2 Ch. 1

*3 Months ago*

I was inside because it was cold and wet outside.  I had realised I was the only one in the house so I walked outside and was confused at the sight; a U-haul truck.  I walked next door to my Aunt Sarah's house.  I walked on to the porch and invited myself in.  I saw my family that live with me,  my family that lives here with Aunt Sarah and 3 unfamiliar faces 

"Harlow, this is your Uncle John,  Aunt Josey,  and Cousin Damon.  Your other cousin… " She trailed off

I saw my Aunt Josey and Damon but not my uncle. 

"Sarah, I thought I told you to just call me Lynn. " I said as I walked passed everybody,  smiling kindly,  and trying to make my way to the kitchen. 

That's when I had to do a double take when I thought I had seen Sasquatch but it was actually my uncle. 

"Damn,  last time I saw you,  you was this tall!" He said putting his hand at his waist. 

"Yeah, and last time I saw you,  you were less old and resembled a man rather than sasquatch. " I replied. 

He then looked at my aunt Sarah and said,  "He's in the U-haul. "

I decided to sit down rather than go meet the last member of my family that I haven't met,  but after hearing everyone's conversations,  I found myself at the back of an open U-haul truck. 

I thought John had walked out to go get him but he was actually on the porch smoking a cigarette. 

Of course, like I said,  the back was open and all I could see was bags,  on top of bags,  on top of even more bags.  Bags for days and bags for miles. I was so caught up in how many bags there were,  I had almost died when one of them moved.  Then I saw a face. 

His hair was long like John's  but the unfamiliar person had sideburns and a small mustache. 

"A little help?" He asked as he tried to climb over the top of a heap of bags backwards and fell on his hind-end (and landed on bags).  He stood up,  took a deep breath and lunged himself over the rest of the bags,  and lost his footing while landing.  Before he face planted in the gravel,  I grabbed his arm and held him in his backwards falling position so he could regain his balance and catch his breath. 

Once he regained his balance but was still catching his breath I tried not to laugh but did smile a little. 

"My names Harlow, but I'd prefer you to call me Lynn. " I said with a slight giggle in my voice. 

He took his hands off his knees  and stood up straight which made him about 4 inches taller than my measly 5' 5 inches. 

"Derek. " Was all he said but nodded a 'thank you'. 

When I got a good look at him,  I noticed he had dull,  blue eyes that were almost grey. I think one of the first things I notice about a person usually is their eyes. His were red in the corners and  had dark bags around them. 

I realised I was probably awkwardly staring at him so I turned around, put my hands in my pockets and went home. 

I went in then went to my room and changed into warm clothes,  brushed my blonde hair, and pulled it back into its usual messy-bun at the top of my head.  Once I did so,  I took a deep breath,  pulled my mud boots back on,  and walked back into the house with already 14 people inside. 

........................

 I sat in boredom while everyone had huddled into their own little groups to talk to each other, except for me and Derek… but he was eating. 

And boy could he eat.  He was on his third dag-um  bowl of soup! Aunt Sarah must have seen me watching because she then offered  me a bowl in which I politely declined. 

Look at him go! And on to his fourth bowl! I wonder when the last time he ate; Was it yesterday or last winter?

I was starting to get even more bored by not talking but I took it to my advantage.  It gave me enough time to get a good look at everybody,  starting with the new people. 

I started with Damon. He looked around 17.  He had dark mocha brown hair and his hair came down to the tips of his shoulders.  His face resembled Derek's a little when I looked at his eyes that were also grey and bloodshot.  He had on baggy clothes.  A black hoodie and dark colored jeans that were ripped and sagging a little. He had a deep voice which suited him well. He was maybe an inch taller than Derek. 

Then I moved on to my Uncle Sasquatch who was talking to my grandpa. He had a happy giggly tone in his voice while talking which kind of weirded me out. His  eyes were opened really wide like he was hyper and I could see his cloudy green eyes clearly through his long brown bangs.  His beard covered most of his face.  He was wearing some of my Uncle Seth's (Aunt Sarah's husband) clothes which were a baggy black and white jacket and grey sweatpants. He looked like he was 50 but he's only really in his late thirties. 

Then on to Aunt Josey.  She looked old.  She had long grey hair that was covered up with a blue fishing hat.  She had brown eyes that were blood shot also.  Her face was wrinkly and she looked to be 50 like John…  but I couldn't tell.  She was missing a couple teeth.  Her voice was jumbled and when she talked and she sounded like she had a mouth full of tissue mixed with a 3 year old trying to talk. 

Then back to Derek.  He had long black hair, and none of them seemed to have had a hair cut in over a year. His long hair made him look older but I honestly think he is around my brother Brendan's age (15).  Earlier,  his voice had been deep but a little tired but it matched him perfectly.  He seemed to be a watcher just like me.  His blue eyes were searching the room just as I was, taking in the new people he'd only just met today. He wore the same attire as Damon but instead of a plain black hoodie, he wore a crimson red one.  He looked past my brother Brendon and then his eyes had landed on me. 

I quickly looked away and I could feel eyes on me but he finally looked away and laughed to himself almost inaudible,  because of the noise of talking and the fact that he didn't laugh loud. 

I sat there and suddenly got bored again. I thought 'I should probably just go home'  so that's what I did.  

I know everyone is tired and I was kind of sticking out like a sore thumb. 

My parents never liked my Uncle John and Aunt Josey.  They are outlaws…  Well,  I don't know if that'd be the right term for 'Does drugs and raises 5 children in that environment'.  How I know they do drugs you may ask? Well think about it.  During my look around John was hyper,  and I could barely see it but I could just make out that the veins in his wrists and up his arms were completely  black.  Then I thought "Why did Aunt Josey sound like that when she talked?"  Drugs can mess with your vocal cords people,  and another thing… I'M NOT STUPID YA KNOW!!! I notice these kinds of things. 

Damon and Derek…  I know they've been through a lot.  I can see it in their eyes.  Not only are they blue and tired…  but they are sad.  They probably didn't have a very good childhood.  I bet they know things that people their age shouldn't know,  or even things some 30 year old men still don't know. I bet I'll never know and understand what they've been through, and I'm sure I might not ever want to know…