Hi there reader person,

We just realised that Colorado is a very very long time away from the beach, so instead of the sea-side, they are going to a lake. Sorry it took so long to upload,

Bye-bye,

read on...

Love M+A

xx

Will

"Hey Vick! Can I borrow your wet suit?" I shouted, rumaging through my warddrob in a desperate attempt to pack for the trip. He walked in carrying the blue and black wet suit,

"Where the hell is yours?" he said tossing it at me. I caught it just before it hit me in the face.

"I think it might be in there." I said pointing to a mountin of clothes in the corner of the room. He chuckled,

"Sressing for your date, huh?"

"Is it really that obvious?" I said laughing slightly hystericly. I was so worried about our 'date'. I wanted to look my best when I met her family (again). God, she's just so beautiful. She had glossy black hair and misty gray eyes. Her creamy white skin flushed pink when she got embaressed and she bit her full red lips in the most adorable way. She always dressed modestly but everything seemed to look so good on her. When we met in the wal-mart she wore black jeans, dark purple convers and a dark red top and navy coat. She was just so-

"Hey bro! Your drooling." I quickly brought my hand to my face... dry. I rolled my eyes,

"Haha, very funny!"(note sarcasm.) He walked over to my bag and rooted through the contents. He pulled out the bottle of cologne I packed,

"Is this mine?" I bit my lip and looked at the floor,

"umm, no. At least I- I don't think so-" i trailed off, then sighed,

"Sorry Vick. I'm just really nervous and this is really important."

"Yeah, I'll bet it is." he mumbled, and stalked out of the room. Shit. I didn't handle that very well.

Claire

"Matt please! Just wait in the car!" I said slamming the door of Matt's old Ford Fiesta. He climbed out,

"Hey don't slam the door, Shelly never did anything to you!" he said while stroking the car,

"Who the hell is Shelly?" I yelled over my shoulder, walking away,

"Shelly is the car!" Matt said, that didn't surprise me.

I pulled my navy coat tighter around me and walked quickly to Will's house. I didn't know anything about his family but I expected he was the kind of boy who grew up with siblings, parents that read them stories when he was young and asked him 'How was your day, darling?' when he got back from school. I wonder what that's like.

When I reached the door I lifted my hand to knock but before I could it swung wide open. A tall girl- well, taller than me- with long brown hair and deep brown eyes stood before me holding a toddler who looked just like her but wearing a rabbit baby-grow instead of the girls jeans and blouse. Her face lit up considerably,

"Hi, you must be Claire! I'm Phee, this is my daughter Ellie. Come in, please, Will's just finishing off his packing." I smiled and followed her through to the living room. There was a burning fire in the fireplace, warming the room considerably and a Black grand piano where a petit blond girl sat with, I'm guessing, one of Will's brothers trying to teach him to play the nutcracker. They turned around and grinned at me,

"Claire! It's so good to meet you. I'm Sky this is Zed." They got up and shook my hand warmly. I smiled,

"Nice to meet you." At that point three other brothers walked in with, I'm guessing, Mr and Mrs Benadict. Mrs Benadicts eyes widened and she grinned when she saw me.

"Claire darling, your here!" she pulled me into a tight hug. I held my breath and stood akwardly in her embrace. some one cleared their throat behind us. Mr. Benadict placed a light hand on her shoulder,

"Karla darling, give her some space." She realised me and smiled apoligeticly, "Sorry dear, it's just I was so hoping I would get to meet you and here you are!" I didn't really know what to do so I just smiled when Mrs. Benadict told me to call her Karla and introduced me to her husband Saul and her other son's Yves, Trace and Xav. They must have sensed my akwardness because after the introductions, Saul asked Zed and Yves to help him with something in the garage. Yves pecked Phee on the lips and kissed Ellie's forehead and Sky followed Zed, smiling at me as she left the room. They spoke after that, in a friendly way, asking me questions. It was me who made it awkward.

Then Will bounded down the stairs with a sports bag slung over his shoulder. He stopped when he saw me.

"Claire! Your- your here." I bit my lip. You ready to go? I asked, he nodded,

"bye guys." Will said. Karla hugged him and he received multiple pats on the back from his brothers, Ellie ran over to Will and hugged his leg,

"Bye bye uncle Will," she said cheerfully. I smiled at him, he picked her up and whiled her around- causing her to squeal delightedly.

"Bye Little bunny." He said tweaking the ears on her baby-grow and setting her back on the floor. To my surprise, she turned to me and held her arms above her,

"Claire, up!" She demanded, I looked at Phee and Yves uncertainly- they both smiled at me,

"Up!" Finally I obliged and picked her up. She immediately she threw her arms around me and said "friend!"

I laughed and said "I really like your clothes, they're very pretty on you." She smiled on my shoulders.

"Stay." She said to me and then at Will with a sad look on her face. Phee laughed,

"Don't worry Ellie. Claire can play with you some other time." she looked at me, " If she wants to." I smiled and looked at Ellie,

"I'd like that." Ellie grinned. Some one thumped on the front door, Trace went to answer it. I put Ellie down but she made a grab for my hand and hugged onto my leg causing everyone- including me- to laugh, Xav turned to me,

"So how long are you staying here?"

"Oh, just until the new year. The kids are home schooled so it doesn't really matter when we leave." He nodded. I realised that I hadn't said much to Karla. I didn't usually engage in conversation but they where welcoming and kind to me and for once in my life I wanted to make a good impression,

"You have a lovely home." I said honestly. Karla beamed at me,

"Really? Do you like it? We've just redecorated." I nodded, still smiling. Will whispered in my head 'it's annual.' I pressed my lips together trying not to laugh.

When Trace got back a minute or so later Matt was with him. I groaned, He rolled his eyes at me,

"Nice to see you too. Are you guys ready?" Will nodded, patting his sports bag.

"Hey Matt." Xav said, Matt nodded at him and waved awkwardly at every one.

"Good morning Matthew." Karla said formally as if she was not all that keen on my brother in law. I wonder why? I thought sarcastically.

"Ur-G-good morning Mrs Benedict." he stuttered,

"We should get going now." Will said.

when we got out the door i called back to the people waiting by the door "It was nice meeting you!" I heard a chorus of "Bye Claire,"

"Please come back anytime you like" Karla said,

"You'd be very welcome" Saul finished.

In the car we sat in a polite silence until I fell asleep, my head resting on his broad shoulders. I could get used to this.