Skank

Chapter 15

**Quotes in brackets means it was said in Hebrew

Maria's POV

Eliza and I get off the plane, me hardly being able to catch up with her as she ran around excitedly.

"I'm home!! I'm home!" Her face was beaming with joy. I, on the other hand, felt nauseous. It was like when you wait in line for a roller coaster, and you think you're ready, but once you get strapped into the seat, and it's too late to turn back, you change your mind. Or when you're climbing up a diving board, and every step up the ladder you start regretting it more and more.

I was awoken from my thoughts as Eliza grabbed my hand. "Come on, let's go find my cousins!" She exclaimed, smiling brightly.

So she walked, a skip in her step whilst a drag in mine. My train of thought was soon drowned out by a scream as Eliza loosened her grip on my hand, then let go. I watched as she ran towards two girls, jumping up to them and hugging them tightly.

I walked over to look at the girls I'd be living with, they were clinging to Eliza and crying tears of joy. The shorter one was wearing a yellow crop top and jeans, her hair was tied back in a ponytail with a yellow scrunchie. The taller one was slightly darker, she wore an orange-pink dress, and let her hair fall to her shoulders. Her nails were painted pink. They were speaking to each other in Hebrew and it was impossible to tell what they were saying.

Eliza turned to me with a smile.

"Maria! These are my cousins, Angelica and Peggy!"

The girls turned their attention towards me, getting way into my personal space. They started rapidly talking over each other in Hebrew, which Eliza later explained were praises, and Angelica shook my hand.

"It has many nice to meet you!" She exclaimed in broken English. Peggy just smiled and nodded.

I feigned a smile, "You too."

"Come," Angelica said, taking Eliza's hand, then mine. "Home."

Peggy, once again, followed behind us. I was beginning to see her role in this family dynamic.

Angelica lead us out of the airport and into her car. I glanced over at Eliza, who couldn't stop smiling. We sat in the back, Peggy took the passenger seat.

I tried to memorize a few repeating words as the three spoke in Hebrew. I still felt left out, though. Lost. I never should have left home. This all felt so wrong. Eliza looked at me and I smiled as though I was okay, but I was very not okay.

Peggy turned back to face me, "Radio?" She asked. Her voice was much higher pitched than her sister's and she was noticeably younger. She pronounced radio like 'rah-dy-oh', but I didn't comment on it.

"Sure."

She switched the radio and played around with the knob until she found a channel in English. It was all old pop songs from the early 2000's, but it was the thought that counted. After a short while, we finally arrived at Angelica's house, where we will be staying.

Getting out of the car, I was finally able to get a closer look at Angelica. Her hair was very well kept while her sister's was lazily thrown into a ponytail. She had long curly locks that seemed almost effortless, though it was clear she cared for it regularly. She had teal eyeliner, which paired beautifully with her mocha skin, and dark red lipstick with what appeared to be a clear coating of gloss over it. She was wearing a pretty necklace with a sparkling stone in the middle. On her neck there was a fading hickey, did she have a partner?

I followed the girls through the house to a bare door at the end of the hallway.

"Here." Angelica gestured with a smile. Eliza and I thanked her and walked in, setting our bags down.