Chapter 50: Dinner With The Grays

"So, Madelyn," Mr Gray forced me to take my eyes off my plate. "What do your parents do?"

"My dad is the manager at a restaurant and I have a stay-at-home mom," I replied, not trying to hide the truth about who I was.

He nodded his bald head, as his spliced eyebrows furrowed, deep in thought. His face was devoid of any wrinkles, making him look years younger than Mrs. Gray. He was slouched in his chair and his shoulders were pushed forward, making them look wider than they were. His spectacles sat low on his nose, which made me wonder why he needed them, since he seemed to prefer peering over them. Maybe he used them because he looked too much like a gang leader without them. He looked like the kind of person who would hurt anyone, whether he knew them or not.

"And what do you want to do?" He kept quizzing me, as if he was hoping I would trip up somewhere.

"I'm not sure yet," I replied.

"And how old are you?" He was still looking like at me like he was going to rip me to shreds and would really enjoy doing so.

"Sixteen."

"Hmm." He surveyed my face, looking for traces of lies. Why would I lie about my age? I would have asked the question if I wasn't set on trying to win his family over.

"I'm home." I heard the sound of a door squeaking on its hinges.

"I was wondering why the house was so quiet," Caspian mumbled, pushing the pieces of uneaten meat around his plate, trying to hide his smile.

"Cas is getting married," Molly told the man who had just walked in, her tiny hands clapping in enthusiasm.

"Wow." The newcomer's expression was a mix between disbelief and amusement. His hair was a slightly darker blond than Caspian's: a dirty blond. His eyes were blue, like Caspian's and Mrs. Gray's, but they were different in a way. His eyes seemed darker, and the whites of his eyes were covered in a web of red veins, a look I had begun to associate with alcohol consumption, but he still looked similar enough to be mistaken for Caspian, that is if he got a bit tanned.

"Hey," he greeted and unlike the rest of the family he didn't assume I had the plague, and he shook my hand.

"I'm Madelyn," I introduced myself.

"Noah, Caspian's brother." He smiled, warmly. "So, what's for dinner?" He looked at his mother.

"Roasted beef and mashed potatoes," Mrs. Gray replied.

"Cool." He took the seat next to me. I was flanked on either side now, by the two brothers. "Who's the best man?" Noah asked, reaching across me to reach the bowl of mashed potatoes.

"Bro, we first need to find a venue," Caspian played along.

"True," Noah shrugged. "So, what are you thinking?"

"Beach," Caspian teased me by bumping his shoulder into mine.

"Romantic." Noah solemnly nodded.

I buried my face in my hands as the blood returned to my cheeks; my stupid cheeks, that made it impossible to hide my emotions. Noah laughed heartily as Caspian wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

"Leave them alone," Mrs. Gray scolded Noah. The teasing seemed to be bothering her more than anyone else.

Noah rolled his eyes and winked at me, before shoving a forkful of food into his mouth.

"Stop chewing like a cow." Caspian shook his head trying to make Noah behave more politely. But his words only succeeded in Noah chewing louder.

From what I could see, Caspian got on better with his siblings than with his mother and father. 

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