stoical - l.h.

two

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I physically cannot recall a time where I was as out of place as I am right now. It goes passed my old, slightly dirty clothes, all the way to the fact that the people in this house are just...happy. Even without a reason to be, both Elise and Drew seem to constantly have a genuine smile plastered on their faces. I can't tell if it's fake, but it must be. There's no way you could be that positive about life all of the time. Before even meeting both of the children properly, I silently hope they at least complain a lot or have bad behavior or something. I know I briefly bumped into one of them, but our encounter was not enough to provide me with insight.

It turns out that Jacob isn't interested in staying for longer than he has to, because he apparently "Has a long ride home, with a lot of traffic" but I know for a fact that he isn't even driving back home tonight. Well, I shouldn't say it's a fact, because I'm sure Jacob could have lied to me, but he did inform me he was staying at a local hotel for the night since he doesn't want to get home at some ungodly hour. I never did ask him why, mostly because I don't care, but it is indeed curious why he decided to head out so quickly, lying to Elise and Drew in the process.

As soon as Jacob is out of the door, I feel my stomach sink all the way down to my feet. The warm, hominess that had once enchanted me now suffocates me, sweltering with all of my layers on. I feel as though I might suffocate from the heat that chokes my throat, but am too anxious to take off my coat, because then I might have to hold it, or Elise might politely take it somewhere, and that would cause a whole later issue of trying to find it in this huge house wherever she put it. I decide to leave the jacket on, but I can feel the incessant reddening of my cheeks beginning, something that unfortunately masks my features in times of distress, anxiety, extreme heat. I know it's only a matter of moments before the Hoods begin to question it, or at least wonder to themselves why I look like I'm going to keel over at any moment from a heat stroke.

The uncomfortable heat that overtakes my body turns to a stress sweat when Elise kindly motions for me to follow her deeper into the house. I don't know where I'm heading, but I hear that music getting louder and my stomach turns. I know I'm about to meet one kid, at least, and I don't know if I'm up for it, especially when there's still tears staining my sleeves. Especially when the kid I might be introduced to saw those tears firsthand, and therefore probably thinks I'm a psychopath.

"I want you to meet some people, Lavender," Elise informs me. Her voice is airy and gentle. I would appreciate it, if not for the fact that it makes me feel like a chihuahua with anger issues being analyzed.

I follow Elise and Drew into an open area, where the living room and kitchen are. They're connected, and you can see one from the other. I spot a massive flat-screen TV, and I'd been correct in guessing the Disney, even from far away. I almost laugh out loud at the fact that a teenage boy appears to be watching Moana on the couch by himself. In fact, he seems into it, not tearing his eyes from the screen at all, even when his mother is in earshot and calls his name.

"Calum!" Elise says excitedly. He barely moves, and I feel like he's trying too hard to pretend like he's surprised I'm here. "Leia. Both of you, up off the couch."

I see the girl pop up quick, but Calum, the boy, is a lot slower. I'm surprised by the girl's energy immediately, taking in her long, glossy, black hair, resemblant of her father's, and her bright, wide eyes. Her stare is childish and full of youth, not in a bad way. Her lips are full like her mother's, and with her clear, smooth skin, she is a very pretty girl. I can't place her age, but I know she is at least a few years younger than I am. As for Calum, his hair matches his father's too, as well as the tanned color of his skin. He's tall, and my instinct tells me he's older than me, but I don't know how much older he could be if he's living in his parents' house still.