"Wow, Mr.Vandel this is one nice cottage!" Jackie complimented as she planted her feet in the rich soil beneath.

     The cottage and the land surrounding it was extremely tranquil. The trees swayed softly in the wind and the climate was perfect in Jackie's opinion.

     Jackie walked into the chestnut cabin house and cautiously looked around, watching her each and every step with caution.

     Suddenly, as though she had completely forgotten about the rest of the world's happenings, war suddenly filled her mind, usurping her current train of thought causing a shiver to travel down her spine.

     "Mr.Vandel?" Jackie shouted as she looked around for her guardian.

After waiting for a response for a while, she decided to grab her things and bring them into the cabin to make good use of her time.

     After Jackie had completed carrying her clothes and items to the cabin, she strolled outside to try and find him again.

"Mr.Vandel?" Jackie asked again, this time hoping he would answer.

     "Yes, Jackie?" Mr.Vandel replied, marching out from the woods with Cole, each carrying a bundle of wood in each arm.

Jackie let out a sigh of relief as she saw Mr.Vandel appear from the woods.

Once he reached her, he stopped walking, handed his bundle of wood over to Cole, and then stood still to listen to Jackie.

     "Uh, how do you know that this place is safer than where we were previously?" Jackie inquired nervously as she absentmindedly began to bit her nails, which was a bad habit she had recently adapted.

     "Well, I know because it is not as populated here as the town we lived in. I believe firmly that the Nazis want to invade the larger and more populated areas first." Mr.Vandel replied setting the bundle of wood by the cabin door.

     He wiped his hands letting the saw dust fall slowly to the ground.

     "Okay." Jackie replied skeptically.

The sound of a stick snapping caused Jackie to whip her head around. To her surprise, a handsome young boy appeared in her vision. Time seemed to freeze as he approached her, his muscles tensing as he took each step, his hair blowing softly in the wind.

       "Still, we need to be aware that they could appear outta' nowhere, kid." He added, tapping the cigarette as small ashes began to flew down to the ground like leaves on an Autumn day.

     "Uncle James?" The boy questioned as he ran up the driveway.

Finn was not cognizant that Jackie was over by his uncle, which frustrated her a bit.

     He was carrying some small animal in his hands, but Jackie was too focused on his appearance. He was a buff teenager with gorgeous sandy blonde hair, blue eyes that sparkled in the sunlight, and thick eyelashes that any girl would kill for. He also had very tan skin that told Jackie he spent a lot of time outdoors.

     "I'm in the cabin!" Mr.Vandel replied loudly back to the boy.

      A sudden clanging of pots erupted in the cabin, breaking the silence outside.

     The boy rushed straight passed Jackie, his shirt brushing up against her shoulder as he head into the cabin by Mr.Vandel, who was apparently his uncle.

     "Hey sis, how do you like it here?" Cole asked suddenly pulling Jackie out of her trance as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. I guess sometimes brothers can be nice.

     "It's. . . pretty cool." Jackie admitted as she forced a smile smile on her chapped lips.

     To be honest, Jackie did not exactly like it there just yet since she had not quite adjusted to it.

     "Yeah, well I gotta go get some more wood. If I want to stay, I gotta follow the rules. See ya Jacko." Cole bid goodbye and ran off into the woods by himself.

     After watching her brother run off into the distance, Jackie decided to walk back inside the cabin. When she did so, she walked in to hear Finn and Mr.Vandel whispering to themselves. Jackie swallowed and then she leaned against the wall to hear everything as clearly as possible.

     "Uncle, who the hell even are these kids?" The boy inquired with a tone of  confusion ringing in his voice as he spoke to his uncle.

     The boy was banging his fists against the table, anger written all over his body. His eyes were an icy blue and he looked desperate for an answer.

     "Their names our Jackie and Cole, and you sure as hell will treat them like siblings. They are marvelous children anyway, and they are your age." Mr.Vandel informed as he eyed the boy carefully, examining his reaction.

     "C'mon, I don't want any children here." He scowled as he ran his fingers through his shaggy blonde hair.

     "Cut the act, Finn, you're not twenty." Mr.Vandel scolded as he snapped his fingers at his face.

      Jackie smiled as she heard the boy's name finally.
    
     Finn.

    She repeated his name in her head over and over again.

     "Dammit, uncle, why?" Finn groaned as he slumped his shoulders and shoved his hands into his pockets.

     "Just be nice to them, okay? They are going through a really tough time in their lives, Finn." Mr.Vandel demanded as Finn began to walk away from him, eager to get away and be alone," also, watch the language please."

     Finn rolled his eyes and scowled, shoving the wooden chair into the table with a loud "thud" in result. He hesitantly picked up his backpack and stomped towards the door. Jackie flinched and grasped at the wall to try and hide herself.

     He stomped outside angrily, not noticing Jackie up against the wall. Again, his body brushed up against hers as he rocketed away from the cabin. After he had ran away, Jackie had felt extremely rejected, although she knew it had been partly her fault anyway.

Jackie strolled casually back outside and pretended to come back in the cabin. Shortly after she opened the door, Mr. Vandel appeared, holding a cigar in his hands. Before passing her, he offered her a friendly wink.

     His wink had brightened her day by the smallest bit. At this point in her life, anything simple could make her day ten times better.

     Life at the cabin would not be the same for Jackie and Cole ever again, but for now, the four must learn to prepare for something big.