why not?

chapter 16: surviving

chapter 16: surviving

Lila's POV

The meal is ready. A giant crock-pot of lamb stew and many little vegetable dishes for the Parris family (us) because we're Buddhists and don't partake in meat.

"Oh, it's delicious" says Carli. Her voice just sounds strange. I'd never want to lose my accent, it's part of my identity. Losing it would be so scary. My heart goes out to Carli.

"Yeah, very good" says Phillip. I can tell that Dad and Joey don't really him very much. Me, Mum and Cara don't like Carli either. But Carli is Dad's sister, so he likes her, obviously.

Liam's gotten much more shy and quiet and talks to Phillip more than anyone. Eric boasts  about everything he's done, all the math competitions he's excelled in and his straight A's.

Tristain and I play footsies under the table. He sits directly across from me. I rested my heels on his thighs on time and he moved his legs apart so my feet were in his...you know what area...

Speaking of the hickey he'd given me, I actually do wear a scarf. I complained about how chilly my poor neck was feeling and everyone believed me. Innocent Lila would never lie.

We've just resorted to poked and playing with each other's feet now, after that awkward encounter my foot had. No one else suspects a thing. 

After talking with Eric, he's backed off. Usually, he'd take all in his power to humilate me during family meals. We finish and Mum gets up to serve fruit as dessert. Eric makes a big deal about this.

"Dessert's supposed to be sweet and fattening" he complained. I swear, everyone except his parents nearly burst out laughing, Eric being as plump as a plum.

"Well it is sweet. Fruit has natural sugars" Cara says kindly, like a kind grandmother would scold her grandson. Eric scoffs.

"Yeah, but it's not chocolate cake or brownies"

"I'm sorry darling, I thought for the majority" says Mum. OH BURN!!! That's right Mum! Tell that little twit off!

"The fruit's amazing Cate" says Joey sweetly. Cara gives him a loving smile.

"Yeah, I love cantelope" says Dad.

"I know, that's why I chopped a lot of them up" says Mom back. Awww, how adorable!

"You put too little watermelon" I sighed, "But it's good nontheless"

"I agree. About it being good, not the watermelon" Tristain says. I gently kick him and he chuckles. Mum's swelling with pride, that we've all teamed up to defend her against Eric's rude comment.

Carli just smiles and Phillip and Liam don't do anything at all. My god, these people! The rest of the meal passes by awkwardly until the parents decide to chill out in the backyard with some wine. I warn Dad to not let anyone fall into the creek or get lost in the woods.

Back at the houes, it's all four of us again. Eric and Liam watch a movie on the flat screen and Tristain and I go upstairs (just to be safe from them) and outside.

The night air is very cool and relaxing. It's strange because it's the middle of winter, it's not supposed to be this pleasent.

"I wanted to give you your Buddhmas present early" I say, "Without the rest of the family"

"Same here" he mumurs, "Shall we do it now?"

"Are you sure?" I ask, "I was hoping to wake up super early, like at 5 or something on Buddhmas morning. Because it's Christmas for you and all...."

"But my present isn't for Buddhmas or anything" he says, "It's because I want to give it to you. Buddhmas is just an excuse"

 "So....now?" I ask, smiling widely. Suddenly he looks nervous.

"Uh..um...hold on, it'll take me a while" he says. I nod.

"It'll take me a while too, be back in ten minutes?"

"Deal"

And then we split. I used Mum and Dad and Cara and Joey's huge bathroom to wash up and then I sprinted downstairs to the bunk room to find the present in my bag. I put on a bit of scented lotion for effect and changed into a more comfortable nightie. This time, it's an Indian one made of colourful patterned cottom cloth. It doesn't make me look sexy or anything. In fact, it gives me this shapeless figure, but I don't care.

I do this whole thing as quietly as possible, seeing as Eric fell asleep and Liam is half awake. And once I go back upstairs and outside, I see that Tristain is there, in his pyjamas as well.

OK, let's get this done with...

 (to the left---> James)