Oh So Cliché.

Lets meet the... Family?!

Stomping down the stairs I considered what I'd done to deserve this.

I'd got good exam results.

I'd be a good daughter.

Even after everything that happened with Essi, I'd recovered.

I was eating and sleeping and taking the medication for the... Fits, if you could call them that.

I was surviving.

Living almost, definatly coping.

I peeped round the corner, one hand resting on the wall, curiosity over-whelming me.

The walls were a light browny colour, the floor was wooden and there were pictures on the walls.There was muddy footprints across the floor and shoes by the door.

It was strange. The house felt lived in but... there was an underlying smell of new-ness, like everything had just been put there. Everything placed to look as if the house had been occupied for years, but really only a matter of weeks, if that.

There was a faint smell of paint, little trails of sawdust on the floor. There was no dints in the furniiture, it all looked brand new. No dog hair or dust.

Something was definetly wrong.

But, before I could investigate more, the kitchen door flew open and a tall man stood there, staring at me. He had messy brown hair, like he'd run his fingers through it a lot reccently. Deep chocolatley eyes, square jaw,and huge. A wall of muscle.

Before I could say anything he chuckled softly, "You must be my niece, I'm your Uncle, Kyle." he extended a hand, I eyed it warrily before accepting it, "Emily,"

He shook it and smiled,"Nice to meet you"

Myy aunt bounced out of the kitchen and stood beside him, slightly stiff and angled away from him, "Em! I'm glad you came down! We thought you were gonna live up there permanantly..." she trailed off

"Trust me," I muttered, "I was considering it..."

She laughed awkwardly before looking up at Kyle. It was strange, everything between them seemed stiff and rehearsed, almost like they were trying to hard at pretending.

"We were just about to have breakfast, do you want to join us?" Kyle asked.

"Err yeah, okay..." Kyle and Kelly grinned at me.

"Great! Come on in then," They both turned back toward the kitchen and bumped into each other. They both flinched away, before looking up and grinning sheepishly at each other. "You first," Kyle bowed lowly.

My aunt giggled, "Why thank you,"

Kyle looked up at me and winked, "You coming?"

Before I could reply, a shrill ring pierced the air. Kyle's smile faded slightly and he straightened, reaching into his pocket.

My aunts worried face peered through the door, "Is it...?" she asked caustiously.

Kyle nodded solummly, "It is."

Kelly looked confused, "But why...?"

They both glanced at me, before Kyle replied, "I don't know..."

"You should answer it, and find out." My aunt said softly.

Kyle nodded again grimly, "I guess..." he ran his fingers through his hair, looking aggitated, before turning back to me, " Sorry hun, I'm gonna have to take this call... Why don't you go through and I'll be back in a sec."

I nodded, confused, "Okay..."

"Don't worry, it's nothing bad," Kyle smiled and I laughed.

"I'll try not too," I smiled and walked past him into the kitchen.

                                                                                      *****

My aunt glanced over, seeming to be in a deep conversation with a figure sitting on the worktop, she froze seeing me standing warily in the doorway. The guy looked over his shoulder and smiled, while I looked away, majorly confused. The guy looked like a younger version of Kyle. His hair was the same shade of brown but was styled neatly. His eyes had gold flecks in them and were surronded by ridiculosly long lashes. When I looked away the smile faultered slightly, and his face clouded with slight confusion.

I stood awkwardly waiting for one of them to say something, before glancing back over to the guy who was still watching me.

"Err hi..?" I said slowly, as if it was a question.

"Hey Em!" My aunt smiled but it was stiff, "This is Jared, he's our... adopted son." she finished slowly, tailing off.

I turned back to look at Jared confused, no way could he look so much like Kyle and be adopted. And besides, they were way to close in age to have been allowed to adopt him. Pushing back my confusion and questions, I smiled warrily as Jared slid off the worktop and loped lazily over towards me.

"Hey..." he greeted, "How are you?"

"I'm fine, you?" I replied, focusing intently on the floor.

"I'm okay..." he tailed off.

"We were just about to eat, you want some?" he asked gently.

I looked up in surprise to hear such gentleness in reply to my stiff, monotoned-ness, and when I met his eyes I felt bad. Like real ohyoustupididiot bad.

This guy didn't hate me for coming into his house and his life and screwing it up. He didn't seem to blame me for being rude and harsh. He seemed a genuinly nice person and my heart twisted uncomfortably with guilt as I watched him. I promised myself that I would at least try to be nice to this guy. Not Kyle and definetly not Kelly, but with Jared I could sure try. He didn't desrve to have some stroppy hormonal girl mess stuff up for him. We could be friends.

A hand waved infront of my face, making me start.

"Sorry, you were zoned out..."

"Err yeah... Sorry, sure I'd love some... Wait! What are we having??" I blinked dazidly.

Jared laughed, "Poptarts, you want one?"

"Err whats that??" I was totally confused.

Jared laughed again louder, "Seriously?! You've never had a poptart?! Where have you been??"

"Well, sorry!! I don't think we have pop-tarts in the UK!" I was playing offended now, my eyes sparkling mischeveously.

Jared rolled his eyes, "Sure whatever you say, poptarts are global!! The UK has not escaped them!!"

I nudged him in the ribs warningly, "Shut up!"

A quiet cough interupted our arguement, we both turned to see my aunt watching us.

I looked at Jared, who looked down at me, before we both exploded into laughter.

We laughed for a good five minutes solid before Kyle walked back in looking confused as we gasped for breath, wiping tears from our eyes.

"Are they okay?" he asked my aunt, before quickly sniffing the air and noticing the smouldering toaster, "What the...?!" he and my aunt rushed to put the fire out.

Me and Jared looked at each other, then to the adults, then back at each other.

And started laughing. Again.