Truth or Deal.

The plane ride was long and the drive to the new house seemed even longer. When we arrived the movers were already moving our stuff inside. A woman came running out of the house next door and my mother pulled her into a hug.

"Oh Alison it's so nice to see you made it safely. How was your trip?" The woman asked when they parted.

"It was good," my mom told her, "kids you remember your Aunt Sharon?" We nodded and my brother mumbled something incoherent.

A group of boys my age walked out of my aunt’s garage and caught our attention. They were holding band equipment and I knew immediately we probably wouldn't get along.

"Mom, can I?" My brother asked, motioning to my cousin and his friends.

My mother nodded and began talking to my Aunt Sharon again. I took advantage of my brother and mother being distracted and walked into the house to pick out my bedroom.

The first bedroom was on the first floor, at the very end of the hall next to the bathroom. I walked in and wasn't impressed. The bedroom size was mediocre, the closet size wasn't big enough to hold anything and the bathroom was across the hall. I closed the door and decided to search for the master bedroom.

I found it as soon as I walked up the stairs and took a right. There was another bedroom on the left and another bathroom down the hallway. I walked into the master bedroom and fell it love, it was huge! I opened the closet and was surprised to find a walk in closet. I looked around the room for a little bit longer before walking into the master bathroom. I had just got done turning the shower on to check the water pressure when I heard a light rapping. I poked my head out of the bathroom to see one of the movers standing in the doorway.

"Ma'am, we're starting to unpack your things. Your mother wanted me to ask you which room you wanted them in."

I glanced around the master bedroom one last time. The only fault of this room was that my windows faced my aunt’s house. "In this room here, please." I told them. He nodded and then left. I followed behind him and let my mother and aunt who were now standing in the living room.

"Did you pick out a bedroom, dear?" My mother asked me.

"Yeah, I told the movers to out my stuff in the neater bedroom." I stated, almost daring her to tell me I can't have that room. If I could sacrifice my life in New York and move across the country for her, she could sacrifice the master bedroom.

She only nodded, "I was thinking of taking the downstairs bedroom myself. Your brother and you will have the entire upstairs to yourself." I rolled my eyes, if I had it my way I would have my brother sleep in the basement. Also, I wouldn't have a brother.

"Can we go to Traxx for dinner?" I asked her. Traxx was my favourite place to eat in Los Angeles, which was only an hour away. "I haven't been since daddy took me for my birthday."

My mom shook her head, "your aunt has invited us for dinner tonight. Maybe tomorrow, but we still have all this stuff to unpack."

Ryan walked into the house followed by Matt and his friends. "Mom, can Ryan and the guys stay for dinner tonight?" Matt asked.

"Already ahead of you, son." His mother smiled, "Have you said hello to your other cousin?"

Matt looked over at me. The side of his lower lip was pierced and when he smiled it revealed his dimples. "Hey, Evelyn. How have you been?"

"Good." I answered curtly.

Ryan rolled his eyes. "Mom, this is Johnny, Brian, Zack and Jimmy." My brother introduced. The first boy he pointed at was semi-normal looking except he was much more petite than his friends and had a ring in his nose. The second guy was taller than the first; he also had a ring in his nose. The third guy was taller than the first, but shorter than the second. He had a mess of black hair that slightly fell into his eyes; he had a piercing on each side of his lower lip and another ring in the middle of his nose. The fourth guy was taller than all of us, I swear he was at least nine feet tall.

“It’s nice to meet you,” the shortest one said, the rest of the guys shook their heads in unison. I noticed the one with the hair in his eyes staring at me. He held my gaze for a few moments and then looked away.

“Well, I’m going to go call Marcus,” I announced before walking off.

“That’s her boyfriend,” I heard my mom tell my aunt. “She’s not very happy that I made her leave because of him.”

I walked into one of the empty rooms and dialed Marcus’s phone number. After a few rings, the line clicked, there was giggling in the background and then, “Hello?”

“Hey, baby,” I said slowly, “What are you doing?”

The giggling because quiet and I knew Marcus was walking away from its source, “Missing you.” He said.

“Who are you with?” I asked him suspiciously.

“Just some friends,” he said. I didn’t reply and after a few moments I heard him sigh on the other side of the phone. “Evelyn, baby, if we’re going to make this work you’re going to have to trust me. You know I love you. I’m not going to do anything to hurt you.”

I chewed on my lower lip for a few seconds and then replied, “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he said, “How’s the new house?”

I shrugged, “it’s okay. Mom let me have the master bedroom. I miss you already, though.”

“I miss you too,” said Marcus. “Have you met anyone yet?”

“Only my cousin’s friends. They’re so weird, Marcus. They’re in high school and they already have some tattoos.” I shook my head.

“You know they’re going to regret that in a few years,” Marcus laughed.

“I know. I just don’t understand people who mark themselves like that. I mean, it’s permanent. They probably do drugs and stuff too. I think Ryan is going to get along with them. They’re the same…” I trailed off, not being able to find the right word.

“Type of freak,” Marcus finished, laughing.

“Yes!” I laughed, “I think they’re in some crappy band too. We saw them with their instruments when we first arrived.

“Well, if the rest of Huntington Beach is like those losers I guess I’ll never have to worry about you cheating on me, will I?” He chuckled.

“Oh, shut up. You know you’re the only one I want to be with.”

Marcus said, “I know, baby girl, but hey, I have to go.”

“Already?” I wasn’t ready for this conversation to be over.

“Yeah, but I’ll call you later.”

“Okay, I love you.”

“You too.” And then he hung up.

Later that night, my mother called me and my brother downstairs and told us it was time to go to my aunts for dinner. We walked next door and my brother pressed the button for the doorbell.

“Hey, Ryan; hey, Mrs. Sanders,” One of Matt’s friends greeted as he opened the door, he glanced at me, “Hey…”

I tried to smile but I wasn’t sure if I succeeded or not. We walked past him and he closed the door. My mother and Ryan began chattering with my aunt and cousin and suddenly I felt out of place. Everyone began to sit at the table, I sat next to my mother and the boy who greeted us at the door sat in the only chair available which was next to me.

“Zack,” one of the other boys called, and the guy sitting next to me looked up. His friend made some sort of hand gesture and Zack laughed.

“Mom, can I just go back home?”

She shook her head, “What’s up with you, Evelyn? You’re usually not this anti-social.”

“Evelyn, what classes are you taking other than your core curriculum?” My aunt asked me.

“Oh, I’m going to take art and maybe see if there’s a way I can join cheer,” I told her. “I was the captain on my team at home…I mean, in New York.”

She nodded. “Art, huh? I never knew you could draw, that’s quite a talent to have.”

I smiled softly, “Yeah, it’s just a hobby though.”

The rest of the evening went as poor as expected. My aunt kept asking me questions to include me in the conversation, and I kept silently begging her to leave me alone.

Finally, my mother and aunt got up from the table so my aunt could show her something in another room. I took this as my chance to escape. I stood up and began to walk out of the dining room.

“Are you leaving?” Ryan asked me, I ignored him. “Mom’s going to be pissed.”

“Shut up, Ryan.” I said before leaving.

“Do you want someone to walk you home, Evelyn?” Matt asked me. “Zack, you’re not doing anything why don’t you…”

“I can walk across the yard by myself, thanks.” I rolled my eyes and left without any other word.

Notes