Enlightening

You know it's a weird meal when you're eating with two girls, unsure which one is causing your heart to palpitate like a jackhammer, and that's not even the most awkward part. It's not my sister and her love interest making googly eyes at each other, or even my Mama and me after my late night antics.

It's that Echo's being polite.

"You have a lovely home, Dr Cray-Patel." She smiles sweetly, as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. "Have you lived here long?"

I look around at my peers, all of whom seem equally freaked out, apart from Ty and Poppy, who don't seem to be paying attention to anyone but each other. "Rouge is fine." My aunt answers, obviously amused by the change in tone. "It was my mother's, we're just here watching it until my sister gets here."

As hard as she may try, Echo can't seem to keep her composed façade up. "So... What about your fathers? Do you see them?" She asks us. At this point, I remember we haven't told her about that whole thing either.

"That would be me." Mama answers for us. "My children come from me and my wife. Thanks to Rouge, here's, research." Echo seems shocked by the obvious weirdness, but also by how our family is a lot more nuclear than she thought. To be fair, it's traditional by technicality. "What about you, Echidna? How's your family?"

Echo winces at her full name being used, I think Mama did that on purpose, she's not in a good mood. Echo looks like she's ready to respond, but she's cut off before she can answer. "I found her in the woods and raised her myself." Andi chuckles. "Sometimes I have to spray her with water if she chews the couch, but she's mostly house-trained now."

This manages to get a laugh out of almost everyone, except Mama, and stops Echo from having to talk about her home life. It's a talent of Andi's, keeping everyone smiling, no matter what. "Well, I should get ready to go. Being an evil genius is demanding." Rouge announces, standing from the table, "It was a pleasure to meet you... Echo." She adds, slyly, before making her exit, after which Trish and Mama take our plates to wash up.

The rest of us reconvene in the living room, so we can finally talk like calm, civilised, adults. "I'm gonna fucking kill the both of you." Echo growls quietly. "First you get arrested, now it turns out I've been sneaking into the house of the only headmistress that'll let me attend school in the whole town."

Alright, yes, in hindsight that should've been mentioned previously. "You could just try not sneaking in?" Rosie points out nonchalantly, but Echo doesn't even acknowledge it.

"I'm sorry." Ty begins... And then doesn't continue. Guess he's back to being a man of few words.

"Oh, problem fucking solved. Let's go to the fucking matinée to celebrate!" His sister answers sarcastically. "Don't even get me started on the fact I almost knocked out Mrs Cray-Patel's wife!"

Knocked out is probably an exaggeration, Rouge is a tough cookie... That's not the part I should focus on. "It's really weird that you keep addressing my Mum by her last name." Marie scowls. "How come you revere her so damn much?"

"She... She's been good to us." Echo replies vaguely. I remember Ty mentioning they'd get a family friend to get him out, could that have been Trish? "Anyway, it doesn't matter now, since I've officially made the worst first impression in the history of the world."

Marie just snorts at this assertion. "Nah, she liked you, I could tell, Mother doesn't bother with people she doesn't like." She explains.

"And Mama's in a bad mood because Rufus was in jail, you'll get on way better next time." Poppy chimes in. Echo looks a little less enraged after hearing that, so I guess it helped.

Andi puts her hand on Echo's shoulder, nodding towards us, causing Echo to grimace. "I'm sorry." the albino girl grunts. "I was being a dick, and I need to be nicer to... To my friends."

The rest of us look at each other in surprise again, unlike before, this change in demeanour seems genuine. I guess that's the effect Andi has on her.

"Friends, huh?" I repeat, unable to contain my smile. "Ooh, I dunno, my contact list is pretty full, maybe there's room in the 'with benefits' section." I joke, drawing the ire of Rosie and Marie, while Andi just laughs.

"Please, like you'd be able to handle a woman like me." Echo snaps back. "I'd threaten to cut your dick in half, but no good comes from splitting an atom." She adds, with her own evil grin. Even Rosie can't help but laugh at that one.

It feels... Right. All of us joking around like this. It's such a change from how dramatic everything's been lately... Maybe I don't need to rush myself into knowing how I feel... Maybe it's okay to take a little time. Sometimes just slowing down like this is what you really need...

"So, back to band practice from Monday." Echo states, and I almost agree on instinct, until I realise what this week is.

Poppy decides to answer first. "Actually, Rufus and I... We're probably gonna be busy this week..." She begins, but can't find the words to end the look of confusion on Echo's face.

I realise I'm gonna have to be the one to explain. "It's our Grandmother's funeral on Wednesday, we need to help with preparations." I reveal, causing another look of shock on Echo's face. It's at this point I realise we haven't really explained about that either.

Have I actually told Echo anything about my life!?