I was steadily asleep by the time we landed. My hands were still wrapped around the frame. When I woke up, I wasn't in the plane, though. I was being carried –PRINCESS STYLE MIGHT I POLITELY ADD- in the arms of the hunk of muscle I saw before.
'What the fuck, Johnny?' I murmured. He caught it.
'My name isn't Johnny.'
'Alright, fine. What the fuck, Bravo.' A muscle ticked in his jaw. Hot mama.
'My name is not Johnny Bravo.'
'Then what're your initials?' I raised a brow.
'J.B.'
'Johnny Bravo, there we go.'
He let out a sigh of frustration.
'My name is Jack Buck.' He practically growled.
I scrunched up my nose and made a face that showed I was thinking.
'I liked Johnny better.' His stone-faced façade broke when he scowled. Fortunately for him, we were a couple steps away from our destination, another jeep. A driver opened the door, and he practically threw me in. Thanks to that, I saw the mark on his neck. It was weirdly familiar. I decided to ignore it.
'Thanks Johnny,' I said as I rubbed my butt. The door shut in my face. I turned to my father, who, for once, was looking at me, albeit with a questioning brow. I smiled at him and pointed to where Jack had just been with my thumb, not looking away.
'Nice guy.'
And then I looked to the seat in front of me again. We drove for about an hour before we arrived at a luxurious mansion. I got out of the car and-
'OW- Why the hell is your house covered in MIRRORS?' I screamed. Multiple sun beams burned my eyes. I covered them with my hands.
'Johnny, I get why you wear those sunglasses now.'
'My name is NOT Johnny.' I heard from the other side of the car.
'Sure Johnny.'
My father ignored our banter and headed into the house.
'What the fuck is wrong with rich people?' I whispered under my breath before following him. The house was even more luxurious on the inside.
There was a fountain made of gold and then a twin stair case surrounding it. Between the staircases was a huge door. On either sides of the room, more doors. A butler stood in front of the gold fountain. He bowed as he saw us.
'Welcome home, Mr. Oliver.'
'Gather the family.' It was the first time I had heard my father speak. His voice was gruff and hoarse.
'Very well.' And the butler left. My father still did not talk to me but motioned me with two of his fingers to follow him. I followed his lead into the door on the right which turned out to be a fancy living room. I heard thudding. My father sat down on a sofa, and I decided to do the same. I sat far away as possible from him as he had requested.
Moments later, 5 boys burst in, the first two being fully grown men. They seemed confused to see me there. I looked at my father.
'So he hasn't told them yet, huh? Well this will be fun.' I thought to myself as I turned back to them.
'Dad, when did you get back? And… who's she?' One of them asked. Leo, I think. Second oldest.
'I have just returned.' He simply replied, 'Let's wait for your mother.'
So they also sat on the sofa, helplessly oblivious and waiting for their poor mother to arrive. The door opened once again. A woman that looked not a day over 30 entered the room. She looked me up and down with a scrutinizing gaze.
'So this is her?' She asked. My father sighed for the first time. He nodded. The woman, Ms. Ava I presume, rubbed her forehead and went to sit with her children.
I saw my father close his eyes and take a deep breath like he had been dreading this moment.
'Boys, meet your sister.'
The room instantly turned to chaos, and all except three people bombarded him with questions. First was me, second was the oldest, Arthur and the last one was Ms. Ava herself.
'Who'd you get pregnant?'
'How old is she?'
'How could you do this?'
'What does mom feel about this?'
My father opened his eyes and glared them. They all quieted.
'What they would like to ask, father, is how this happened.' Arthur calmly explained.
'I was drunk. The woman looked similar to your mother. I thought it was her, and well… I made the biggest mistake of my life.' He briefly explained.
I was a mistake. Although I knew it, it hurt that he actually said it. My smile that had stuck with me throughout all this wavered.
'Well, that's reassuring to hear.' I talked to them for the first time, 'I just know I'm gonna love it here.' I sassed.
All eyes were on me.
'We weren't talking to you,' the fourth in line said, Christopher if I remembered correctly.
'Which is sort of weird since I am the main topic of discussion in your 'talk'?' I air-quoted the word talk. He glared but had no reply.
'Let me properly introduce myself,' I stood up, 'My name is Cressida Tine. My mother…,' I paused for a long moment 'Passed away a day ago and the only guardian I have left is my father. I am 16, about to go onto 17. Any questions?'
'Where did you grow up?' Leo asked.
'Virginia.'
'Who was your mother?'
'Matilda Hallen,'
'Why did you never come to us before?'
'I didn't even know you existed.'
'What do you mean?' It was Arthur this time.
'My mother told me my father had abandoned us. We lived paycheck to paycheck until well… she stopped living.' I shrugged and looked him in the eye. They held no remorse, nor pity. I knew mine held the haunted scars of my past, but I didn't know if he could see them. He looked away first.
'Anything else?' I asked, just in case.
'When's your birthday?' Asked the youngest, Will I think. I narrowed my eyes.
'Why?' I asked.
'I want to see if you're older or younger than her.' He straight out told me. The tension in the room increased tenfold, and the mood dampened. So this was the effect of even mentioning their dead sister. I made eye contact.
'Older.'
'Why don't you tell us your birthday?'
'Because it's unnecessary.'
'What do you mean?'
In truth, I didn't want them to know because I was afraid that one day, perhaps in some world we do become a family, they'll celebrate it. They're richer, so it'll be more luxurious. My simple parties back home world be outshined by the balls I'd have here, and I'd forget all about home. About my friends. About where I belong. About my mom.
'You won't care anyway. What's the point?' I excused, not looking them in the eye. It could be seen as insecurity, but only those who knew me truly well would know it was a clear sign of me lying.
I took a deep breath to make my chest feel lighter despite the emotion. It didn't work. I looked them in the eye again.
'Are you all done?'
When no questions in reply came, I took it as a yes.
'Alright, now that we're done with this god-awful conversation, who's willing to give me a tour?'
No reply again.
'Gee, thanks for all the offers. I feel so welcome.' I put hand on my chest, sass in my eyes.
'I'll have Richard escort you.' My father spoke to me.
'That would be great. Thanks.' I smiled, picked up my backpack from where it was, slung it over my shoulder. I started walking to the door.
'It seems I'll have to ask him to give you a makeover too.' He murmured. I stopped mid-step. I looked over my shoulder to see his face. He knew I had heard. I pursed my lips in attempt to stop me from scowling, and smiled instead.
'That's a good idea. I look just like you, awfully hideous. It will just not do. Fret not. I shall carry on your message.' I nodded and continued.
'Are you talking back to me?' He growled.
'I'm stating the truth.' I stopped and fully tuned to him.
'My children do not disrespect me.'
'Maybe I'd believe you were ready to accept me as your child if you had spoken a word to me throughout our journey here,' I smiled.
'Maybe he didn't want to talk to; I quote 'The biggest mistake of his life.' I wouldn't.' Christopher stepped in.
'Maybe. But he doesn't want to talk to me, but chooses to reprimand me? If he wants to keep his mouth shut, then he should keep it shut through the good and the bad. I'm leaving now, before you accuse me of being an interruption to your life. If you were about to do that, I do suggest to shove it up your ass, cuz the only fucks I'm gonna be giving around here are about food.'
I tilted my head and left while slamming the door behind me. I leaned against the closed door when I heard Christopher scream;
'OH THAT BITCH-'
I smirked. At least I got him riled up. I left to find whoever this Richard was.