a picture of my whole family on it all the time. In the corner behind the door I have my laundry basket. I don't even have boxes in my closet. I am not a hoarder like my brothers and other teenage girls are. I guess I throw everything away because even if they are good memories they still hurt. 

"Yeah I have an air mattress in the closet set it up anywhere." I say taking off the ridiculous hat. I sit on my bed waiting for my cousin to figure out that he has to get it himself. He stands there for a few seconds but then walks over to my closet and opens it. Honestly, the only things I have in my closet are my clothes and that stupid air mattress for sleepovers that I never have. He pulls it out then sets it up. Once the noise from the blow up thingy stops he starts up conversation again.