GEORGIA’S POV
“Let’s get this over and done with,” I sighed, opening the door to let everyone through. “If any of you embarrass me tonight…”
“Stress less babe,” Taylah put her arm around me and squeezed. “Everything will be perfect.”
“Now, don’t take this the wrong way,” I turned to the boys. “But I’m going to propose a rule of ‘No leaving the boys alone at any time’, both for your safety and the safety of my dignity. My parents’ friends will just love you guys, and I don’t want to subject you to that.”
“Yes Ma’am,” Christian saluted. “And we swear, we’ll be on our best behavior.”
“Good,” I nodded, getting into the car between Christian and Maeve. “Oh and, would it be totally pathetic if I made a ‘No leaving Georgia alone at any time’ rule as well?” They all laughed, and I took it as a yes.
We pulled up outside Uncle Ronan’s house and for once the whole thing was lit up like a Christmas tree. We’d come earlier than guests were expected, but soon the driveway would be full of tossy ‘wish-they-were-famous’ types.
I took a deep breath, stood up as tall as possible and started off up the driveway, my loyal minions – I mean friends – following behind me. I hesitated at the door, actually considered knocking, before remember that I lived here and barged straight in.
“Georgia dear, there you are,” my mother, a blonde could-be model, was standing in the foyer talking to a waiter. They’d hired waiters? Seriously?
“Oh you’ve brought company,” Mum said with pursed lips, looking over the others behind me. “Lots of it. Are these your friends?”
“Yeah um,” I stepped aside to gesture to them all. “This is Luke, Tyrone, Brock, his sister Taylah, Christian, Maeve and Mitchel. The guys are in a band, Uncle Ronan mentored them on the X-Factor, remember?”
“I was mentioned?” Uncle Ronan rounded the corner from the kitchen with a warm smile. He came over and hugged me.
“Help me, she’s insane,” I hissed in his ear, standing on my toes. He stifled a laugh as he turned away back to my mother.
“So this is one of your little projects Ronan?” she asked condescendingly. I put my hands behind my back and squeezed my own fingers. Where’s a stress ball when you need one. A warm hand discreetly grabbed one of mine and I held it, grateful of the support.
“They were Tania,” Ronan nodded. “And a talented bunch they are, I was very sad to see them go.”
“Well Georgia,” Mum seemed satisfied. “Perhaps you and your friends can go through and help set up. I expect everyone will be arriving soon.”
I nodded my head in the direction of the kitchen and the others followed me through along with Uncle Ronan.
“I’m sorry love,” he apologized. “I tried to keep them under control but they’re relentless.”
I just shrugged and pulled out the glasses to put on the refreshments table. The doorbell rang and Ronan slipped outside to check on Dad and the barbeque.
“Right,” I turned to them all seriously. “Remember the rules. If you get stuck in an awkward conversation, signal to someone else and we’ll come save you. I apologise in advance, and here we go.”
The first group to arrive was all family; my dad’s sister and her three teenage daughters. One was my age and the other two were a bit older I think. They zeroed in on the boys automatically, coming over with fake smiles in their too-high heels.
“Georgia babe,” the youngest, Demi, gave me a girly hug. “Who are your gorgeous friends?” I reluctantly introduced them all and she gave them each a flirty smile.
“Really sorry ladies,” I spoke up. “But I have to go outside and help with the food. Christian, can you give me a hand?” He nodded eagerly and followed me out.
“I know they’re your relatives and everything, but that little one was creeping me out a little,” he shuddered. “Does she normally look that crazy?”
“Only when she sees cute boys,” I laughed.
“Georgie, are you calling me a cute boy?” he grinned, flicking his hair out of his eyes. “Aw babe, I’m touched. Don’t worry, she can’t come between us.” I laughed and let him put his arm over my shoulder.
Through the glass window I could see the others trying to split off. By the looks of it, Katie, the middle girl, was trying to convince Tyrone to ditch the others and hang out with her. He subtly grabbed Taylah and Mitchel’s wrists, silently begging them to save him.
Taylah said something to Katie, who crossed her arms and nodded as they hurried down the hall. We made our way over to the barbeque. I kissed Dad on the cheek and introduced Christian, having to embarrassingly assure him that he wasn’t my boyfriend. They loaded us up with trays of meat and we carried them inside.
“Don’t make a mess of the table cloth Georgia,” Mum said in passing. I mimicked her as we placed the trays on the table surrounded by glamorous people. I ducked out quickly to avoid being told how much I’d grown up since the last time they’d seen me, when I didn’t remember a single one of them.
Down the hall in the rumpus room was the ‘kids area’. The others were all in here, as well as a few more of my cousins.
“So Mitchel,” one of them was saying. “I hear you’re like really talented at singing. Can you do a song for us?” The others all giggled and I had to resist barfing.
“Yeah, um, boys?” he looked around to them and the all shrugged and nodded. I jumped up and pulled out one Ronan’s guitars. Time to show off my boys. I handed it to Christian and squeezed in between Taylah and Maeve on the couch.
“She’s the girl that no-one ever knows,” the girls and I cheered, this was a personal favourite. We jumped up and started dancing, not caring about my cousins judging us at all. The boys other than Christian got up and danced with us and soon enough everyone was joining in.
I joined my little blondie on the couch while he strummed along and sang. He grinned at me and I leant against his shoulder.
“I’m never going down, I’m never giving up. I’m never gonna leave so put your hands up. If you like me, then say you like me.”
