Estelle Bronwyn

I jumped on my bed, sinking my face into my pink pillows in dread of what was to come. I had no choice but to do it, no matter how much I wanted to crawl into a deep hole never to see the light again. 

I had to go to a family gathering. 

Where I'd meet my aunt and uncle from my dad's side and like my dad--I never knew they existed. Shocking. 

My ringtone, 'Good days' by SZA, belt in my ear. Gruelingly, I pressed hard on the accept button realising it was a groupchat call with my friends.  

"Hello?" I said, somewhat normally. 

"Estelle where are you!? The movie is starting in an hour" Rio shrieked. We all had our camera's off but I could tell he was freaking out. 

"I'm-" 

"In fact, where are all of you? I thought we were meeting up at mine!?" He announced, cutting me off. I did tell them I was coming to watch the movie 'Baby face' but when you find out 2 hours ago that you're forced to meet your relatives that can't happen anymore. It was the first time my dad had ever been authoritative; wasn't a nice look on him.

"Can you calm down, Julia and I are on our way" Walker replied, his voice seeming to loosen up the tension. 

"Well stop flirting and start running!"

"Oh shut up," Julia spurted out. 

Silence finally arrived and I could tell my reason, "I'm forced to stay at home, sorry guys. Have fun and don't forget to take pictures" Before any of them questioned me further I cancelled the call.

Just in time, Levi knocked on my door. I can tell when it's his. 

"Time to go meet part of our dad's side" He said with a pleasing smile. I'm glad one of us was excited. Like a sloth, I left my bed wearing a large blue top and shorts. I left my hair as a messy ponytail before trailing behind Levi to the dining room. 

With food already prepared at the table, our relatives shot up from their seat giving us a long glance. 

"There they are," Our uncle croaked. He had a clear bald patch in the middle of his brown, thinning hair. He clasped his hands with Levi's, letting out a haughty laugh. 

"And you must be Estelle," Said my aunt angelically. I mean, compared to our uncle she had little to no wrinkles on her face except the ripples under her eyes. Long Luscious blonde hair and thick eyebrows, a nose piercing glimmering in the light and the best bit was her smile. All of this. It reminded me of my mom.

"Hi," I said coldly, sitting down opposite her. Her smile fell but stayed hopeful and she planted back on her seat. My Dad cleared his throat, 

"Let's all eat shall we," said my Dad, and a nervous chuckle escaped from his mouth. I didn't mean for things to get awkward, I just don't want to speak to her. Or my uncle. I owe them nothing and vice versa.

I did enjoy the spaghetti Dad made. I had to admit, he was good in the kitchen. The conversation swirled to Levi and his swimming career. 

"I did mess up in my first swim meet but I never let failure define who I am," He said dramatically, clutching the middle of his orange vest. Everyone else listened intensively to his next words whilst I was skewing the rest of the spaghetti around my fork. 

"What a lovely man you must be" Uncle Martin complimented, "You must have wooed some ladies already," I snorted, not able to contain the funny joke he just said. Levi side-eyed me, crumpling his face. I challenged him by narrowing my eyes.. 

"I'd keep a closer eye on Estelle and her male friends," Aunt Matilda butted in smiling innocently. Surprised, I glanced at my father to see his response. If you didn't notice, we don't talk to each other much and we certainly don't talk about my love life. 

He shook his head, "I trust her. Estelle's got a sensible head on, for sure" And for once I didn't fake a smile from growing on my face. 

"You're right Dad, you got nothing to worry about" 

"On the other hand," He impressively raised a single brow at Levi "I'm not sure about the other twin and how impulsive he is" I smirked at Levi, enjoying the scrutiny he was getting. I wanted it to last longer,

"Don't worry about him. The only girls he can get are his imaginary friends when we were kids,"

He rolled his eyes imitating my voice, "The only girls he can blah blah blah." 

I stuck my tongue out at him, jeering at him. He pulled an uglier face back; oh never mind it was his real face.

"Says the one who wants to get into Theo's pants" He whispered, loud enough for me to hear.

 A sentence that riled me up and made me freeze in seconds. Like when you hear your deepest secret you told your best friend was just shared. That kind of feeling. And It undeniably wasn't something I could let go for the sake of my relatives.

"What the actual fuck do you -"  

"You two, stop!" Our Dad demanded. "Not in front of your uncle and aunt,"

I heaved a sigh out of me, finishing my sphagetti not letting Levi's little snickers get the better of me. What a piece of asshole shit. 

"Oh twins will be twins," Matilda said dryly. 

The rest of the dinner mainly drew into silence with a few 'pass the tissue'.

***

As a punishment for our 'shocking behavior' Dad made us clean the dishes and the pans and utensils to make the spaghetti before we could sleep. 

With a scrub in one hand and a pan in the other, I desperately cleaned the oil seeped into the pan and handed it to Levi to dry. It became a monotonous process of hearing clangs of plates and accidental spills of water spluttering on the checkered floor. At the end of the day he was still, woefully, my brother.

"So...." I trailed on, "Do you like our new relatives?"

"They're family, of course I do. But I'm guessing you don't" He deadpanned, drying a knife. I was a little confused to why he'd think that. Was I blatantly rude to them?

"What makes you say that?"

He sighed, dropping the cloth "Because I'm starting to think anyone slightly linked to our father you'll dislike" 

"Ok? I don't get what's wrong with that sentence?" I glanced around the room, bewildered. Maybe he was waiting for an apology of some sorts? Probably a clear sympathetic reaction. 

"It's not fair Estelle. For Matilda, Martin, our dad or yourself" He eyes grew dull, staring at me "You don't need to tell me why you don't like Dad, alright, I understand-"

"Do you?" It's that line again. They understand. Yes, my brother is also hurt from our mother's passing but it's not the same. At least, I don't think it is. There's no need to talk about it either, I'm over her now. 

He crossed his arms, "Yeah I do. The past few months have been a lot to take in. It's normal to feel like...like" 

"Shit?" 

"You look like one too so that checks out" He said, patting my shoulder. I splashed water on his face, taking it as revenge. He stumbles backwards, his mouth agape. 

"You little-" I threw the scrub right in his face and made a run for my room squealing along the way. 

***

The next day at lunch, my friends didn't forget the reason I made for not going movie night. Julia and Walker didn't mind though, since they believed me. Rio was a little annoyed and his way of punishing me was to spoil the whole movie. 

"....and basically at the end, the main character's nephew held the knife, taking up the mantle of baby face" He concluded in a low ominous tone like one of those adults telling children a scary story at night. 

"So basically I didn't miss much?" I said glancing at my friends on the table, not regretting the movie I couldn't go to. It would've been nice though; especially when Halloween is creeping closer. 

Julia nodded swallowing a grape, "Absolutely right."

"It was boring as well," Walker sipped his water. "Could've went to the gym in that time or spent more time with my pets" Walker was a kind being. You should see how delicate he is with animals despite their size. Part of me believes he wants to be a vet but another part thinks he's going to be a gym instructor. I don't know which one he fits more. 

Julia opened my bag to take my sketchbook out, I then gave her a pencil to start doodling. 

"Of course it wasn't scary. It's called baby face" Rio snorts with grin. I hummed in agreement. That name deserves to be rated 'U'. Although, Walker scrunched his face,

"Says the one who couldn't let go of me" Julia giggled to herself. 

"You got good enough arm muscle to hold," He defended as if it was the best excuse he could muster,"and squeeze and hide behind. And you smell really nice" 

Somehow their arms linked. Rio, beaming at me whispered, "Guess what he smells like?" 

"I can hear you?"

"It's very woody with a hint of of pineapple, we know," Julia listed, beating me to it; she immediately went back to drawing a dress. 

Walkers head tilted in her direction slowly, "I didn't think anyone could smell the pineapple part" 

Julia glanced up meeting his eye, "It's feint but it's there." 

Rio suddenly fake vomited clearly disgusted by what he just saw. "Get a room." 

"Rio, get a life." Julia glared. 

 My stomach grumbled and made me realize how hungry I was; and I thought you could live on fruits. 

"Where you going?" Rio asked, watching me stand up. 

"Vending machine" I pointed behind me. There was no vending machine there. 

He drummed on the table begging, "Get me some chips"

I didn't respond and took in his words. The vending machines in this school change every semester; it's confusing. I'm always having to look out for where they keep them. Once it landed in the principals office. Wonder how it got there. 

Further away from the cafeteria, I heard deep voices near me. I cut a corner, setting my eyes on the vending machine being occupied by two students. One who had a very familiar back and another with a man bun, God what did I get myself into. Not another student in sight and the ones I did see swiftly walked passed me. Is it worth getting snacks whilst being near Theo? Perhaps he's not an awful guy but I really don't want to talk to him again.

 He makes me not myself.

Nope. It isn't worth it. Rio and I can survive on our stomachs gradually devouring our insides. I turned my back towards them leaving without out a trace. That was until Griffin called my name. 

"Estelle?"

"Hi," I waved as I made my way deeper into the corridor they were in. If I'm spotted might as well get the snacks. 

Griffin opened his arms out holding a biscuit packet, "Estelle! My Man!" Confused at his greeting, I managed to force a smile. My gaze shifted to Theo who was occupied by what I was wearing. It wasn't even revealing; just jeans and a sweater. I didn't take much notice to his eyes surveying me once more; weirdly I'm getting used to it. 

"What you here for?" Griffin grew slightly more serious. No but was he actually serious? 

With a straight face I said, "No, I've been trying to find you to confess my undying love for you Griffin"

Theo scratched his eyes at Griffins disappointed reaction. "Didn't know you thought of me like that. Sorry man, but- "

"She's being sarcastic you idiot" Theo exasperated, glaring at the hunky boy. 

"Am I?" I rose my eyebrows. 

Griffin fixed his posture standing more straight, "Yeah..is she?"

"I don't care either way," He cleared his throat. Said the guy who tried feeding me ice cream not too long ago. For Griffin's sake, I didn't admit that out loud that would only create rumors. No wonder Levi made the ridiculous comment. 

"Could you move, I need to get snacks for Rio and I" And so they did leaning on the wall. Theo unpackaged his straw sliding  it deep inside the apple juice hole, appearing small compared his hands. I found it oddly amusing. 

I used my card to pay the machine, grabbing tortilla chips for Rio and a tuna sandwich for myself. 

"He's too lazy to come with you?" Theo asked in that deep, tender voice of his. If I couldn't feel his eyes on me, I certainly could now. A sense and feeling I couldn't explain properly. Like a game of cat and mouse but that cat doesn't really want to eat the mouse yet pays close attention to it. 

"I'm capable of coming here myself thanks," I said, a tone that made me seem I was being offended. I waited for the machine to push the items out. 

"We're not one to judge a female's right to independency,"

"Right?" I blinked. "So thoughtful of you"

"No worries my sufragge- "

"You've said enough Griffin let Estelle leave" Theo interjected smoothly. I clutched onto my items turning around to face them, 

"And you can stop tracing my every move too" 

Unexpectantly, he shut his mouth. For a few seconds that is. "I'm not tracing; just looking" 

"Stop looking at my every move then," I heavily sighed. "Maybe I should't've come here by myself"

"I'm intimidating, I know" He replied cockily letting a sly smirk appear. 

"That's only because you're hot"

Shit. 

With every fibre of my being, I really wished he became deaf in that moment. My mind bombarded itself with any profanity it could think of. It didn't help that my face grew red and my eyes widened. Griffin boomed out laughing patting Theo on the back. Theo's face stayed the same. Like that unfortunate compliment flew over his head. 

Like he's heard it countless times before. 

"I meant hot in terms of personality. You're really annoying- that's exactly what I meant" I argued, my speech fragmented. 

"Sure. Sure Estelle." A demeanor cold and polite. He sipped on his drink, glaring deep into my eye. "Let's go Griffin. I'm in a good mood now. Estelle, talk later?" 

"In your wildest dreams." 

Authors note:

This chapter was so fun to write and I can't wait to write more!

I update on Fridays

but If I have a lot of time I'm able to post on a Tuesday as well!

I am very busy so next update is on Tuesdays for a little while