If You Only Knew //e.g.d

•20•

*December 25th, Christmas*

Vanessa's POV
"Hi! Come in!" Lisa said enthusiastically as Will and I stepped in the house. It was already pretty packed.

"The twins are in the kitchen I think." Lisa said and we headed in that direction. Ethan saw us and came over, giving me a hug.

"Glad you guys could make it. Ready to meet everyone?" Ethan nervously smiled. I shook and nodded my head at the same time.

"Hey yo E, got any female cousins about my age or?"

"Chill Will, you've been here for 2 minutes." Grayson swung his arm around Will as he came over.

"Let's get going!" Ethan said excitedly and started to walk me around the house.

I met his moms sisters, brothers, cousins, cousins dogs, dogs wives, uncles, nieces, nephews, and girlfriends... oh and boyfriends.

Did I forget anyone. Oh right, their grandparents and also everyone on the twins dads side. Is that it? I don't know. Obviously i'm a little overwhelmed. I'm used to a family of two, not two hundred.

"I'm gonna step outside for a few minutes." I told Ethan when we finished meeting people.

"Okay, you alright?"

"I'm fine, it's just hot in here." I found the back porch and went out. I didn't even realize someone else was there until I sat down.

"Oh, hi, I didn't see you. Did we meet yet?" I asked politely.

"I don't believe so, I'm Sean."

"You're Ethan's Dad?"

"Correct. You must be his girlfriend."

"Yes, Vanessa." I said and shook his hand.

"Boy, I've heard a lot about you." He chuckled and sipped his drink. I blushed.

"I've heard about you too. You sound like a hard working man." I said. He looked at me surprised and then nodded his head with a grin.

"I like you already." I smiled back at him. So far so good. "Why'd you come out here?" He asked.

"Oh, it's just hot in there and-"

"Overwhelming? I feel ya." He finished my sentence, somehow knowing exactly what I was going to say.

"Do you?"

"Oh ya. When I came into this family, I was just like you. They're loud and terrifying. You'll get used to it." He shrugged.

"Really? Why are you out here then?" I questioned. He shook his head and laughed.

"Got me there. I'm an introvert. But you're easy to talk to."

"Maybe cause I am too. I've never been good with people." I told him. Gosh I'm so open with Sean.

"Why's that? You seem like a likable person." Sean put out, actually making me laugh out loud.

"I wish everyone thought that. Life would be so much better." I played with my fingers.

"Life's not good for you?" He swirled his drink around.

"No. Never has been. Till recently. Till Ethan." Did I say that out loud?

"Ethan's helped you out?"

"Oh, if you only knew. He's the only reason I'm here still." I shivered, pulling the blanket that was next to me onto me.

"Why's that?" Sean asked, studying me with kind eyes.

"I just..." I trust Sean already... so much...

"My Dad left our family when I was 14. None of us have been the same since. My mom is nowhere to be seen and my brother just, had issues. At times I had no one, until Ethan showed up."

"Wow. Thank you for telling me this. I mean I am just some random guy so..." Sean laughed. "That sounds rough. Sounds like me, actually. My problems were always in school. I had terrible grades and terrible classmates that treated me-"

"Terribly. Me too." I finished his sentence this time. The outdoor porch went quiet for a while as we took in the fresh night air.

"Do you mind me asking how you and Ethan ended up together?" Sean broke the silence.

"No of course not. Umm, he stood up for me when no one else had the guts. I had to tutor him and the-"

"Oh boy, how hard was that?" Sean laughed.

"It wasn't bad. He went from a 48% to a 91%"

"It was you who helped him with that test? Wow, you're a miracle worker."

"Thank you. Anyway, one night I found myself in the most terrifying situation of my life and once again, Ethan was the only one who helped me. And here we are." I looked at him to find him swirling his yellow drink again.

"Is that alc-"

"Apple cider. I don't drink." He chuckled. I nodded. "Don't ever drink, you'll get into some serious trouble."

"You seem like a wise guy." I said.

"So people have said. You want a piece of wise guy advice?" He asked, turning towards me. I nodded. Why not?

"Based on what you've told me about your situation, I've got something for you. There's always a light in the darkness." He started and I chuckled.

"I've heard that so so so many times."

"Listen, listen, I know it sounds cliché but that's because all these amateurs have been telling it wrong all along!" He joked and I legitimately laughed.

"Okay then wise guy, what's the quote."

"Listen closely now... my advice to you is... there is always a light in the darkness, if one remembers to turn it on..."

The words Sean said sat with me in that moment. I've been missing half of the statement. I have to turn the light on.

Ethan's POV
I couldn't find Vanessa anywhere and she's been gone for almost and hour. The last place I checked was the back porch.

I walked out to see her and my dad in what looked like deep conversation.

"There you are, I've been looking all over for you!" I said and walked to her side as she got up.

"I was out here talking to your dad about life." She smiled and side hugged me.

"Oh great dad, you started another life conversation with another stranger?" I groaned.

"She's not a stranger, she's Vanessa." He talked as if he'd known her for years, and she smiled at him the same.

"I think I'm gonna head back inside, it was really nice talking to you Sean." Vanessa shook his hand lightly as she headed inside.

"Talk to you later Vanessa." He said and she closed the glass door. I started to walk back inside.

"Ethan?"

"Ya Dad?" I stopped in the doorway.

"Hold on to that one. Hold on tight." My dad took a sip of his drink. I nodded and went back inside.

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I hope y'all didn't skip ANYTHING in this chapter because it's important!