See me when you look at me

Chapter 3

-Samantha POV

I see my aunt standing in the hallway and she angrily wipes away her tears.

″I am so sorry, dear! I’m just so mad at my sister and at myself. She took you away from us and from everything you knew. Always changing jobs and men. She refused to let us see you and she did the same with Emma. All we got was a text message that said she was born and that was it!''

I lean against the wall and I let my aunt get everything out.

''I saw her once when she was pregnant with Emma. She refused to tell me how you were doing or where you were. She refused to tell me anything about Emma's dad or what her plans were. She just left, send that text message after Emma was born and that was it. We haven't heard from her in years and we had no way to contact her. She didn't left an address and she changed her phone number after. Of course that is no excuse, I should have make sure that the two of you were okay!'' 

″You did what you could, aunt Laurel. Don’t blame yourself for the things my mother did or said.″

More tears roll over the cheeks of my aunt as she shakes her head.

″No, Samantha. It was my responsibility to make sure that you two were okay, because that’s what family does! I always knew my sister wasn’t the most responsible person in the world, but I never thought that she would make you take care of Emma. You are a sixteen year old girl. You’re supposed to be a moody teenager and get into trouble, you’re not supposed to be a parent!″

″I’m moody in the morning and when I’m hungry.″

My aunt looks at me and finally she smiles.

″Now I feel even worse for not having your room ready, but I can still show it to you if you like?″

I nod and I follow my aunt up the stairs. She opens a door and the smell of a fresh coat of paint hits me.

I smile when I see the fairy tale characters on the wall. Emma was going to love that!

″I really hope that green is still your favourite colour, but we can always change it. Don’t worry about the rest, dear. Tyler will put everything together tomorrow.″

My gaze falls on the wardrobe or what’s left of it anyway and I chuckle.

″It’s beautiful, aunt Laurel. I don’t want to change a thing!″

My aunt smiles, but I can tell that she is still mad at herself.

″I know what we can do!″

My aunt is suddenly beaming with excitement. ″We are going to build a fort in the living room and have a movie night! What do you think?″

″I would love that, but can we first have dinner?″ My stomach grumbles and my aunt starts laughing.

″Of course, dear! Let’s go down and see if there is still some pizza left. You never know with Tyler and Mia.″

″Sammy, I already got you a slice of pizza!″ Emma yells when she sees me. She takes my hand and she leads me to the table.

I’m now sitting next to Alexander and Emma points at the plate in front of me. I smile when I see how excited she is and I take a bite.

″Delicious. Thank you, Em.″

″Emma, I was talking to your sister and we came up with an idea. How about after dinner, we build a fort in the living room and watch a movie?″ my aunt Laurel asks.

″Can we watch Charlie and the chocolate factory?″ Mia looks at her mother with pleading eyes.

″How about we let Emma decide, Mia? It’s her first night here and you saw that movie two days ago.″

Emma looks at me and she is suddenly shy again. I know everything is getting too much for her. The move, the long trip, meeting the family, pizza and the prospect of sleeping in a fort. Choosing a movie was overwhelming her and she looks at me for help.

″You like that movie. How does the oompa loempa song goes, Em?″

″OOMPA LOOMPA DOOMPADE DOO!″

″Yes, Charlie and the chocolate factory it is!″ Mia yells victorious and she stands up. ″Come on, Emma. We can start building a fort!″ The girls leave and I take another small bite.

″You really hate pineapple don’t you?″

I look confused at the boy next to me and I try to remember his name, while I hear my aunt asking Tyler to get the sheets before Mia destroys the house.

″Busted,″ I said with a grin. ″But it’s fine and I’m not really hungry.″

″Alexander,″ the boy says and I blush.

″Busted again.″

To my surprise Alexander switches our plates and he continues to eat. I follow his example and I take a bite. A moan escapes my mouth. This pizza tasted amazing!

″Not hungry, huh?″

I look at Alexander and he looks at me amused.

″Busted again?″

″Shut up!″

**********************************************************************************************

-Alexander's POV

″Alex, help me get the mattresses downstairs!″

Tyler is back and he looks really annoyed. ″Mom says we can finish assembling the furniture tomorrow, but now she needs the mattresses.″

″You can assemble the rest tomorrow,″ I correct Tyler with a smirk and he narrows his eyes at me.

″Don’t start again, dude.″

″I’m not, but I have other things to do tomorrow. However, I will help you with the mattresses and I can give you a ride to wherever you are supposed to meet Lydia. Assuming that you didn't cancel your plans with her already.''

Tyler is weighing his options, while Samantha appears in the doorway.

″I can help you with assembling the furniture,″ Samantha offers.

″Then you will not have to waste your entire day. I bet you have better things to do on a Saturday.″

″Do you even now how to put furniture together?″ Tyler asks sceptically.

″Do you?″ Samantha retort. ″I saw the wardrobe.″

I see Tyler's face and I burst out in laughter. Tyler grins and he shrugs his shoulders.

″You got me there, cousin. Alex, will you now please help me with the mattresses?″

I nod and I follow Tyler to the bedrooms. We get the mattresses and we bring them downstairs, where Mia tells us where they should go. From the corner of my eye, I see that Samantha took another slice of pizza and I grin. When she’s done she calls her little sister, because it’s time to brush her teeth and put on her pyjama.

″I don’t want to!″ Emma mutters.

″How can we have a slumber party if you’re not in your pyjama?″ Samantha responds.

″Then you have to wear your pyjama as well!″

″Emma Victoria Jones, that’s enough! Go brush your teeth and put on your pyjama, I’m counting to three.″

″It’s not fair!″

″One.″

″No!″

″Two.″

″I’m going, I’m going!″

″I’m moving in with you,″ I hear Tyler say. ″Living with my mom and sister is one thing, but now there are four of them.″

I chuckle and we go back to the kitchen.