Don't Hesitate

Chapter IX

Andrew to me is like Dave Franco, but with dreamy green eyes. *heart eyes emoji* 

Nine

I stare in bewilderment at this guy's sudden bold actions. Being this up close, I notice his green eyes took a more jaded color, with flecks of gold against the sunlight. His hair was wild and voluminous, and looked invitingly soft. His hard, chiseled features made a perfect balance to the soft smile he had on his face.

He looked as if he was studying me too until another person breaks the silence.

"Hey, Andrew, quit wandering around like a dog!"

The guy-- who I now know is called Andrew, spins his head quickly to the direction in front of us. "Jesse! This girl is drawing a guy that looks exactly like you, it's freaky!" He says, motioning for the figure to come toward us.

Wait, did he say Jesse? As the guy jogged closer to meet us, I realize it is my very own cousin. He got taller, and his boyish features are now replaced with angular, more mature attributes. Though he still had his sloppy, signature grin. I stand up and meet him for a warm, tight hug. I practically had to stand on my tippy toes for my to envelope my arms around his neck!

"That's probably because it is me, stupid." He laughs at Andrew, then proceeds to hug me tighter, followed by lifting me off the ground. Yep, same old Jesse.

"Hey, stop that!" I laugh. He puts me down, only to look at me with a bigger grin and hugs me again. I sigh and roll my eyes. Better expect this reaction from everybody else in the family.

After a few minutes more of hugging and choking, Jesse finally introduces me to his friend. "Andrew, this is my cousin, Laura. She's the one I've been telling everybody about."

During me and Jesse's "reunion" I didn't notice Andrew got a hold of my sketchbook and flipped through it. He tears his eyes away from the book and greets me with a smile. He reaches his hand out for a shake and I returned the gesture.

"You're an amazing artist." He concludes. Before giving thanks, Jesse shoots out about how I got into Montserrat in a scholarship and other silly things he loved to brag about. I tried hard not to get too red. I'll never get used to Jesse complimenting me so freely. He's an idiot. 

"Where's Rick?" Jesse and Andrew look at each other and shrug.

"I don't know. All three of us just kinda fanned out in search for you." Jesse says blatantly.

"Why would you do that? We have phones you know, to avoid this kind of thing." I chuckle and take out my phone to call Uncle Rick. Andrew laughs and Jesse shoves him in the side.

We all hear a phone ringing from the distance until we all realize it was Uncle Eric, barreling through the pedestrians to get out of his way, with a crazy grin on his face.

Did I forget to mention he was 6 foot 4, with a build of a wrestler? If I hadn't known him I would think he was coming over to kidnap me. But of course, like Jesse, he scooped me up into his arms and gave me another unbearable, yet affectionate hug... three times.

In between those hugs I hear Andrew lean into Jesse and whisper. "She must be pretty special."

"Duh, she is." Jesse states matter-of-factly. I bury my smile on Uncle Rick's shoulder.

"So, why did it require three of you come and get me?" I ask when we got situated in the car, making our way through Boston. The big scene Rick caused really irritated the civilians.