Something Unexpected

TWENTY: Something New

 * March 26, 2017 *

I wasn't much of a party person, that's for sure.

I mean Miranda and Oliver, my new parents, had spent weeks preparing for me and my sister's arrival. They tried so hard to get the food we liked, play the music we loved, and make us feel welcome in their home.

It wasn't there fault that I retreated to a lonely corner as soon as I had gotten the chance. It was just me being the antisocial recluse I was.

I sat at the dining room table, and peered through the wide window. I could see that I wasn't missed which bothered me less than it probably should have. Miranda was still in the pool with my baby sister Maya. She had finally stopped splashing like a crazy woman now that Miranda taught her how to cup her fingers with each stroke and how to float on her back if she got too tired.

Serena, my other sister, was now putting ketchup on her fresh burger and walking back towards Sarah, Miranda and Oliver's teenage daughter. Sarah scrunched up her nose at Serena, probably because she was so against the killing of any creatures that inhabited the Earth. She didn't say anything though. Instead she turned her thin body so that she was now laying on her beach chair on her right side.

In the chairs next to her were her cousins and Grant, a young boy who worked for Oliver at Queen Palace. He smiled easily as one of the other boys in the group said something.

In that moment I envied both my sisters, who so easily blended in wherever they were.

"You okay Alana?" I look away from the window and give Oliver the most natural smile possible.

His calm blue eyes searched my face as I answered. "I'm fine."

Oliver switches the hand that held the platter of tomato, cheese, lettuce, and pickle slices and sighs. "Did you get anything to eat?"

"No I umm. I'm not really hungry right now."

"I can't force you to eat anything of course, but please try to get something in the next hour. If you don't I'm sure Miranda's mother will hunt you down and stuff a burger in your mouth."

I giggle lightly, knowing that Oliver was only partially joking. I mean as soon as I walked in I was pulled into her thick arms and smothered. She was so upset to see that I had "no meat" on my bones and I'm pretty sure she wouldn't hesitate to force feed me if given the chance.

"I'll be out to get something in a minute."

Oliver smiles and pats my shoulder before walking back towards his brother-in-law at the grill. For another twenty minutes or so I sat there, watching everyone having fun and before I knew it, it was time for me to get out there.

I slowly walk towards Oliver and reach for a plate. I still wasn't hungry, but Miranda's mother had started asking about me, and I knew it was only a matter of time before she'd come for me.

"What would you like little lady?"

"I'd like a hot dog please." Oliver grabs a bun and places it on my plate.

Bobby, Miranda's brother smiles at me as I wait for Oliver to take a hot dog of the grill and put it in the bun on my plate.

"There you go Alana. Enjoy."

"Thank you."

"She's polite. I wish she'd show my girls a thing or two. They're both so damn demanding." Bobby says as he takes a bite out of his probably third burger.

I turn around, searching for a place to sit. As soon as I decided to retreat back into the kitchen, Grant walked up beside me with a burger and fries.