Chapter 4

Mmm. Straight love? OMG no way!

The group was so large I couldn’t keep track of everyone there. So to help me out they split up into their separate family groups. Abigail grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the side. Shrills ran up my spine with every touch she gave me. Her silver eyes looked into mine. She was trying to figure me out, I could tell. I didn’t’ care actually. I wanted her to know me.

Someone cleared their throat behind us and she spun me around. She pulled me closer to the group. “To start off…” she looked at me and caught me staring straight at her. I coughed and lowered my head, “I’m Abigail Oreson. I’m the daughter of Phoenix and Justin Oreson.”

My eyes got huge, “Your parents are gay too?”

Every single eye shot to me and a few giggles came from the mouths of people standing behind me. Abigail smiled and ignored my comment, “Yes.” She led me to the first group. William the large man from before was standing in this group. Abigail spoke melodically again, “This is the Norman family. They are the children of Veronica and Jackson Norman.” I nodded. Abigail’s small hand pointed to William. “You know William,” I nodded to him but the stern expression on his face didn’t change. Next she pointed to a boy who couldn’t have been much younger than me.

His hair hung longer that most everyone’s. Silver eyes peered out from underneath his dark bangs. His lack of expression showed me that he was a sibling of William. The two of them stood above 6’3”. I was glad didn’t have to deal with that every day. Both of their large hands sat on their hips. They ran the whole thing and they knew it. “This is Fredrick Norman.”  Again I foolishly nodded to have only the cold shoulder returned.

The next was a young beautiful girl. I was beginning to see that there were no unattractive people in this family. All of a sudden I felt very small and out of place. I was as plain as white copy paper. She kept her brown hair short. A few bangs swung in her small face. Her silver eyes pierced the most. Her face was also so sweet and kind. Which was completely opposite from her brothers. Instead of Abigail having to do it she said it on her own, “I’m Maggie.” Her hand stuck straight out to mine.

Some people gasped and she looked down the line. I followed her gaze. Her hand shoved closer to mine. That’s what I’d been missing human contact. I shook her hand and she stepped back into the line. Abigail led me over to the next group. These three were the youngest of the whole mass group. “These three belong to Jazz and Phillip Wabrek. The oldest is Izzie.” A young girl’s eyes lifted and stared up at me. The silent type, I could already tell. She shared the same dark hair and silver eyes as everyone. “Next are the twins Phillip and Tori. They’re five.”

“Five, wow.” I shook both of their hands and they slunk back into the group with their older sister. Abigail moved me down the row to the next group of kids standing.

“These are your cousins, your father’s sister’s, Kei and her husband Tex’s, kids. The oldest is Braxton.” His white hair was cut short and spiky. It stood up in the front much like mine did. His dark grey eyes were the most sincere of the rest. He nodded and smiled at me. “Next is Tiffany.” Her white hair was a bunch of curls. Much like Abigail’s but each curl fell separately over her shoulder blades. Her grey eyes also caught with mine. She looked like my dad. Well I’m guessing her mom. “Next is Zachary. You’ve met him.”

We walked past those three and to the last group. “You know Jo lee summers.” It wasn’t a question but I answered anyways.

“Nope,” Abigail spun and opened her eyes wildly. 

Each face gasped and turned to me, “You don’t know who Jo Lee Summers is?”

My head shook. Frustration began to pull at my eyebrows. I wish someone would just fill me in. “She was your dad, Shiloh’s, best friend all through elementary school until the end of high school. She married Ryder Oreson.” Her silver eyes looked into mine, pleading with the memories inside of me. Never had I heard that name. Either of those names for that matter.

My head continued to shake, “I’m sorry. I don’t know who you’re talking about.” She sighed loudly.

“Well these are their children Hansen and Jenny.” Each of the two smiled but stepped away. They must know things about my family. They shared the same traits as the rest of the group dark hair, silver eyes, and big strong bodies. It was actually quite tedious. When I looked at Abigail something was different from the rest in her. It was her soul. I could tell how different she was by the way she looked around. Everything she looked at was treated beautifully by the spirit in her eyes.

Abigail whipped her hair my way and joined her family in one large group. They chattered away together. I stood all alone in the center of the cement pad that I seemed to have found myself on. I breathed in the cool air and let my body relax. Music filled my soul. A soft melody began to ring in my ears. The cool air passed in and out through my nostrils. Slowly my eye lids shut and I let the soft music soothe me. The cello’s hummed away in their low pitch melody. The violins sang and danced over the sweet notes.

Abigail’s voice shook me out of my trance. “I’m not going to go with him.”

She and William had separated from the group and were quarrelling inches from each other. “Abigail you know that you have to.”

My eyes were forced to look away. They would know that I was listening to their conversation.
“And why is that, anyone else can teach him just as well as I can.”

“No one knows as much as you do Abigail.” I hated the way William talked to her. I wanted to shove him away from her and take her in my arms. No woman should ever be yelled at, especially by someone they admire.

“They know enough.”

William’s red face soon calmed, “Abigail sweetheart…” His hands touched her shoulder and heat swarmed to my face. I turned my shoulders away. Anger was something not needed in this moment. “You know that you’re the only one that can help him.”

A deep sigh left her chest. My nose lifted in the air searching for that floral scent once more. “Alright, but you owe me big time when we get home.”

My shoulders again spun me around and I saw her sink her shoulders. Both she and William’s eyes were on me. At the same time they looked away and into each other’s eyes, “anything you want.” 

She nodded and with a swift spin on her heels she was walking towards me. My knees melted and I tried to keep myself balanced. One hand went to my hip in a “cool” fashion.  When Abigail reached me she flicked her hair behind her thin shoulder, “It looks like I’m stuck with you.”

“I’m sorry.” I wasn’t, I was really rejoicing inside knowing I would be able to spend more time with her. Although the situation around us looked bleak and unsolvable looking into her eyes gave me a glimmer of hope.

“I have a few rules.”

I nodded and placed both feet squarely onto the concrete beneath me, “Naturally.” I answered.

“Don’t touch me, first of all. I’m not your mother and I will not take care of you. I am in charge and I will call the shots. When we sleep we sleep separately. Don’t think you’re chivalrous and can do anything, you aren’t. Finally, if it comes to choosing between you and my family, I will pick my family every time.”

I swallowed loudly and looked down to my sneakers. A slight nod pulled at the muscles in my neck. “I understand.”

She huffed loudly and spun to walk away. My hand instinctively grabbed her wrist. She whipped around with a dark glare in her eye. “Don’t touch me.” She hissed and I let go. Her curls bounced behind her back as she stormed away from me.

I swallowed loudly again and ended it with a sigh. A couple people were staring, snickering about the incident. I just looked down on the ground and started to hum a familiar song. My shoes crackled on the cement as I spun. I carried myself to the end of the pavement and sat. This was going to be an adventure I’d never forget.

Author's Note

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