Side by side a repunzel story

3. Oh trust me, she knows

The next morning I woke up later than both Lissa and Nancy. Staying up thinking about your dead parents all night is not good for sleep. I decided to take a shower and make my self look slightly less dead than I normally do because I was told today I would meet our new neighbours, good friends of my aunt, Aka the walkers. I put on my usual jeans and what ever tee shirt I could find.

"You know Jolene has a son, jake. He's quite the looker. maybe you've seen him? His windows right across from yours you know." Nancy said wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. I cringed and looked at Lissa who was laughing silently at me.

"Oh trust me, she knows." She joked. My aunt raised her eyebrows at me. I glared at Lissa.  To be honest I didn't really see him the only thing I collected from our brief interaction was he had brown hair and brown eyes and that he's slightly attractive (though iwas never going to let him or lissa know that). Not how tall he was or his body type or anything like that. In all honesty  I wasn't so excited to go out and meet people I just want to stay in my room. alone. But here I was, walking over to the neighbours house to meet their family. I looked at Nancy and Lissa on the way over. Nancy looked a lot like my mom where Lissa looked more like her father. Black hair brown eyes. But we all had our nose in common. It was something we got from my grandmother.

The walkers door bell echo through their house before a huge bark went through the house. I flinched at the thought of what a big dog would have made that noise. Lissa put her hands on my shoulder like she did so often. My mother used to do the same thing, even I would do it when people are in a stressful situation. Jolene answered the door holding a black lab by the collar. Okay it wasn't that big but my fear of dogs didn't seem to help calm my nerves. It's only the things past my knees that scare me.

"sorry about Oscar, please come in." She ushered for us to come in then headed to the back door to let Oscar out. I stood there awkwardly as Lissa and Nancy made their way to Jolenes couch. I decided to follow their lead and sit down on the couch next to Lissa.

"Oh Nancy, lissa it's so good to see you again." She greeted my aunt and cousin then turned to me. "And you must be addi aren't you pretty. I was so sorry to hear about the passing of your parents." She looked at me sympathetically. I only smiled at her. A tear almost slipped my eye.

"Would you mine keeping that privet I just don't want anyone to treat me differently." I asked. She smiled at me.

"Of course dear i won't tell a soul." She said pretending to zip her lips shut.

"Won't tell a single soul what?" A voice asked coming down the stairs. Jake. God I'm so glad he didn't hear. We all just laughed in response while he looked at us strangely. He seemed to brush it off easily enough. Jolene walked over to her son.

"Addi this is my son, Jake. Jake this is Addi." She introduced us and everyone who wasn't Jolene tried to act normal but Nancy, Lissa and jake were all suppressing a grin until my aunt piped up.

"Uh Jolene, it appears the children already know each other." She said with a chuckle. Jolene look at us both before grinning. "I must apologize, my husband is on a business trip and before you came I dropped my daughter off at a play date." She apologized. After that Jolene sent the three of us up to jakes room so "the adults can talk". His room was no surprise sense I had seen it just twelve hours ago.

"So Addi where did you move from?" Jake asked. Sitting on his bed. He patted beside him indicating he wanted me to sit. So I walked over to his bed and sat down a good distance away from him and Lissa sat next to me.

"Canada." I said vaguely. "Don't even try to make a Canada joke or you'll earn your self a flick in the forehead." I added. He frowned obviously disappointed he didn't get to make any jokes. Lissa laughed beside me.

"I think that's the most you've ever said to me." He pointed out. I shrugged.

"I only met you yesterday. Through a window. At ten pm" I answered.

"Touché." Was all he had to say. Our little conversation carried on for a little longer. It was mostly just small talk. I didn't really feel like saying much so jake mostly just talked while I would chuckle or make a little comment on what ever he was talking about. Before we even really talked it was time to go. I'll admit I was a bit relived to go. I didn't really feel like talking very much, especially not to a stranger. I've always hated small talk anyway.

~•~

I looked in the mirror. I'll admit I looked pretty okay. The red marks from crying had finally faded, my hair was pretty decent today, not too flat like naturally straight hair normally is. I even went so far to put a little mascara on. My clothes weren't the nicest but I suppose a pair of boyfriend jeans and a teen shirt are a bit nicer than sweat pants and a tee shirt that's ten sizes too big. I sighed and lugged myself out of my room.

When I entered the kitchen Nancy and Lissa were already waiting with huge, slightly unnerving, smiles stretched across their faces. What the heck.

"What are you guys doing? Your scaring me." I asked slowly. Then they rushed forward to squish me in a hug. Yep their definitely on something I should probably call the hospital. I hesitantly wrapped my arms around my aunt and cousin then their grip tightened.

"We're just so proud of you Addi." Nancy told me. I took a deep breath and managed to wiggle my way from their embrace. I gave them a shaky smile before grabbing my back pack. I have no idea why they'd be proud of me. I'm a mess. Im barely holding it together and it's already been a month. Everything anyone says makes me want to cry and that plus the stress of keeping my secret felt like a two hundred ton weight pressing down on me.

Lissa linked her arm through mine and dragged me to her green convertible which I never understood. She lives in a place where it snows for over half of the year and rains the other half. What good is a convertible?

There was a chill in the air this morning. I was thankful for the little army jacket I had. It had to be at least -5°. Oh wait I'm American now. Make that 23°. As we approached the school I kept saying the same thing over and over again. I can do this. I can do this. As soon as Lissa parked the car I nearly had a panic attack right then and there.

"I can't do this!" I blurted. "The school is huge! There's so many people, so many different disgusting smells that I can't handle! The outside looks a little like a prison which is very intimidating! Lissa I can't do it." Lissa turned towards me in the car. I think I'm gonna be sick. She put her hands on my shoulders.

"It's okay Ad, you already have a group of friends and at least one of us is in your class at all times. We're all here for you. You don't need to be scared." Her words were calming and as much as I hate to admit it she was right. What did I have to worry about? I've been going to school for ten years now. I need to stop acting like a child. I took a deep breath and nodded my head. Lissa gave me a reassuring smile which I attempted to return. We hopped out of the green convertible and Lissa linked her arm with mine.

"Com on little coz today your new life begins." No pressure.