The Sweet Nothings || ✓

'NOT BAD AT ALL'

Rachel hadn't called up after all. But Lana wasn't surprised. She hasn't expected her to call back. Not after Daria so openly showed contempt towards Lana for no particular reason.
But anyway, Lana wasn't regretting. As soon as she had moved out of the cafeteria, Arthur Oberain, her father had called up, telling her to come home as soon as possible. On the call, all he revealed was that there was someone special that he wanted her to meet. So Lana drove home pretty fast, all the was thinking of different ways to kill Damien. If it wasn't for Principal Heather, she wouldn't have had to go to that God forbidden school again. But of course, all principals like a bit of chaos, he wasn't ready to let them graduate until they attended lessons for at least a month. But anyway.
School was still okay for Lana. Instead it helped Lana keep her head clear. But the worst part of going back to school was looking at Damien while he looked at the girl on his lap. Lana was sure why he did it but she planned to show him that it doesn't effect. Not one bit. Even though it completely broke the leftovers inside her.
Thinking about Damien, Lana didn't realize when she had entered the gates of the mansion. She noticed the shiny new black limousine and around ten other cars as new additions to her parking lot. Her eyebrows shot up in admiration. This was impressive. She had only seen these many cars on the funeral.

'Who is here?' She thought to herself.

She entered the mansion and the big wooden door creaked open to announce her arrival.
Around twenty pairs of eyes looked her way. But Lana didn't feel conscious. This wasn't new to her anymore. No more terrifying. Yet she was surprised to see the big crowd.
"Come on in Princess. We were just talking about you." Her father said, getting up to come hug her.
"Hey dad!" She whispered as they hugged. Their relation was stronger now. Better. Then he turned around to face the rest of the people in the room.
"I am honoured to introduce you to Andrea. My daughter." He smiled proudly. And at that very moment Lana was struck by nostalgia. The memories of Andrew Wilson, her dead father, came flooding in, but she pushed them back.
Arthur smiled down at her.
"Andrea dear, this is your family. The Oberains" Then his eyes fixated on the oldest couple in the room who were intently staring at him. He smiled at them and urged Lana closer to them.
"Andrea, meet your grandparents." He paused and smiled at Lana. Pointing to the old man in the wheelchair- "Papa Phineas," and then to the stern looking old lady holding the wheelchair- "Mama Lily."
And Lana's eyes widened.
She had agreed to accept her family, 'The Oberains' not for it to expand. But still managed to smile at them.
But they didn't smile back. They didn't even so much as to move an inch. Arthur moved on to introduce the various uncles and aunts that Lana had no clue about. And all through this, most of them looked uninterested while some passed sly smiles.
Then an awkward silence settled.
Lana wasn't ready to entertain and try to please another crowd of grumpy people especially not people of her new family.
She coughed awkwardly.
"I guess I'll go change and then come back down." She passed a look to her dad, telling him silently to handle. As she turned around, Nany Lily spoke up, "Where is Maia?" And Lana cringed.
Not this. Not now.
She looked at Arthur expecting him to start with the explanations. But he didn't. Instead he looked right back at her. And Lana understood. He wanted them to meet her so that the burden of explanations was on her. Not him. Taking a deep breath, Lana drew back a chair, settled herself down and started explaining a story that she didn't understand herself, to a bunch of strangers.
All through it, the eyes of them all dig into her flesh but nothing made her stammer. Not even once.
By the end of it, everyone managed to look worried, even Nany and Nana. And they spoke up, almost together.
"We will take it from here, with you."

Lana's eyes scanned them all, not believing her ears.

'Not bad.' Lana thought. 'Not bad at all.'