Chapter 3

"I'm guessing you must be my sister, we do really look alike. I'm sorry to keep you waiting"

I said nothing, quietly studying the man in front of me.

His sharp jaw and physique, nothing like the Kelvin I imagined or saw in the pictures.

"Down to earth baby sister" I realized that he has been waving his hands in front of me to catch my attention.

"Is everything alright? You seem lost in thoughts"

"Sorry. You really look different than I imagined"

Kelvin chuckled as he picked my luggage and deposited it into his truck.

I got into the passenger's seat and strapped myself.

Kelvin started the engine and stomped the accelerator.

The car was silent for a short while before I spoke.

"Do you mind if I turn on the radio?"

"No, not at all"

I felt as though Kelvin was peeking at me from the corner of his eye but if I turned he would be looking straight forward almost like he never looked at me but I know he did.

"Is everything alright? You can ask me anything?" I was going to ignore the feeling but I just couldn't, something about that look reeked strongly of unanswered questions.

I felt Kelvin hesitate a little before he swallowed and spoke in hushed whispers.

"Did Dad visit you regularly?" At the remembrance of my father, I felt a weight attach to my heart trying to sink it downwards.

"No" I managed to croak out. Kelvin looked at me, curiosity was written all over his face.

"How so? Dad wasn't home with my mom so I figured he was with you"

"Mom got sick with cancer. Dad had to take her to Britain, I had not seen her for three years. Dad didn't bother to visit in all those three years, no calls and no texts; left me with Aunt Linda and bless her tainted soul I suffered and I was just seven, then suddenly one quiet day, Mom and Dad suddenly show up at our door. Mom's looking pale and white and Dad's looking worried. Dad tells Aunt Linda that he's going back to America with Mom and that's the last time I hear from them"

Kelvin squeezed my hand gently.

"It's alright, you still have me"

"What about your Mom?" At the mention of his mother, Kelvin's face contorts to that of anger.

"I'm sorry. If you don't want to talk about it, it's fine"

"No it's okay. Mom's never around, always drinking and partying. Sometimes she leaves for weeks or months and when she comes back she is reeking of stale alcohol, when I question her about it all she does is scream at me and head to her room"

"That's better at least, you have a mom. A blood family, blood is thicker than water after all"

"Hmm, guess you're right. No matter what my Mom does I can't still hate her, can I?"

"Nope"

Smiling gently I turned away.

We allowed the gentle purring of the engine to cover the silence, I got tired of looking around and soon my heavy lidded eyes closed.

Someone shook me gently while muttering my name.

I opened my eyes slowly and blinked to clear my vision.

Soon my eyes focused on a young man who was smiling at me.

"Where am I?"

"In America already. Come on down, we have arrived"

I blinked twice.

"But we don't get to America with a car, how are we going to cross the ocean" I stated dumbly while exiting the car.

Kelvin's grin turned into a full blown smile.

"Honey, you took an airplane remember and now you're in America and I'm taking you home"

"An airplane. Ohh" I smiled sheepishly as I remembered what had transpired today.

Kelvin chortled and switched of his engine while getting off his car.

We exited the garage and walked to the partway leading to the house.

"Your house is nice" I spoke looking around excitedly.

Kelvin chuckled.

"You're strange and weird, but in a good way. And I like your sense of humor, Lit!"

I slapped Kelvin's arm playfully.

Retrieving a set of keys from his pocket, he thrusted one into the keyhole and turned it before turning the door knob.

We entered and I allowed the warmth of the house to drown me.

Kelvin switched on the light and I had to shield my eyes to reduce the attack of bright light.

The house was untidy and clothes and take-away plates littered the whole place, it was dusty and ages old cobweb covered most things.

"Your sense of cleanliness has been washed away"

I said dryly but Kelvin burst out laughing.

"You really can't control it, can you?" He chuckled.

"What?"

"Your humorous statements"

I just shrugged and looked around.

"Sorry it's not what you fantasized about, it's just that no-one around and I'm not good at taking care of myself and stuff"

"Yeah but for someone who looks like that, you're doing a pretty good job"

Kelvin smirked and flexed his muscles.

"You like what you see, huh?"

I rolled my eyes.

Kelvin walked up and down picking his clothes from where they were strewn.

"Well, this place needs a little clean up, I'll do that tomorrow morning before work"

"Work? Where do you work? Is it a fun job?"

"Nope" he said popping the 'p'.

"Work in a supermarket near downtown fuelling station, just smile and check things out. Same boring routine everyday, nothing interesting ever happens" Kelvin pouted.

Selene grinned.

"I wouldn't be surprised, it's a supermarket job, what do you want? A supermarket break-in"

Kelvin shrugged casually and deposited all his picked cloth into a laundry basket.

I yawned.

"All I need now is good food and sleep" I bobbled up and down excitedly and headed to the fridge.

Bottles of beer stared back at me, with an open half emptied cartoon of milk, some eggs and a half eaten loaf of bread.

"You have got to be kidding me" I turned to Kelvin who rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Really? Where is your sense of good food. Oh I know, probably down the sink"

Kelvin chuckled again, something he was fond of doing whenever I said something humorous.

"Look, I'm living alone so I don't usually stock my fridge"

"Your fridge has been invaded by beer bottles, isn't that also counted as stocking"

I slammed the fridge shut.

"Fine, fine. Let's eat out today. I'll do the grocery tomorrow after work"

"You really need to take care of this house more often, laundry needs to be done, you haven't done the dishes in like what?... ages and the weed patch is overgrown, the cobwebs make me feel like we live in centuries old houses, I'm pretty sure something's wrong with gas, water and light and I can tell something's leaking water and phew! What is that smell"

"You're very observant, I'll give you credit for that. I really need to fix up since you're here I'll do those tomorrow. I've got a friend that owes me a couple of favors. As for the rest like laundry, dusting and cleaning that's why I have you, isn't it?" He smirked.

I glared at him but his grin just widened.

"C'mon, let's go. Tomorrow will worry at itself" picking his keys from the hook on the wall, we made our way back to the garage.

Soon we were in the pick-up truck bickering as we went.

After a while we arrived at a fairly large run-down restaurant, shutting off the engine we proceeded inside.

"This place might be worn out but the food they serve beats any fancy diner or restaurant. C'mon"

The smell of hot chilli soup hit me hard and I inhaled, a small smile appeared on my face as I savoured the aroma.

The whole place was crowded and yet nobody seemed to be uncomfortable or even complain.

"The whole place is occupied, there's no stool anywhere. Where are we going to sit"

"Don't underestimate me, I'm good friends with the person here so don't worry. Come"

Kelvin stirred me to the end of the restaurant, he stopped at a door where 'staff entry only' was scribbled haphazardly on a plank and hung.

Kelvin pushed the door open and pulled me inside.

I blinked to adjust my eyes to the sudden darkness, after a while I could make out four figures hunched over a table playing card.

"OI!" Kelvin called cheerfully.

The figures looked up and at Kelvin.

"Yo Kel! Is that you?" One of them yelled from across the table.

"If it isn't me, who else?" He called back jovially.

The light coming from a lamp on the table dimmed, one of the men playing card swore lightly and smacked the lamp hard, it glowed brightly again and I could make out the faces of the four men.

"What's up with the lights?" Kelvin asked one with a pale sandy hair and green eyes as he looked around.

"Having minor faults, you should fix it...like always" he grinned.

"Prick!" Kelvin swore.

It took about three minutes and the light came on.

Kelvin dusted his hands and walked towards them.

"Oh shit, is it just me or is it that there's a beautiful chick in this room and I never noticed" the one with tattoos on his hands, pale sandy hair and green eyes exclaimed suddenly bringing everybody's attention to me.

I traced my legs nervously on the floor hating all the attention I was getting.

"Holy shit! You're right brah!"

They rushed towards me but Kelvin placed himself between them, shielding me.

"Man what's up with you?"

"Stay away from my her, she's my baby-cakes"

"I'm sorry, your what?"

"Baby-cakes"

"Come sweetie, let me introduce you to them"

He pulled me over to the table and made me sit on a comfy chair.

"This.." he pointed to the guy with the tattoos, sandy blonde hair and green eyes before he continued, "is Jax. He's a gym instructor"

"Actually, I'm his gym instructor" Jax interposed grinning at me wolfishly before stretching his hands for a shake which I gave, offering him a small smile.

He held on a little longer still smiling, Kelvin looked obviously displeased and separated our hands squeezing Jax's hand tightly.

"You better stop thinking about... anything"

Jax just grinned.

"This.." he pointed to the guy with the blonde hair and blue eyes, "is Jacob. He works at a demo site, that's why he's all big and....huge"

We exchanged hi's and nice to meet you's.

"This" he pointed to the one across the table with black almost raven hair and brown eyes, "is Anderson, short form Andy. He works for the CSI and is sometimes selected for FBI missions"

"Hey, you're pretty looking " he gave me a crooked grin and I just cocked my eyebrows.

A throat was cleared and everyone turned back to Kelvin.

"I will ignore what you just said because you have helped me in the past on several occasions but never again will you call my baby-cakes pretty. Do you understand?"

"Don't you already have a crush on another girl" Andy smirked.

"Who is it?" I leaned forward excitedly, I must have looked like a puppy excited for food.

"Don't you dare Andy!" Kelvin snapped.

Andy's smirk turned wicked.

"Alexia" he turned his eyes to me and smiled.

"Interesting..." I smirked and I dragged the words for effect.

"Wipe that stupid smirk off your face"

Kelvin pouted.

"I'm sorry, I'm too lazy to clean up, perhaps you could help me, ohh I forgot you can't even clean your room to save your life" I smirked at Kelvin who glared at me and flicked my nose playfully.

"So who's this 'Alexia'?" I smiled cunningly.

"Ohh, she is the owner of this place and Kelvin has a mighty crush on her. I'm Eden and I work in downtown mall" the last guy who had brown hair and black eyes and had been very quiet spoke waving his hand.

"Hi Eden" I gave a small smile.

"And this is my sister, Selene. The only love of my life and the only woman I need in my life"

"I'm pretty sure it's Alexia you're confusing with Selene" Jax spoke cunningly while the boys kept whispering Alexia dramatically or smacking their lips in the air.

"Shut up, all of you." Kelvin snapped but the boys just kept smirking at him including me.

Soon the door was opened and a young woman who was a brunette stepped in, she carried a huge tray with different plates of food on it and came closer to where the men were sitting.

I watched Kelvin swallow as he watched Alexia walk in, a skimpy dress showing off her well tanned legs and the rounds of her breasts.

"So much for I'm the only love of your life, the only woman you need in your life"I whispered but the men around the table heard me and chuckled silently.

"Shut it" Kelvin growled while he ran his hand over his hair trying to tame it.

She stopped at the table and smiled at Kelvin then the others and then her confused eyes landed on me who was sitting close to Kelvin.

I thought of something and a naughty smile graced my lips.

I reached for Kelvin's hands and squeezed it, making sure that Alexia could see it then smiled slowly at Alexia.

Alexia looked away and lowered the tray to the table.

Andy caught my eyes and he smirked.

"You're a naughty one, remind me never to get on your bad side" he mouthed to me who just smiled and patted Kelvin's cheeks adorably.

"Umm, is there anything else you guys want?" She scanned the table not looking at Kelvin or me.

"Kelvin baby, do you think you could get a soda or a fruit juice, I'm not really into beer"

I leaned into Kelvin slightly making Alexia huff and look away.

"Baby?, Kel?" I cooed and Kelvin smiled at the nickname I gave him.

"Kel huh? I like it, you can call me Kel" he grinned like a champion who just collected his long awaited trophy.

"Sure sweetie, I'll go get you a cola..."

"What do you think you are doing Kelvin? Why doesn't she go get it herself, from what I see her legs look fine and alright" Alexia snapped.

I whimpered and grabbed Kelvin's biceps.

"Stop scaring her Alexia, she's still very young and tender"

"Ohh, so you like young and tender girls?"

"What are you talking about?"

"She's saying she's old is what she's talking about" I sighed softly still pretending to feel scared while smiling at Alexia.

Alexia glare burned holes through my head.

If looks could kill, Alexia would be the new Supergirl with her invisible eye lasers.

The others looked lost but when they saw my smug smile, they began to grin.

"Alexia, she's still young okay? Forgive her. Alright, I'll order this one, a glass of soda for my baby-cakes, I will pay for it"

Alexia hesitated, it seemed like she wanted to say something but she just nodded not looking at Kelvin and turned away, exiting the room and closing the door behind her.

Kelvin stared at her back confused.

He turned to Jax who was still smirking and raised an eyebrow.

"What was that about? I don't understand what just happened? Did Alexia act strange to you guys too? I felt like she was acting strange"

"What are you talking about?" Jax popped some chips into his mouth and chewed.

"She was ignoring me"

"Your sister planned it, very well if I'm to add" Andy smirked.

"Snitch" I mouthed to Andy.

Kelvin turned to me but I batted my eyelashes at him innocently.

"I have no idea what Andy's talking about. I hardly even moved except when I took your hand in mine and leaned to whisper to you what I wanted"

"Then why did she ignore me?, Eden?"

"Your sister is a crafty cunning she-devil, you know that right!"

"Why are you guys ganging against me? You don't trust them right? Kelvin"

"..."

"Kel?" as soon as he heard the nickname he grinned and nodded.

"Yeah" he spoke unhesitatingly.

"That's it, she has you wrapped around her pretty slender fingers" Jax spoke

incoherently while chumping on chunks of chicken meat in his soup.

"I feel like I wronged her but I don't know how" Kelvin scratched his head confused.

I stroked his cheek before standing up.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"To have a heart-to-heart, girl- to-girl talk with your lover" I smiled.

"My lover? She does not love me. It's merely one sided, me doing all the loving"

"She really loves you, it's either you're blind, stupid or just obnoxious or maybe all of them at once. I'm going"

"Wait! How do you know from just now?"

"Because I just gave her a simple test actually two and she showed me just how much she loves you"

"Tests?"

"God above Kelvin, you're really all of them" I spoke rolling my eyes.

"Let me help" Jax interposed.

"The first test was holding your hand right in front of her. Girls get jealous if the guy that they like is in love with another woman"

"Ohh! Is that why she wouldn't look at me like before"

"Yes" Kelvin narrowed his eyes at me who just grinned like a cat.

"Look on the good side, now you know she likes you too"

Kelvin nodded.

"And the second?"

"When Selene leaned into you. To you it might just be whispering but to her it feels like the two of you are close, relationally and physically"

"Physically?"

"What lovers do in bed" Eden interjected.

Kelvin paled.

"Surely she can't think that kind of thing about me and Selene. We're just siblings"

"Yes, so will you let me go and rectify my test scores"

"Hmm" Kelvin nodded.

"Save some for me" I spoke loudly, loud enough for them to hear at the end.

"Sure" they choursed.

Stepping into the restaurant, I looked around and saw Alexia chugging spirit at one end of the bar, she already looked drunk, her face was red and she was talking to herself.

I scoffed and headed for the bar and sat on a stool.

"Stupid Kelvin, I show you that I love you for years and you still go ahead and fall in love with some sick woman who wants you not for who you are..."

"Then what do you think I want him for? Body?"

Alexia jerked up sharply, turned and faced the person on the bar stool.

Her eyes narrowed when they met mine.

"What can I get for you?" She said curtly.

"I guess you don't like me. It's alright"

"I don't have time, so please spare me any inconveniences and tell me what you want" she hiccuped.

"Would you rather I send Kelvin instead?"

"You don't know anything about him, he's a good man and you're just a... whatever you are" she snapped rudely.

"You must have a thing for my brother" I smiled.

"So what? All you want is to use him like those other women... Whether he's your brother or...."

She suddenly froze, her eyes widening as she stared at me.

The shock seemed to have worn a little of the alcohol out of her system, enough to make her sober.

"Your brother? Kelvin's your brother?"

"Isn't it obvious. We have the same hair and eye color"

She fell silent.

She opened her mouth, hesitated then closed it, opened it again and closed it.

I chuckled, she reminded me of fishes on land.

"I'm sorry for the way I spoke. I was just angry.."

"Jealous" I interjected.

"What?"

"You're jealous"

Alexia blushed red then nodded.

"I was just hurt and angry that you were closer to him than I was, he seemed to always keep me a step away like a sister but you seemed so close, I was.... jealous"

"It's okay, my brother does have something for you too"

"Really?"

"Yeah. Can I have my soda now?"

"Sure. Here, sorry about earlier. The snapping and the glaring and the rude words"

"Yea. See you around?"

"Yeah, you too"

"No probs"

With that I returned and enjoyed a hearty meal, full of laughter and cajoling.

Soon it was time to go back.

"Bye guys, see you later"

"Bye"

Kelvin and I had just climbed into our white pickup truck when someone called Kelvin's name.

I stuck my head out of the window and waved to the person.