Welcome Home

I stretch and yawn from hours of sleep. The sudden shock of my bones cracking snaps my eyes open.

I glance out the window. My butt was aching from being pasted in the seat all day. It seemed like half a day's trip, and we were still driving. The oranges and blues in the sky faze by like blurry artwork.

On the way here, I dropped my phone in the toilet. I had placed it in my back pocket out of habit. Now I was reaping the repercussions because I didn't have a working phone. It wasn't like I had many friends back home. The handful of people I vowed to keep in touch with were like family. They treated the kids on our block like their own. You could always count on someone in our neighborhood to look out for you.

I heard the state of California was huge. Depending on the city you were going to, it could take hours. I couldn't muster up the courage to ask Aaron how long it would be before we arrived. It's hard to see the stranger next to me as my father. He was just another person to me.

The truck slows to a stop. A metal gate stood ahead. My body was screaming to get out to stretch. The driver put the car in park. His fingers start tapping on a keypad before the gate slowly squeaks open. He gets back inside and drives us through.

A mass of trees separated each luxurious house. I peek to my left, where Aaron's sitting. He's leaned lazily in the seat. His body is cornered between the window and door. His expression is passive as his eyes flow to his laptop. I can tell technology is his life. He's probably a workaholic. Whose just as obsessed with technology as the rest of us millennials.

We pass by two mansions before the truck slows, and turns into a wide gravel path. Trees line either side as we ascend toward a large home in the distance. All too suddenly, the pathway opens into a large cul-de-sac. A stone walkway leads to the front door. Flowers and bushes fill the front yard. The landscaping is out of this world.

The driver parks the vehicle then cuts off the ignition. Before I can blink, he's out of the truck. Seconds later, Aaron's door breezes open while the driver patiently waits for him to get out.

His phone rings with one of those mediocre ringtones before he throws it to his ear and mumbles into the device. I hear his shoes crunching as he moves towards the house. Reaching for the door handle, it slips from my fingers as the driver appears at my door.

He shifts to the side when I slide from the seat. Immediately blinded from the sun, I cover my face with a hand while moving to the trunk. I feel fingers tapping my shoulder.

When I turn, the driver standing across from me. He was tall, and his muscles bulge in his suit. Gray hairs peek through the black specks of his beard. I gaze at my reflection as I look into his dark sunglasses.

"Miss, I will bring the bags in." His lips barely move as he speaks.

"But-" I start. The driver interrupts me.

"I'm just doing my job."

He raises his hand. "May I?"

He gestures towards the trunk. My head bobs.

I turn on my heel and walk to the front door with hasty steps. His straight-to-the-point attitude makes me believe that he's an asshole.

I step inside the house, and my breath gets caught in my throat. A small circular table with a cute decorative plant placed on top stood in the room's center. A vintage rectangular rug continued into the next room.

My eyes explore my new home. The long hallway led to the kitchen, and there's a set of stairs to my right. As I'm walking, I collide with someone. I wince from the dull ache before putting a hand on my head. I swallow the bile that begins to rise in my throat. I hear my name being called close by, but the pounding from the raging migraine steals my senses.

"Excuse you." I hear on my side.

"Rome? Are you alright?"

Aaron's voice echoes in my headache. I still don't know who I crashed into, but I couldn't forget the high-pitched voice that made my ears ring. It was feminine.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I think I hit my head a little too hard." I say while rubbing my palm on the tender area.

At my side, I hear the girl sucking her teeth. I hadn't found the courage to look at her because I knew I was the one that wasn't paying attention.

"Now, thanks to you, this is going to bruise."

She huffs and starts pouting like a spoiled child. "Bitch." I hear her whisper.

"Melody." Aaron's voice turns dark.

Melody's eyes snap to his, and I know she didn't miss the warning in his tone. I know I didn't.

Melody moves between us before our eyes lock. I can feel the hatred pouring from her expression. She already hates me.

Her hands go to her tiny hips. She's wearing yoga pants, and I can't help but admire her figure. Her foot taps impatiently beneath her. The sound of her flip-flop clapping against the wood irritates me.

She curls her lip with disgust, and the look she gives me makes me feel dirty.

"Well..." Her tone is brisk.

My voice comes out a shy of a whisper. "My bad, I had no idea you were standing there."

She saw me coming why didn't she move. The silent question remains a thought as we stare each other down. I have to remember that this isn't my house, nor were these people my family.

With a disgruntled look, Melody snorts. "Obviously. Watch where you're going. I won't be so nice next time." Her features pinch as she hisses the words.

If this was her definition of being friendly, I could only imagine how it was when she wasn't nice. She didn't scare me. Unbeknownst to her, I've faced worse threats. It was clear we weren't going to get along. As long as I keep my distance from her, there shouldn't be any problems.

Aaron interrupts our stare down. His face falls into a frown before his eyes find mine.

"I was hoping to start with Welcome home Rome, but I guess properly introducing you two first would've been a better start."

I had no other family. My estranged father was my last and only hope.

All I need is a few hundred dollars in my pocket, and I could take the next bus out. College wasn't too far away. I intend to work my ass off to get into one of my top 5 schools. I can finally start my new life and put all this behind me. I have to take this L and live here for my senior year. I knew it would be a long year based on the not-so-nice welcoming attitude from my new family.

My father's voice intrudes into my thoughts. Thoughts revolved around storming up to Melody and smacking her in the face. I guarantee you that's all she would need to knock some sense into her.

"This..." His eyes flash to his daughter. "..is Melody, as you already know. Your stepsister."

I wouldn't be surprised if he had more children hiding somewhere. My mother never had the chance to experience that luxury. My father was far from how my Grandma explained him. While I could deal with a possible stepmother, I couldn't handle dealing with another Melody. If that were the case, my days here would be grim.

This time I look at Melody and examine her features. I'm Hershey's kisses compared to her honey complexion. My tight, kinky curls frame my head like a halo. Her loose, brown curls fan around her head and land at her shoulders. Her golden irises slant overtop a small nose. Her wide, full lips fall in a permanent pout. I love my lips but hate the size of my eyes. People always say it's my trademark.

"Melody..." She forces out.

I would say it was nice to meet you, but then I'd be lying. I keep the remark in my mind and force out a friendlier introduction.

"Rome."

Aaron inches between us like a shield.

"Great. Rome, we'll go through specifics during dinner tonight." He smiles slyly.

"Okay." I force out.

He nods lightly in return. The last thing I had energy for was an extension to this conversation. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Melody rolling her eyes in repulsion.

Suck it up, bitch. Nobody's taking daddy away.

"Honey, I'm going to show Rome to her bedroom. Still going over your friend's house later?" He asks her.

With an innocent look, Melody stares at her father as if she could do no wrong.

"Yes, daddy. I'm spending the night, but I'm not leaving until after dinner."

She kisses him on the cheek and rushes off in the opposite direction.

He turns to me with a straight face. "I'm sorry about Melody. She can come off a little strong."

Did we hear the same person because what I heard was not someone who came off strong...?

"It's fine. Given the circumstances, it's completely understandable." I say in a dead tone.

Aaron nods before his lips rise.

"I was hoping you'd say that. Let me show you your room. I can only imagine how tired you must be from the drive."

He wasn't wrong about that. All I wanted to do was sleep or maybe take a bath to relax. I follow him upstairs, and he opens the last door at the end of the hall. The room is the size of two rooms in my old apartment.

"Here we are. Get comfortable and let me know if you need anything." He starts walking to the door before looking back. "By the way, dinner is at 7:30."

When I hear the door close, I take a deep exhale.

I explore the room and glance at the clock on my dresser. It reads four-thirty, which meant I had three hours to catch up on some sleep. Throwing my small bag onto the floor next to the door, I move towards the bed.

I wake up grumpy from my nap. I spent a couple of hours lying in my bed. Staring at the ceiling could be pretty fun when you had nothing else to do. It was five minutes before dinner when I forced myself to get out of bed. I'm in no rush to see my new family.

My movements are slow as I stroll down the stairs into the kitchen. Melody and my father are already sitting at the table when I get in the kitchen. Their plates were full of food. I sit in the chair directly across from Melody. We eat quietly until my father interrupts the comforting silence. He wipes his mouth was a napkin.

"Rome, I wanted to speak with you about a few things. One of which is school and allowance." He clears his throat. "You will be attending the same school as Melody. Mason Preparatory School."

I move my mouth to speak, but he beats me to it.

"Usually, the allowance would be three hundred a week. Since you're getting used to things, you'll get a weekly allowance of one hundred dollars."

At a loss for words, I say the first thing that comes to mind.

"Okay, if you're cool with that." I shrug.

"Okay." Melody butts in. "I'm sorry to ruin the moment but why is she here?"

Choking on his food, he traces the napkin over his mouth again.

"She's my daughter. Rome is a part of this family now. What kind of question is that?" He looks bewildered.

"I'm just saying, how are you even sure she is your daughter..."

Rolling my eyes, I watch my father's expression turn to stone.

"Enough!"

His fist bangs on the table and it shakes from the impact.

Melody grows silent from across the table. She bows her head, and loose curls fall over half her face.

"Can I be excused?"

Before my father can respond, Melody is already pushing herself from the table. She leaves her half-eaten plate of food on the table before disappearing around the corner. I glance at my father, curious to see his reaction. Surprisingly there was none. He continues eating as if nothing happened.

What a family...

Dinner ends soon after the whole incident went down. My father was the first to rise from the table. He dispensed the two plates into the sink and left the room. The hollow goodnight from my father barely reaches my ears.

Tonight has been less than lovely. My bed was calling my name. I gently drop my plate into the sink before padding upstairs myself.

I'm out the moment I hit the bed, and sleep takes away the lingering thoughts that generally kept me up at night. Whatever tomorrow brings, I knew a good night's sleep wouldn't be enough to prepare me for it.