A Veneer

Chapter 2: Pine Island

The gravel crunched under the tires of his 1990 ford pick up truck. When we were younger i remember racing up the hill to his house, the memory brought a smile to my face. He parked next to an old beaten down wooden fence that doubles as a canvas for painting. His house was two stories and was one of the smaller houses in the small town. All the windows were open along with the doors, the aroma of soup and freshly baked cookies was carried to me by the air. i could feel Aiden's eye on me, but i kept my eyes locked on the front door.

 When we stepped inside his voice boom "we're home!"

"we? who's we?" his grandmother began to ask, then she saw me."Caelyn! it's so nice to see you again deary!"

"Caelyn?" i heard multiply voices from the same room repeat. just when i stepped inside i was attacked by hugs. my back was pressed up against the door. "Caelyn!" i heard two deep voices yell into my ears shortly after i heard the distinct sound of Aiden's laughter.

"Oh! hi boys." i knew exactically who it was. Cameron and Jeb, Aiden's younger twin brothers. both standing at about 5'11 and were 3 years younger than Aiden. Both had dark hair and green eyes, and pale skin. 

"get off her!" i hear in a small voice as the boys were pulled off me. "hi CaeCae," Bella said. Bella was the youngest of four all but her were boys. she look innocent, long blonde hair that lay in soft curls down her back, pale skin like her older brothers and a smile that reached her plae blue eyes everytime she laughed. she had called me CaeCae since i could remember. She was only twelve, almost seven years younger than me but sometime i swore she was older. 

"Hey Bells" i smiled down at her and gave her a hug. "i missed you!"

"i know! it's been too long" she said into my hug.

"well, i'll be around more now!" i said releasing her.

"Thank God for that!" another voice had entered the entry way. Anee, the grandmother of the family. her face was old and lined from laughing and frowning. her hair had turned silver and just like her granddaughter her smile reached her pale blue eyes when she laughed

"Anne!" i said walking up to give her a hug.

"that's grandma Anne to you young lady!"

"Grandma Anne," i laughed as she embraced me. 

"Still beautiful i see. you still got that voice?" she asked

i nodded,"this ain't going anywhere." i said pointing to my throat.

"Good, their momma and i love that singing voice of your's" she grabbed my arm and pulled me into the living room."Look who's here Christine!" 

"momma, i dont have time! im working!" Christine said not even lifting up her eyes from the screen of her laptop. 

"You're always working Christine!" when i said this her head snapped up. 

"Caelyn? Caelyn Jow is that really you?"

"yes ma'am"

"why the last time i saw you, you were still itty bitty." she slammed the laptop shut and stood up walking closer as to get a better look of me. "you're a young lady now! and as beautiful as ever."

"thank you." i smiled at her. She was beautiful like her mother, Grandma Anne, was. she had light brown hair with golden streaks. green eyes that glimmered in the sun and the same smile that reached up to her eyes and filled her face when she laughed. she was getting old, you could tell. Lines started to appear on her once polished face. but, she was happy.

i was once scared of being alone, but i knew i had them. this family, this crazy, loud, loving, amazing family.. and they were mine. they excepted me. and i wasnt alone. no matter what may happen. they were there for me and i loved them the same way they loved me. i looked over at aiden as this thought crossed my mind. he winked, i smiled. and we both let the hours of catching up do their work, til stars began dancing around the moon's reflected light, many of us started to yawn and Aiden took me back to campus where i fell asleep, noticing my roommate STILL was not there.