The Lost Daughter (On Hold)

Chapter Two

Banging on my door makes me groan in annoyance, and I drag myself out of bed. Melanie smiles brightly singing, "Good morning." "Your morning person-ness is very unusual for a teenager, and it's irritating," I say rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, and she just giggles running happily upstairs. I walk upstairs to meet new people staring at me and say, "Hello." "Hi, I'm Jackson Whittemore," the blond boy says offering me his hand, and I shake it politely. "Luna Lykos," I introduce myself then look at dad when I smell my favorite aroma of mornings, "Can I have a cup of coffee, please?" "I'm surprised you didn't rip your sister's head off when she woke you up all happy," dad chuckles handing me my mug, and I take a sip of it smiling. The older woman that I believe to be Mrs. Whittemore asks, "Luna's not a morning person?" "Not at all," I answer truthfully, "Melanie is absolutely in love with mornings, and it's strange." "You have a British accent, how is that when Melanie and your parents don't," Jackson asks raising an eyebrow. Dad answers before I say something sarcastic and rude, "All of our children are adopted, Jackson. Luna grew up for the first five years of her life in Gloucester. Lukas spent the first six of his life in Manchester. Melanie was born in Louisiana, and Selene is from Kansas." "Oh," he says slightly embarrassed.

"I heard my name," Luke says starting to walk up the stairs. I stop him quickly, "Put on a shirt. We have company." "Thanks for the heads up, sis," he says turning around descending back downstairs. I say sarcastically sweet, "I didn't get the luxury of a warning." "Luna," mom says looking at me pointedly. I sigh, "Sorry, mum." "I really like your accent, Luna," Jackson says with a stupid smile on his face, and I furrow my eyebrows weirded out. I turn on my heels walking downstairs with my coffee and go into my room locking the door as I get dressed into a hoodie and a pair of skinny jeans. I slip on my black vans grabbing my mug before opening the door to find Selene about to knock.

"The guy upstairs wanted to know if we wanted a little tour of the town," Selene says shyly knowing I find Jackson strange. I look at her smiling slightly and ask, "Would you like to do that?" She nods covering her mouth with her hands, and I take a big drink of my coffee. I sigh, "Let's go, but I'm not sitting next to him in the car." "I'll sit next to him," Luke says as he comes out of his room dressed in a pullover and jeans. I nod in agreement and gave him a look, "Did you hear him when he said he liked my accent?" "Yeah, that was weird," he says then mocks Jackson, "I really like your accent, Luna." I laugh as I walk up the stairs behind him. Mom gives us a knowing look and narrows her eyes telling us to behave without words. I clear my throat, "I heard that we were going to get a little tour of the town." "Yeah," Jackson says with a bright smile, and I internally cringe. I think to myself, "Great, I have a lovesick puppy on my hands."

"Symperiférontai,angeloúdia mou (Behave, my little angels)," mom says in Greek, and I smile. I kiss her cheek and assure, "Emeís tha, mamá. Tha vevaiotheíte óti apó aftó (We will, mum. I'll make sure of it)." "An prospatheí típota, egó tha schísei to laimó tou me ta dóntia mou (If he tries anything, I'll rip his throat out with my teeth)," Luke says with a smile before walking outside behind Jackson. Mom calls after him, "Óchi, aplá na spásei ti mýti tou (No, just break his nose)." "What language is that," Mr. Whittemore asks looking completely lost. I smile at dad as his face shows the story of his family coming. "Bye, mum," I say closing the door behind me and find my brother sitting in the backseat of my black Maserati laughing to himself as Jackson sits in the passenger seat.

"I might break your nose, tosser," I whisper irritated before getting into the driver's seat with a fake smile, and Luke hands me my keys trying hard not to laugh at my agitation level. Jackson asks sounding impressed, "Is this a 2010 Maserati Quattroporte?" "Yes, it is," Luke answers, "Luna got it for her birthday." "Is she the only besides your parents that has a car," Jackson asks turning to look at Luke. Melanie speaks up as I drive down the street, "All of us have a car except Selene because she doesn't want one yet. We got our cars for our fifteenth birthdays." "Where are they," Jackson questions once again, and I look at Lukas in the rearview mirror stopping at a light. Selene replies, "They're on their way here from Kansas. We used Luna's car, our parents' car, and a moving truck to get here. You ask too many questions." "I apologize if I crossed any lines," Jackson says putting his hand on his chest over his heart.