Helen fidgeted with her hands for a while before she replied, looking at the ground, "Hello Aria. I'm... I'm fine."
Joseph and Jacob felt a bit awkward upon hearing Helen's reply. Anyone would have thought she would be talking with a little more enthusiasm. But it didn't seem to hamper Aria's enthusiasm as she walked forward and put her arms in Helen and Jacob's on each side and walked forward with a bright smile.
She led them a few steps and turned around to look at Joseph. "You coming Joseph?" "Oh, and pick up those bags." she added turning back and leading Helen and Jacob ahead.
Joseph looked at Helen's bags on the floor and sighed. He picked them up and followed the three with a smile.
Once the four of them were seated comfortably in the carriage, Joseph looked at Aria, who was sitting diagonally opposite him, "Hey, what about your luggage?"
Aria opened the window of the carriage and pushed back her hair that blew in the wind, "It's right here." She pointed to a bag she had slung across her shoulders.
Joseph's eyes popped out, "That's.... that's it!?!?"
He thought back to his one big bag, and Helen's one big and one small bag, even though they were only going back to their own homes.
Aria shrugged as Jacob chuckled, "Did you know, she only brought this bag from our village. I was shocked, thinking she had forgotten her luggage."
Joseph was getting more shocked by the minute when Helen, who was sitting beside Aria, suddenly spoke, "What bag?"
Jacob and Joseph were surprised. They didn't expect Helen to take the initiative to talk, she had been shrinking into a shell ever since that exam day. Aria's face lit up as she helped Helen feel her bag, who crossed her arms after that with a smug look, "Of course she has a small bag....."
Joseph was horrified that Helen was going to try and put Aria down and Jacob was dreading her next words as Helen continued, "She needs nothing at our home. It's her home too, you know!!"
Jacob smiled and Joseph sighed and relief as Aria grabbed Helen's hands and said, "I can use your library!?!?!?!?"
Helen squeezed Aria's hands and her face broke into a huge smile, "I'm not letting you spend the holiday at our library. I'll be dressing you up everyday!!!! It's my gift to Joseph!"
Joseph's face shone like a kid who had been promised his favourite toy while Aria pouted, "No library."
Helen laughed, "Don't worry. You can read while I'm dressing you up."
Aria sighed as Joseph reached across the carriage to hug Helen, "Ohh.....Helen I love you!!!! It's the best gift ever!!!!!"
Helen chuckled, "You do have the best big sister after all."
Once the four reached the Scott mansion, they were welcomed by the servants and Helen's and Joseph's mother in a grand manner. Jacob was embarrassed and the tips of his ears turned pink and Aria refused the servants who came up to take her luggage, but Joseph and Helen seemed at ease as the servants began to fuss over them and they greeted them.
Helen's mother greeted all of them warmly, embracing Helen, trying to embrace Joseph, stroking Aria's head and welcoming Jacob like he was her own child.