Chapter 11

It was my birthday today, something I could never miss. Not because I was getting older or that it was a special day, but because somehow my cousin Jennifer was born on the same day. It was laughable and when we were kids our parents made jokes about it, but after that incident, nobody really acknowledged it.

It was only natural that both her parents would do the best thing they could muster up which always began with a barbecue in the backyard. A family one, with only a few close friends.

I hated it.

Mostly because I was the one forced to rush around and get everything in place. Be it food or decorations. But cooking was left to Aunt who couldn't let me near any burner mostly because of my amazing talent to always destroy any food meant to be cooked.

I could make a great sandwich though...

It was a school a day but the birthday girl was always required to skip and her friend followed suit willingly. When it was high noon, family started flooding in.

Grandma came first, and gave me slobbering kiss which I rubbed away after she was done. Then Uncle Michael and Aunt Anne who usually came to banter with Aunt Clair and Uncle Bernard and, of course, the twins.

Jamie and James were going off to university after this year so they, unlike all the past years, decided to show up.

But they were nice to me unlike their other cousin, who seethed at my slightest mistake.

"Hey Elli, how goes it?" James patted my head.

"Tired like always" I groaned back faking a hunched back. He laughed at the sight.

"They always put you to work while they sit down hogging all those body rolls don't they?" Jamie always expressed her anger when she saw the treatment I received from Aunt Clair and Uncle Bernard.

They were both the closest thing to siblings I had.

"I don't mind, a workout is always welcomed by me" I smiled back warmly. Suddenly, someone lifted my arm.

It was Grandma and judging by the frown she held as she examined my arm I knew what was coming.

"You need more milk!" She left quickly and came back with jug full and forced it into my hands. "Now finish all of that until the food is ready" she bought it to my mouth and forced it down my throat.

My misery was entertaining for the twins it seemed as they doubled-down in laughter.

Soon, grandma left me with the jug of milk and a brooding stomach ache.

By now the place was filled with friends and family. It was the same as always. The uncles talking about sport games whilst the aunties gossiped and ,of course, the iconic nasally laughter that came from Jennifer and her friends sounded out.

There was a knock at the front door and it seemed only I caught it so I left reluctantly to go inside.

The door was knocked on lightly, but persistently. Was it one of Jennifer's friends?

I opened the door with the most unwelcoming look on my face, until I saw who it was that is.

Glossy blonde and deep green eyes frowned at me.

"Why haven't you been picking up my calls?" He looked annoyed. It was always a rare face on him.

"I-I haven't been on my phone all day" I quickly said still in shock. Why was he here?

"You- you don't have any idea how worried I've been" he groaned out as he grasped his head with a hand and let out a shaky breath.

"Wh-did something happen?" I stared at him in worry and reached for his arms instinctively.

"Somebody died." He said before I was suddenly enveloped in a unexpected embrace. I wasn't used to being hugged so tightly and it caused a warm fuzzy feeling heat up my body.

"They haven't been able to make out their identity beside their gender which is female and then you didn't show up and both me and George thought"-.

"That I didn't leave school after meeting with Mr Nathaniel." He stopped and nodded as he released me from the awkward hug.

"Sorry- I was just..." he trailed off as if he didn't know why he did it either, but that wasn't important right now.

"Do you think he did it?" Before I could receive an answer Jennifer's high voice let out a loud gasp.

"Kevin! You actually came this year!" She squealed and ran at him tackling him in an unexpected hug, oblivious to the heavy atmosphere around us.

She dragged him in, whilst he shot me a bewildered glance. I laughed in return.