"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 won't I? She is no other than my mom's twin, didn't I mention that? That my mom's a twin? Well, now you know.
I remained where I was, before sighing deeply, more like preparing myself to engage, yeah I know…I'm really a nervous wreck when meeting people I don't 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 don't call me aunt makes me seem old," she drawled.
"O-Okay"
"You're nervous" she whispered like I wasn't standing there before her. "Of course, you will be, we haven't seen each other like forever, don't worry darling, I'm 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? Don't eat meat? Please don't tell me you're 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, I'm 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 didn't 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 couldn't 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 couldn't 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, don't worry I'm sure when you're older you will be a total killer, those cuteness will surely drive in the boys"
I just forced a nervous smile, I'm 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 wasn't one who loved that attention.
"How old are you now?" she asked out of the blue. "High school right so you're like 13 or…"
"I'm 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, she's 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 isn't 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 wasn't ready for another seating trip, my butt couldn't take more of it. I adjusted my glasses before I spoke.
"Are we there yet?"
"Oh dear, it seems like Sis didn't tell you'' she said, making a turn.
"Tell me what?" I blinked.
"I don't live in the city, I live in a town, Juneau"
"Perfect," I muttered under my breath, I haven't lived in a town before, I knew much of the city and its loud exterior but wasn't exactly sure what I could make of a town.
"Don't 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 'Welcome to Juneau, Alaska. Population 31,785' just right at the corner of the road.