Brooks

ul resided. When we were little, Auntie Laurel would gather the kids together; Conrad, Jamie, Jeanette and I and tell us stories about how Fox Lane o

s. The house looked really fancy with its special decorations made of strong stone. It had large window

gles pointing up to the sky. The roof had a shiny material that

lions stood on either side of the front door, as if they were protecting it. The fron

d Auntie Laurel was right

ge and ran into her arms. She embraced me tightly

grown so much!" She complimen

ith her short blonde hair. She was average height and she was probably in her early fourti

ldn't wait to check out the room, she insisted on showing me off to her book club friends. She took my hands a

ks they don't even like, just to show off. Four women were sitted

he introduced me, "This is

e of the way I was dressed? I was wearing one of my favorite hoodies and jean trousers that mum had insisted I wore. My hai

the women said, as if

uncomfortable gaze, she aske

the kids will be back a

rich people and how they judged every

it, I was surprised. The walls were alive with a riot o

of various sizes and shapes created a cozy sanctuary, and a handma

he door, the six years old me used to wear them

orite character when I was young so Auntie Laurel probably thought I still liked her. But I

at me, giving me a tight hug. It was Jeanette. Yeah, without seeing her face, I was sure

or a moment, I felt she was goi

zed my hands tightly, "I'm so glad y

little Jeanette who ran around in her underwe

ged" I stammered, trying to

er ear, "I know" she replied, getting on her fe

more about fashion than I did. With a cascade of golden hair that danced upon her sh

of jeans with plain white sneakers. Her hair was parked into a p

hool for a year. Mum has everything planned

so much lacked and now, I was beginning to worry about how I would fit in when i ge

te's face as she pulled me up on my

ed, I tapped his shoulder from behind and he slowly turned to me. My heart raced as my eyes met Jamie's. I could never have imagine

lief. My eyes traveled up and down his tall frame, appre

tinged with equal surprise and excitement. A shy smile played on his l

ith surprise. "You've grown into quite the

s perched on his nose, a classic accessory of the nerd archetype. "Thanks, Jenna,"

more. Was it because they were all grown up now? When they were five, they used to be so i

Laurel said as she walked out of the

ally grown a lot

y back slowly, "You als

rincess pajamas, I still hadn't gotten used to sleeping with the lights off and I was still criminally terrible at dressing up. So, I didn't rea

were still kids, Conrad had told me he liked me more with the

honest I was really eager to see him, what he would look like, what he would sound like, if he

y'all should go freshen up quickly" Aunt

Disney princess pajamas and went back downstairs. Soon the twins joined us in the living room. Jam

at the mall last week. She had wanted to buy me one of those but it was so expensive and she had even claimed that the price

why?" I asked Jamie as he

of rebellion against mum. He'll be back soon" Jamie explained, then

t gaze and went on to settle down while I feasted my eyes on the different delicacies on the table. It was like a f

rel asked Jeanette to pray and she

s no way you said a prayer in just five seconds

s she spoke, "I pray fast,

ging into my meal. I knew that sooner or later, Jeanette was gon

eanette's voice cut through