Well, here we go.
~~~~~
I make my way down the stairs and just as I turn the corner I see Robert open the and two children run up to Victoria and she hugs them both tightly as the yell, "Mommy! We missed you!"
"I missed you more." Victoria says kissing their cheeks.
"What about me?" Robert says faking a frown.
"I missed you too daddy." Sophia lets go of her mother and runs to Robert who picks her up twirling her. "My little princess." She laughs and I can't help but to smile. She is adorable with her curly light brown hair and blue eyes. "And that girl over there," he points to me and she follows his finger "is my big princess."
"Put me down please." He does as she says and walks towards me. "Are you my new sissy?" I bend down in front of her and grab her hand.
"Yes Sophia. I'm your new sister. I'm Christina." She lets go of my hands and wraps her arms around my neck. I don't have any siblings but having step siblings is better than having none at all. Being an only child gets lonely sometimes.
"Stephen, do you want to go say hi to Christina?" Victoria asks the little light brown haired and blue eyes boy holding onto her hand. He nods his head no and hides behind her. "Why not? She's your new sister. Don't you want to meet her?" Again, he nods no. "He's shy. He'll get to know you though." Victoria says towards me.
"It's okay." I get off the floor as I pick Sophia up. "Hi Stephen." I say waving to him with one hand and he hides behind Victoria more. Robert is talking to his parents and I look to them and my grandfather George looks at me and smiles. I set Sophia down and walk towards my grandparents and Robert. "Hi." I say awkwardly.
"Hi." George says smiling at me. He brings his arms to hug me and I hug him back. If I'm being honest, he's probably the one that I miss the most out of the family that I haven't talked to. He has just been so kind to me and he could always make me laugh. "Oh Chrissy, I've me you so much."
"I've missed you too grandpa George."
"You can just call me grandad love." He says with his English accent which is beginning to become a little hoarse from old age. I think he's 70 now. Robert was the second child and has one older sister my aunt Johannah, a younger brother my uncle Edward, and a younger sister my aunt Eleanor. Roberts side of the family is much bigger compared to my mother's side. I only have one aunt on my mother's side and she is my mother's only sibling. Just a little family history for you to know about me. "You look good Chrissy."
"Thank y-" I am interrupted by my grandmother, Elizabeth.
"What are you talking about George? She's so pale and flushed. She looks lifeless! And her hair, it's all messy and ungroomed. And she looks more fat than I saw her last time." She says... this is how she's always been. She has always been outspoken. She's a hypocrite really. She always tells us to have manners and never interrupt others who are speaking, and to be kind to others, and to keep rude things to yourself, but she does all those things. As you can see, she isn't my favorite relative.
"Well it's nice to see you too grandmother." I say stepping away from grandpa George.
"Sass young lady!" She points at me and if looks could kill, I'd be on the floor lifeless.
"Okay mum. Victoria made some lunch so I think we should eat."
"Alright, but this one still needs to learn her manners. She was never very good at them." She says walking behind Robert.
"Children, lets go eat some food yeah?" Victoria asks the children and they run to the table.
"No running!" Elizabeth scoffs them.
Grandpa George stayed behind to walk with me and he places his hand on my shoulder.
"Don't mind her. She's gotten grumpier with age." He jokes and I can't help but to laugh a little.
"Mommy can sissy sit by me?" Sophia asks.
"If she'd like t-"
"Victoria darling you really should teach her manners. She didn't say please." Elizabeth interrupts yet again.
"Elizabeth it's fine. She's only five."
"Better to start them young or else they'll end up like that one." Elizabeth waves her hand in my direction.
"Mum please. Not today." Robert says holding his head. He must still be feeling sick.
"And why ever not? It's true. She doesn't have any manners at all. Here I am to think your taught her some more."
"Mum she's only been her for a few days now and I haven't seen her yet talked to her in almost five years and neither have you. Please, give her some time." He says looking at her and grabbing his head afterwards.
"oh, darling what's the matter?" She says changing the subject of leaving me alone.
"Just a headache is all." He says.
"Well, don't just sit there. Go get him some medicine!" She yells at me. I get up quickly and I have no clue at all where the Advil or Tylenol is. "What's taking you so long child?"
"I don't know where it is." I say looking through the pantry.
"I'll get them." Victoria says getting up and walking to a cabinet next to the fridge. She opens it and pulls out the Advil container and pours two pills into her hands. She walks back over to Robert and hands them to him and I take a seat next to Sophia.
"Thank you darling. Thank you Christina for trying." Robert says.
"Trying. psh. she can't even find medicine. good for noth-"
"Mum. Please stop." Robert says and she doesn't speak. I noticed that his accent has gotten more noticeable since his parents have been here. We are about to eat when Elizabeth's silence ended.
"Are we not going to say grace?" She asks. "Christina you shall do it."
"I um... I haven't done grace in a very long time." I say annoyed for being put on the spot, plus, she's a witch.
"Christina. You shall do it." She says through gritted teeth and faking a smile afterwards. She is becoming aggravated and little does she know that I'm more aggravated than she is.
After a few seconds of silence she gives me these eyes that give you goosebumps, and they aren't the God kind. "Just do the grace Christina. It isn't that hard."
"Father, um... thank you... for this gift of food we have received... and um... thank you... Amen." I do the cross because everyone else is doing it.
"Good for nothing child. She can't even do grace." She says low, but it's still loud enough for all of us to hear. I honestly feel so attacked right now. I don't think I did anything bad to her to deserve her treating me like this. I haven't seen her in five almost six years and she just keeps getting mad at me and making me feel so terrible about myself with her remarks. Its like, I'm sorry for not wanting to do grace. I haven't prayed in over a year. I prayed every day for my mother's health the first year and a half. After the oncologist told me that there was nothing else they could do except to continue the Kemo so she'd live longer, I gave up on religion. My mother couldn't take me to church anyway and I figured, why even bother? God obviously wants her to die. He wants me to be more miserable. Why pray to him and have faith in him when he wants to make me suffer. I gave up because he was supposed to work miracles, not miseries.
~~~~~
Dinner was quiet actually. Well, not that quiet since Elizabeth was there, but it was mainly small talk with her nagging every few minutes. Everyone sat at the table except for the two little ones who wanted to go play with their toys. I sat there for a few minutes until Victoria started to clean the table as she was sitting so I got up and grabbed the dishes and finished cleaning the table. Victoria was trying to tell me thay she'd help, but I insisted that I do. One reason being I didn't want to be yelled at again. Another reason being Victoria really shouldn't be doing to much at this point because it's too much stress on her petite body. And the last reason being I just want to get away from the table. It's small talk but it's awkward being there because I don't know what to say and I am just a very awkward and social person in general. As I am washing the dishes Victoria gets up and helps dry the dishes as I wash and I kept telling her that I'd do them so she could rest but she'd insist to at least help dry the dishes.
"I needed to get away from her too." Victoria says laughing a little bit.
"I wasn't trying to get away." I lie. She just gives me this look as if to say "I know you're lying" and I laugh. "Okay maybe I was... but who wouldn't? I haven't even seen her for more than two hours and she is trying to rip me to pieces already with her killer remarks."
"It's true, but that's how she is. I mean, you should know more than k do considering you've known her longer." *ring ring* the phone rang as I just finished washing the dishes and Victoria sets the tow down to go pick up the telephone. I grab the towel to finish drying the dishes as she says "hello?" to the other person on the line. "Oh hi Patricia! How are you? I'm doing good.Thank you for asking." She motions for me to put the towel.down and when I don't she makes one of those faces where you show your teeth as if you were to growl and she scrunched her nose. "Yeah she's right here. Okay." She takes the phone away from her ear and covers the mouth piece. "Christina, Danielle wants to speak with you."
"Okay?" I grab the phone from her and bring it to my ear. "Hello?"
"Hi Christina!" Danielles jolly voice comes on the other line.
"Hi Danielle!" I try my best to sound enthusiastic.
"So I was wondering if you'd like to come spend the night tonight. My two friends which I think you'll love are here right now. Eleanor and Perrie. I'm not sure if I mentioned them or not, but they're dying to meet you."
"Um... uh yeah. Sure. Let me ask Victoria first."
"Okay." I take the phone away from my ear and cover the speaker.
"Victoria?
"Hmm?" Victoria asks I guess is the word.
"Danielle wants to know if I can spend the night. Her friends Eleanor and Perrie? I think is the name is there now."
"Eleanor and Perrie. They're lovely girls. I don't see why not. You should probably check with Robert also."
"Okay." I uncover the speaker and bring it back to my ear. "I have to check with Robert. I'll be right back."
"Okay." and I set the phone on the counter. I walk into the dining area and Robert is sitting there with his parents still.
"Robert?"
"Yeah?" He turns my way.
"Can I-"
"You just allow her to call you Robert? She is your daughter not your friend." Elizabeth interrupts for what seems like the twentieth time tonight.
"Mum she can call me that if she wants it's fine."
"It is not fine. It is rude and disrespectful." She scoffs.
"What were you going to ask me?" Robert asks ignoring his witch of a mother.
"Danielle invited me to spend the night with her, Eleanor, and Perrie abd I was wondering if I could go."
"Absolutely not." Elizabeth says.
"Mum this is my house okay?"
"But she-"
"Mum." He says holding authority and I give him credit for standing up to such a scary creature. "If you want to you can. Do you need a ride there?"
"Most likely."
"Okay. I can drop you off unless Victoria wants to."
"Okay thanks." He nods and I walk back to the kitchen and pick up the phone. "Danielle?"
"Still here." She laughs.
"They said yes."
"Great! We'll come to pick you up in ten minutes so be ready. Oh, and bring extra clothes for tonight and tomorrow also. Don't ask. Just do. See you in ten!" She says happily and before I can respond she hangs up.
"Do you need a ride?" Victoria asks.
"No. She said that they were coming to pick me up. Thank you though."
"When?"
"Ten minutes."
"Well you better go get ready!" She says and I leave running up the stairs. I grab a few sweaters one for my extra outfit tonight and one for tomorrow and I grab a pair of leggings and skinny jeans and I grab a pair boots to wear and plaid fuzzy pajamas also. I pack my toothbrush, face wash, floss, and brush in my backpack I brought and I grab my phone charger and put it in the bag also. I'm nervous I haven't been to a sleepover in three years since my mom was diagnosed. Except for the few days I was at Katie and Kelly's because their mom made me. Just as I finish packing Victoria yells "They're here!" I run downstairs and yell goodnight to everyone and most reply except for Stephen who still doesn't know me and Elizabeth... I think I'll call her Elizabeth instead if grandmother. I go outside and it's freezing. I run to the red mustang and I see a brunette girl in the passenger seat and run to the back door behind Danielle and open door and get it in quickly.
"Hi Christina!" Danielle says as she waits for me to buckle my seatbelt.
"Hi!" I say As I'm buckling it. Once I am buckled she begins to back out.
"I'm Perrie." The blonde girl beside me says and she gives me a very pretty smile.
"Christina."
"I'll give you a proper greeting once were out of the car." She says. She has an English accent as well. Except, it sounds like there's a hint of an Irish accent as well.
"I'm Eleanor." The brunette next to Danielle says turning around and smiling also.
"Christina. I look around and they're dressed up. Not too dressed up but they have nice boots and long sleeved shirts They also have scarves on and makeup. "Why are you all so dressed up?"
"Oh this? It's nothing." Eleanor says.
"El." Perrier says.
"What?"
"Never mind. I hope you brought some clothes because we're going to a party."
"A party?" I ask.
"Yeah. Do you have clothes?"
"Not nice ones like yours. I only have sweaters like the one I have on now." I'm starting to get nervous now.
"It's okay. We have extra at home." Danielle says as she pulls into the driveway. We all get out and I follow the girls to what I assume is Danielles room. I'm nervous now. Like really nervous. I've never been to a party before besides holiday parties like Christmas and birthday parties. "What about this?" Danielle says holding up a denim button up shirt.
"And this scarf?" Perrie says holding up a burgundy scarf.
"And she can borrow my boots. We look like the same size." She says holding up the brown almost knee-high boots. "Go get dressed quickly! We have to leave soon!" They all give me the clothes and I go to the closet to change real quickly. What have I gotten myself into?
~~~~~
HELLO LOVELY PEOPLE! SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CHRISTINAS GRANDMOTHER? COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. ALSO, THIS PARTY THEYRE GOING TO... WHAT DO YOU THINK? ANY PREDICTIONS? JUST KIDDING DONT MAKE PREDICTIOS. THAT RUINS EVERYTHING. ANYWAYS SO IM TRYING TO UPDATE NORMALLY AND I WILL MAKE NO PROMISES FOR A SCHEDULE BUT YOU ALL KNOW THE DEAL. PLEADE COMMENT, VOTE, AND SHARE. IT HELPS ALOT. I LOVE YOU ALL! XXALYSSA
