|Chapter Thirteen| Happy Thanksgiving! Sirius Problems

November 26. Thanksgiving. The day my grandparents moved to America.

All three things were important to me.

It was a regular Saturday morning. Jade had left two days ago, after the party. I was all alone in my apartment, still asleep. My clothes were strewn all over the floor - dresses, pants, boxers. My room was a mess, but I didn't mind.

Knock, knock!

I jumped up from my bed, my heart nearly thumping out of my chest.

I groaned and padded to the door in only my socks and shorts, (plus a baggy shirt, one side hanging off my shoulder). Whoever was at the door knocked again, harder this time. Once I reached the door, I jerked the door open, ready to tell off whoever was there, when I froze.

"SURPRISE!"

I was pushed out the way of the door as my mother and father stepped inside. My jaw dropped open. Not only where they here, but so was Connie, Aaron, Uncle Seamus, Aunt Johanna, cousin Sirius, and my grandad Aharon and grandmum Ferlin.

"What are you all doing here?" I asked bewildered.

"And I'd have thought you'd be more grateful to see me, ya twit," grandaddy remarked, slipping off his coat.

"I am excited to see you guys, really! I'm just wondering how you're here..." I trailed off, when I was suddenly tackled by mom. She was wearing the shirt I had bought her for a souvenir. She hugged me tightly and I grinned, squeezing my mom back.

"I missed you mommy," I murmured in her ear. She pulled back and I realized she couldn't speak because she was so choked up. My mother was really emotional, especially when it came to family. She didn't have any of her own, except for my father's side, and us kids.

"Maxine," my father said softly. "Let go of him."

My mom let go of me as tears poured down her cheeks. I felt happy to see her as well. I even pulled Connie into a hug and kisses her cheek, (and she rubbed it off her red blushing face). Aaron and I bro hugged, and my cousin Sirius nodded towards me. He wasn't really the huggy feely type - at least not in front of the rest of my family. It was nice. Granddaddy and grandmother sat on my sofa, while aunty Johanna cleaned it up, complaining about the amount of dresses throughout the house. "My roommate likes to cosplay," I chuckled, shrugging. "There's dresses all over the house."

Aunty only clucked her tongue and threw the clothes into a pile.

My uncle, dad, and Aaron got into a conversation about how nice the house was. Grandmother and mom, (+ Connie), went into the kitchen to cook. They were here for Thanksgiving and were quote 'going to get Thanksgiving meals God damnit' unquote. Grandaddy was always hungry. Even at eighty-nine.

Granddaddy then started to tell us about his days un concentration camp. Every Thanksgiving he told us his story. "We were both German-Jewish, and had met in the concentration camp. It was a dark night, and they worked us to the bone. I was starved, and sick. My mother and father, and baby brother were gassed, and then their bodies thrown into the crematorium," Grandad said sadly.

I always loved hearing his stories.

"I was alone, and trying to find my way through the crowd of bodies, when I caught a woman trying to sneak out; she was beautiful, as if untouched by the work they put us through. I watched her sneak out, and then heard the sickening crack of her being struck down. The guards ripped her clothes open, and tried to force themselves upon her, but I would not let that happen. I attacked a guard, and was beaten half to death," Grandpa chuckled, as if it was a funny memory, and not one that always created nightmares.

"I wasn't able to work, and was left for dead. But your grandma wouldn't leave me. She pretended to be dead too, and stayed by my side until the next day, when we were rescued by British soldiers. She tried to talk to me. To thank me," Grandaddy wiped away some unwanted tears from his eyes.

"She stayed with me always, and we stayed in a recuperation camp for five years, before heading to the US, and arriving November 26, on the act of a donor."

I sat in silence as we heard the hum of the stove and giggles from Connie.

I couldn't imagine a world without Grandad and Grandmother. He loved her so much.

• • •

"Foods up!" Connie called out.

We all gathered at the table; I sat next to Sirius and Connie, who flanked Aaron. My father sat next to Aaron, and then it was the grandparents, and my aunt and uncle, plus mother. I had to pull extra chairs out from the closet - this apartment literally had everything. We all sat around the table filed with yummy smelling food, while Connie said grace.

"I thank you God for giving me life, and all this yummy food," Connie said, and then told me to close my eyes. "I also thank God for letting mommy buy me a kitty, even though I wanted a dog. And also - also I thank God for making Connor buy me that doll. But then I broke it, so I'm sorry. Anyway, Amen!"

I laughed as we dished out food. I had missed my family.

I ate heartily, and was so happy to eat my grandmothers turkey. She was so good at cooking, I was glad when she said I can keep all the leftovers here.

I nearly cried in joy. I couldn't lose them to Chou. I couldn't.

   → At the end of the night, we all gathered around the TV. The only thing in English on TV was Jersey Shore, so my mother threw in her copy of A Nightmare Before Christmas. She always took that thing everywhere. Mom never tired of it. My mom mouthed the words as they were said by the characters on the screen.

"I can conquer the world with one hand behind my back, as long as the other one is holding yours."

I watched intently as Jack took Sally's hand, when I felt something tap my shoulder. It was Sirius.

He stood at the door, his head nodding towards it.

I wasted no time getting up and grabbing a coat, before opening the door and heading out.

-

"...And now I have to dress up as a girl," I sighed. "I mean it's not that bad, since I am getting paid, but I just don't want people to find out."

Sirius walked alongside me as the sun set, and cold wind blew across our faces. Sirius was my favorite family member by far, other than Grandad. He was quiet, and always listened to what I had to say. He never smiled much, if at all, and had these piercing grey eyes that seemed uncaring and distant. Sirius stopped abruptly and turned to face me. I did the same.

His hands were shoved into his pocket, eyes trained on mine. It reminded me of when we were kids, and we'd swing together. He would always glance at me to make sure I was okay. He'd ever tell anyone else other than me, but sometimes he wished we were kids. He didn't want me to go away, or to grow up. Sometimes I felt the same. But even if I trusted him, I'd never tell my darkest secret. The fact that my modeling depended on my career.

"I don't care how you dress," Sirius said finally. "I'll love you the same."

I frowned.

Most people would take it that he was just a loving cousin. But when he said love, he meant he was in love with me.

"Sirius, we're both guys. And you're family. It's not right."

Sirius didn't flinch or move at all. "I don't care. You'll always be the one for me, Con."

Sirius then walked towards me deliberately, and wrapped his arms around my body. He was warm. I hugged him back, and buried my head into his shoulder. Even if he loved me, it wasn't right. But that wouldn't stop me from loving him as family. When he pulled back, Sirius grabbed my hands and stared intensely into my eyes. "Even if the world wastes away, and no one else cares about you, I'll still love you. Even if everyone is against you, I'll stay by your side. I won't leave you alone," he uttered as wind blew his hair away from his face, and chilled us to the bone. He was being honest.

And although I loved him, I don't think I could could love him the way he wanted me too.

I gingerly took my hands out of his grip, and headed back inside of the house, just as the movie ended.

Mom was wiping tears from her eyes, and my dad had his arm wrapped around her waist. Grandad was laughing at something uncle said, and Connie was fast asleep in Aaron's lap. Uncle Seamus was rummaging around I the kitchen while Aunty Johanna cleaned up after him.

"Okay guys!" I said loudly. "Time for bed! Let's go!"

Everyone groaned, but in wouldn't hear it. Tomorrow everyone would want to go sight seeing, and I didn't need a cranky family in top of that.

My mother and father took the first guest room, aunty and uncle took Jade's room because it was actually clean. Aaron and Connie took the second guest room ( as all guest rooms on top floor). Grandparents took my bedroom, which left Sirius and I to room together.

We had to take the couch.

I layed down, and closed my eyes, when I flr Sirius crawl in next to me. He didn't say anything, but I felt his face press against my back, and his hand intertwine with my own. I was too tired to push him away, and fell asleep with him.

He truly loved me unrequitedly.

Truly.

I could only remember the words Chou whispered in my ear as I was going to get off the stage. “I need the address of Yoho Hotoro. Get it from school. Or I'll kill every last one of your relatives.”

• • •

Yoo!

This chapter is a gift because I was late earlier this week.

Pece! ~ ♥

PS. Just telling you now, this is where the real drama begins.

Expect legit conflict from here on out. Chapter 15 is where shit hits the fan and goes down from there.

Your welcome~

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