Inescapable Game of Tag

Start Of

Lauren

27 YEARS AGO

"Come on, there's nothing to be afraid of." It took me forever to convince George to join me for dinner with Rachel's new family.

He was still sitting in the car, leaving me waiting out on the sidewalk. He was hunched over, his palms against his face. I waited, shifting my weight and tapping my foot. He kept shuddering, breathing quick and painful, shoulders quaking.

I knew why he was so troubled, but I was still a bit disappointed. We had already gone through this, and I didn't want him canceling it last minute. I went back towards the car, leaning in through the door I exited from, "George," I said, and he still remained there, stiffening. "They're already looking forward to meeting you."

He spoke, but I couldn't hear him through his palms pressed up against his face.

"Put your hands away, stop being such a baby."

He put his hands away, but remained baby like by groaning overdramatically. I stared at him, fingers tapping under the roof of the car as he tried regaining his composure, "That just makes me more anxious."

"You're anxious when you'll show up without invitation, and you're anxious when you've been invited. Come now." I leaned in more, and he finally looked right at me, lips pursed. "I haven't met any of Mike's family, either. But, you know, since they got married, they want to meet what little family Rachel has."

His head hung a bit, looking defeated, "Then that definitely means I don't belong."

"George. You're talking stupid again." I started leaning out, my brow furrowing. "You've been my only family for a long time, and you know that. And so, you're apart of this family, too. They said so, and I'll fight them if they were lying. I got your back."

He turned away for a few seconds, taking a deep breath, but when he turned back to me, he was smirking. I smirked back, waiting for his words. "Alright, then," He finally opened his door and stepped outside, "Then I got your back, too."

Rachel's parents in law had their house at the corner of the neighbored street, nearest to the exit that led to busy streets. The sun was beginning to set already, the dark skies ever so early in their arrival. I led George over up to their door, waiting for him to catch up before knocking.

The door opened, and two things happened in the heartbeat that followed that. This younger guy swung the door open, looking no older than eighteen, little under three years of our age. And George, reaching over and instantly grabbing onto my sleeve. Hold onto my hand if you're scared, not my clothes.

A smile burst on the boy's face instantly, "Lauren, Georgie!" He seemed to know who we were instantly, they must've been waiting (we got lost plenty of times on the way), but the last name made me chuckle a bit. "Nice to meet you guys, I'm Liam, Mike's brother." I was ready for a handshake, but he pulled me in for a hug instead.

Smiling, I hugged him back, "Nice to meet you, too." And then he went in for George, and I was sure to watch. George kept clinging my sleeve, keeping me locked close, and his eyes bugged out when he was embraced.

"Um, nice to, uh, meet you..." I love how low his voice gets when he's with other people. "But, um, my name is George."

"Hm? Oh, I know! I just like putting a 'lil ie at the end of names, you know." He wove his hand around, "Though, some sound weird... Liamie, Rachelie, Laurenie, Blakie, Bellaie... Georgie, though, that's perfect! Anyway, come on in," He turned back in the house in the entry room, and we followed him. "The food is just a bit ready!"

We walked hurriedly behind him, and I noticed George's grip on me had lessened. We were led into the living room where the sound of a football game was much clearer, the smell of food much concrete. There were four people sitting in the living room, three in the dining room, and two in the kitchen. One that was in the living room shot right into my vision quite instantly, and it made my heart jump.