"EMMA!"
I jumped at the sound of my name like a scared cat, bumping into a man behind.
"S-S-Sorry", sluggishly adjusting my glasses, he gave a curt nod before walking past me.
"Uh-oh I think I scared her"
I faced the voice who almost gave me a heart attack for calling my name out of the blue. Only for it to belong to a middle-aged woman, and judging from her looks, that was definitely my aunt, and can she be more weirder than those photos?
"Hello," she said with a hand wave, dressed- well how am I gonna explain that? long mixed color shirt, and a crop shirt. Her slightly strawberry hair is a curly mess and packed with just a pin. Well, now I know who I got the trait of heavy curls from.
"H-Hi" I stammered, I made no attempt to walk to her. "Aunt Vanessa"
A smile graced her lips, her features practically glowing, she must be proud I knew her name, well how wonât I? She is no other than my momâs twin, didnât I mention that? That my momâs a twin? Well, now you know.
I remained where I was, before sighing deeply, more like preparing myself to engage, yeah I know...Iâm really a nervous wreck when meeting people I donât know. I sauntered toward her in slow steps but in a blink, I was engulfed in a bear hug.
"Oh my god look at you, so lovely, better than the pictures," she said, almost squeezing the life out of me before finally letting go and I let out a breath, adjusting my glasses.
"And donât call me aunt makes me seem old," she drawled.
"O-Okay"
"Youâre nervous" she whispered like I wasnât standing there before her. "Of course, you will be, we havenât seen each other like forever, donât worry darling, Iâm here now and will take care of you just like I promised your mom" she says playing with her fingers and giving me the biggest smile.
I licked my dry lips at the mention of my mom, feeling sadness overwhelm me but I pushed it aside.
"Why are you so skinny? Donât eat meat? Please donât tell me youâre vegan" she asked, checking me out like a 5-year-old, which only made me blush more in embarrassment, I could see people who pass by staring and hiding their amusement, perfect!
"I eat meat, Iâm just..." my chest rose and fell, "...Skinny" yes that me, even when I was born, I was so tiny than the average baby, I was like 245g? Yeah! Doctors thought I was premature but that didnât seem to be the case, but overtime as I grew I put on some weight but close enough you could tell how much of a slim model I was, I think a model is better than me.
Vanessa snorted a laugh. "Well you look like my dearest sister back in the days, you should have seen her"
I couldnât help a faint smile that crossed my lips, I DO look like my mom back in the days, I saw some of her younger photos and I couldnât believe she was the one, because right now she had a wonderful body, it sort of gave me hope that I would one day look like her and not all petite like I was.
"Or you could be skinny forever", she looked into space as if thinking, cracking up her lip in a comic way. My smile vanished.
"Ha! Just kidding, donât worry Iâm sure when youâre older you will be a total killer, those cuteness will surely drive in the boys"
I just forced a nervous smile, Iâm afraid that not gonna happen, I was hardly noticeable in my old school, I was the invisible girl and I preferred to stay that way because I wasnât one who loved that attention.
"How old are you now?" she asked out of the blue. "High school right so youâre like 13 or..."
"Iâm 16, 17 in a few months"
"Great, still teen fun yeah?" She playfully punched my shoulder. I just nodded. "Oh we should get going, we have all the time to talk when we get home," she yanked my bags from me. "Now come on dear,"
I just followed quietly as she led me to a 1990s Mercedes Benz car, orange in color.
"This... is yours?" I asked hoping she would say no.
"Yes dear, sheâs probably pushing a hundred but still a darling" Vanessa said patting the car, it made a crank noise as it would fall apart, it was a miracle it still stood after that noise.
"Lovely isnât she?".
"Great," I said in no humor.
~
The drive through the city was a quiet one, only the sound of the radio echoing in the car. My aunt lived in Alaska, a totally different view from all the big buildings I was used to. This was new for me, just like my new life was about to start here, I just hope it was a good one. My first impression of Vanessa was mild, she really is weird like I thought she was, but she seemed like someone that has a big heart, so... it was good, I guess.
I turned back to the view, I was getting antsy in my seat, we have been driving for a long time, and I had just gotten off a plane. I wasnât ready for another seating trip, my butt couldnât take more of it. I adjusted my glasses before I spoke.
"Are we there yet?"
"Oh dear, it seems like Sis didnât tell youââ she said, making a turn.
"Tell me what?" I blinked.
"I donât live in the city, I live in a town, Juneau"
"Perfect," I muttered under my breath, I havenât lived in a town before, I knew much of the city and its loud exterior but wasnât exactly sure what I could make of a town.
"Donât worry you will love it, everyone is easy going there", she turned up the music.
I sighed. Thanks a lot, mom. That moment we passed a signboard that said âWelcome to Juneau, Alaska. Population 31,785â just right at the corner of the road.