Just Your Average Military Girl (Chapter 2)

Chapter 2

Before he opened the door Rodger turned to me.
"I hope your hungry."
"Why?"
"Well mom kind of overdoes it when visitors come so the fact that you’re coming well be prepared for a buffet."
"Oh." Was all I said. I really hope that they didn’t over do it. I just want to come in quietly.
The door opened and Rodger walked through. I hesitated but walked in.
I saw the whole family standing there. It looked like they were posing for a photo or something, the smallest in the front to the tallest in the back and the two parents in the middle. The one thing I noticed though…they were all different yet they looked the same.
The two young kids in the front had to be Spud and Mary-Lou. Spud was wearing a Thomas the tank engine t-shirt and light blue overalls. His two front teeth were missing and he had chubby cheeks and the same brown eyes as Rodger and the rest of the family. He had dark brown curly hair. Mary-Lou looked the same as Spud except she was wearing a halo head band and fairy wings, with a tutu and long stripy socks. She had long curly hair the came down to her hips and she had a smile that reminded me of myself when I was that age.

Behind her was, my guess, Evan. He was wearing a stripy blue shirt that was tucked into his black dress pants. He had big, dark blue, rimmed glasses on that made his eyes look bigger than they actually are, and had his brown hair slicked back.
Next to Evan were the two twins. One was wearing a pair of overalls that had paint splatters, a purple and green strip shirt underneath and her long hair was plated in pigtails. Her sister was the complete opposite. She was wearing all black, with a lot of black eyeliner on. Her hair was died black with red, blue and green streaks in it. She wasn’t smiling either and I was kind of scared.
Julie was standing next to her parents on the opposite side to the twins. She looked different then the last time I saw her, all grown up I guess. Her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, she was wearing make up with mascara, eyeliner and red lipstick. She was wearing a work suit consisting of a dark blue blazer and matching pants with shiny black heels.
Mr Trent Stanley and Mrs Genève Stanley. She was beautiful and reminded me somewhat of my mother. She had long wavy brown hair with dark brown eye. She had a slender, yet curvy figure that most women would kill for including myself. Trent Stanley had black curly hair with hazel eyes a little like mine but lighter. He had a muscular build like Rodger and he looked so much like him the only difference Trent had a more defined cheekbones.
I looked around for Marshall but I couldn’t see him anywhere. He was my best friend when we were little and he wasn’t here to say hi. That stung a bit.

"Aurora! It’s been so long!" Genève said as she walked over to me. She pulled me in for a big hug. I didn’t really know what to do so I patted her back. After a while she pulled away and was replaced by Trent.
"Aurora. How are you?"
"I’m fine."
"Well, come meet our family." Genève said as she put her hand around my waist and pulled me towards the family.
"This is Spencer who likes to be called Spud, Mary-Lou."
"Mommy." She wined.
"Sorry, Princess Mary-Lou." I looked at Mary-Lou who was smiling widely. I gave her a small smile back.
"This is Evan or the others like to call him brains." Evan smoothed his hair back with one hand and stepped forward.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you." He said blushing. Evan extended his hand out to me. I took it and found that it was covered in gel. I gave him a small smile and pulled my hand away.
"This is the twins Lauren or Lo as she likes to be called," she gestured towards the one wearing black, "and Francesca who likes to be called Frankie. I’m sure you remember Julie."
"Aurora I’m so glad to see you again. You have grown up so much and you’re so beautiful." Julie said as she gave me a big hug.
"Um, thanks. You look so amazing Julie."
"Me? Nah."
"Oh so that’s why you spent all of the morning in the bathroom." One of them said. I saw Julie turn a bright red.
"It’s a pleasure to meet all of you and thank you for letting me stay here." I said as politely as I could.
"We are your god parents Aurora and we promised that we would take care of you. You are like our daughter and always have been so there is no need to thank us." Trent said. That is the closest thing to affection that I have got in the past six years. I smiled at him, genially.
"Come, come you must be starving." Genève said guiding me towards the kitchen.

We walked down the hallway, which opened up to the dining room and kitchen that had big glass doors overlooking the beach. I looked at the long table and saw food starting from one end of the table stretching to the other end. Wow Rodger wasn’t kidding.

"Where is Marshall? He should be here?" I heard Rodger whisper.
"Don’t ask me. I’ve been calling him all morning." Julie whispered back. I pretended I couldn’t hear as I moved around the table to look at the ocean.
"It’s amazing isn’t it?" Genève said.
"It’s beautiful." I said.
"Mom how about we show Aurora where she is staying before we sit down for lunch."
"That’s a good idea. This way Aurora." Genève said as she gestured towards the glass doors. Rodger opened them, while holding my duffle bag on one shoulder and my suitcase in his hand. He walked down the main stairs, where is had long gardens on either side, filled with different coloured flowers. We reached the bottom of the stairs where a path led to the big pool filled with clear blue water. It had pool chairs lining it and tables with umbrellas. The path led to a small house type building. It was smaller than an actual pool house, a lot smaller but I liked it. It had glass doors down the side and the roof went out about a meter from the building and was held up by pillars. The building looked like the size of my bedroom, which was pretty small.

"This way Aurora." Rodger said as he, Genève and Trent led the way, with Julie walking beside me. Genève opened the two doors and gasped as did the others. I took a look inside and found an older looking version of Marshall with a tall leggy blonde. They both got up from the bed and Marshall was doing his shirt up, with the blonde through her shirt over her bikini top.
"MARSHALL WALTER STANLEY GET YOUR BUTT OUT HERE NOW!" Trent yelled. They all looked so angry, but I wasn’t because I didn’t really care. I just stood there looking at him though. He was a lot different now, not that scrawny kid I remembered from years ago. He was tall and was ripped, abs, arms, the works. Marshall hasn’t changed that much though, he still had the same curly hair that was just a little bit too long and deep brown eyes that I loved to look at. He was blushing a bright red now. I almost smiled at that.
The blonde walked out and ran down to the fence, where the pool finished and down the steps that led to the beach. I turned my head back to Marshall who was looking at me, wide eyed. I gave him a small smile.
"Marshall you remember Aurora don’t you?"
"Yeah…ah…hi." He said awkwardly.
"Hi." I said back. HI THAT’S ALL HE HAD TO SAY TO ME! I yelled internally but it didn’t show on my face.
"If you will excuse us Aurora I have to have a little talk with my son." Genève said. I nodded my head slightly. She lifted her hand up and grabbed his ear.
"Ow, mom." He said as she dragged him past us. I turned and looked at him as she pulled him up the stairs whispering something to him.
"I’m so sorry about that Aurora we had no idea that he-"
"It’s okay." I said to Julie who looked pretty angry.
"How about we just show you the inside of the pool house and then we can eat."
"Sounds good." I said, trying to be a good sport. Just because I’m not used to people doesn’t mean I’m going to be a bitch about it. That would just be mean.
"This used to be Rodger’s room but we thought that you would like your own space away from the craziness and the fact that you don’t have do spend hours waiting for the bathroom."
"Thank you but I don’t want to put you out or anything."
"It’s fine Aurora I was happy to give it up anyway. I like being close to the familia." Rodger said in an Italian voice.
"That’s about the only Italian he knows." Julie said.
"Ah not true, I know how to say hello." Rodger said as Julie rolled her eyes. I smiled. They’re pretty funny.
"Well here it is." Rodger said as he led me in.

It was small but roomy and the walls were painted a bright green. There was a bed in the corner and draws to the right of me as well as a nightstand next to the bed. There was a big window that was the length of the bed that overlooked the whole ocean. There were also two doors as well. One was a wardrobe and the other was a bathroom with a small shower, a sink with a mirror above it and a toilet opposite the shower. It wasn’t that big like I said but there was something about it.
"We redone the bathroom and made it purple, do you like purple?" Trent said.
"Yeah its great. Thank you so much." I pulled off my jumper and placed it on top of the dresser. This place wasn’t like my home, during the summer at home the days were still cold but here they were really hot.
"Our pleasure Aurora. Well we should probably go get something to eat. Are you hungry?"
"Starving." I said.
"Good lets go."

Rodger put the bags down and followed us out of the pool house, towards the house. We all walked into the house and everyone was already seated including Marshall who didn’t even look up as I entered which once again hurt but I didn’t even know why.
"Come sit by me Aurora." Julie said as she grabbed my hand pulled me towards the two seats near the middle of the table. I was seated in the middle of Rodger and Julie and across from Evan who kept on smiling at me. I looked down at Marshall who still wasn’t looking at me but looked deep in conversation with Spud about what sounded like potatoes. Odd or what? But I’m not one to judge.
"Well everyone dig in." Trent said as he sat down at the head of the table.
Suddenly everyone was off there seats grabbing food. I leaned forward and took a spoon full of mac’n’cheese and some of the untouched salad. Everyone was talking loudly or debating something.
"Oh my god she so did not do that?...Didn’t you know that you have to square this to get the actual equation…dude I don’t care…There is nothing wrong with being an emo and besides the guys are so much hotter…Apparently Mr Rigs wants me to start working weekends and I was like no, Saturday is my shopping day everyone knows that…Well we should expand or at least redecorate, I mean what’s the harm right?..." They were all so loud that I didn’t even know who was saying what. I was starting to feel overwhelmed. You would think that after taking endless trainings, where my body would actually collapse, consisting of being yelled at by my father that this would be nothing. Just a simple dinner with family but it was so much harder. Never, not once did we communicate when we ate dinner or even near each other in the house and now I’m having dinner with a family who talks too much. I don’t think I can handle it any longer.
"I’m going to get some fresh air." I whispered to Rodger.
"What?" He practically yelled.
"I’ll be back." I said as I stood up and walked out the door. I could feel their eyes on me as I walked out, probably because they were silent as I walked out but still. I walked down the back yards, past the pool and opened the fence door. I walked down a few more stairs until I was at the beach. It was starting to get dark now, the sky was a purple pink colour. I walked down a little more and sat down. The sound of waves crashing against the ocean floor was the only sound that filled my ears and I liked it. I could feel myself relaxing.

"Hey are you okay?" I turned a little towards the direction of the voice and found Rodger.
"I’m fine." He came and sat next to me.
"You say that a lot."
"Yeah I know."
"Why?" I turned to him.
"Why what?"
"Why do you say ‘I’m fine’ a lot?" I turned and faced the ocean again. There was silence for about a minute. I sighed.
"I don’t know."
"Yes you do. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want. It’s not like it’s a big deal or anything." Did I mention that I like this guy…a lot. Probably because he is the first one to let me be. We sat there in silence for the next fifteen minutes and it felt nice. Being in the quiet but not having to be alone.
"Can I ask a question?" I nodded my head not turning it to face him. "Do you miss him? Your father I mean." I took a minute before I answered.
"My father was…a hard man. I mean he drilled me hard sometimes. He could be a monster for ninety-nine days, you know, but on the one-hundredth day he would be my father. Do I miss him? Sometimes, but do I love him? Very much." That’s the first time I ever told anyone that. I brought my knees to my chest and rested my chin on them and continued to watch the ocean.
"Do you want to go back in?"
"Not yet."
"Okay."
Rodger didn’t say anything more, he didn’t ask question nor did he make small talk, he just sat there with me and watched the wonders of the now black ocean. The moon was out and it was big and bright, shining down on the water, reflecting its light making everything have a silver glow. I don’t know how long we stayed out there but it was starting to get cold.
"I think we should go inside now." I said.
"Okay." Rodger said. We both got up and brushed the sand off our pants and walked up the stairs to the house.
"Are you hungry cause I’m sure mom would cook you something."
"I’m fine. I think I might just set up and go to sleep."
"Okay, well I will see you in the morning. If you need anything don’t be afraid to call."
"I won’t." He turned and began to walk away, "Oh Rodger?" He turned to face me, "thank you." He gave me a smile and turned back to the house.
I walked up the three steps and opened the door. I looked up and saw Marshall.
"Ah!" I yelled.
"AH!" He yelled as we both jumped. "Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you."
"Right back at you. What are you doing?" I really hope he didn’t bring another girl in here because well I am now sleeping in that bed.
"I was just…ah…changing your sheets. Sorry about that by the way."
"It’s fine." Even though it wasn’t. I was composed now, my mask was up.
"Well anyway I will…leave you to it. So…" He tried to get past me as I him but we kept on moving the same way. He grabbed my shoulders and picked me up and moved me so that I was in the room and he was outside.
"Ah-"
"Sorry, I just…well we couldn’t and…ah…bi. Sleep tight." He said then turned and walked away. Sleep tight? I guess I wasn’t the only one who thought this was weird, but hey at least I wasn’t the one making it awkward.
"Bi." I said as he began to walk away. I grabbed the door handle and closed it. The lights were already which was good because I had no idea where the switch was.

I spent the rest of the night unpacking my stuff. I put my mp3 player, phone and purse on the nightstand. All my clothes were put into the dresser or the wardrobe. I put my suitcase under the bed and the duffel bad on the top shelf of the wardrobe. I brought some of my favourite books to read as well so I placed them on top of the dresser and soon enough everything was done. It was pretty hot in this room so I turned on the fan on the ceiling roof. There was a clock on the nightstand. I looked at it and it said it was ten o’clock. I walked over to the doors and pulled the curtains back to see the house. It was dark and quiet. I feel like I am boiling…what’s a quick dip, seeing as no one is awake. I changed into my sports bra (crop top) and a pair of short running shorts. I pulled a towel out of the basket that was next to the dresser, which was filled with towels and other linens, and opened the door and walked towards the pool. I placed the towel on the side of the pool and slowly and quietly slipped in. I dove down deep swimming from end to end trying to hold my breath. I love to glide through the water feeling like your going so fast. Eventually I came up for breath. I started to float on my back. I don’t think it would be so bad being here after all.
******
What Aurora didn’t know was that someone was watching her from his window. Watching her gracefully glide through the water but most of all watching her beauty. It was indescribable, you just have to look closer to see it. He watched as she floated on her back, noticing a small smile cross her face. He smiled to himself and laid down on his bed as he slowly drifted to sleep dreaming of the time he gave her, her first kiss.