"Try to behave yourself tonight. I know you too well, and I know you will say or do something inappropriate." I huffed.
My mother was arranging the locks sticking out of her perfect chignon in front of my bedroom mirror. I was still lying in bed. I wasn't in the mood to meet new people, especially the neighbors. In fact, I was never in the mood to make new acquaintances.
"But can't I pretend I'm sick? They know anyway that I have cancer!». I sighed again rolling around in the soft blankets.
"Diana, please. You might even make friends. The Collinses have three children, two of whom are practically your age.' My mother sat on the edge of my bed. I huffed again.
"I don't want to make friends."
She started stroking my forehead.
"And... they have a five-year-old daughter." I jumped up.
"You're manipulating me! You know how much I love children! You can't manipulate me like this!" I yelled after her. She was already walking down the stairs to go downstairs.
"I know! And that's why in a quarter of an hour you must be down here ready to welcome them!».
The only positive note is that I could have spent the evening playing with that little girl.
I reluctantly decided to get out of bed and take the first things I found in the closet. A simple white T-shirt with pink flowers and a pair of blue jeans was just fine. I looked in the mirror and tried to fix the mass of hair that I found. I didn't consider myself a girl of divine beauty, even though in her life I've had several boys who courted me. Of course, I've always kept everyone away from me. I didn't want to be a burden to anyone, because in the end, that's who I am: a burden.
I put on the first shoes I found and struggled down the stairs to get to the living room. Let's say that my parents didn't have a great idea to put my bedroom on the upper floor, but anyway, I spend more time in bed than in the other parts of the house. If I need anything, Mary is always there.
"Here you are, hello Bambi." My father kissed me on the forehead.
"If you dare to call me that awful nickname again tonight, in front of them, I swear to God I won't speak to you for at least a month."
"It's okay, Bambi!" my mother said as she placed some appetizers on the glass table in front of the sofa.
"Mom! I beg you!".
I took one last look in the mirror and we heard the doorbell ring.
"They've arrived. Don't forget Diana, try not to talk bullshit, thank you ». My mother gave me a fake smile. I was most likely going to use it for the rest of the evening too.
My father had opened the door of the house saying: «please, come in». It was a family of five. The mother introduced herself first.
"Hi, you must be Diana right? I'm Anna," she told me with a toothy smile. Her voice, however, was very soft. "I'm Rick, the boss of this family," the father told me, trying to make me laugh. Of course, I remained impassive.
"These are Logan and Will and the baby is Isabella, but we all call her Bella," Anna introduced them. I didn't even glance at the other two boys who rushed at the little girl. "Hi Bella, I'm Diana. Nice to meet you". Her hand was so small I could barely squeeze it. "What is that?" she asked me.
"It's an oxygen tank that I always have to carry around. The oxygen passes through this tube which stops on my nose and makes me breathe better». I loved her curiosity. She was different from the rest of the family. She was blonde with small ringlets, while everyone else had brown hair.
"Do you have a cold?" the little doll asked me.
"More or less yes". I continued to smile at her. A cold that had lasted for fifteen years.
"Come on, let's sit down on the sofa. I packed some snacks," my mother said as she ushered the entire crew into the living room. I sat down in the white armchair my father had decided to move near the fireplace. My mother, before going to sleep, liked to read in front of a fire.
"Logan, Will, your mother told me you're about the same age as Diana."
Logan spoke first. "I'm still in high school, I'm in my final year." "I, on the other hand, graduated last year." Will was just a rare beauty. He looked older than me and instead we were the same age. I was stunned for a few seconds but then she felt a little hand touch my leg.
"Can I sit on top of you?" I picked Bella up and placed her across my legs. «Do you want a pizza?», I asked her.
"Yes!". She was extraordinarily sweet.
«Here. Don't forget, you have to eat it all so you can grow up», I said smiling.
I saw my father start talking about his work as an architect with Rick. He did that with everyone. My mother, on the other hand, was concentrated on explaining to Anna the recipe for some snacks that she had for separated.
"So you're Diana," Logan told me, clearly embarrassed. Will, on the other hand, remained silent, even though I felt his eyes on me.
"Yeah," I replied simply.
"How is it here in California?" Logan continued.
"Good, I think. It's hot".
"What do you usually do?". I hated talking to strangers and especially hated answering this question.
"Do you want to know the truth? Nothing. I do absolutely nothing all day."
"And why?". This time it was sweet Bella speaking. My mood changed within seconds.
"Because this bad cold doesn't allow me to do so many things," I tried to explain.
"Don't you have any friends to go out with?" Logan was starting to dislike me.
"No. I don't have anyone and I'm not going to have friends if that's what you want to know.'
"Bambi!" My mother had heard me.
"Mom, please." I glared at her.
"Why does she call you Bambi?" Bella asked me.
"Because when I was little, everyone told me I had doe eyes. That's where this nickname came from." Which is awful, I might add.
"It's true, though, you look like a fawn!" Bella laughed.
"A fawn that can tickle you so much though." I started making her laugh even more. I loved her laugh. It was like music to my ears.