Blossoming Magic

Amëra - I

        Three days. And then you can back to Eric and Jasmine. I thought to myself, smiling softly as fond memories of my two best friends encircled my thoughts. But the smile slipped away as I watched the scenery roll by my window. Every single year, no matter how hard I protest or complain, I have to go on this stupid trip. Just to see my mum, Ellamarie, and my twin sister, Ebony, to celebrate our birthday! Half of the time, I don't even live on the same continent as them! My father's in the military, so we travel all around the world. But no matter where in the world we are, or even how far away we live from Ellamarie and Ebony, we always have to come and visit them for my birthday.........and that same day just so happens to be Ebony's birthday as well. They live in the middle of Alabama and the nearest county is ten miles away. Most people think having a twin is amazing, cool, and that they're inseparable. WRONG!!!!!!!!

        Ebony and I couldn't possible be any more different, we are basically complete opposites of each other. All she ever does is hide away in her room with all of her weird books, which about half of them aren't even English! I know because I sneak into her room sometimes when she's not there to see what the hell she does in there. I'd honestly rather be outside getting dirty and all scratched up while climbing trees and learning some new parkour moves than be inside sitting inside all day. Being faternal, we aren't mirror images of each other, either. Her eyes are a dazzling blue on the edges but when you get to her pupil, they turn into a shocking violet. My eyes have the same dazzling blue in them but where her eyes are violet, my own eyes turn into an electrifying green. People, or a person *cough, cough Ebony*, who have blue AND purple eyes are unnat-

        "AMËRA!" My dad's voice thundered throughout the truck that we were traveling in. I jumped slightly as I yanked one of my earphones out of my ear that, moments ago, had been playing Evanscene as loud as possible and glared at him.

        "What?" I growled at him curtly, wanting to demonstrate how much I hated his guts at the moment.

        "Hey. Lose that attitude. Don't act like that around Ellamarie or Ebony. It's you and your twin's sixteenth birthday for Pete's sake. At least try to act like you want to be there or happy, at least. It's supposed to be your special day. You know, you're turning sixteen. Yay. Try to enjoy it at least." He semi begged and commanded me.

        "Fine." I snapped at him before I muttered under my breath, "But it would be a special day if you'd let me spend it with Jasmine and Eric."

        "I heard that. Look, you need to spend time with Ellamarie and Ebony, just like they need to spend more time with you. You need to shut up and stop complaining for once about this. Things could be much worse than you think they are." My dad told me with a hint of irritability creeping into his voice. "For example: Your mother had originally wanted you to spend a full month with them every year instead of a few days. I managed to get her to chan-" He began to say but stopped as I made him go deaf in an ear.

        "A MONTH!?!?!?!?" I nearly shrieked into his ear as horror crept into my stomach, creating all sorts of twists and knots. He visibly winced and placed a hand over his ear.

        "Owwwww. I'm right here, beside you. You don't have to scream. And yes. A full, entire month. It's your choice, now that you're old enough. You know, if you want me to, I can talk to Ellamarie and see if-" He started to say cheerfully, enjoying the expression that had appeared on my face, before I interrupted him.

        "NO!!!!! BY ALL OF THE GODS WHO EXIST, NO!!! WHAT IN GOD'S NAME MAKES YOU THINK THAT I'D EVER WANT TO ACTUALLY COME HERE BY MY OWN WILL!!!! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT I'D LIKE THAT!?!?!?!?" I howled in horror and terror at the possibility of spending more time than normal with my 'distant' relatives.

        "You don't need to scream." My dad struggled to tell me strictly, but the humor that he felt remained dominate when he spoke. "So I guess that's a no then."

        "No." I said flatly with my arms crossed. I shoved the earbud back into my ear. My eyes wandered around angrily as I tried to find something that would occupy my attention from my father. A hand shook my shoulder gently to get me to look over. I pulled out the same earphone that I'd just replaced and glared at my dad.

        "Turn the music down. Or keep one earbud out. If it's so loud that you can't hear me calling you, then it's too loud. You should know the drill by now." He told me sternly as glanced over at me once before looking back onto the road. With a heavy sigh, I pulled out my iPod and turned it down one bar. I glanced at the time before putting it away. 10:23 AM We've already been on the road for almost three hours now. And we still about another five hours left until we get there.

        Great. Just great. I thought to myself as I replaced my earphone and gazed at the scenery as it raced by. As the time flew, my eye-lids slowly grew heavier and heavier. They closed of their own accord, bringing me into a deep slumber.